` Oh , tell us , if you know , my good woman , ' entreated Bensurdatu , ` for with them lies all our happiness . ' ` Even if I were to tell you , ' answered she , ` you could not rescue them . To do that you would have to go to the very bottom of a deep river , and though certainly you would find the king 's daughters there , yet the two eldest are guarded by two giants , and the youngest is watched by a serpent with seven heads . ' The two generals , who stood by listening , were filled with terror at her words , and wished to return immediately ; but Bensurdatu stood firm , and said : ` Now we have got so far we must carry the thing through . Tell us where the river is , so that we may get there as soon as possible . ' And the old woman told them , and gave them some cheese , wine , and bread , so that they should not set forth starving ; and when they had eaten and drunk they laid themselves down to sleep . The sun had only just risen above the hills next morning before they all woke , and , taking leave of the wise woman who had helped them , they rode on till they came to the river . ' I am the eldest , ' said one of the generals , ` and it is my right to go down first . ' So the others fastened a cord round him , and gave him a little bell , and let him down into the water . But scarcely had the river closed above his head when such dreadful rushing sounds and peals of thunder came crashing round about him that he lost all his courage , and rang his bell , if perchance it might be heard amidst all this clamour . Great was his relief when the rope began slowly to pull him upwards . Then the other general plunged in ; but he fared no better than the first , and was soon on dry ground again . ` Well , you are a brave pair ! ' said Bensurdatu , as he tied the rope round his own waist ; ` let us see what will happen to me . ' And when he heard the thunder and clamour round about him he thought to himself , ` Oh , make as much noise as you like , it wo n't hurt me ! ' When his feet touched the bottom he found himself in a large , brilliantly lighted hall , and in the middle sat the eldest princess , and in front of her lay a huge giant , fast asleep . Directly she saw Bensurdatu she nodded to him , and asked with her eyes how he had come there . For answer he drew his sword , and was about to cut off the giant 's head , when she stopped him quickly , and made signs to hide himself , as the giant was just beginning to wake . ' I smell the flesh of a man ! ' murmured he , stretching his great arms .
` Why , how XXXXX the world could any man get down here ? '
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