CHAPTER II.
The place where the giant alighted was nearly in front of what, in spite of its two stories, seemed to be a mere hut. It was surrounded by a well-kept garden.
"I wonder," said Gofaster, aloud, "if I will get shelter here for the night."
A hollow laugh at his elbow showed that his friend had not departed. "The days here," said the goblin, "are six months long, and the nights are just as long as the days. During the day, which has just begun, the weather is tolerably comfortable, and mid-day is the only summer the Huperboreans have; the night is intensely cold, but you will be able to purchase furs to make you comfortable. Tho owner of this house is a man of fair fortune, but as he lives on the outskirts of the city, apart somewhat from his fellows, he likes to entertain travellers if he take the least fancy toward them at sight. Knock, and make your bargain with him, for you will find there a good place to stay for a while, and its owner can give you whatever information you require about the King, the Court, and the people."
Gofaster obeyed the commands of his monitor. He entered the pathway, and, on arriving at the door, rapped. In a moment or so the door was opened, and there stood a slender old man, with a face full of wrinkles, in which appeared a pair of sharp, twinkling eyes.
"I am called Gofaster," said the giant, bowing, "and am on a visit to this country unattended. I am informed that you occasionally entertain travellers, and if you could make room for me I should feel under obligation, and be prepared to compensate you fairly."
"THERE IS NO BEDSTEAD LONG ENOUGH FOR YOU."
The host looked up and said, "You are one of the giants, and would have to sleep on the floor, for there is no bedstead long enough for you."
"That would suit me very well," said Gofaster.
"My terms are two lyro a day," said the other, "and my name is Hepsone."
"I am not familiar," said the giant, "with the coin of this country."
"This is a lyro," replied Hepsone, taking from his pocket and displaying a coin of about the size of a half-dollar.
"I do not have silver," returned the giant, producing a coin from his pocket. "How many lyros are there in this?"
Hepsone looked at it curiously. "About fifteen, I should say," was his answer.
"In my country," said the giant, "it would take twenty of such coin as that you show me to balance this, but I suppose silver is more valuable here. Your terms are reasonable, and I accept them with thanks."
"Come in, then," said Hepsone, and they entered.
The door opened into a side hall about a foot higher than the giant's head; for though he had to stoop to enter, when once in he easily stood upright.
"Pray be seated," said Hepsone; "and as we have an hour left before breakfast, let us talk a little. May I ask why you came here—on business or pleasure?"
"On pleasure, I hope," replied Gofaster; "and that I may more readily secure it I should like to know something about the King, the royal family, and the nobles of the people. Is your King a good one?"
"As kings go, yes," replied Hepsone. "As his faithful subject, I have no fault to find with him, nor is there any occasion. He rules as justly as his Prime-minister, Count Snarlitz, will let him, is very kind-hearted and anxious for the good of his people, but he generally leaves public affairs to his ministers, especially in the season of hunting, of which sport he is very fond. He hunts to-day in the forest a mile beyond, and if you care to look at him you need only go there after breakfast, and probably will be able to cross his path. As for the royal family, it is a very small one. The Queen died five years since, and the King has declared that he will never again marry. He has only one child, a daughter, who is distinguished from the ladies of the Court by the fact that she is nearly as tall as you. She is very lovely, in spite of her size, and is almost worshipped by the mass of people, who desire to see her mated in order that the succession may not go to a distant connection of the King, a man who is hated by all classes. As for the people, they are like the people everywhere, I suppose. There is a sprinkling of honest men, another of wise men, as many as both of rogues, and all the rest are fools."
In the course of the conversation Gofaster learned some facts of interest. He found that life must be very dreary indeed during the six months of night the people had, their main light coming from torches made from split pieces of pine, and all business being suspended not only during hours of sleep, but in the intervals of meals, until the six months of day came back. He also learned that the people suffered every month from a species of water famine. The water was supplied from a reservoir on a high hill back of the city, which was fed from a large spring; for a month at a time the spring ceased to flow, the reservoir was drained dry, and water for domestic purposes of any kind had to be brought from a distance.
In this reservoir there lived a huge water dragon over fifty feet long who was called Slander; and no one could get there to examine the cause of the stoppage on account of the breath of this brute, which breath poisoned every one who came within reach of it.
After more conversation breakfast was announced, and our traveller found the meal to be a very good one and well served, though his seat was so low that as he sat there his knees were on a level with the top of the table. After breakfast he asked Hepsone how he should manage to purchase a wardrobe, as he supposed there was no ready-made clothing in the city beyond which would fit him.
"As for that," said Hepsone, "there need be no trouble. I know a very worthy tailor who will be glad to make you anything that you desire at the shortest notice, and though he makes for some of the nobles of the Court, will be ready, for cash, to do it reasonably. If you say so, I will send for him at once."
To this Gofaster assented, and said he would go to the forest when the meal closed, and see if his Majesty and the nobles were there, engaged in the hunt. "But," he added, "I might meet with some wild beast, and should like to have a weapon to defend myself."
"As for that," replied Hepsone, "I can serve you there too. I had a lodger a year since who was here with the hope of marrying the Princess Amber, but he failed to win her favor or do anything worthy of note. His money ran out at the last, and in part settlement of his account with me he left a very valuable sword. As it is too long for any of our people, I have had it by me ever since. You might gird that upon you, but, if I may advise you, I would also take that battle-axe you see on the wall, which you will find a more ready weapon in a close encounter."
Gofaster accepted both these offers, and with sword at his side and battle-axe in hand, started off in the direction of the forest, which he soon reached. He wandered there for some time without meeting any one or anything, until finally he heard the sound of a horn. Making his way in that direction, he saw a group of men, and among them one who was a little taller than the others, whom, from that fact, and also because he was the only one bonneted, he inferred to be the King. He placed himself beside a huge fir tree, which was almost the sole kind in the forest, in order to observe more closely; but at that moment the King waved his hand, and the group, apparently at his order, broke and dispersed in various directions.
The giant made his way at a respectful distance after the King, who was attended only by a large hound. The latter was fleet of foot, but as the strides of the giant were one-half as long again as those of the King, Gofaster was enabled to keep at the same distance without exertion. For a half-hour nothing out of the way occurred, nor did the hound seem to put up any game. At length the animal started, stopped, sniffed the air, and with a loud bay bounded off, followed quickly by the King, and, in turn, by Gofaster. As the two latter ran they heard the sound of a conflict, with a yelp of pain from the dog, and both came suddenly to an open space, where they found that the animal had encountered a huge white bear, for whom he was no match, and had speedily been despatched by his antagonist.
The King was armed only with a hunting-spear and sword, and the bear, made furious by the attack of the dog, at once turned upon his human enemy. The latter, spear in hand, stood firmly; but the bear, with a sweep of his powerful arm, struck the weapon with such force sidewise as to shatter the shaft. In an instant more the monarch, who had drawn his sword, would have been unable to make any serious resistance; but Gofaster, who had rushed forward, and whose step had not attracted the attention of the beast, drove his battle-axe with full force into the skull of the bear, and the huge animal fell dead at the feet of the King.
King Jornet coolly returned his sword to its scabbard. "Sir Stranger," said he, "you have rendered us a service most opportune. Eighteen inches of cold steel would have no chance against that brute's claws. May I ask to whom I am indebted for this aid?"
"A mere private gentleman," replied Gofaster, "from the country of the giants, who is travelling here for pleasure, and who happily strolled this way this morning. May I ask whom I have had the honor of serving?"
"I am the King," said the latter, "and I should be glad to see you at Court as early as may suit your convenience, that I may express my thanks in a more fitting way than I can do now."
"I shall not fail to obey your Majesty's command," said the giant, bowing.
"And your name?" asked the King.
"Gofaster, your Majesty."
"Well, then, Count Gofaster," said the King, laying emphasis on the title, "in less than a week we shall expect to see you." The King bowed, which the giant took to be an expression that he desired him not to be present when his courtiers came; and as the King applied his horn to his lips and sounded a few notes, Gofaster returned to the house of Hepsone.
Shortly after his departure the courtiers came in from various directions, and looked with astonishment at the bear and the dead hound.
"He was killed by a stranger, who came in good time," said the King, pointing to the dead bear; but he gave no further word of explanation.