“Farewell!” said the fair maiden, sighing.
Mirza continued on his way. Toward evening he saw the White Giant returning from hunting. He detected his presence by the human smell, and seeing Mirza, exclaimed:
“What luck! I have not tasted human flesh for a long time;” and he assailed Mirza, to devour him.
“Halt!” exclaimed the lad, preparing his bow and arrow. “I shall prove a hard nut for you to crack. My name is Mirza. I have so far butchered forty-seven giants; you are the forty-eighth.”
He shot his arrow, which passed through the giant’s heart and nailed him to the ground. Drawing his magic sword, he cut off his head, and thrusting it on his sword’s point took it to the white castle and called to the maiden:
“Fair Princess, here is the head of the White Giant, whom I have sacrificed to your love.”
The maiden seeing it from the window, ran wild with joy. At once she opened the door of the castle, saying:
“Enter, and may Heaven bless you, who came to deliver me from my bondage!”
The lad entered, and that night lodged in the castle. On the morning, when departing, he put on the maiden’s finger a ring, saying:
“Now you are the betrothed of my oldest brother. After fighting the other giants I will come back and carry you with me.”