“I have no wish for myself,” said Jalmir; “but my master has sent me to bring the princess from the golden castle which stands out in the sea.”
“That one over there?” asked the other giant, pointing with his finger to the sea.
Jalmir looked around and saw for the first time a magnificent castle, which gleamed in the waves like the rising sun. “Yes,” replied Jalmir.
“We will take thee to it,” said the first giant; “but will the princess go with thee?”
“I will ask her,” said Jalmir; “but how will ye take me there?”
“Thou wilt soon see,” said the giants; and they took pieces of a cliff and hurled them into the sea. They went on breaking the cliff, and sooner than Jalmir expected there was a long stretch of dam in the sea. But the giants did not stop; they worked till the setting of the sun, so that in the evening they had one third of the dam finished, and on the third day it was possible to go with dry foot to the golden castle.
Jalmir thanked the giants heartily, and the morning of the fourth day he went to the princess. The castle was a wonder to look at; but he scarcely noticed it. He entered, and how surprised was he when in the first chamber he saw the princess. With downcast eyes he said: “My king and master has sent me to beg thee in his name to share his throne and crown.”
“I will go,” answered the princess, with a silvery voice; “but wilt thou remain at his court?”
“I must,” said Jalmir. “I am the viceroy.”
“Let us go, then,” said the princess.