“Well, it looked like it, I must own,” returned the other. “But you couldn’t go very far with such a burden as that.”
“Couldn’t I?” rejoined Og. “You don’t know what I could do if I tried. Why, I would carry the chest from the Tower to Whitehall, if the King would only bestow it upon me for my pains.”
And he burst into another tremendous laugh, in which his brothers heartily joined.
“That were a feat worthy of Samson,” observed Lovel, dryly. “Suppose I put your strength to the test.”
“Do so,” rejoined Og. “What would you have me perform? You have just told us that the chests are to be removed to the Exchequer to-night. You don’t want me to carry them to Westminster Hall?”
“No, no! I don’t want that,” said Lovel, laughing. “They are to be transported by water, and it will save time if they are taken at once to Traitor’s Gate, where they will be embarked.”
“Say no more—we’ll do it, won’t we?” cried Og, turning to his brothers, who readily assented.
Without more ado, he again took up the ponderous coffer, and called out, “Now, I’m ready.”
“So are we,” cried Gog and Magog, as they each shouldered a chest.
Upon this, the whole party went out of the chamber, the door of which was carefully locked by the keeper. It was a striking sight to see the three giants, laden in the manner we have described, cross the court of the palace, and descend with slow but firm footsteps the slope leading to the Bloody Tower, each having upon his broad shoulders a weight sufficient to call into activity the full forces of three ordinary men, and yet bearing it—if not easily—yet stoutly. It was true that the muscles of their bull throats and brawny legs were tremendously developed, and looked almost as large as cables, but these were the only evidences of the strain put upon them. Lilias walked by the side of her husband, enchanted by this display of his strength, while Xit strutted in front, as if the giants were under his command.