Loud cries arose, the King stopped to listen, and the people turned their heads to see who was coming. The crowd opened, and a messenger booted and spurred and covered with dust, rushed into the hall and knelt on one knee before the King, and held out a paper which King Mago took and read eagerly. The people waited in silence to hear the news.
The King was deeply moved, but he knew his people were anxious, so he spoke to them, standing up as he did so: -
"My people, a grievous peril has come upon our Land. We learn from this despatch from the province of Sub-Tegmine, that a terrible Giant has come out of the marshes beyond No-Man's-Land, and is devastating the country. But be not in fear, my people, for to-night many soldiers shall go forth with their arms, and by sunset to-morrow the Giant will have fallen, we trust."
The people bowed their heads with murmured thanks, and all went quietly away to their homes.
That night a body of picked soldiers went out with brave hearts to fight the Giant, and the people cheered them on their way.
All next day and next night the people as well as the King were very anxious; and the second morning they expected news that the Giant was overthrown.
But no news came till nightfall; and then one weary man, covered with dust and blood, and wounded unto death, crawled into the town.
The people made way for him, and he came before the throne and bent low and said -
"Alas! King, I have to tell you that your soldiers have been slain - all save myself. The Giant triumphs and advances towards the city."
Having said so, the pain of his wounds grew so great that he cried out several times and fell down; and when they lifted him up he was dead.
At the sad news which he told a low wail arose from the people. The widows of the slain soldiers cried loudly a little cry, and came and threw themselves before the King's throne, and raised their hands on high and said -
"Oh, King! Oh, King!" and they could say no more with weeping.
Then the King's heart was very, very sore, and he tried to comfort them, but his best comfort was in his tears - for the tears of friends help to make trouble light; and he spoke to the people and said -
"Alas! our soldiers were too few. To-night we will send an army, and perchance the Giant will fall."
That night a gallant army, with many great engines of war and with flags flying and bands playing, went forth against the Giant.
At the head of the army rode Janisar, the captain, with his armour of steel inlaid with gold shining in the glow of the sunset. The scarlet and white trappings of his great black charger looked splendid. At his side, for some distance on his way, rode Prince Zaphir on his white palfrey.
The people all gathered to wish the army success on their departure; and a lot of foolish people who believed in luck threw old shoes after them. One of these shoes struck Sartorius, who was as usual pushing into the front to show himself off, and blackened his eye, and the black of the shoe came off on his new dress and spoiled it. Another shoe - a heavy one with an iron heel - struck Tufto, who was talking to Janisar - on the top of his bald head, and cut it, and then all the people laughed.
Just fancy how a man is despised when people laugh when he is hurt. Old Tufto danced about and got quite angry, and then the people laughed all the more; for nothing is funnier than when a person is so angry that he loses all self-control.
All the people cheered as the army went off. Even the poor widows of the slain soldiers cheered; and the men going away looked at them and resolved that they would conquer or die, like brave soldiers doing their duty.
Princess Bluebell went with King Mago to the top of the tower of the palace, and together they watched the soldiers as they marched away. The king went in soon, but Bluebell stayed on, looking at the helmets glittering and flashing in the sunset till the sun sank down over the horizon.
Just then Prince Zaphir, who had returned, joined her. Then in the twilight on the top of the tower, with many thousand eager, anxious hearts beating in the city below them, and with the beautiful sky overhead, the two children knelt down and prayed for the success of the army on the morrow.
There was no sleep in the city that night.
Next day the people were filled with anxiety; and as the day wore on and there was no news they grew more anxious still.
Towards the evening they heard the sound of a great tumult far away. They knew that a battle was on; and so they waited and waited for news.
They did not go to bed that night at all; but all through the city watch-fires were lighted and everyone stayed awake waiting for the news.
But no news came.
Then the fear became so great that the faces of men and women grew as white as snow, and their hearts as cold. For a long, long time they were silent, for no man dared to speak.
At last one of the widows of the slain soldiers rose up and said -
"I shall arise and go down to the battle-field, and see how fares it there; and shall bring back the news to quiet your poor beating hearts."
Then many men rose and said -
"No! it must not be.