He helped the little creature gently out into his hand, and looked at him in wonder. He had never before seen a fairy. In vain the brave little fellow tried to conceal the precious cap. The giant saw the wonderful star and knew at once that he had the treasure cap of the elves. [Pg 68] He set the fairy carefully upon the ground, and shouted for joy as he found that the cap exactly fitted his own great head. [Pg 68] The poor fairies could no longer see him, but they heard a sound like thunder, as he hurried over the stones towards his home. They were now afraid to move about while the sun shone. They crept under leaves and into shells and cried bitterly. By sundown every plant in the glen was wet with their tears. The sharp eyes of the eagle on the mountain top saw them and a great pity filled his heart. “I must help the fairies,” he said, “otherwise I should not be worthy to be called the ‘king of birds’.” He went directly to the home of the giants and demanded the cap, but they refused to give it up. [Pg 69] All that an eagle could do, he did, but as the giants wore the invisible cap he could not see them. He could only hear their great voices. [Pg 69] He knew however that the giants were proud of their great size and strength, and liked, above all things, to be seen. He was sure that they would not wear the cap in battle, and he did not lose hope. One day they carefully placed it under a large stone on the mountain side below them. The keen eye of the eagle was watching. He flew fearlessly to the spot as soon as the giants had left it.
Prev.
Back
Top