202 PRINCE RICARDO.

 

to mention that the sheep and the oxen were
the property of other people. ‘Where am I
to put you till your friends come and pay your
ransom?” the Giant asked again, and stared
at Jaqueline in a perplexed way. “I can’t
take you home with me, that is out of the
question. I have a little woman of my own,
and she’s not very fond of other ladies;
especially, she would like to poison them that
have good looks.”

Now Jaqueline saw that the Giant, big as he
was, courageous too, was afraid of his wife!

“Tl tell you what I’ll do; I’ll hand you
over to a neighbour of mine, who is a bachelor.”

“A bachelor giant; would that be quite
proper?” said Jaqueline, trying to humour
him.

“He’s not a giant, bless you; he’s a queer
fellow, it is not easy to say what he is. He’s
the Earthquaker, him as shakes the earth now
and then, and brings the houses about people’s
ears.”

Jaqueline fairly screamed at hearing this
awful news.

“Hush! be quiet, do!” said the Giant.
“You'll bring out my little woman, and she is
not easy to satisfy with explanations when she
finds me conversing with a lady unbeknown to
her. The Earthquaker won’t do you any harm ;
it’s only for safe keeping I'll put you with him.
Why, he don’t waken, not once in fifty years.