68 Nature Myths and Stories.

He set the fairy carefully upon the ground, and
shouted for joy as he found that the cap exactly
fitted his own great head.

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.