CLOUDCATCHER AND HIS PRISONERS. 217

The cries from within the hood reached him
only as confused murmurs, and the giant’s head
was so high among the clouds that he did not
hear accurately what went on so far below
him. He walked through Lake Winnipesaukee
to wash the dust from his feet, and in afew min-
utes stood at the foot of Mt. Washington.

By this time the cries from Wassa and the
blue dragon-fly had grown very faint, for be-
tween terror and fatigue they were too much
exhausted to make much noise. A few vigor-
ous strides took the giant to the summit of the
mountain, and, stopping before a cave made
for the purpose by the giant Rockroller, King
Cloudcatcher thrust in his captives and hastily
barred the entrance with a large rock.

When the cavern was closed, the giant king,
elated with the success of his plan, indulged.
ina fit of hearty laughter that echoed like a
volley of artillery among the mountain ranges,
and struck terror to the hearts of the two poor
little prisoners within the cave.

The king’s return trip was made in a much
shorter time than the one we have just de-
scribed, and he quickly summoned his subjects
to a conference. When they were all assem-