CLOUDCATCHER AND HIS PRISONERS, 219

So, mighty king, I prithee say
If I can aid in any way.”

The giant king looked down upon the tiny
elf that hardly reached to his ankle, but who
stood before the tall giant with as independent
an air as if he were as tall as the tallest of
them.

“Yes, friend elf,” answered King Cloud-
catcher, “thou canst do me a great service.
Thou know’st well the feud that exists between
us and the dwarfs. We have captured the
dwarf prince and have him safely imprisoned
in yonder distant mountain. There shall he
stay until the dwarf king agrees to resign his
crown and acknowledge us as the rightful king.
Wilt thou undertake the commission?”

“Thou hast done well to imprison the dwarf
prince,” replied the elf, “for I know him to be
wilful and peevish. It will do him good to
stay in prison for.a time. I will repair to the
gnome king and inform him that his son and
heir is in thy power and there will remain
until he agrees to thy conditions, which are;
to give up everything and acknowledge thee
as his lawful king. Have I learned my task
rightly?”