avail him little against this hairy monster. For
his arms were not long enough to span a fourth of the giant's huge
body, while the monster's powerful limbs would be likely to crush out
Inga's life before he could gain the mastery.

[Illustration]

Therefore the Prince resolved to employ other means to combat this foe,
who had doubtless been placed there to bar his return. Retreating
through the passage he reached the room where he had been chained and
wrenched the iron post from its socket. It was a foot thick and four
feet long, and being of solid iron was so heavy that three ordinary men
would have found it hard to lift.

Returning to the cavern, the boy swung the great bar above his head and
dashed it with mighty force full at the giant. The end of the bar struck
the monster upon its forehead, and with a single groan it fell full
length upon the floor and lay still.

When the giant fell, the glow from its eyes faded away, and all was
dark. Cautiously, for Inga was not sure the giant was dead, the boy felt
his way toward the opening that led to the middle cavern. The entrance
was narrow and the darkness was intense, but, feeling braver now, the
boy stepped boldly forward. Instantly the floor began to sink beneath
him and in great alarm he turned and made a leap that enabled him to
grasp the rocky sides of the wall and regain a footing in the passage
through which he had just come.

Scarcely had he obtained this place of refuge when a mighty crash
resounded throughout the cavern and the sound of a rushing torrent came
from far below. Inga felt in his pocket and found several matches, one
of which he lighted and held before him. While it flickered he saw that
the entire floor of the cavern had fallen away, and knew that had he not
instantly regained his footing in the passage he would have plunged into
the abyss that lay beneath him.

By the light of another match he saw the opening at the other side of
the cave and the thought came to him that possibly he might leap across
the gulf. Of course, this could never be accomplished without the
marvelous strength lent him by the Blue Pearl, but Inga had the feeling
that one powerful spring might carry him over the chasm into safety. He
could not stay where he was, that was certain, so he resolved to make
the attempt.

He took a long run through the first cave and the short corridor; then,
exerting all his strength, he launched himself over the black gulf of
the seco