he felt free to act
upon this advice, so by means of his magic boot he again found himself
in a new country.

He soon heard on the street that the King of the land of Giants had a
beautiful giantess daughter whom he wished to give in marriage if she
could be persuaded to choose a husband. She was such a famous beauty
that no one could pass before her palace without eagerly gazing up in
hopes of seeing her lovely face at the window. The giant princess had
grown weary of being the object of so much attention, and she had made
a vow that she would marry no one except a man who could pass before
her without lifting his eyes.

The young man became interested when he heard this and at once rode
past the palace with his eyes fixed steadily on the ground. He did not
give a single glance upward in the direction of the window where the
beautiful giant princess was watching him. The princess was overcome
with joy at the sight of the handsome stranger who appeared as if in
response to her vow. The king summoned him to the palace at once and
ordered that the wedding should be celebrated immediately.

After the wedding the giant princess soon found out that her husband
carried his choicest treasures in his saddle bags. She inquired their
significance and her husband told her all about them. She was
especially interested in the key. She said that there was a room in
the palace which was never opened. In this room there was a fierce
beast which always came to life again whenever it was killed. The
giant princess had always been anxious to see the beast with her own
eyes, and she suggested that they should use the key to unlock the
door of the forbidden room and take a peep at the beast.

Her husband, however, gave her no encouragement to do this. He decided
that it was too risky a bit of amusement; but one day when he had gone
hunting with the king and court the princess was overjoyed to find
that the magic key had been left behind. She at once picked it up and
opened the forbidden door. The beast gave a great leap, roaring out at
her, "You are the very one I have sought," as he seized her with his
sharp claws.

When her husband and father returned from their hunting trip they were
very much worried to find that the princess had disappeared. No one
knew where she was. After searching through the palace and garden all
in vain they went to the place where the beast was always kept. The
prince recognized his magic key in the door,