o enter
the doorway, brought up the rear.

As it was late, everyone decided to go to bed. Besides, they were all
well tired out after their exciting day.

You would have laughed to see the giant ascend the stairway to the royal
bedchambers, for the steps were too small for his feet, and it was with
great difficulty that he managed to get a foothold with the toes of his
boots.

When at last he was safely inside his bedroom, the largest in the
castle, it was found that the bedstead was not nearly long enough for
him.

So the princess gave orders that two cot beds be placed ends together,
and in this way the giant, by allowing his feet to project through the
open window, could lie down at full length. His feet nearly reached the
tree that grew just outside, on which the little bluebird had perched
for the night, and it was lucky, indeed, that it was midsummer, for
otherwise our big friend might have caught a severe cold.

After bidding the giant goodnight the little bluebird had a few minutes'
talk with Ned while he undressed himself.

[Illustration: THE STEPS WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE GIANT.]

She agreed to act as sentinel during the night, to keep a vigilant
lookout from the treetop, and in case of approaching danger instantly to
awaken Ned and the giant.

Gradually the great castle grew quiet, until nothing was stirring, "not
even a mouse."

At times the night wind rustled the leaves in the tree where the little
bluebird sentinel sat winking and blinking, and the big yellow moon
glistened fantastically on the big toe of the giant.

Toward midnight a faint sound in the distance, like the beat of horses'
hoofs, startled the bluebird.

Hastily flying toward the castle entrance she gazed out upon the roadway
that wound up from the valley below.

At some distance she made out dimly the figures of a number of horsemen.

Returning swiftly to the castle, she tweaked the giant's big toe. That,
you can easily imagine, awoke him with a start.

"What's the matter?" he asked in a frightened whisper which, although
only a whisper, was enough to make the castle tremble, thereby awakening
Ned and the princess herself.

"The crafty stepfather of the princess is coming," answered the
bluebird.

"Then it's all up with me," cried the giant, "for he'll change me again
into a pine tree."

The bluebird made no reply, but hastened to find Ned. On entering his
bedroom through the half open window she found him already dressi