THE LAY OF SAINT LINGO. 



199 



Shaft of bulrush straight and 

 slender ; 



Shot it through the forest thickets, 



Shot it cleaving through the 

 branches, 



Shot it shearing all the grass 

 down ; 



Cut a pathway straight and easy; 



Fell it right into tlie fireplace 



Of the Giant Eikad Gowree ; 



Fell, and glanced it from the fire- 

 place, 



Glanced, and sped into the door- 

 way 



Of the Avigwani of the Giant ; 



Fell before the seven daughters, 



Seven very nice young women, 



Daughters fair of Rikad GoAvree. 



Then those seven nice young 

 women 



Took the arrow and concealed it. 



For they oft had asked the old 

 man, 



Asked him when they would be 

 married ; 



And he always answered gruffly, 



" When I choose that you be 

 married 



Good and well, if not you won't 

 be." 



And they thought this was an 

 omen. 

 Now the Brothers, greatly fear- 

 ing 



Lest they all should eaten up be, 



Counsel taking, sent the youngest, 



Sent iUikeseral the youngest. 



To prospect the Giant's quarters. 



By that pathway straight and 

 easy 



"Went this very young Ahkeseral; 



Saw the Giant's smoke ascending; 



Coming nearer saw the Giant, 



Saw him, like a shapeless tree 

 trunk. 



Sleeping by the fire and snoring — 



By the fire of mighty tree stems, 

 Stems of Mohwil, stems of Anjan, 

 Stems of S;ljn<i, stems of Tekt;l ; 

 Blazing red, its glow reflected 

 From that form huge and shaj)!'- 



less 

 Of the Giant Rikad Gowree, 

 Of that very dreadful Rakshis, 

 Of that terrible Devourer. 

 Then his knees began to (juake all, 

 O'er his body came cold shudders. 

 Leapt his liver to his throat all, 

 Leapt the liver of Ahkeseral. 

 But he crept up to the fireplace, 

 Crept and snatched a blazing fire- 

 brand, 

 ]>lazing brand of Tamadita. 

 Groaned the Giant, fled Ahkeseral, 

 Dropped the firebrand, and a 



spark flew, 

 Flew and lighted on the Giant, 

 On his shapeless hip it lighted. 

 Raised a blister like a saucer ; 

 Started up the Giant swearing ; 

 Also feeling very hungry. 

 Feeling very much like eating. 

 Saw that very young Ahkeseral, 

 Plump and luscious as a cucumber. 

 Saw him running and ran after. 

 Ran and shouted loud behind 



him. 

 But in vain he followed after. 

 For the very young Ahkeseral, 

 Speeding swiftly through the 



forest. 

 Shortly vanished and was seen 



not. 

 And the Giant, much disgusted, 

 Then returned to his fireside. 

 And Ahkeseral, returning, 

 Told his greatly trembling 



brothers 

 Of that very dreadful Giant. 

 But the very valiant Lingo 

 Said, " Repose ye here a little, 

 I will go and see this monster 



