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und that they were not far from the edge of the forest； and when he climbed up one of the trees there he could see out over the open country beyond。 At a little distance he saw a fire； and beside it there sat three giants； busy with broth and beef。 They were so huge that the spoons they used were as large as spades； and their forks as big as hay…forks： with these they lifted whole bucketfuls of broth and great joints of meat out of an enormous pot which was set on the ground between them。 Niels was startled and rather scared at first； but he comforted himself with the thought that the giants were a good way off； and that if they came nearer he could easily hide among the bushes。 After watching them for a little； however； he began to get over his alarm； and finally slid down the tree again； resolved to get his gun and play some tricks with them。
When he had climbed back to his former position； he took good aim； and waited till one of the giants was just in the act of putting a large piece of meat into his mouth。 Bang！ went Niels' gun； and the bullet struck the handle of the fork so hard that the point went into the giant's chin； instead of his mouth。
'None of your tricks；' growled the giant to the one who sat next him。 'What do you mean by hitting my fork like that； and making me prick myself？'
'I never touched your fork；' said the other。 'Don't try to get up a quarrel with me。'
'Look at it； then；' said the first。 'Do you suppose I stuck it into my own chin for fun？'
The two got so angry over the matter that each offered to fight the other there and then； but the third giant acted as peace…maker； and they again fell to their eating。
While the quarrel was going on； Niels had loaded the gun again； and just as the second giant was about to put a nice tit…bit into his mouth； bang！ went the gun again； and the fork flew into a dozen pieces。
This giant was even more furious than the first had been； and words were just coming to blows； when the third giant again interposed。
'Don't be fools；' he said to them； 'what's the good of beginning to fight among ourselves； when it is so necessary for the three of us to work together and get the upper hand over the king of this country。 It will be a hard enough task as it is； but it will be altogether hopeless if we don't stick together。 Sit down again； and let us finish our meal； I shall sit between you； and then neither of you can blame the other。'
Niels was too far away to hear their talk； but from their gestures he could guess what was happening； and thought it good fun。
'Thrice is lucky；' said he to himself； 'I'll have another shot yet。'
This time it was the third giant's fork that caught the bullet； and snapped in two。
'Well；' said he； 'if I were as foolish as you two； I would also fly into a rage； but I begin to see what time of day it is； and I'm going off this minute to see who it is that's playing these tricks with us。'
So well had the giant made his observations； that though Niels climbed down the tree as fast as he could； so as to hide among the bushes； he had just got to the ground when the enemy was upon him。
'Stay where you are；' said the giant； 'or I'll put my foot on you； and there won't be much of you left after that。'
Niels gave in； and the giant carried him back to his comrades。
'You don't deserve any mercy at our hands；' said his captor 'but as you are such a good shot you may be of great use to us； so we shall spare your life； if you will do us a service。 Not far from here there stands a castle； in which the king's daughter lives； we are at war with the king； and want to get the upper hand of him by carrying off the princess； but the castle is so well guarded that there is no getting into it。 By our skill in magic we have cast sleep on every living thing in the castle； except a little black dog； and； as long as he is awake； we are no better off than before； for； as soon as we begin to climb over the wall； the little dog will hear us； and its barking will waken all the others again。 Having got you； we can place you where you will be able to shoot the dog before it begins to bark； and then no one can hinder us from getting the princess into our hands。 If you do that； we shall not only let you off； but reward you handsomely。'
Niels had to consent； and the giants set out for the castle at once。 It was surrounded by a very high rampart； so high that even the giants could not touch the top of it。 'How am I to get over that？' said Niels。
'Quite easily；' said the third giant； ' I'll throw you up on it。'
'No； thanks；' said Niels。 'I might fall down on the other side； or break my leg or neck； and then the little dog wouldn't get shot after all。'
'No fear of that；' said the giant； 'the rampart is quite wide on the top； and covered with long grass； so that you will come down as softly as though you fell on a feather…bed。'
Niels had to believe him； and allowed the giant to throw him up。 He came down on his feet quite unhurt； but the little black dog heard the dump； and rushed out of its kennel at once。 It was just opening its mouth to bark； when Niels fired； and it fell dead on the spot。
'Go down on the inside now；' said the giant； 'and see if you can open the gate to us。'
Niels made his way down into the courtyard； but on his way to the outer gate he found himself at the entrance to the large hall of the castle。 The door was open； and the hall was brilliantly lighted； though there was no one to be seen。 Niels went in here and looked round him： on the wall there hung a huge sword without a sheath； and beneath it was a large drinking…horn； mounted with silver。 Niels went closer to look at these； and saw that the horn had letters engraved on the silver rim： when he took it down and turned it round； he found that the inscription was：
Whoever drinks the wine I hold Can wield the sword that hangs above； Then let him use it for the right； And win a royal maiden's love。
Niels took out the silver stopper of the horn； and drank some of the wine； but when he tried to take down the sword he found himself unable to move it。 So he hung up the horn again； and went further in to the castle。 'The giants can wait a little；' he said。
Before long he came to an apartment in which a beautiful princess lay asleep in a bed； and on a table by her side there lay a gold…hemmed handkerchief。 Niels tore this in two； and put one half in his pocket； leaving the other half on the table。 On the floor he saw a pair of gold…embroidered slippers； and one of these he also put in his pocket。 After that he went back to the hall； and took down the horn again。 'Perhaps I have to drink all that is in it before I can move the sword；' he thought； so he put it to his lips again and drank till it was quite empty。 When he had done this； he could wield the sword with the greatest of ease； and felt himself strong enough to do anything； even to fight the giants he had left outside； who were no doubt wondering why he had not opened the gate to them before this time。 To kill the giants； he thought； would be using the sword for the right； but as to winning the love of the princess； that was a thing which the son of a poor sheep…farmer need no