` For a hundred years no man has swept this byre , ' said the giant , ` but if by nightfall , when I reach home , thou has not cleaned it so that a golden apple can roll through it from end to end , thy blood shall pay for it . ' All day long the youth toiled , but he might as well have tried to empty the ocean . At length , when he was so tired he could hardly move , the giant 's youngest daughter stood in the doorway . ` Lay down thy weariness , ' said she , and the king 's son , thinking he could only die once , sank on the floor at her bidding , and fell sound asleep . When he woke the girl had disappeared , and the byre was so clean that a golden apple could roll from end to end of it . He jumped up in surprise , and at that moment in came the giant . ` Hast thou cleaned the byre , king 's son ? ' asked he . ' I have cleaned it , ' answered he . ` Well , since thou wert so active to-day , to-morrow thou wilt thatch this byre with a feather from every different bird , or else thy blood shall pay for it , ' and he went out . Before the sun was up , the youth took his bow and his quiver and set off to kill the birds . Off to the moor he went , but never a bird was to be seen that day . At last he got so tired with running to and fro that he gave up heart . ` There is but one death I can die , ' thought he . Then at midday came the giant 's daughter . ` Thou art tired , king 's son ? ' asked she . ' I am , ' answered he ; ` all these hours have I wandered , and there fell but these two blackbirds , both of one colour . ' ` Lay down thy weariness on the grass , ' said she , and he did as she bade him , and fell fast asleep . When he woke the girl had disappeared , and he got up , and returned to the byre .
As he drew near , he rubbed his eyes hard , thinking he was dreaming , XXXXX there it was , beautifully thatched , just as the giant had wished .
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