There is only Ian , the soldier 's son , who can do this , and he is but now sixteen years old . ' I will show you who I am when you have wrestled with me , ' said Ian . And they threw their arms round each other , and the giant forced Ian on to his knees ; but in a moment he was up again , and crooking his leg round the shoulders of the giant , he threw him heavily to the ground . ` Stumpy black raven , come quick ! ' cried he ; and the raven came , and beat the giant about the head with his wings , so that he could not get up . Then he bade Ian take out a sharp knife from under his feathers , which he carried with him for cutting berries , and Ian smote off the giant 's head with it . And so sharp was that knife that , with one blow , the giant 's head rolled on the ground . ` Rest now this night also , ' said the raven , ` and to-morrow you shall take the knight 's three daughters to the edge of the rock that leads to the lower world . But take heed to go down first yourself , and let them follow after you . And before I go you shall give me a piece of tobacco . ' ` Take it all , ' answered Ian , ` for well have you earned it . ' ` No ; give me but a piece . You know what is behind you , but you have no knowledge of what is before you . ' And picking up the tobacco in his beak , the raven flew away . So the next morning the knight 's youngest daughter loaded asses with all the silver and gold to be found in the castle , and she set out with Ian the soldier 's son for the house where her second sister was waiting to see what would befall . She also had asses laden with precious things to carry away , and so had the eldest sister , when they reached the castle where she had been kept a prisoner . Together they all rode to the edge of the rock , and then Ian lay down and shouted , and the basket was drawn up , and in it they got one by one , and were let down to the bottom . When the last one was gone , Ian should have gone also , and left the three sisters to come after him ; but he had forgotten the raven 's warning , and bade them go first , lest some accident should happen . Only , he begged the youngest sister to let him keep the little gold cap which , like the others , she wore on her head ; and then he helped them , each in her turn , into the basket . Long he waited , but wait as he might , the basket never came back , for in their joy at being free the knight 's daughters had forgotten all about Ian , and had set sail in the ship that had brought him and his brothers to the land of Grianaig .
At last he began to understand what had happened XXXXX him , and while he was taking counsel with himself what had best be done , the raven came to him .
So about as before by into of that to with