asked the raven , who was now quite quiet . ` You rascal ! Am I to give you tobacco for trying to peck my eyes out ? ' answered Ian . ` That was part of my duty , ' replied the raven ; ` but give it to me , and I will prove a good friend to you . ' So Ian broke off a piece of tobacco and gave it to him . The raven hid it under his wing , and then went on ; ` Now I will take you to the house of the big giant , where the knight 's daughter sits sewing , sewing , till even her thimble is wet with tears . ' And the raven hopped before him till they reached a large house , the door of which stood open . They entered and passed through one hall after the other , until they found the knight 's daughter , as the bird had said . ` What brought you here ? ' asked she . And Ian made answer : ` Why may I not go where you can go ? ' ' I was brought hither by a giant , ' replied she . ' I know that , ' said Ian ; ` but tell me where the giant is , that I may find him . ' ` He is on the hunting hill , ' answered she ; ` and nought will bring him home save a shake of the iron chain which hangs outside the gate . But , there , neither to leeward , nor to windward , nor in the four brown boundaries of the sea , is there any man that can hold battle against him , save only Ian , the soldier 's son , and he is now but sixteen years old , and how shall he stand against the giant ? ' ` In the land whence I have come there are many men with the strength of Ian , ' answered he . And he went outside and pulled at the chain , but he could not move it , and fell on to his knees . At that he rose swiftly , and gathering up his strength , he seized the chain , and this time he shook it so that the link broke . And the giant heard it on the hunting hill , and lifted his head , thinking -- ` It sounds like the noise of Ian , the soldier 's son , ' said he ; ` but as yet he is only sixteen years old .
Still , I had better look XXXXX it . '
At after against as by like of on through to