` 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 wo n't be much of you left after that . ' Niels gave in , and the giant carried him back to his comrades . ` You do n'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 would n'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 XXXXX his feet quite unhurt , but the little black dog heard the dump , and rushed out of its kennel at once .
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