If you would not fail , wash yourself in clean water , and take balsam from a vessel on top of the door , and rub it over your body , and to-morrow you will be as strong as many men , and I will lead you to the dwelling of the middle one . ' Ian did as the raven bade him , and in spite of the eldest daughter 's entreaties , he set out to seek her next sister . He found her where she was seated sewing , her very thimble wet from the tears which she had shed . ` What brought you here ? ' asked the second sister . ` Why may I not go where you can go ? ' answered he ; ` and why are you weeping ? ' ` Because in one day I shall be married to the giant who is on the hunting hill . ' ` How can I get him home ? ' asked Ian . ` Nought will bring him but a shake of that iron chain which hangs outside the gate . But there is neither to leeward , nor to westward , nor in the four brown boundaries of the sea , any man that can hold battle with him , save Ian , the soldier 's son , and he is now but sixteen years of age . ' ` In the land whence I have come there are many men with the strength of Ian , ' said he . And he went outside and pulled at the chain , but he could not move it , and fell on his knees . At that he rose to his feet , and gathering up his strength mightily , he seized the chain , and this time he shook it so that three links broke . And the second 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 to it . ' And home he came . ` Are you Ian , the soldier 's son ? ' he asked , as he entered the castle .
` No , of a surety , ' answered the youth , who had no wish that this giant should know him either ; ` but I will wrestle XXXXX you as if I were he . '
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