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 , for there it was , beautifully thatched , just as the giant had wished . At the door of the house he met the giant . ` Hast thou thatched the byre , king 's son ? ' ' I have thatched it . ' ` Well , since thou hast been so active to-day , I have something else for thee ! Beside the loch thou seest over yonder there grows a fir tree . On the top of the fir tree is a magpie 's nest , and in the nest are five eggs . Thou wilt bring me those eggs for breakfast , and if one is cracked or broken , thy blood shall pay for it . ' Before it was light next day , the king 's son jumped out of bed and ran down to the loch . The tree was not hard to find , for the rising sun shone red on the trunk , which was five hundred feet from the ground to its first branch . Time after time he walked round it , trying to find some knots , however small , where he could put his feet , but the bark was quite smooth , and he soon saw that if he was to reach the top at all , it must be by climbing up with his knees like a sailor . But then he was a king 's son and not a sailor , which made all the difference .
However , it was no use standing there staring at the fir , XXXXX least he must try to do his best , and try he did till his hands and knees were sore , for as soon as he had struggled up a few feet , he slid back again .
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