“Oh, King! Oh, King!” and they could say no more with weeping.
Then the King’s heart was very, very sore, and he tried to comfort them, but his best comfort was in his tears—for the tears of friends help to make trouble light; and he spoke to the people and said—
“Alas! our soldiers were too few. To-night we will send an army, and perchance the Giant will fall.”
That night a gallant army, with many great engines of war and with flags flying and bands playing, went forth against the Giant.
At the head of the army rode Janisar, the captain, with his armour of steel inlaid with gold shining in the glow of the sunset. The scarlet and white trappings of his great black charger looked splendid. At his side, for some distance on his way, rode Prince Zaphir on his white palfrey.
The people al
