THE OGRE AND THE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN

Some hunters set out with their camels. When they came to the

hunting-ground they loosed their camels to let them graze, and hunted until

the setting of the sun, and then came back to their camp. One day while one

of them was going along he saw the marks of an ogre, each one three feet

wide, and began to follow them. He proceeded and found the place where the

ogre had lately made his lair. He returned and said to his companions:

"I've found the traces of an ogre. Come, let us seek him."

"No," they answered, "we will not go to seek him, because we are not

stronger than he is."

"Grant me fourteen days," said the huntsman. "If I return, you shall see.

If not, take back my camel with the game."

The next day he set out and began to follow the traces of the ogre. He

walked for four days, when he discovered a cave, into which he entered.

Within he found a beautiful woman, who said to him:

"What brings thee here, where thou wilt be devoured by this ogre?"

"But thou," answered the hunter, "what is thy story and how did the ogre

bring thee here?"

"Three days ago he stole me," she replied. "I was betrothed to the son of

my uncle, then the ogre took me. I have stayed in the cavern. He often

brings me food. I stay here, and he does not kill me."

"Where does he enter," asked the hunter, "when he comes back here?"

"This is the way," she answered. The hunter went in to the middle of the

cave, loaded his gun, and waited. At sunset the ogre arrived. The hunter

took aim and fired, hitting the ogre between the eyes as he was sitting

down. Approaching him he saw that he had brought with him two men to cook

and eat them. In the morning he employed the day in collecting the hidden

silver, took what he could, and set out on the return. On the fourteenth

day he arrived at the place where he had left his comrades, and found them

there.

"Leave the game you have secured and return with me to the cave," he said

to them. When they arrived they took all the arms and clothing, loaded it

upon their camels, and set out to return to their village. Half way home

they fought to see which one should marry the woman. The powder spoke

between them. Our man killed four, and took the woman home and married her.

Moorish Literature Comprising Romantic Ballads, Tales of the Berbers, Stories of the Kabyles, Folk-Lore, and National Traditions · 第 119 / 228 题