Panurge, whose eyes and ears had been stretched wide open ever since the beginning of the fight, shouted out to the King and the Giants : " By Heaven ! if we don't get them apart, they will hurt one another."
But the Giants, on their side, were in high ehuckles. When Carpalim wanted to get up to help his master, one of them said: —
"By Golfarim ! " — who is the nephew of Mahomet,—"if thou stir from here, I shall tuck thee in my belt."
Meanwhile Pantagruel, having lost his staff, caught hold of the little stump that was left of the mast, striking blows, here and there, with it on the Giant's body. But the stump was so short that no harm was done. Of course, all this time, Loupgarou was puffing and blowing hard to pull his mace out from the rock. He at last succeeded. All the time he was getting ready to swing it once more, he was bawling out: "Villain ! this time I shall surely kill thee ! Never after this shalt thou make honest people thirsty ! " In trying to get his mace in proper position to strike, he was, of course, bending a little.
Here was one more chance for Pantagruel; and Pantagruel took it.
While Loupgarou had his body half-bent, Pantagruel gave him
DEATH OF L.OUPGAROU.
such a kick in the stomach that he made him fall backwards, heels over head, and as he began to drag him along the ground, Loupgarou was bleeding at the throat, and could only find breath to call out three times : " Mahomet! Mahomet! ! Mahomet!! ! "
The moment they heard that cry, up started all the Giants to help their leader; but now came Panurge's time to interfere.
" Gentlemen, don't you go, if you have the slightest faith in me. My master is mad, and is striking out blindly. He may hurt you in his anger."
But the Giants only ha-ha'd at all this, having seen that poor Panta-gruel's only weapon, the mast, had been shivered to the handle by the fairy mace. 'So, like idiots, they started in a body to Loupgarou's rescue. The moment Pantagruel, who was just then breathing a little hard, saw the Giants coming up, he caught Loupgarou's body, encased in an armor of stout anvils, up by the two feet, lifting it high in the air with the same ease as he might have raised a pike ; and, with the master's own body, he slashed around right and left among the Giants, knocking them down as a mason chips with his hammer little bits off a stone. Not one of the Giants could stand before Pantagruel without being struck flat to the ground. While Pantagruel was performing such wonders with Loupgarou's body and his armor of anvils, Panurge, together with Carpalim and Eus-thenes, were not idle. They, who had been so humble a few moments before, were now going from one to the other of the party who lay stretched on the ground, cutting the throats of such as had not fallen quite dead. When the battle seemed to be at an end, up came a fearful Giant, whom Pantagruel did not know, but who was so much taller and stouter than his comrades that Loupgarou had made him his first officer. Pantagruel felt perfectly safe with his new weapon ; but, seeing how big the Giant was, he gave an extra strong blow with the body, which sent Loupgarou's head rolling on the ground. This new Giant was the last, and that one strong blow killed him. Then Pantagruel, seeing that none of the Giants had escaped, with one great swing of the arm, threw the headless body into the city, which was not very far off.
It fell into the great Square, where it crushed with its weight one singed cat, one wet cat, one lame duck, and one bridled goose.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
HOW PANTAGRUEL FINALLY CONQUERS THE THIRSTY PEOPLE, AND THE STRANGE BUSINESS PANURGE FINDS FOR KING ANARCHUS.
AFTER this marvellous victory, Panta-gruel sent Carpalim before him into the city to let everybody know that King Anarchus had been taken prisoner, and that all his Giants had been killed. On receiving this message, the people flocked out of the walls to welcome their own Prince. Everywhere, crowds were making merry around fine, round tables, filled with good victuals, and set out in the middle of the streets. So good was the cheer, and so bright were the bonfires that blazed on every side, that the people said it looked like the Golden Age come again. Pantagruel called the wise men of the city before him. When they had gathered together, he spoke these words : —
" My masters, I am not satisfied with getting back my own city. I shall not rest until I capture all the cities, towns, and villages in the Kingdom of the Thirsty People. I noted to-day that this city of yours is so full of people that they can't turn about in the streets. I know what I shall do for them. I shall plant my ancient and tried Utopians as a colony in Dipsodie, so that they can teach the Thirsty People how to be true and loyal. By to-morrow at daylight, let men of all trades be in the Public Square. I shall be ready to march at that hour."
Of course, this was soon noised about the city. The next morning a vast multitude swarmed into the Great Square before the Palace to the number of one million eight hundred and fifty-six thousand and eleven — not counting the women and children. At break of day, this great army was all ready to march in good order straight into the country of the Thirsty People.
But, before they all get away. I must tell you one of the cunning
WELCOME TO PA_NTAGKDJiL.
tricks of our old friend Pa-nurge. He had not forgotten that the wretched little King Anarchus, whom Pantagruel had given to him as a present, had been the chief cause of the invasion of the peaceful Kingdom of Utopia. If Anarchus had shown the spirit of a brave man among the stout and faithful Giants, who had fought to the death to keep his mean little body from harm, Panurge would never have dared touch him. But Anarchus had been all along such a coward that he wasn't worth anybody's pity. So, on the evening of Pantagruel's triumphant entrance into the city, Panurge, after some hard thinking, got up a new dress for the little King. There was nothing at all royal about the dress. It was very far from being that, as it consisted of a pretty canvas doublet, all braided and pranked out; a pair of wide sailor trousers ; and stockings without shoes.
'' For," as Panurge said, " shoes would only spoil his sight."
He then put on the head of Anarchus a little pink cap, trimmed with a great capon-feather, — maybe I am wrong, because I have been told that there were two of these feathers,—besides a fine belt of blue and green. This was the ridiculous figure which Panurge dragged before Pantagruel.
"Do you know this fellow?"
" Not I," said Pantagruel.
"Why, this is the King of the Thirsty People ! I am going to make an honest man of him. He was a pitiful rogue when he wore the crown. Now r that he wears this gay dress, he is an honest man. I have given him a trade. He is a crier of green sauce, at your service." '' Now, little King, begin ! Call out, ' Green Sauce ! Green Sauce ! Who wants to buy Green Sauce ? '
The poor King, from pure shame, piped out too low.
"That is not half loud enough," cried Panurge, catching him by the ear, and saying, " Sing higher, little King; sing higher in ge, sol, re, ut."
Pantagruel made himself merry at all this. I dare say the little King was the drollest man he had ever seen.
And this was how King Anarchus got to be a Crier of Green Sauce.
Two days after this, Panurge married the little King with an old lantern-jawed hag. To have everything pass off gaily, and to make sure of good dancing, he hired a blind man to give the music. For their wedding-supper, he ordered fine sheep-heads, plenty of eels served with mustard, and tripe spiced with garlic. The drink was watered wine and fine cider.
Pantagruel gave the couple a little cottage in one of the side streets, and a stone-mortar in which to pound their sauce. Here they carried on their trade, and the little King might have been happier than when he lived in a palace and had Giants to guard him, but for his wife, who beat him in time as flat as a mummy.
When Pantagruel marched from the city, along the high road, he looked a grander and mightier Giant than ever. Every town and city surrendered to him as he drew near, and every noble of the country came to offer him homage. Only the city of the Almirodes held out;
GRANDER AND MIGHTIER THAN EVER.
and that would have kept its
gates shut to the end had it not been for a story its people happened to hear of the Giant and of an awful storm which came up one day, while he was on his way there with his army. There being no danger of his being drowned,—so the story ran,— Pantagruel put his big tongue half way out of his mouth and covered the whole army as snugly as a hen covers her chicks. When the people of the stubborn city heard that, they opened their gates wide ! — wide !! — wide ! ! ! —to let the Giant pass. 'There is no use resisting such a man as that," everybody said.
And so ended the bad war which the begun against their good tua had Thirsty People had the Utopians when King Gargan-been car-
PANTAGRUEL RETURNS
ried to Fairy-land. Pantagruel, having ended his tour through all the cities of his new Kingdom of Dipsodie, finally reached the Palace where he had been born, and on leaving which, one sad day, to go on his long journey to school, he had seen for the last time his dear and honored father. All these thoughts made the tender-hearted Giant sad ; but he had no time for weeping. There were many wrongs in his own Kingdom of Utopia to make right. There were many rights to make strong. There were a thousand other things to do for his faithful people, who had at once proclaimed him King when Gargantua had been taken to Fairy-land,— even when he had been leagues upon leagues away.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
GARGANTUA COMES BACK FROM FAIRY-LAND. AFTER WHICH PANTA-GRUEL PREPARES FOR ANOTHER TRIP.
ONE day Gargantua came back from Fairy-land.
It was a day above all others long to be remembered by Pantagruel, when he first heard, on coming home from a visit to one of his cities, where he had gone to decide a knotty case between that city and a neighboring town, the sharp bark of a dog. f Why ! I know that bark," he said. ' That is the bark of little Kyne, my father's dog. My father must surely have come back ! " So, joyfully, he followed Kyne, who went bounding and frisking back to the great door of the Palace. There he found his old father, with his arms stretched wide open to clasp his son. Everybody was glad to see that wonderful meeting of father and son high up in the air. " My dear son ! " " My dear and honored father ! "
That was all they could hear, as the old Giant and the young Giant, arm in arm, passed through the door, and went up the broad stairway into the great hall. We may be sure that Snapsauce and the two other Very Fat Cooks were soon doing their best to get together a good dinner, during which Pantagruel heard all about Fairy-land, its Queen, and her kind Fairies. When a fresh flagon of wine rested between them, Father Gargantua said : —
"I praise God, my beloved son, that he has given thee such wisdom and virtue. Had it not been for thee, I would still have been in Fairy-land, for thou hast been wise while I was away. I would like to speak to thee now on a subject which much troubled me there. Thou art now old enough to take a wife, and I desire to see thee marry. Hast thou ever thought of a wife?"
"To tell the truth, most dear father, I have never yet thought of one. But, in choosing a wife, I am always thy son, and thou shalt choose for me."
"I believe thee in that, my son. But thou shalt choose for thyself when the time comes for a wife. When thou findest her, bring her home ; she shall find a father waiting for her."
Pantagruel stretched out one big hand across the table. It met another big hand, only that other was more knotty and wrinkled than his own. Then the two mighty hands clasped.
"But this is not all that I wanted to say, my boy. It is time thou shouldst travel. Thou needest rest. Hast thou not been King in my place ? " The old Giant laughed as he said this. " Hast thou not filled my throne, thou young rogue, for this score of years and more? Thou art not so strong as thou wast ; thou hast need of a holiday."
" Hast thou also thought, father, of a plan for all this whilst thou wert in Fairy-land?"
"Well, yes. I had nothing else to do there but think. I know thou dost love to travel and see strange things. Thou shalt start at once. Don't crawl on land. Spread out thy white sails, and try the seas. Take with thee thy friend Panurge, — he looks like a keen fellow,—my old friend Friar John, my old master Ponocrates, who would be better for a trip ; also Master Epistemon, and such others as thou pleasest. Put thy open hand into my treasure-box, and draw out thy closed fist with what thou wantest of my gold. Thou wilt find at my arsenal, Thalasse, all that thou needest; besides pilots, sailors, and stout soldiers. At the first fair wind, set sail. When thou art away, my boy, I shall make ready for thy wife, and for a splendid feast when thou shalt bring her safe home."
CHAPTER XXXV.
PANTAGRUEL STARTS ON HIS TRAVELS, AND LANDS AT THE ISLAND OF PICTURES.
FEW days after this, Pantagruel said good-by to Gargantua, leaving the old Giant on his knees praying for his son. He took with him Ponocrates, Panurge, Epistemon, Gymnaste, Eusthenes, Rhi-zotome, and Carpalim going with him of course ; fine old Friar John, who was fond of saying that he could not sleep o' nights unless he was in search of some adventure ; besides a famous traveler named Xenomanes, who boasted that he knew every land and every sea that the earth, if it had a tongue, could name. When he reached the sea-coast once more, Pantagruel picked out the twelve largest vessels in Thalasse, and gathered together all the pilots, mates, boatswains, sailors, workmen, soldiers, artillery, ammunition, provisions, and clothes he needed for a long voyage.
The Flag-ship carried at its prow the strange figure of a gigantic Bottle. Half of this bottle was of polished silver, the other half of gold enamelled with crimson. From this every child in Thalasse — who was a born sailor, and could read strange legends around the prows of ships — ran about the streets in glee, shouting that the Prince's colors would be white and red in the lands to which he was going.
With James Brayer, the best pilot in the world, the fleet sailed gaily away, with all its flags flying. It had all the way, except for a few days near the Island of the Macreons, a fine, brisk wind, Avhich each day carried it farther toward India, the mysterious land in which Pantagruel was going to seek a wife. On the fifth day, James Brayer caught sight of an island, fair to see on account of the high, white
PAJVTAGRDEL PICKS HIS SHIPS.
light-houses and towers, which rose so close together that the whole coast shone like solid silver under the sun. On steering for the nearest port, it was found that the new land was known as Medamothi, or the Island of Pictures.
' Island of Pictures ! " exclaimed Pantagruel; " then we must have some of them ! "
While every ship's crew was hard at work taking in fresh water, Pantagruel, with his friends, all in high good-humor at the prospect of once more stepping on dry land, went on shore. They saw a great crowd of people hurrying here and there, treading on each other's heels, and filling all the streets and byways leading to a great Square.
PANTAGRUEL SETS SAIL.
"What brings all you good people here ? " asked Pantagruel of a cripple, who was getting along as fast as he could hobble.
"Our great Fair, mighty Giant. Our Fair is held here every year."
" Have you anything there worth the trouble of walking to see ? "
LANDING AT THE ISLE OF PICTURES.
"Oh, yes! Your Highness. Many wonderful things are brought here by the great merchants of Asia and Africa; yes, and from all parts of the world, too."
"We are in time, then, to see these wonderful things," said the Giant.
Once at the Fair, Pantagruel and his friends were delighted with the number and variety of the finest tapestry pictures ever brought together. There was nothing on the earth — whether men, country, cities, palaces, farm-houses, mountains, ravines, valleys, lakes, trees, flowers, birds, rivers, beasts, fishes — that was not to be found worked in tapestry by skilful hands at that most wonderful of Fairs. Everybody bought a picture,—Friar John, Epistemon, Eusthenes, Carpa-lim, Panurge, — everybody, even Gymnaste, who had never before in all his days seen tapestry. And it was here, while Pantagruel was standing, deep in thought, before a bit of tapestry Epistemon had bought, that Xenomanes came up and tried in every way to
catch his eye. All those around were too busy in making good bargains for themselves with the merchants to help him ; so, after half a dozen efforts, he shook his white head gravely, and walked away.
It was Gymnaste who bought the largest and finest tapestry of all, representing the "Life and Feats of Achilles," in seventy-eight pieces, eight yards long and six yards wide, all made of Phrygian silk, embossed with gold and silver.
"Is that fit for a rough fellow like thee, Gymnaste?" asked Panurge, with his nose turned up in scorn.
" Thou knowest better than that, Panurge ! It is a present from our noble lord to his royal father, which I have bought on his order."
"Humph ! " said Panurge, while his nose turned up still higher in a bright red end, and stayed that way until dinner-time, when it turned down a bit, but got redder than ever before the meal was over.
Before leaving the Island of Pictures, Pantagruel bought three fine young unicorns, which were the tamest of all creatures, and a splendid reindeer which, with great care, had been brought all the way from frozen Scythia. There never has been a reindeer like this reindeer from Scythia! It could change its color at any time, not because it wanted, or knew it was doing so, but only because it could not help changing whenever a new color came near it. For instance, when Panurge, in his gray kersey coat, would draw near to stroke it, its hair would turn gray too. Near Pantagruel, dressed grandly out in his great scarlet mantle, the reindeer would blaze out red. When
PANTAGRUEL BUYS SOME STRANGE ANIMALS.
James Brayer, in his long, white gown, happened to come near the beast, there, in a few seconds, was the reindeer from Scythia turning white before everybody's eyes !
Three good giants Page 13
