"Yes; I never had anything to complain of except that my trainer was sometimes a little rough. But it isn't as if I had somebody belonging to me—a brother, or a cousin, at the least. Have you any relations, Anak?" "Yes, I've got any number of cousins, and my old mother's living, too, bless her heart." "In Norway?" asked Robert, slyly. "Oh go away! they know no more about Norway than you do. It is in Tipperary they all live. I've forty or fifty cousins at the least, and I'll give you a half a dozen with pleasure, if it'll do you any good." "I don't think they would answer my purpose, Anak," answered the boy, smiling. "Well, as I was sayin', Robert, I wouldn't stay with the circus always if I was you." "What else is there for me to do?" "Wait and see. You're young yet." "My education is very poor, you know, Anak." "Can't you read and write?" "Yes, but not much more. I should like to go to school for two years." "Sure you look like a gentleman, and you'll be one some day, I shouldn't wonder." "Look there, Anak!" said the boy, suddenly; "there's a man who appears to be in trouble." As he spoke he pointed to the driver of a team, which seemed to have settled in the mud, for it was now spring-time, and the roads were in a bad condition. The driver was shouting frantically to the horse, who was making desperate efforts to pull the wagon out of the mire, but without success. CHAPTER II. ANAK'S EXPLOITS. "What's the matter, my friend?" inquired Anak, addressing the driver of the team. The latter stared in amazement at the gigantic querist, but his trouble overcame his surprise, and he answered, "You can see for yourself. My wagon's mired and my horse is too lazy to draw it out." "Indeed the poor beast is unable," said Anak. "He can do it if he wants to," said the driver, angrily. "I'll see if I can't persuade him," and he flourished a whip in a menacing manner. "Hold there!" said Anak. "We'll see if we can't help him." So saying he went round to the back of the wagon, and, seizing it in his powerful hands, cried, "Now start your horse!" The driver did so, and, with Anak's powerful help, the horse had small difficulty in extricating the wagon from the mire. "There, that's better than beating your horse," said Anak, stepping once more to the side of the road. "You're powerful strong, sir," said the teamster, respectfully, surveying the colossal proportions of Anak. "I ought to be, oughtn't I?" returned Anak. "Excuse me, sir, but do you belong to the circus?" "Yes, you'll find me there if you take the trouble to visit it." "Are you the Norwegian giant?" "That's what they call me," answered Anak, smiling. "Well, at any rate, I'm obliged to you for helping me." "And so is the horse, I'm thinking." "Yes; you are as strong as a horse yourself," said the teamster, admiringly. "That is convenient sometimes, my friend." The teamster drove on, and Anak and Robert also continued their walk.