"Off with the lid!" shouted Mahbracca, and instantly a number of the
slaves seized the cover and dragged it off, when a great, thick,
poisonous smoke burst out of it, which would have destroyed our friends
in a few moments, had not they involuntarily sprung back and clapped
their handkerchiefs to their faces. However, they could not have lived
more than half a minute, had not the Giant, with admirable presence of
mind and surprising quickness, given the brazier such a tremendous kick
with one of his heavy boots, that he sent it more than a mile and a
half, into the midst of a distant herd of Yabouks, which were all
instantly suffocated by the dense cloud of poisonous smoke which covered
them, as the brazier fell, upside-down, right over the leader of the
herd, who, giving one great bellow, instantly crisped up into nothing.
The Giant and his party did not dare to draw breath until they had run a
considerable distance; but, notwithstanding this precaution, the
Princess presently sank down, very pale and faint; for her handkerchief,
being of the finest cambric, did not prevent her from slightly smelling
the horrid vapor, although she did not inhale any of it. However, the
fresher air, and the vigorous efforts of the Prince, soon restored her.
Mahbracca, stupefied for a moment at her utter discomfiture, and
deserted by her followers, stood gazing blankly at the scene. What she
intended doing next, was not long doubtful; for, taking a magical wand
from her pocket, she bade the Giant, with a wave of her wand, turn into
a camelopard. As he did not seem in a hurry to obey, she commanded him
to become a hippopotamus, and then an elephant. He positively declined,
however, to turn into any of these animals, owing to his having taken
the precaution, before leaving his castle, to drink a bottle of
anti-enchantment water. The old sorceress now became so enraged that she
could scarcely speak, but stood stamping her feet, and shaking her fist
at the great Tur-il-i-ra, who, leaning on his club, waited with a smile
for her next attempt upon him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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