148 ‘HOP-O'-MY-THUMB,

to mountain at one step, and crossing rivers with the greatest
ease. At this Hop-o'-my-thumb thought within himself what
was to be done ; and spying a hollow place under a large rock,
he made his brothers get into it. He then stepped in himself,
but kept his eye fixed on the Ogre, to see what he would do
next.

The Ogre found himself quite weary with the journey he
had gone, for seven-league boots are very tiresome to the person
who wears them ; so he now began to think of resting, and
happened to sit down on the very rock that the poor children
were hid in, As he was so tired, and it-was avery hot day, he
fell fast asleep, and soon began to snore so loud, that the little
fellows were terrified. When Hop-o’-my-thumb saw this, he
said to his brothers, “ Courage, my lads ! never fear! you have
nothing to do but to steal away and get home while the Ogre
is fast asleep, and leave me to shift for myself.” ‘The brothers
now were very glad to do as he told them, and so they soon
came to their father’s house. In the mean time Hop-o’-my-
thumb went up to the Ogre softly, pulled off his seven-league
boots very gently, and put them on his own legs: for though
the boots were very large, yet they were fairies, and so could
make themselves small enough to fit any leg they pleased.

As soon as ever Hop-o’-my-thumb had made sure of the
Ogre’s seven league boots, he went at onec to the palace, and
offered his services to carry orders from the king to his army,
which was a great way off, and to bring back the quickest
accounts of the battle they were just at that time fighting with
the enemy. In short, he thought he could be of more use to
the king than all his mail coaches, and so should make his
fortune in this manner. But before he had made many strides
with his boots, he heard a voice that told him to stop. Hop-o'-
my-thumb was startled a good deal, so he looked about him to