48 TOM HICKATHRIFT.

the giant was gone for his club, Tom
bethought himself, and turning his cart
upside down, adroitly takes out the axle-_
tree, which would serve him for a staff,
and removing a wheel, fits it to his
arm instead of a shield—very good
weapons indeed in time of trouble, and
worthy of Tom’s wit. When the
monster returned with his club, he was
amazed to see the weapons with which
Tom had armed himself; but uttering a
word of defiance, he bore down upon the
poor fellow with such heavy strokes that
it was as much as Tom could do to
defend himself with his wheel. Tom,
however, at length cut the giant a heavy
blow with the axle-tree on the side of
his head, that he nearly reeled over.

‘‘What!” said Tom, “have you drunk