CLOUDCATCHER AND HIS PRISONERS. 223

was about the size of a large walnut, — the elf
climbed the tree once more, holding his stone
carefully, and when just above the giant’s
head he let the stone fall on the sleeping, up-
turned face. It hit the giant’s nose, but it
made no more impression on him than a grain
of sand would have made upon the elf, in truth,
not half so much, and the giant slept more
deeply than before.

Finding his first experiment a failure, the elf
bethought himself of another. Hastily sliding
down the tree, he cast his eyes about until
they lighted on a stick pointed at one end,

In reality the stick was a short one, but com-
pared with the height and strength of the elf,
it seemed a mighty pole. Firmly seizing the
thickest end in both his hands, and holding
the pointed end straight before him, as one
would handle a spear, the elf started on a run
in the direction of the giant’s face.

By the time Toto reached the giant he had
accumulated a good deal of force, and the
sharp point of the stick brought up against the
giant’s cheek with force sufficient to cause him
to put up-his hand and make a motion as
though he were brushing a mosquito away.