THE LITTLE GRAY MAN’S DECISION. 233

the Slim disappeared before the giant recovered
from the surprise the elf’s words had caused
him.

When he fully realized the extent to which
he had been duped, King Cloudcatcher flew
into a great rage. His angry bellows rever-
berated among the hills and startled every living
creature for miles about. The other giants
hastened to the assistance of their king, and
between his yells of rage they managed to un-
derstand the cause of the disturbance. The
impulsive fellows quickly espoused the quarrel
of their king.

“War to the dwarfs! Trample them to death!
Batter down their gates!” cried the giants ex-
citedly as they assembled in front of King
Rondo’s castle.

“Take thy club, Twigtwister, and batter
against yon door!” cried the king. “And do
thou, Rockroller, bring one of thy largest
bowlders.”

Selecting a massive oak that grew half way
down the hill, Twigtwister, bending to the
task, uprooted it and bore it to the top of the
hill. At the same moment Rockroller ap-
peared, bending beneath the weight of a gigan-