FIRESIDE STORIES. 543

 

this impudent answer: “A dishclout in your teeth for your news,
for you shall not find me to be one of them.” “No!” said the
giant, in astonishment and indignation; “and what a fool you
must be if you come to fight with such a one as Iam, and bring
never a weapon to defend yourself!” Quoth Tom, “I have a
weapon here that will make you know you are a traitorly rogue.”
This impertinent speech highly incensed the giant, who imme-
diately ran to his cave for his club, intending to dash out Tom’s
brains at one blow. Tom was now much distressed for a weapon,
that necessary accoutrement in his expedition having by some
means escaped his memory, and he began to reflect how very
little his whip would avail him against a monster twelve feet in
height and six feet round the waist—-small dimensions certainly
for a giant, but sufficient to be formidable. But while the giant
was gone for his club, Tom bethought himself, and turning his
cart upside down, adroitly takes out the axletree, which would
serve him for a staff, and removing a wheel, adapts it to his arm
in lieu of a shield—very good weapons indeed in time of trouble,
and worthy of Tom’s ingenuity. 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 muchas Tom could do to defend himself with his wheel. Tom,
however, at length managed to give the giant* a heavy blow
with the axletree on the side of his head, that he nearly reeled
over. “What!” said Tom, “are you tipsy with my strong beer

* In the original it is /ent the giant, the term /ext being old English or Saxon for
gave. The expression sufficiently proves the antiquity of the version.