little? "Nay, nay," said Tom, "my mother did not teach me such wit;
who'd be a fool then?" And seeing the giant beginning to weary and fail
in his blows, Tom thought best to make hay whilst the sun shone, and,
laying on as fast as though he had been mad, he brought the giant to the
ground. In vain were the giant's roars and prayers and promises to yield
himself and be Tom's servant. Tom laid at him till he was dead, and
then, cutting off his head, he went into the cave, and found a great
store of silver and gold, which made his heart to leap. So he loaded his
cart, and after delivering his beer at Wisbeach, he came home and told
his master what had befallen him. And on the morrow he and his master
and more of the towns-folk of Lynn set out for the giant's cave. Tom
showed them the head, and what silver and gold there was in the cave,
and not a man but leapt for joy, for the giant was a great enemy to all
the country.

The news was spread all up and down the country-side how Tom Hickathrift
had killed the giant. And well was he that could run to see the cave;
all the folk made bonfires for joy, and if Tom was respected before, he
was much more so now. With common consent he took possession of the cave
and every one said, had it been twice as much, he would have deserved
it. So Tom pulled down the cave, and built himself a brave house. The
ground that the giant kept by force for himself, Tom gave part to the
poor for their common land, and part he turned into good wheat-land to
keep himself and his old mother, Jane Hickathrift. And now he was become
the chiefest man in the country-side; 't was no longer plain Tom, but
Mr. Hickathrift, and he was held in due respect I promise you. He kept
men and maids and lived most bravely; made him a park to keep deer, and
time passed with him happily in his great house till the end of his
days.