up and saw the Pumpkin Giant coming with his mouth wide open. "Get
behind me, O, my darling son!" cried Patroclus.

Æneas obeyed, but it was of no use; for you could see his cheeks each
side his father's waistcoat.

Patroclus was not ordinarily a brave man, but he was brave in an
emergency; and as that is the only time when there is the slightest
need of bravery, it was just as well.

The Pumpkin Giant strode along faster and faster, opening his mouth
wider and wider, until they could fairly hear it crack at the corners.

Then Patroclus picked up an enormous Young Plantagenet and threw it
plump into the Pumpkin Giant's mouth. The Giant choked and gasped, and
choked and gasped, and finally tumbled down and died.

[Illustration: HE PICKED UP AN ENORMOUS YOUNG PLANTAGENET AND THREW IT
AT HIM.]

Patroclus and Æneas while the Giant was choking, had run to the house
and locked themselves in; then they looked out of the kitchen window;
when they saw the Giant tumble down and lie quite still, they knew he
must be dead. Then Daphne was immediately cured of the Giant's
Shakes, and got out of bed for the first time in two years. Patroclus
sharpened the carving-knife on the kitchen stove, and they all went
out into the potato-field.

They cautiously approached the prostrate Giant, for fear he might be
shamming, and might suddenly spring up at them and--Æneas. But no, he