the heads from tall grasses and tender twigs from the trees.

You would have said that his mind was very far away but for the fact
that he occasionally glanced at the others to see if this or that
skilful pass had been witnessed; and occasionally he gazed at the giant
in a very stern manner.

As for the giant, he spoke pleasantly to Everychild, asking him whither
he was bound; and when Everychild replied, quite simply, that he had
set out in quest of Truth, the giant nodded his approval.

It was Everychild who introduced the subject of Jack and the threat he
had made. "Maybe he'll not do anything when he finds you're a good
giant," he said; "and anyway, I suppose you'll know how to defend
yourself--a big fellow like you?"

He was greatly disturbed by the giant's reply. "I'm a big fellow,
yes," said Will o'Dreams, "and I can hold my own with other big
fellows. You know how to take them. But when you're a giant it seems
you don't know how to take the little chaps. I've always regarded Jack
the Giant Killer as a brave and honorable youth. But some of the
little fellows are hard to handle. They're full of tricks and deceit.
I've had many a tussle in my time; but when it comes to a fair test,
give me a man who's got honest strength--who's ashamed to do mean
tricks."

Everychild was considering this when he heard a voice behind him; and
turning his head, he was surprised to perceive that the Masked Lady was
standing there, quite close to him, and that Mr. Literal was only a
step or two distant. Mr. Literal held his note-book before him, and he