ed to him that his heart must cease to beat when Father Time
exclaimed in a loud voice--

"Go, Everychild!"

Still he hung back. "But not that way!" he repeated. "The wide world
lies that way, and I should be afraid."

"I know," said Father Time, "that the Giant Fear lives outside that
door. But him you shall slay, and then the way will be clear."

"_I_ shall slay him?" exclaimed Everychild wonderingly. "How shall I
slay him?"

"Do not doubt, and a way shall be found."

It was just at this moment that something very terrifying occurred.
There was a stealthy step outside the door--the sort of step you hear
when it is dark and you are alone. And Everychild could not help
shrinking back as he stood with his fascinated eyes held on the door.
He was staring at the door, yet he knew that the Masked Lady and Father
Time were listening to that stealthy step too. The Masked Lady had put
aside her spinning wheel, and Father Time had become very grave.

There was a brief interval of suspense and then the door began to open,
inch by inch, very slowly. Two terrible eyes became visible.

Everychild knew immediately that it was the Giant Fear, though for a
moment he could see nothing but the peeping eyes which leered horribly.
And when the Giant Fear perceived that Everychild was terrified, he
thrust the door open wide and stood on the threshold.

He was, I may tell you at once, the most hideous creature in the world.
His cruel grin was too evil a thing to be described. He carried a
great bludgeon. From his lower jaw a yellow tusk arose at either
corner of his mouth and projected beyond his upper lip. His ears
covered the whole sides of his head. His jaws were as large around as
a bushel basket.

At first, after he had entered the room, he did not perceive either
Father Time or the Masked Lady. He dropped one end of his bludgeon to
the floor with a thump, and there he stood leering at Everychild with a
sinister and triumphant expression.

Only a moment he stood, and then he advanced a step toward Everychild.
But just at that instant Father Time moved slightly and the intruder
became aware of his presence. The wicked smile on his terrible face
began to freeze slowly. The great creature shrank away from Father
Time; and as he did so he became aware of the presence of the Masked
Lady on his other side. For an instant he trembled from head to foot!
And then more hurriedly he took another step toward Everychild.