o win horse or lose
saddle. Thus resolved, he took the near road, flinging open the gates
for his cart and horses to go through. At last the giant spied him, and
came up speedily, intending to take his beer for a prize.

He met Tom like a lion as though he would have swallowed him. "Who gave
you authority to come this way?" roared he. "I'll make you an example
for all rogues under the sun. See how many heads hang on yonder tree.
Yours shall hang higher than all the rest for a warning."

But Tom made him answer, "A fig in your teeth you shall not find me like
one of them, traitorly rogue that you are."

The giant took these words in high disdain, and ran into his cave to
fetch his great club, intending to dash out Tom's brains at the first
blow.

Tom knew not what to do for a weapon; his whip would be but little good
against a monstrous beast twelve foot in length and six foot about the
waist. But whilst the giant went for his club, bethinking him of a very
good weapon, he made no more ado, but took his cart, turned it upside
down, and took axle-tree and wheel for shield and buckler. And very good
weapons they were found!

Out came the giant and began to stare at Tom. "You are like to do great
service with those weapons," roared he. "I have here a twig that will
beat you and your wheel to the ground." Now this twig was as thick as
some mileposts are, but Tom was not daunted for all that, though the
giant made at him with such force that the wheel cracked again. But Tom
gave as good as he got, taking the giant such a weighty blow on the side
of the head that he reeled again. "What," said Tom, "are you drunk with
my strong beer already?"

So at it they went, Tom laying such huge blows at the giant, down whose
face sweat and blood ran together, so that, being fat and foggy and
tired with the long fighting, he asked Tom would he let him drink a
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 de