to be brave, and so stepped along briskly
until she came to the fence of iron spikes.

"You must squeeze through between two of the spikes," said the turtle.

She didn't think it could possibly be done; but to her surprise it was
quite easy, and she managed to squeeze through the fence without even
tearing her dress. Then she walked up a great driveway, which was lined
with white skulls of many sheep which the giant had eaten, to the front
door of the castle, which stood ajar.

"Go in," said the turtle; so she boldly entered and passed down a high
arched hall toward a room in the rear.

"This is the kitchen," said the turtle, "Enter quickly, go straight to
the kettle, and throw me into the boiling water."

Twinkle entered quickly enough, but then she stopped short with a cry of
amazement; for there before her stood the ugly giant, blowing the fire
with an immense pair of bellows.

Chapter VII
Prince Mud-Turtle Becomes Prince Melga

THE giant was as big around as ten men, and as tall as two; but, having
no bones, he seemed pushed together, so that his skin wrinkled up like
the sides of an accordeon, or a photograph camera, even his face being
so wrinkled that his nose stuck out between two folds of flesh and his
eyes from between two more. In one end of the kitchen was the great
fireplace, above which hung an iron kettle with a big iron spoon in it.
And at the other end was a table set for dinner.

As the giant was standing between the kettle and Twinkle, she could not
do as the turtle had commanded, and throw him into the pot. So she
hesitated, wondering how to obey the fairy. Just then the giant happened
to turn around and see her.

"By the whiskers of Gammarog--who was one of my ancestors that was
killed by Jack the Giant-Killer!" he cried, but in a very mild voice for
so big a person. "Whom have we here?"

"I'm Twinkle," said the girl, drawing a long breath.

"Then, to pay you for your folly in entering my castle, I will make you
my slave, and some day, if you're not good, I'll feed you to my
seventeen-headed dog. I never eat little girls myself. I prefer mutton."

Twinkle's heart almost stopped beating when she heard these awful words.
All she could do was to stand still and look imploringly at the giant.
But she held the fairy mud-turtle clasped tight in her hand, so that the
monster couldn't see it.

"Well, what are you staring at?" shouted the Corrugated Giant, angrily.
"Blow up that fire this