ling down in a sparkling cascade, that was so cold
it made everybody shiver. And in less than a quarter of an hour the well
was filled, and a deep trench had to be dug to take away the overflow,
otherwise the whole palace would have been flooded.

"You have indeed earned the reward," said the king. And he ordered a
little donkey saddled and bridled and the six bags of gold hung from his
back, three on either side. After which Ned was invited to a great
feast, and when that was over, he mounted the little donkey and rode
away, with the three bags of gold hanging from each side of the saddle
and a little gold ring on his finger, which the king's daughter gave him
after washing her pretty face in water for the first time in many
months.

But before Ned rode away, he put his Magic Axe and his Magic Pickaxe
back in his knapsack, "for who can tell," he said to himself, "what need
I may have of these two useful tools."

His knapsack was now well filled, for the cook in the royal kitchen had
also placed in it a loaf of bread, a cheese and a knife in case he
became hungry while on his journey of adventure.

As Ned traveled on, the forest became darker and darker, for the trees
grew so close together that the sun could hardly shine through the thick
leafy roof. Suddenly he heard a great voice singing:

"I am the master of this wood
And everyone bows to me,
My head is as big as a drygoods box
And my legs as long as a tree."

Then, all at once, the voice changed to a whistle, which sounded like
the siren on a sound steamer when the weather is foggy.

"It must be a giant singing," thought Ned. "Goodness! but he's a loud
whistler. I guess he blows through his fingers!" and he hid beneath a
clump of bushes.

"Ho, ho!" cried the voice, and a giant came crashing through the forest.

On seeing Ned, he shouted:

"Come out of there, and I'll make a mouthful of you."

"Don't be in a hurry," replied Ned bravely. "I'm going to make you my
servant."

"Ho, ho!" laughed the giant, "that is a good joke! I'll pitch you into
that raven's nest up there to teach you to make less noise in my
forest."

"_Your_ forest!" laughed Ned. "It's as much mine as yours, and if you
say another word, I'll cut it down in a quarter of an hour."

"Ha, ha!" shouted the giant, "I should like to see you begin, my brave
Sir Kid!"

Carefully placing his Magic Axe on the ground, Ned shouted, "Chop, chop,
ch