ood of that?" replied Ned. "I'll go get the spring itself
to put in the pot," knowing that he could easily run back to the king's
castle for the little magic nutshell.

"No, no!" said the giant, "that won't do. You have already half spoiled
my forest with your Magic Axe. I don't want you to take my spring away.
You may attend to the fire, and I'll go for the water."

So the giant hung up the kettle, put into it an ox cut into pieces,
fifty cabbages, and a wagon-load of carrots, skimming the broth with a
frying pan, tasting it every now and then until it was done. When
everything was ready, he turned and said:

"Now we'll see if you can do what I can. I feel like eating the whole
ox, and you into the bargain. I think I'll serve you for dessert."

"All right," answered little Ned. But before sitting down he slipped his
knapsack under his jacket.

Then the two champions set to work. Perhaps Ned was a trifle nervous,
knowing only too well that if he failed he must be the giant's servant.

Well, the giant ate and ate, and Ned wasn't idle; only he pitched
everything, beef, cabbage, carrots, and all, into his knapsack when the
giant wasn't looking.

"Ouf!" at last grunted the giant, "I can't do much more. I've got to
undo the lower button of my waistcoat."

"Eat away, starveling!" cried Ned, sticking half a cabbage into his
knapsack.

"Ouf!" groaned the giant, "I must loosen another button. But what sort
of an ostrich's stomach have you got, Kiddo? I should say you were used
to eating stones!"

"Eat away, lazy-bones!" said Ned, sticking a huge chunk of beef into his
knapsack.

"Ouf!" sighed the giant for the third time, "I must open the third
button."

"Bah!" answered Ned. "It's the easiest thing to relieve yourself," and
taking his knife, he slit his jacket and the knapsack under it the whole
length of his stomach. "Now's your turn. Do as I do, _if you can!_"

"Excuse me!" gasped the giant. "You win. I'd rather be your servant
than do that."

Then kissing Ned's hand in token of submission, he lifted his little
master on his shoulder, and slinging the six bags of gold over his back,
started off through the forest.

"Wait a minute," said Ned, "I've forgotten my Magic tools." So the giant
picked them up and thrusting them in his pocket, again set off at a
tremendous rate.

After a while, they came in sight of a great castle where lived a lord
even more wicked than the cruel Blue Beard. As they drew nearer, t