ad the jam on
quite half an inch thick; then he suddenly remembered his work.

"It will never do to get jam on the Lord Mayor's coat, so I'll finish
it off before I take even one bite," said he. So he picked up his work
once more, and his needle flew in and out like lightning.

I am afraid the Lord Mayor had some stitches in his garment that were
quite a quarter of an inch long.

The tailor glanced longingly at his slice of bread and jam once or
twice, but when he looked the third time it was quite covered with
flies, and a fine feast they were having off it.

This was too much for the little fellow. Up he jumped, crying:

"So you think I provide bread and jam for you, indeed! Well, we'll
very soon see! Take that!" and he struck the flies such a heavy blow
with a duster that no fewer than seven lay dead upon the table, while
the others flew up to the ceiling in great haste.

"Seven at one blow!" said the little man with great pride. "Such a
brave deed ought to be known all over the town, and it won't be my
fault if folks fail to hear of it."

So he cut out a wide belt, and stitched on it in big golden letters
the words "Seven at one blow." When this was done he fastened it round
him, crying:

"I'm cut out for something better than a tailor, it's quite clear. I'm
one of the world's great heroes, and I'll be off at once to seek my
fortune."

He glanced round the cottage, but there was nothing of value to take
with him. The only thing he possessed in the world was a small cheese.

"You may as well come, too," said he, stowing away the cheese in his
pocket, "and now I'm off."

When he got into the street the neighbors all crowded round him to
read the words on his belt.

"Seven at one blow!" said they to one another. "What a blessing he's
going; for it wouldn't be safe to have a man about us who could kill
seven of us at one stroke."

You see, they didn't know that the tailor had only killed flies; they
took it to mean men.

He jogged along for some miles until he came to a hedge, where a
little bird was caught in the branches.

"Come along," said the tailor; "I'll have you to keep my cheese
company"; so he caught the bird and put it carefully into his pocket
with the cheese.

Soon he reached a lofty mountain, and he made up his mind to climb it
and see what was going on at the other side. When he reached the top,
there stood a huge giant, gazing down into the valley below.

"Good day," said the tailo