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.