But they desired him to let them go. With that he
looked ugly upon them, and rushing to them, had doubtless
made an end of them himself, but that he fell into
one of his fits and lost for a time the use of his hands.
Wherefore he withdrew, and left them, as before, to 30
consider what to do.

Then did the prisoners consult between themselves,
whether it was best to take his counsel or no. But they
soon resolved to reject it; for it would be very wicked to
kill themselves; and, besides, something might soon
happen to enable them to make their escape.

Well, towards evening the giant goes down to the dungeon 5
again, to see if his prisoners had taken his counsel; but
when he came there, he found them alive. I say, he found
them alive; at which he fell into a grievous rage, and told
them that, seeing they had disobeyed his counsel, it should
be worse with them than if they had never been born. 10

At this they trembled greatly, and I think that Christian
fell into a swoon; but, coming a little to himself again,
they renewed their discourse about the giant's counsel,
and whether yet they had best take it or no. Now Christian
again seemed for doing it, but Hopeful reminded 15
him of the hardships and terrors he had already gone
through, and said that they ought to bear up with patience
as well as they could, and steadily reject the giant's
wicked counsel.

Now, night being come again, and the giant and his 20
wife being in bed, she asked him concerning the prisoners,
and if they had taken his counsel. To this he replied,
"They are sturdy rogues; they choose rather to bear all
hardships than to make away with themselves."

Then said she, "Take them into the castle yard to-morrow,25
and show them the bones and skulls of those that
thou hast already dispatched, and make them believe thou
wilt tear them in pieces, as thou hast done their fellows
before them."

So when morning has come, the giant goes to them again, 30
and takes them into the castle yard, and shows them as his
wife had bidden him. "These," said he, "were pilgrims,
as you are, once, and they trespassed on my grounds,
as you have done; and when I thought fit, I tore them in
pieces; and so within ten days I will do to you. Get
you down to your den again."

And with that he beat them all the way thither. 5

Now, when night was come, Mrs. Diffidence and her
husband began to renew their discourse of their prisoners.
The old giant wondered that he could neither by his blows
nor by his counsel bring them to an end.

And with that his wife replied. "I fear," said she, "that10
they live in hopes that some will come to relieve them,
or that they have picklocks about them, by the means of
which they hope to escape."