"I am here," said the Deer. Looking out he saw a great giant, and his heart failed him. He wished he had asked one of his companions to stay with him.
"I smell some fish," said the Giant. "I want some, and you must give it to me at once. I am hungry. Let me have what I want."
"It does not belong to me," said the Deer, in great fear. "It belongs to the Pig, the Bear, the Tiger, and the Mouse-deer. They would punish me severely if I gave any of it to you."
"Don't talk to me in that way," said the Giant, impatiently. "If you do not let me have what I want, I will eat you up."
The Deer was too frightened of the Giant to refuse his request, so he let him eat the fish, and take some away with him.
When his companions returned, the Deer gave them his account of the Giant's visit. They blamed him for his cowardice, and the Wild Boar said he would keep watch the next day.
"If the Giant comes," said he, "I will gore him with my tusks, and trample him underfoot."
But he fared no better than the Deer, for when he saw the Giant, who threatened to kill him if he refused to give him some fish, he was afraid, and let him take as much as he wanted.
Great was the disgust of the others to find on their return that their fish had again been taken.
"Let me watch," said the Bear. "No Giant shall frighten me. I will hug him with my strong arms, and scratch him with my sharp claws."