"Your heart is safe enough, dear Thunderstump," said his wife. "Really, a man of your size ought not to be so nervous and apprehensive. I am ashamed of you."
"You have no heart, Doodlem," answered he. "I assure you that at this moment mine is in the greatest danger. It has fallen into the hands of foes, though who they are I cannot tell."
Here he fainted again; for Tricksey-Wee, finding the heart begin to swell a little, had given it the least touch of spider-juice.
Again he recovered, and said,—
"Dear Doodlem, my heart is coming back to me. It is coming nearer and nearer."
After lying silent for hours, he exclaimed,—
"It is in the house, I know!"
And he jumped up and walked about, looking in every corner.
As he rose, Tricksey-Wee and Buffy-Bob came out of the hole in the tree-root, and through the cat-hole in the door, and walked boldly towards the giant. Both kept their eyes busy watching him. Led by the love of his own heart, the giant soon spied them, and staggered furiously towards them.
"I will eat you, you vermin!" he cried. "Here with my heart!"