Grettel clasped her hands with delight. "How suitably he talks!" said she.
"I do," said Jack. "You don't know me, eh? I'm Jack the Giant Killer. And you're just about my size."
It was here that Everychild interfered. "Maybe he's a good giant," he said to Jack. And to the giant he added courteously, "Won't you sit down and rest awhile, Will o'Dreams?"
"I thank you," responded the giant; and he sat down by the side of Everychild.
And instantly the thought came to Everychild that at whatever cost he must save the splendid stranger from that terrible sword of sharpness which Jack the Giant Killer was even now drawing from its scabbard.
CHAPTER VI
A FIGHT WHICH WAS STRANGELY ENDED
It was plain that Jack was in a determined mood. He was no longer seated with the others. He drew off a little and capered in a very confident manner. For the moment he was content to say nothing more to the giant. He had drawn his sword; and now he hopped about, cutting the heads from tall grasses and tender twigs from the trees.
You would have said that his mind was very far away but for the fact that he occasionally glanced at the others to see if this or that skilful pass had been witnessed; and occasionally he gazed at the giant in a very stern manner.