They sat down, and the giant offered him some food. But the young man thought it was safer not to take any of the giant’s food, so he pulled out his bowl, and wished for some soup, and sipped it.
“What is that?” asked the giant.
The young man told him it was a wishing bowl, that gave any food he wanted. The giant was very much delighted with the wishing bowl, and thought that if he could get that bowl, he would be able to eat without the trouble of getting things.
“I’ll buy that bowl!” he roared.
“What will you give me for it?” asked the young man.
“I will give you this drum,” said the giant. “If you beat on one side, everybody that hears it will run away.”
“Ah, that was why the lions and tigers were running away just now!” said the young man.
“Yes,” said the giant. “And if you beat on the other side, a splendid army of soldiers and horses will spring up out of the ground and defend you.”
“All right, here you are,” said the young man, and gave him the bowl.
The giant took the bowl in great glee, and horrid to tell, wished out loud for a bowlful of blood! He began to drink it, but he did not finish; for as he buried his nose in the bowl, the young man slapped his axe, and said—“Heads!” Down came the axe with a crash on the giant’s head, and cut it clean in two!