It could be seen at once that he was on a very important mission, and Everychild said to his companions, “Perhaps we ought not to disturb him.  Let us wait, and it may be that he will cross the road and go on his way.”

But the youth did not do this.  He had heard the children approaching, and he remained standing in the road, waiting for them to come up.

Grettel was already looking at the youth out of the corner of her eye and smiling.

“I’m going to speak to him,” declared Hansel.

“Hansel!” exclaimed Grettel; “we mustn’t disturb him!” And she glanced at Everychild for approval—­though she hastily turned again so that she was observing the strange youth out of the comer of her eye, and she smiled more invitingly than ever.

“I don’t care!” retorted Hansel.  “He looks like a rich man’s son, and he might tell us where we could get something to eat.”

Just then the strange youth began to approach them with a proud air.  He was really very handsome.  He was very sturdy, and he was clothed smartly in a velvet jacket and knee breeches.  A fine cloak fell loosely from his shoulders.  He wore a plumed hat and carried a sword.

As he drew near Hansel said:  “Hello!  Have they been trying to lose you too?”

It was then that Everychild recognized the strange youth as Jack the Giant Killer; and at the same time he heard Grettel whispering: 

“How handsome he is!”

Jack the Giant Killer replied smilingly to Hansel:  “Lose me?  Not at all!  It’s plain you don’t know who I am.”  He touched his breast lightly with his forefinger.  “I am Jack the Giant Killer.”  He then brought his heels together and removed his hat with a wide gesture, and made a fine bow.

“I recognized you,” said Everychild, “though I didn’t know you lived in this neighborhood.  I mean, near Hansel and Grettel.”

Jack replied with a certain neat air:  “I don’t live anywhere in particular.  Did you never hear of my seven-league hoots?  I have a way of bobbing up wherever there are any giants.”

In the meantime Grettel had sat down on a grassy bank beside the road.  “It’s very tiresome, walking,” she said.  And then, very politely (to Jack), “Won’t you sit down?”

He accepted this invitation, and Everychild and Hansel also sat down.

Grettel sighed and said:  “I’d like so much to hear about your fights with the giants.  It must be wonderful to know how to fight.”

Jack could not help saying “Ho—­hum!” in a rather bored way, though he politely placed his hand over his mouth.  “There’s nothing great about it,” he said, “when you’re fixed for it.  I’ve my seven-league boots, and my invisible cloak, and my sword of sharpness.  You can’t help winning with them.  Of course, there’s my wit, too.”

Grettel smiled mysteriously and nodded her head.  “It’s your wit first of all,” she declared knowingly.