At this Everychild felt a delightful sense of mystery stir within him.  The words seemed tremendous—­and yet he could not think what they meant!

But Jack the Giant Killer nodded his head shrewdly.  And almost instantly he said, “Well, you’ll look at no more masterpieces—­whatever they are!”

The giant seemed to be simply amused.  “Say you so?” he replied.

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.

As for the giant, he spoke pleasantly to Everychild, asking him whither he was bound; and when Everychild replied, quite simply, that he had set out in quest of Truth, the giant nodded his approval.

It was Everychild who introduced the subject of Jack and the threat he had made.  “Maybe he’ll not do anything when he finds you’re a good giant,” he said; “and anyway, I suppose you’ll know how to defend yourself—­a big fellow like you?”

He was greatly disturbed by the giant’s reply.  “I’m a big fellow, yes,” said Will o’Dreams, “and I can hold my own with other big fellows.  You know how to take them.  But when you’re a giant it seems you don’t know how to take the little chaps.  I’ve always regarded Jack the Giant Killer as a brave and honorable youth.  But some of the little fellows are hard to handle.  They’re full of tricks and deceit.  I’ve had many a tussle in my time; but when it comes to a fair test, give me a man who’s got honest strength—­who’s ashamed to do mean tricks.”

Everychild was considering this when he heard a voice behind him; and turning his head, he was surprised to perceive that the Masked Lady was standing there, quite close to him, and that Mr. Literal was only a step or two distant.  Mr. Literal held his note-book before him, and he had just lifted his hand with a flourish, after putting a period after something he had written.  It was he who was speaking.