That night, when the cows and the goats were driven home, they gave so much milk that all the dishes in the house were filled, and the milk ran over and made a little brook in the yard.

“This is very queer,” said the old gentleman; “they never gave any milk before.  Did you see nothing in the pasture?”

“Nothing worse than myself,” said Billy.  And next morning he drove the six cows, six horses, six donkeys, and six goats to pasture again.

Just before noon he heard a terrific roar; and out of the wood came a giant with six heads.

“You killed my brother,” he roared, fire coming out of his six mouths, “and I’ll very soon have your blood!  Will you die by a cut of the sword, or a swing by the back?”

“I’ll fight you,” said Billy.  And buckling on his belt and swinging his stick three times round his head, he ran in and grappled the giant.  At the first hold, he sunk the giant up to the shoulders in the ground.

“Mercy, mercy, kind gentleman!” cried the giant.  “Spare my life!”

“I think not,” said Billy, and cut off his heads.

That night the cattle gave so much milk that it ran out of the house and made a stream, and turned a mill wheel which had not been turned for seven years!

“It’s certainly very queer,” said the old gentleman; “did you see nothing in the pasture, Billy?”

“Nothing worse than myself,” said Billy.

And the next morning the gentleman said, “Billy, do you know, I only heard one of the giants roaring in the night, and the night before only two.  What can ail them, at all?”

“Oh, maybe they are sick or something,” says Billy; and with that he drove the six cows, six horses, six donkeys, and six goats to pasture.

At about ten o’clock there was a roar like a dozen bulls, and the brother of the two giants came out of the wood, with twelve heads on him, and fire spouting from every one of them.

“I’ll have you, my fine boy,” cries he; “how will you die, then?”

“We’ll see,” says Billy; “come on!”

And swinging his stick round his head, he made for the giant, and drove him up to his twelve necks in the ground.  All twelve of the heads began begging for mercy, but Billy soon cut them short.  Then he drove the beasts home.

And that night the milk overflowed the mill-stream and made a lake, nine miles long, nine miles broad, and nine miles deep; and there are salmon and whitefish there to this day.

“You are a fine boy,” said the gentleman, “and I’ll give you wages.”

So Billy was herd.

The next day, his master told him to look after the house while he went up to the king’s town, to see a great sight.  “What will it be?” said Billy.  “The king’s daughter is to be eaten by a fiery dragon,” said his master, “unless the champion fighter they’ve been feeding for six weeks on purpose kills the dragon.”  “Oh,” said Billy.