ble to
handle a sword--I suppose you carry a sword, of course?"

"Nothing like it!" replied the giant.

"You don't say so! A terrible bludgeon then, no doubt?"

"No. You see, my taste doesn't run in that direction. When I'm
wishing for power or fame I think of . . . it's a little difficult to
explain. Wings. I wish for powerful big wings, so that time and space
couldn't hold me back."

"Wings! That sounds funny!" said Jack. "But a sling-shot, at
least--of course you carry a fine sling-shot around with you?"

"No, nor a sling-shot." The giant extended his arms with a candid
gesture, so that Jack might see he was wholly unarmed.

Then a very amazing thing happened. Jack the Giant Killer suddenly
uttered a cry of triumph. "Fool that you are!" he exclaimed, "to
confess that you are helpless! Do you suppose we are deceived by your
make-believe friendliness? Prepare to die!" And he lowered his sword
with a swift flourish.

So terrible was his manner that it seemed the giant was really lost.
Every one felt this. Grettel clasped her hands tensely and a light at
once fearful and eager leaped into her eyes. Hansel drew back as if to
be out of the way of danger. The giant, pale yet unflinching, arose.

It was then that Everychild, springing to the side of the giant, cried
out in a ringing tone--

"Stay!"

The giant calmly lifted his hand and gazed into space; and at that
moment, from out the depths of the forest, came a commanding voice,
exclaiming--

"Jack the Giant Killer! Jack the Giant Killer!"

The voice was distant, yet sonorous and stern.

Everychild looked to see who it was that had spoken: and whom should he
behold emerging from the forest but Father Time! He carried his scythe
and sand-glass, and he moved forward with majesty, yet with haste. He
fixed his gaze upon Jack and uttered one more thrilling word--"Stop!"

To Everychild he seemed a changed person as he adjusted both his scythe
and his sand-glass in his left hand and advanced with his right hand
uplifted. He seemed very stern. His eyes traveled from one face to
another until at length they rested only on Jack. Then upon the
shoulder of Jack the Giant Killer his hand descended.

Everychild could scarcely believe his own eyes for a moment or two. A
tragic change occurred in the youth who had been so splendid.

_He had become old and infirm_! His clothes were in tatters, his form
was bent, his sword was covered with rust.