e was ten times more so. "You villain, you,"
says he to Billy, "you killed my two brothers, and I'll have my
revenge on you now. Prepare till I kill you," says he; "you're too big
for one bite, and too small for two; what will I do with you?" "I'll
fight you," says Billy, shaping out and winding the bit of stick three
times over his head. The giant laughed heartily at the size of him,
and says he, "What way do you prefer being killed? Is it with a swing
by the back, a cut of the sword, or a square round of boxing?" "A
swing by the back," says Billy. So both of them again laid holds, and
my brave Billy lifts the giant clean off the ground, and fetching him
down again, sunk him down to his arm-pits in it. "Oh, have mercy!
Spare my life!" says the giant. But Billy took his sword, and,
killing him, cut out his tongues. That evening he drove home his three
goats, three cows, three horses, and three asses, and the milk of the
cows had to be turned into a valley where it made a lough three miles
long, three miles broad, and three miles deep, and that lough has been
filled with salmon and white trout ever since. The gentleman wondered
now more than ever to see Billy back the third day alive. "Did you see
nothing in the orchard the day, Billy?" says he. "No, nothing worse
nor myself," says Billy. "Well, that beats me," says the gentleman.
"What about my wages now?" says Billy. "Well, you're a good, mindful
boy, that I couldn't easy do without," says the gentleman, "and I'll
give you any wages you ask for the future." The next morning, says the
gentleman to Billy, "I heard none of the giants crying last night,
however it comes." "I don't know," says Billy, "they must be sick or
something." "Now, Billy," says the gentleman, "you must look after the
cattle the day again, while I go to see the fight." "What fight?" says
Billy. "Why," says the gentleman, "it's the king's daughter is going
to be devoured by a fiery dragon, if the greatest fighter in the land,
that they have been feeding specially for the last three months, isn't
able to kill the dragon first. And if he's able to kill the dragon the
king is to give him the daughter in marriage." "That will be fine!"
says Billy. Billy drove out his three goats, three cows, three horses,
and three asses to the orchard that day again, and the like of all
that passed that day to see the fight with the man and the fiery
dragon, Billy never witnessed before. They went in coaches and
carriages