elves into the sea, rather
than die so painful a death, upon which one of the company answered that
it would be much more reasonable to devise some method to rid ourselves
of the monster.

"Having thought of a project for this purpose, I communicated it to my
comrades, who approved it. 'Brethren,' said I, 'you know there is much
timber floating upon the coast; if you will be advised by me, let us
make several rafts capable of bearing us. In the meantime, we will
carry out the design I proposed to you for our deliverance from the
giant, and if it succeed, we may remain here patiently awaiting the
arrival of some ship; but if it happen to miscarry, we will take to our
rafts and put to sea.' My advice was approved, and we made rafts capable
of carrying three persons on each.

"We returned to the palace toward the evening, and the giant arrived
shortly after. We were forced to submit to seeing another of our
comrades roasted, but at last we revenged ourselves on the brutish giant
in the following manner. After he had finished his supper he lay down on
his back and fell asleep. As soon as we heard him snore, according to
his custom, nine of the boldest among us, and myself, took each of us a
spit, and putting the points of them into the fire till they were
burning hot, we thrust them into his eye all at once and blinded him.
The pain made him break out into a frightful yell: he started up, and
stretched out his hands, in order to sacrifice some of us to his rage:
but we ran to such places as he could not reach; and after having sought
for us in vain, he groped for the gate and went out, howling in agony.

"We quitted the palace after the giant and came to the shore, where we
had left our rafts, and put them immediately to sea. We waited till day,
in order to get upon them in case the giant should come toward us with
any guide of his own species; but we hoped if he did not appear by
sunrise, and gave over his howling, which we still heard, that he would
prove to be dead; and if that happened, we resolved to stay in that
island, and not to risk our lives upon the rafts. But day had scarcely
appeared when we perceived our cruel enemy, accompanied with two others
almost of the same size, leading him; and a great number more coming
before him at a quick pace.

"We did not hesitate to take to our rafts, and put to sea with all the
speed we could. The giants, who perceived this, took up great stones,
and running to the shore, e