n which he had slept and
quickly stripped it of its coverings. Then, when nothing but the bare
frame remained he stepped inside of it. Doubling up his huge fist, he
drove it into the footboard with tremendous force. There was a
splintering crash and it fell in twain. Wrapping his hardly-used
knuckles in a cloth he picked up from the floor, he repeated the
operation on the headboard--and the bed lay in four pieces on the floor.

Seizing the first portion by one of the heavy legs, he tore at it with
his naked fingers, like a dog at a bone; and soon, exerting his
tremendous strength, he had stripped it clean. The second of the smaller
legs he treated in the same manner, and likewise one of the larger legs
at the head. Then, with these three clubs in his hands, he approached
the two boys.

"Here is a weapon apiece for you," he said, extending one of the smaller
legs to the lads.

Hal and Chester each took the proffered weapons. They were ungainly and
heavy, but the lads realized that they were indeed formidable weapons.
Alexis stood looking at them with the big leg resting lightly on his
right shoulder. It was a massive piece of wood, this third leg, a
terrible weapon in the hands of a giant like Alexis.

"Now," said Chester, "we have these weapons, but how are we going to get
out of here?"

"Don't let that worry you," replied the giant. "As soon as we are
certain the bandit king is well on his way, we'll get out."

An hour they waited--two hours, before Alexis rose slowly to his feet,
indicating that the time for action had come. Slowly he approached the
door and pressed his great weight against it. It did not budge.

"Surely you are not expecting to get out that way?" said Hal.

Alexis did not deign to reply. Instead he walked over to the table in
the center of the room, and with a single movement swept the dishes on
to the floor. Then, lifting the heavy table, he raised it above his
head, and advanced upon the door.

Once, twice, thrice the stout oak table crashed against the solid door.
It gave slightly. The giant struck the door a fourth tremendous blow,
and the table burst into a hundred pieces.

"There," said Chester, "I didn't think it would give."

"I was afraid so, too," said Hal.

Alexis said nothing. Instead he approached the door, and pressed against
it--testing it. Then he turned, and without exertion, wheeled a second
massive bed into position before the door. This he braced with the third
bed,