hey
heard loud screams like those of some fair lady in distress. The next
minute the wicked lord dragged a lovely lady by the hair across the
courtyard.

With one stride the giant stepped over the castle wall.

"Shall I toss him over the moon?" he asked.

"No, leave him to me," replied Ned. The wicked lord trembled and grew as
pale as a white swan that swam nearby in a beautiful fountain.

"My giant servant at a sign from me, will pitch you over the moon. But
instead, as you have the reputation of being the greatest liar that ever
lived, we will see who can tell the biggest story, you or I. If you
lose, you shall give your castle to this fair lady and take yourself
off, I don't care where, but you must never return."

At once the wicked lord commenced to tell the biggest story he could
imagine.

"I have a bull so large that a man can sit on each of his horns, and the
two can't touch each other with a twenty foot pole."

"Oh, that's nothing," replied Ned. "At home on the farm we have a bull
so large that a servant sitting on one of his horns can't see the
servant sitting on the other."

"You win," laughed the pretty princess, clapping her hands at Ned. Then
the wicked lord went to his stable and saddling his best horse, rode
away. But as he passed through the gate, Ned touched his steed with his
magic gold ring. Instantly the horse turned into an immense bird and
flew away. But where he went no one knows to this day.

MAGIC EARS

The Man with Ears like a Donkey invited Ned to eat with him.

[Illustration]

MAGIC EARS

"DEAR me," said the giant suddenly. "I've forgotten all about my errand.
You and your Magic Axe have robbed me of my memory," and the big man
scratched his hand and looked anxiously at Ned.

"What is it?"

"I was to take a chicken to my old mother," answered the giant sadly.

"Go ahead," said Ned. "I can take care of myself. At any rate it is
about time my friend the Gnome came back to me."

"You are very kind," said the giant. "Here are your Magic Axe and your
Magic Pickaxe. I almost forgot them," and he set off at a great rate for
his mother's house.

Ned, too, quickened his pace, for it was growing late, and the shadows
creeping from tree to tree. At length he saw a light in the distance. It
was a very little light, not much larger than a star, and at first Ned
thought it might be a giant firefly. However, he kept on and after a
while it turned out to be a little candle in