hoffman] THE FIGHT WITH THE GIANT 231 



the square opening at the top, where lie might see all that was transpir- 

 ing', and defend himself against the giant. 



Presently he saw the chief's daughter returning, closely behind her 

 following the giant, from whose belt were suspended several children 

 whom he had captured to devour. As the giant approached the rock 

 and saw Ball Carrier's head protruding from the window, he called out, 

 "Ball Carrier, come down and let me enter my house, that we may 

 have a feast." Ball Carrier replied, "I can not open the door for you, 

 as I am so far above it; but if you will reach upward where I can grasp 

 your hand, I will pull you through the window." 



When the chief's daughter saw the giant engage in conversation with 

 Ball Carrier, she escaped, and running back to her father told him 

 what Ball Carrier had instructed her to say. The chief immediately 

 called together his warriors, bidding them get their warclubs, spears, 

 and bows and arrows, that they might proceed to the giant's house, where 

 Ball Carrier would need their assistance. The warriors were soon 

 armed, and, led by the chief and his daughter, they hastened to the 

 giant's abode. 



In the meantime, the giant had come to the base of the cliff and 

 reached up to grasp Ball Carrier's hand, that he might enter at the 

 window. Ball Carrier saw that the giant's abode contained many 

 weapons. Grasping the sharpest knife, he went to the window, seized 

 the giant's hand, and drew him upward. When the giant had climbed 

 into the opening far enough for Ball Carrier to take hold of his head 

 he struck him on the back of the neck, severing the head, which fell 

 upon the floor and bounded about like a ball, biting and snapping at 

 Ball Carrier. Throwing aside the knife, Ball Carrier took his warclub 

 and struck the head until he had crushed the life out of it. 



Just as the head was thus severed the body of the giant fell down to 

 the base of the cliff; but instead of lying where it fell the body arose, 

 and rushing blindly about, wildly beat and struck out in every direc- 

 tion with its immense club. At this moment the chief and his warriors 

 arrived, and seeing that Ball Carrier had beheaded the giant, but that 

 the body was still active, they rushed up, shot into the body numerous 

 arrows, pierced it with spears, and beat it with their warclubs, until the 

 great form was motionless. Ball Carrier now came down to where the 

 chief, his daughter, and the warriors were assembled, and bade some of 

 them gather wood, that he might burn and utterly destroy the giant. 



Round about, everywhere, were heaps of human bones, the remains 

 of those whom the giant had killed and eaten. Some of these were the 

 bones of recently killed people, others were of those who had been 

 killed and devoured a longer time, and still others were almost crumbled 

 into dust by age. When the wood -gatherers returned, a large heap of 

 the fuel was made, and upon it the body of the giant was placed ; then 

 the wood was set afire and the body burned to ashes. When this had 

 been done, Ball Carrier approached and blew on the ashes, making 



