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long； crooked throat； swallowed up alive。 A hero； you know； must hold
himself in readiness for any kind of fate； and doubtless the glory of the
thing was a consolation to him； even in the crane's gizzard。 If Antaeus
observed that the battle was going hard against his little allies； he
generally stopped laughing； and ran with mile…long strides to their
assistance； flourishing his club aloft and shouting at the cranes； who
quacked and croaked； and retreated as fast as they could。 Then the Pygmy
army would march homeward in triumph； attributing the victory entirely
to their own valor； and to the warlike skill and strategy of whomsoever
happened to be captain general； and for a tedious while afterwards；
nothing would be heard of but grand processions； and public banquets； a
nd brilliant illuminations； and shows of wax…work； with likenesses of the
distinguished officers； as small as life。
In the above…described warfare； if a Pygmy chanced to pluck out a
crane's tail feather； it proved a very great feather in his cap。 Once or twice；
if you will believe me； a little man was made chief ruler of the nation for
no other merit in the world than bringing home such a feather。
But I have now said enough to let you see what a gallant little people
these were； and how happily they and their forefathers； for nobody knows
how many generations； had lived with the immeasurable Giant Antaeus。 In
the remaining part of the story； I shall tell you of a far more astonishing
battle than any that was fought between the Pygmies and the cranes。
One day the mighty Antaeus was lolling at full length among his little
friends。 His pine…tree walking stick lay on the ground； close by his side。
His head was in one part of the kingdom； and his feet extended across the
boundaries of another part； and he was taking whatever comfort he could
get； while the Pygmies scrambled over him； and peeped into his cavernous
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mouth； and played among his hair。 Sometimes； for a minute or two； the
Giant dropped asleep； and snored like the rush of a whirlwind。 During one
of these little bits of slumber； a Pygmy chanced to climb upon his shoulder；
and took a view around the horizon； as from the summit of a hill； and he
beheld something； a long way off； which made him rub the bright specks
of his eyes； and look sharper than before。 At first he mistook it for a
mountain； and wondered how it had grown up so suddenly out of the earth。
But soon he saw the mountain move。 As it came nearer and nearer； what
should it turn out to be but a human shape； not so big as Antaeus； it is true；
although a very enormous figure； in comparison with Pygmies； and a vast
deal bigger than the men we see nowadays。
When the Pygmy was quite satisfied that his eyes had not deceived
him； he scampered； as fast as his legs would carry him； to the Giant's ear；
and stooping over its cavity； shouted lustily into it：
〃Halloo； brother Antaeus！ Get up this minute； and take your pine…tree
walking stick in your hand。 Here comes another Giant to have a tussle
with you。〃
〃Poh； poh！〃 grumbled Antaeus； only half awake。 〃None of your
nonsense； my little fellow！ Don't you see I'm sleepy？ There is not a Giant
on earth for whom I would take the trouble to get up。〃
But the Pygmy looked again； and now perceived that the stranger was
coming directly towards the prostrate form of Antaeus。 With every step； he
looked less like a blue mountain； and more like an immensely large man。
He was soon so nigh； that there could be no possible mistake about the
matter。 There he was； with the sun flaming on his golden helmet； and
flashing from his polished breastplate； he had a sword by his side； and a
lion's skin over his back； and on his right shoulder he carried a club； which
looked bulkier and heavier than the pine…tree walking stick of Antaeus。
By this time； the whole nation of the Pygmies had seen the new
wonder； and a million of them set up a shout all together； so that it really
made quite an audible squeak。
〃Get up； Antaeus！ Bestir yourself； you lazy old Giant！ Here comes
another Giant； as strong as you are； to fight with you。〃
〃Nonsense； nonsense！〃 growled the sleepy Giant。 〃I'll have my nap out；
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come who may。〃
Still the stranger drew nearer； and now the Pygmies could plainly
discern that； if his stature were less lofty than the Giant's； yet his shoulders
were even broader。 And； in truth； what a pair of shoulders they must have
been！ As I told you； a long while ago； they once upheld the sky。 The
Pygmies； being ten times as vivacious as their great numskull of a brother；
could not abide the Giant's slow movements； and were determined to have
him on his feet。 So they kept shouting to him； and even went so far as to
prick him with their swords。
〃Get up； get up； get up；〃 they cried。 〃Up with you； lazy bones！ The
strange Giant's club is bigger than your own； his shoulders are the broadest；
and we think him the stronger of the two。〃
Antaeus could not endure to have it said that any mortal was half so
mighty as himself。 This latter remark of the Pygmies pricked him deeper
than their swords； and； sitting up； in rather a sulky humor； he gave a gape
of several yards wide； rubbed his eyes； and finally turned his stupid head
in the direction whither his little friends were eagerly pointing。
No sooner did he set eyes on the stranger； than； leaping on his feet； and
seizing his walking stick； he strode a mile or two to meet him； all the
while brandishing the sturdy pine tree； so that it whistled through the air。
〃Who are you？〃 thundered the Giant。 〃And what do you want in my
dominions？〃
There was one strange thing about Antaeus； of which I have not yet
told you； lest； hearing of so many wonders all in a lump； you might not
believe much more than half of them。 You are to know； then； that
whenever this redoubtable Giant touched the ground； either with his hand；
his foot； or any other part of his body； he grew stronger than ever he had
been before。 The Earth； you remember； was his mother； and was very fond
of him； as being almost th