hand, as I would do a sparrow, and thrust a spit through him; he then kindled a great fire, roasted, and ate him for his supper. Having finished his repast, he returned to his porch, where he fell asleep, snoring louder than thunder. He slept thus till morning. As to ourselves, it was not possible for us to enjoy any rest, and we passed the night in the most painful apprehension that can be imagined. When day appeared the giant awoke, got up, went out, and left us in the palace.
We determined to revenge ourselves on the brutish giant, and did so in the following manner. That night after he had again made his frightful supper on another of our seamen, 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, with myself, took each of us a spit, and putting the points of them into the fire till they were red 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 immediately left the palace, and made for the shore, where we built rafts with timber that lay about in great quantities, each large enough to carry three men. We waited till day in order to get upon them, for we hoped if the giant did
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