Little Jacket heard the giant's great voice, and was very much
astonished that he spoke English. He thought that giants spoke nothing
but "chow-chow-whangalorum-hallaballoo with a-ruffle-bull-bagger!"
This made him hope that Huggermugger would not eat him. So he grew
very hopeful, and determined to persevere. He kept at his work, but as
softly as he could. But Huggermugger heard the noise again, or fancied
he heard it, and this time came to see if he could not kill the rat
that gnawed so steadily and so fearlessly. Little Jacket heard him
coming, and rushed to hide himself. The nearest place of retreat was
one of the giant's great boots, which lay on the floor, opening like a
cave before him. Into this he rushed. He had hardly got into it before
Huggermugger entered.
CHAPTER FIVE.
WHAT HAPPENED TO LITTLE JACKET IN THE GIANT'S BOOT.
Huggermugger made a great noise in entering, and ran up immediately to
the door at which Little Jacket had been cutting, and threshed about
him with a great stick, right and left. He then went about the room,
grumbling and swearing, and poking into all the corners and holes in
search of the rat; for he saw that the hole under the door had been
enlarged, and he was sure that the rats had done it. So he went
peeping and poking about, making Little Jacket not a little troubled,
for he expected every moment that he would pick up the boot in which
he was concealed, and shake him out of his hiding-place. Singularly
enough, however, the giant never thought of looking into his own
boots, and very soon he went back to his chamber to dress himself.
Little Jacket now ventured to peep out of the boot, and stood
considering what was next to be done. He hardly dared to go again to
the door, for Huggermugger was now dressed, and his wife too, for he
heard their voices in the next room, where they seemed to be preparing
their breakfast. Little Jacket now was puzzling his wits to think what
he should do, if the giant should take a fancy to put his boots on
before he could discover another hiding-place. He noticed, however,
that there were other boots and shoes near by, and so there was a
chance that Huggermugger might choose to put on some other pair. If
this should be the case, he might lie concealed where he was during
the day, and at night work away again at the hole in the door, which
he hoped to enlarge enough soon, to enable him to escape. He had not
much time, however, for thought; for the giant and his wife soon came
in. By peeping out a little, he could just see their great feet
shuffling over the wide floor.
"And now, wife." says Huggermugger, "bring me my boots." He was a lazy
giant, and his wife spoiled him, by waiting on him too much.
"Which boots, my dear," says she.
"Why, the long ones," says he; "I am going a hunting to-day, and shall
have to cross the marshes."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account