His knapsack was now well filled, for the cook in the royal kitchen had also placed in it a loaf of bread, a cheese and a knife in case he became hungry while on his journey of adventure. As Ned traveled on, the forest became darker and darker, for the trees grew so close together that the sun could hardly shine through the thick leafy roof. Suddenly he heard a great voice singing: "I am the master of this wood And everyone bows to me, My head is as big as a drygoods box And my legs as long as a tree." Then, all at once, the voice changed to a whistle, which sounded like the siren on a sound steamer when the weather is foggy. "It must be a giant singing," thought Ned. "Goodness! but he's a loud whistler. I guess he blows through his fingers!" and he hid beneath a clump of bushes. "Ho, ho!" cried the voice, and a giant came crashing through the forest. On seeing Ned, he shouted: "Come out of there, and I'll make a mouthful of you." "Don't be in a hurry," replied Ned bravely. "I'm going to make you my servant." "Ho, ho!" laughed the giant, "that is a good joke! I'll pitch you into that raven's nest up there to teach you to make less noise in my forest." "_Your_ forest!" laughed Ned. "It's as much mine as yours, and if you say another word, I'll cut it down in a quarter of an hour." "Ha, ha!" shouted the giant, "I should like to see you begin, my brave Sir Kid!" Carefully placing his Magic Axe on the ground, Ned shouted, "Chop, chop, chop!" At once the axe began to chop, now right, now left, and up and down, till the branches tumbled down on the giant's head like hail in autumn. "Stop, stop!" cried the giant. "Don't destroy my forest. Who the mischief are you?" "Sit down and I'll tell you the story of the famous Puss in Boots, who once killed a giant and gave his castle to his Master, the Lord of Carabas," said Ned. "How could a cat kill a giant? You are making sport of me." "Not at all," replied Ned. "Have you never read the story of Puss in Boots?" "No, but I once heard my cousin, the Giant of the Beanstalk, speak of a cat who wore boots. But that was long ago when we were both boys." "Well, I'll tell you then," said Ned. "Puss in Boots' master was the youngest of three sons. When their father died, the two older brothers received the farm and money, while he was left nothing but a Cat, who said to him one day, 'Do just what I tell you and I will make you rich. Give me a bag and a pair of boots, because the brambles scratch my legs, and you shall see what I will do for you.'