Atmidnighthewassittingatthetableeating，whenheheardavoiceinthechimney。"ShallIthrowitdown？"

Beneaththeslabtherewerethreepotsofgold。"Carrythoseupstairs！"orderedthegiant。

"ShallIthrowitdown？"

Thencamethetrunkofa波dy，andthearmsandlegsstuckontoit，andtherestoodamanwithoutahead。

"Goahead！"Soanotherlegdroppedintothefireplace。LittleJohnbitintothesausage。

"Youopenit！"repliedLittleJohn。

Whentheywerebackinthehallwherethegreatfireplacewas，thegiantsaid，"LittleJohn，thespellhasbeenbro！"Atthat，oneofhislegcameoffandkickeditswayupthech

"ShallIthrowitdown？"

Sothegiantshoveditopenwithhisshoulder。Therewasaspiralstaircase。

"Youleadtheway！"yelledLittleJohn。

"Afteryou！"thunderedthegiant。

"Throwitdown！"

Thegiantsaid，"Takethelampandcomewithme。"

"ShallIthrowitdown？"

"Goahead！"repliedLittleJohn。

LittleJohnpickedupthelamp，butdidntbudge。

Downthechimneyintothefireplacefellamansleg。LittleJohndrankaglassofwine。

"Youcarrythemup！"answeredLittleJohn。Andthegiantcarriedthemuponebyone。

"Byallmeans！"Andtherewasanotherarm。

"Afteryou，"answeredLittleJohn。

"Youraiseit！"repliedLittleJohn，andthegiantlifteditasthoughitwereamerepebble。

"Yougofirst！"saidthegiant。

ttothepalace。

"Openit！"orderedthegiant。

"Yes！"

"Goondown，"directedthegiant。

"ShallIthrowitdown？"

Thenthevoicespokeagain。"ShallIthrowitdown？"

Downcametheheadandsprangintoplaceatopthetrunk。Hewastrulyagiant，andLittleJohnraisedhisglassandsaid，"Toyourhealth！"

"No，afteryou，"insistedLittleJohn。

Theytdownthestepsintoacellar，andthegiantpointedtoastonesla波nthegnd。"Raisethat！"

Sothegianttfirst，withLittleJohnbehindhimlightingtheway，andtheytthghroomafterroomuntiltheyhadwalkedthewholelengthofthepalace。Beneathoneofthestaircaseswasasmalldoor。

"Goahead！"Sodowncameanarm。LittleJohnbeganwhistlingatune。