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turn into a sword if you wave it three times round your head； and give you
the strength of a thousand men beside your own。 Keep that； then cut a strip
of my hide； for a belt； for when you buckle it on； there's nothing can kill
you。〃
Billy Beg was very sad to hear that his friend must die。 And very soon
he heard a more dreadful roar than ever he heard； and a tremendous bull
rushed out of the forest。 Then came the worst fight of all。 In the end； the
other bull was too much for Billy Beg's bull； and he killed him and drank
his blood。
Billy Beg sat down and cried for three days and three nights。 After that
he was hungry； so he put his hand in the bull's left ear； and drew out the
napkin； and ate all kinds of eating and drinking。 Then he put his hand in
the right ear and pulled out the stick which was to turn into a sword if
waved round his head three times； and to give him the strength of a
thousand men beside his own。 And he cut a strip of the hide for a belt； and
started off on his adventures。
Presently he came to a fine place； an old gentleman lived there。 So
Billy went up and knocked； and the old gentleman came to the door。
〃Are you wanting a boy？〃 says Billy。
〃I am wanting a herd…boy；〃 says the gentleman； 〃to take my six cows；
six horses； six donkeys； and six goats to pasture every morning； and bring
them back at night。 Maybe you'd do。〃
〃What are the wages？〃 says Billy。
〃Oh； well；〃 says the gentleman； 〃it's no use to talk of that now； there's
three giants live in the wood by the pasture； and every day they drink up
all the milk and kill the boy that looks after the cattle； so we'll wait to talk
about wages till we see if you come back alive。〃
〃All right；〃 says Billy； and he entered service with the old gentleman。
The first day； he drove the six cows； six horses； six donkeys； and six
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goats to pasture； and sat down by them。 About noon he heard a kind of
roaring from the wood； and out rushed a giant with two heads； spitting fire
out of his two mouths。
〃Oh！ my fine fellow；〃 says he to Billy； 〃you are too big for one
swallow and not big enough for two； how would you like to die； then？ By
a cut with the sword； a blow with the fist or a swing by the back？〃
〃That is as may be；〃 says Billy； 〃but I'll fight you。〃 And he buckled on
his hide belt and swung his stick three times round his head； to give him
the strength of a thousand men besides his own； and went for the giant。
And at the first grapple Billy Beg lifted the giant up and sunk him in the
ground； to his armpits。
〃Oh； mercy！ mercy！ Spare my life！〃 cried the giant。
〃I think not；〃 said Billy； and he cut off his heads。
That night； when the cows and the goats were driven home； they gave
so much milk that all the dishes in the house were filled and the milk ran
over and made a little brook in the yard。
〃This is very queer；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃they never gave any
milk before。 Did you see nothing in the pasture？〃
〃Nothing worse than myself；〃 said Billy。 And next morning he drove
the six cows； six horses； six donkeys； and six goats to pasture again。
Just before noon he heard a terrific roar； and out of the wood came a
giant with six heads。
〃You killed my brother；〃 he roared； fire coming out of his six mouths；
〃and I'll very soon have your blood！ Will you die by a cut of the sword； or
a swing by the back？〃
〃I'll fight you；〃 said Billy。 And buckling on his belt and swinging his
stick three times round his head； he ran in and grappled the giant。 At the
first hold； he sunk the giant up to the shoulders in the ground。
〃Mercy； mercy； kind gentleman！〃 cried the giant。 〃Spare my life！〃
〃I think not；〃 said Billy； and cut off his heads。
That night the cattle gave so much milk that it ran out of the house and
made a stream； and turned a mill wheel which had not been turned for
seven years！
〃It's certainly very queer；〃 said the old gentleman； 〃did you see
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nothing in the pasture； Billy？〃
〃Nothing worse than myself；〃 said Billy。
And the next morning the gentleman said； 〃Billy； do you know； I only
heard one of the giants roaring in the night； and the night before only two。
What can ail them； at all？〃
〃Oh； maybe they are sick or something；〃 says Billy； and with that he
drove the six cows； six horses； six donkeys； and six goats to pasture。
At about ten o'clock there was a roar like a dozen bulls； and the brother
of the two giants came out of the wood； with twelve heads on him； and fire
spouting from every one of them。
〃I'll have you； my fine boy；〃 cries he； 〃how will you die； then？〃
〃We'll see；〃 says Billy； 〃come on！〃
And swinging his stick round his head； he made for the giant； and
drove him up to his twelve necks in the ground。 All twelve of the heads
began begging for mercy； but Billy soon out them short。 Then he drove the
beasts home。
And that night the milk overflowed the mill… stream and made a lake；
nine miles long； nine miles broad； and nine miles deep； and there are
salmon and whitefish there to this day。
〃You are a fine boy；〃 said the gentleman； 〃and I'll give you wages。〃
So Billy was herd。
The next day； his master told him to look after the house while he went
up to the king's town； to see a great sight。 〃What will it be？〃 said Billy。
〃The king's daughter is to be eaten by a fiery dragon；〃 said his master；
〃unless the champion fighter they've been feed… ing for six weeks on
purpose kills the dragon。〃 〃Oh；〃 said Billy。
After he was left alone； there were people passing on horses and afoot；
in coaches and chaises； in carriages and in wheelbarrows； all going to see
the great sight。 And all asked Billy why he was not on his way。 But Billy
said he didn't care about going。
When the last passer…by was out of sight； Billy ran and dressed himself
in his master's best suit of clothes； took the brown mare from the stable；
and was off to the king's town。
When he came there； he saw a big round place with great high seats
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built up around it； and all the people sitting there。 Down in the midst was