无畏的小乔万尼 (第2/3页)

ttothepalace。

    Atmidnighthewassittingatthetableeating，whenheheardavoiceinthechimney。"ShallIthrowitdown？"

    "Goahead！"repliedLittleJohn。

    Downthechimneyintothefireplacefellamansleg。LittleJohndrankaglassofwine。

    Thenthevoicespokeagain。"ShallIthrowitdown？"

    "Goahead！"Soanotherlegdroppedintothefireplace。LittleJohnbitintothesausage。

    "ShallIthrowitdown？"

    "Goahead！"Sodowncameanarm。LittleJohnbeganwhistlingatune。

    "ShallIthrowitdown？"

    "Byallmeans！"Andtherewasanotherarm。

    "ShallIthrowitdown？"

    "Yes！"

    Thencamethetrunkofa波dy，andthearmsandlegsstuckontoit，andtherestoodamanwithoutahead。

    "ShallIthrowitdown？"

    "Throwitdown！"

    Downcametheheadandsprangintoplaceatopthetrunk。Hewastrulyagiant，andLittleJohnraisedhisglassandsaid，"Toyourhealth！"

    Thegiantsaid，"Takethelampandcomewithme。"

    LittleJohnpickedupthelamp，butdidntbudge。

    "Yougofirst！"saidthegiant。

    "No，afteryou，"insistedLittleJohn。

    "Afteryou！"thunderedthegiant。

    "Youleadtheway！"yelledLittleJohn。

    Sothegianttfirst，withLittleJohnbehindhimlightingtheway，andtheytthroughroomafterroomuntiltheyhadwalkedthewholelengthofthepalace。Beneathoneofthestaircaseswasasmalldoor。

    "Openit！"orderedthegiant。

    "Youopenit！"repliedLittleJohn。

    Sothegiantshoveditopenwithhisshoulder。Therewasaspiralstaircase。

    "Goondown，"directedthegiant。

    "Afteryou，"answeredLittleJohn。

    Theytdownthestepsintoacellar，andthegiantpointedtoastonesla波ntheground。"Raisethat！"

    "Youraiseit！"repliedLittleJohn，andthegiantlifteditasthoughitwereamerepebble。

    Beneaththeslabtherewerethreepotsofgold。"Carrythoseupstairs！"orderedthegiant。

    "Youcarrythemup！"answeredLittleJohn。Andthegiantcarriedthemuponebyone。

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