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giant till a sharp thump on the back of the head brought him up short.

Trembling in every hair, Wag looked over his shoulder. Stars! He had run into the terrible, five-toed foot of the giant himself. At first Wag was too terrified to move. But suddenly the hair on the back of his neck bristled erect. He peered at the giant's foot more attentively. His eyes snapped and, seizing a stout stick that lay near by, he brought it down with all his might on the giant's toes.

"It's Ruggedo!" screamed Wag, hopping up and down with rage. "And I'll pound his curly toes off. I don't care if he is a giant! I'll pound his curly toes off!"

The stick whistled through the air and whacked the giant's toes again.

Now of course we have known all along that the giant was Ruggedo, but it was a great surprise for the rescuers. Ruggedo was bad enough to deal with as a gnome—but a giant Ruggedo! Horrors!

"Stop him! Stop him!" cried Peg Amy, throwing up her hands and scattering the contents of the box of magic in every direction.

"What are you trying to do?" roared Kabumpo, plunging forward. "Get us all trampled on?"