the head of Hercules. As a great many thou-
sand Pygmies were employed in this task, they
soon brought together several bushels of inflam-
natory matter, and raised so tall a heap, that,
mounting on its summit, they were quite upon
a level with the sleeper's face. The archers,
meanwhile, were stationed within bow shot, with
orders to let fly at Hercules the instant that he
stirred. Every thing being in readiness, a torch
was applied to the pile, which immediately burst
into flames, and soon waxed hot enough to roast
the enemy, had he but chosen to lie still. A
Pygmy, you know, though so very small, might
set the world on fire, just as easily as a Giant
could; so that this was certainly the very best
way of dealing with their foe, provided they
could have kept him quiet while the conflagra-
tion was going forward.

But no sooner did Hercules begin to be
scorched, than up he started, with his hair in a
red blaze.

"What's all this?" he cried, bewildered with
sleep, and staring about him as if he expected
to see another Giant.

At that moment the twenty thousand archers

[[103]]

p102 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p103w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p104

v?