.

    "Whendotheyusuallyeback?"askedJill.

    "Younevertell,"saidthegiantess."Butthere;goandbequietforabit,mydearies.”

    Theyretreatedtothefarendofthekit,andwouldhaveslippedoutintothescullerythereahegiantesshadnotsatup,openedhereyes,andbrushedawayafly.

    "Donttryittillweresureshesreallyasleep,"whisperedScrubb."Oritllspoileverything."Sotheyallhuddledatthekitend,waitingandwatg.Thethoughtthatthehuntersmightebackatanymomentwasterrible.Andthegiantesswasfidgety.Wheheythoughtshehadreallygoosleep,shemoved.

    "Itbearthis,"thoughtJill.Todistracthermind,shebeganlookingabouther.Justinfrontofherwasawidetablewithtwopie-dishesonit,andanopenbook.

    Theyweregiantpie-dishesofcourse.Jillthoughtthatshecouldliedownjustfortablyihem.Thensheclimbeduponthebenchbesidethetabletolookatthebook.Sheread:MALLARD.Thisdeliciousbirdbecookedinavarietyofways.

    "Itsacookerybook,"thoughtJillwithoutmuterest,andglancedoverhershoulder.

    Thegiantessseyeswereshutbutshedidntlookasifshewereproperlyasleep.Jillglancedbackatthebook.Itwasarrangedalphabetically:andattheveryryherheartseemedtostopbeating;ItranMAN.Thiselegantlittlebipedhaslongbeenvaluedasadelicacy.ItformsatraditionalpartoftheAutum,andisservedbetweenthefishandthejoint.Ea...

    butshecouldoreadanymore.Sheturnedround.Thegiantesshadwakenedupandwashavingafitofcoughing.Jillheothertoihebook.Theyalsomouhebendbehehugepages.ScrubbwasstillreadingabouthowtoenwhenPuddle