Hoping to escape from the back of his fiery steed Moti grasped one in passing , but its roots gave way , and he dashed on , with the whole plant looking like a young tree flourishing in his grip . The enemy were in battle array , advancing over the plain , their king with them confident and cheerful , when suddenly from the front came a desperate rider at a furious gallop . ` Sire ! ' he cried , ` save yourself ! the enemy are coming ! ' ` What do you mean ? ' said the king . ` Oh , sire ! ' panted the messenger , ` fly at once , there is no time to lose . Foremost of the enemy rides a mad giant at a furious gallop . He flourishes a tree for a club and is wild with anger , for as he goes he cries , `` You wait till I get hold of you ! I 'll skin you alive ! I 'll wring your neck ! I 'll break every bone in your body ! '' Others ride behind , and you will do well to retire before this whirlwind of destruction comes upon you . ' Just then out of a cloud of dust in the distance the king saw Moti approaching at a hard gallop , looking indeed like a giant compared with the little beast he rode , whirling his castor-oil plant , which in the distance might have been an oak tree , and the sound of his revilings and shoutings came down upon the breeze ! Behind him the dust cloud moved to the sound of the thunder of hoofs , whilst here and there flashed the glitter of steel . The sight and the sound struck terror into the king , and , turning his horse , he fled at top speed , thinking that a regiment of yelling giants was upon him ; and all his force followed him as fast as they might go . One fat officer alone could not keep up on foot with that mad rush , and as Moti came galloping up he flung himself on the ground in abject fear . This was too much for Moti 's excited pony , who shied so suddenly that Moti went flying over his head like a sky rocket , and alighted right on the top of his fat foe .
Quickly regaining his feet Moti began XXXXX swing his plant round his head and to shout : ` Where are your men ?
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