I not being handy with the pen , the Giant hopes you will excuse mistakes and bad writing . '' Dick simply gazed with amazement . `` If ever I thought an enemy was killed and done for , it was that Giant , '' said he . `` Why , I made mere mince-collops of him ! '' However , he could not refuse a challenge , not to speak of his duty to rid the world of so greedy and odious a tyrant . Dick , therefore , took the usual things -LRB- which the king had secretly restored -RRB- , but first he tried them -- putting on the Cap of Darkness before the glass , in which he could not see himself . On second thoughts , he considered it unfair to take the cap . All the other articles were in working order . Jaqueline on this occasion followed him in the disguise of a crow , flying overhead . On reaching the cavern -- a huge tunnel in the rock -- where the Giant lived , Ricardo blew a blast on the horn which hung outside , and in obedience to a written notice , knocked also with a mace provided by the Giant for that purpose . Presently he heard heavy footsteps sounding along the cavern , and the Giant came out . He was above the common height for giants , and his whole face and body were seamed over with little red lines , crossing each other like tartan . These were marks of encounters , in which he had been cut to bits and come together again ; for this was his peculiarity , which made him so dangerous . If you cut off his head , he went on just as before , only without it ; and so about everything else . By dint of magic , he could put his head on again , just as if it had been his hat , if you gave him time enough . On the last occasion of their meeting , Ricardo had left him in a painfully scattered condition , and thought he was done for . But now , except that a bird had flown away with the little finger of his left hand and one of his ears , the Giant was as comfortable as anyone could be in his situation . `` Mornin ' sir , '' he said to Dick , touching his forehead with his hand . `` Glad to see you looking so well . No bad feeling , I hope , on either side ? ''
`` None XXXXX mine , certainly , '' said Ricardo , holding out his hand , which the Giant took and shook ; `` but Duty is Duty , and giants must go .
If above before for of on that to with without