roared this thundering Giant . `` Let me hit you but one box on the ear , and you 'll never have the headache again . '' Now Hercules -LRB- though strong enough , as you already know , to hold the sky up -RRB- began to be sensible that he should never win the victory , if he kept on knocking Antaeus down ; for , by and by , if he hit him such hard blows , the Giant would inevitably , by the help of his Mother Earth , become stronger than the mighty Hercules himself . So , throwing down his club , with which he had fought so many dreadful battles , the hero stood ready to receive his antagonist with naked arms . `` Step forward , '' cried he . `` Since I 've broken your pine tree , we 'll try which is the better man at a wrestling match . '' `` Aha ! then I 'll soon satisfy you , '' shouted the Giant ; for , if there was one thing on which he prided himself more than another , it was his skill in wrestling . `` Villain , I 'll fling you where you can never pick yourself up again . '' On came Antaeus , hopping and capering with the scorching heat of his rage , and getting new vigor wherewith to wreak his passion , every time he hopped . But Hercules , you must understand , was wiser than this numskull of a Giant , and had thought of a way to fight him -- huge , earth-born monster that he was -- and to conquer him too , in spite of all that his Mother Earth could do for him . Watching his opportunity , as the mad Giant made a rush at him , Hercules caught him round the middle with both hands , lifted him high into the air , and held him aloft overhead . Just imagine it , my dear little friends . What a spectacle it must have been , to see this monstrous fellow sprawling in the air , face downwards , kicking out his long legs and wriggling his whole vast body , like a baby when its father holds it at arm 's length towards the ceiling . But the most wonderful thing was , that , as soon as Antaeus was fairly off the earth , he began to lose the vigor which he had gained by touching it . Hercules very soon perceived that his troublesome enemy was growing weaker , both because he struggled and kicked with less violence , and because the thunder of his big voice subsided into a grumble . The truth was that unless the Giant touched Mother Earth as often as once in five minutes , not only his overgrown strength , but the very breath of his life , would depart from him . Hercules had guessed this secret ; and it may be well for us all to remember it , in case we should ever have to fight a battle with a fellow like Antaeus . For these earth-born creatures are only difficult to conquer on their own ground , but may easily be managed if we can contrive to lift them into a loftier and purer region . So it proved with the poor Giant , whom I am really a little sorry for , notwithstanding his uncivil way of treating strangers who came to visit him .
When his strength and breath were quite gone , Hercules gave his huge body a toss , and flung it about a mile off , where it fell heavily , and lay XXXXX no more motion than a sand hill .
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