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 with no more motion than a sand hill . It was too late for the Giant 's Mother Earth to help him now ; and I should not wonder if his ponderous bones were lying on the same spot to this very day , and were mistaken for those of an uncommonly large elephant . But , alas me ! What a wailing did the poor little Pygmies set up when they saw their enormous brother treated in this terrible manner ! If Hercules heard their shrieks , however , he took no notice , and perhaps fancied them only the shrill , plaintive twittering of small birds that had been frightened from their nests by the uproar of the battle between himself and Antaeus . Indeed , his thoughts had been so much taken up with the Giant , that he had never once looked at the Pygmies , nor even knew that there was such a funny little nation in the world . And now , as he had traveled a good way , and was also rather weary with his exertions in the fight , he spread out his lion 's skin on the ground , and , reclining himself upon it , fell fast asleep . As soon as the Pygmies saw Hercules preparing for a nap , they nodded their little heads at one another , and winked with their little eyes . And when his deep , regular breathing gave them notice that he was asleep , they assembled together in an immense crowd , spreading over a space of about twenty-seven feet square .
One of their most eloquent orators -LRB- and a valiant warrior enough , besides , though hardly so good XXXXX any other weapon as he was with his tongue -RRB- climbed upon a toadstool , and , from that elevated position , addressed the multitude .
So as at because between from like notwithstanding upon with