His speech was followed by an uproar of applause , as its patriotism and self-devotion unquestionably deserved ; and the shouts and clapping of hands would have been greatly prolonged , had they not been rendered quite inaudible by a deep respiration , vulgarly called a snore , from the sleeping Hercules . It was finally decided that the whole nation of Pygmies should set to work to destroy Hercules ; not , be it understood , from any doubt that a single champion would be capable of putting him to the sword , but because he was a public enemy , and all were desirous of sharing in the glory of his defeat . There was a debate whether the national honor did not demand that a herald should be sent with a trumpet , to stand over the ear of Hercules , and after blowing a blast right into it , to defy him to the combat by formal proclamation . But two or three venerable and sagacious Pygmies , well versed in state affairs , gave it as their opinion that war already existed , and that it was their rightful privilege to take the enemy by surprise . Moreover , if awakened , and allowed to get upon his feet , Hercules might happen to do them a mischief before he could be beaten down again . For , as these sage counselors remarked , the stranger 's club was really very big , and had rattled like a thunderbolt against the skull of Antaeus . So the Pygmies resolved to set aside all foolish punctilios , and assail their antagonist at once . Accordingly , all the fighting men of the nation took their weapons , and went boldly up to Hercules , who still lay fast asleep , little dreaming of the harm which the Pygmies meant to do him . A body of twenty thousand archers marched in front , with their little bows all ready , and the arrows on the string . The same number were ordered to clamber upon Hercules , some with spades to dig his eyes out , and others with bundles of hay , and all manner of rubbish with which they intended to plug up his mouth and nostrils , so that he might perish for lack of breath . These last , however , could by no means perform their appointed duty ; inasmuch as the enemy 's breath rushed out of his nose in an obstreperous hurricane and whirlwind , which blew the Pygmies away as fast as they came nigh . It was found necessary , therefore , to hit upon some other method of carrying on the war . After holding a council , the captains ordered their troops to collect sticks , straws , dry weeds , and whatever combustible stuff they could find , and make a pile of it , heaping it high around the head of Hercules . As a great many thousand Pygmies were employed in this task , they soon brought together several bushels of inflammatory matter , and raised so tall a heap , that , mounting on its summit , they were quite upon a level with the sleeper 's face . The archers , meanwhile , were stationed within bow shot , with orders to let fly at Hercules the instant that he stirred . Everything being in readiness , a torch was applied to the pile , which immediately burst into flames , and soon waxed hot enough to roast the enemy , had he but chosen to lie still . A Pygmy , you know , though so very small , might set the world on fire , just as easily as a Giant could ; so that this was certainly the very best way of dealing with their foe , provided they could have kept him quiet while the conflagration was going forward . But no sooner did Hercules begin to be scorched , than up he started , with his hair in a red blaze . `` What 's all this ? '' he cried , bewildered with sleep , and staring about him as if he expected to see another Giant .
At that moment the twenty thousand archers twanged their bowstrings , and the arrows came whizzing , like so many winged mosquitoes , right into the face XXXXX Hercules .
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