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let them alone； and leave the Pygmies to manage their own affairswhich；
after all； is about the best thing that great people can do for little ones。
In short； as I said before； Antaeus loved the Pygmies； and the Pygmies
loved Antaeus。 The Giant's life being as long as his body was large； while
the lifetime of a Pygmy was but a span； this friendly intercourse had been
going on for innumerable generations and ages。 It was written about in the
Pygmy histories； and talked about in their ancient traditions。 The most
venerable and white…bearded Pygmy had never heard of a time； even in his
greatest of grandfathers' days； when the Giant was not their enormous
friend。 Once； to be sure （as was recorded on an obelisk； three feet high；
erected on the place of the catastrophe）； Antaeus sat down upon about five
thousand Pygmies； who were assembled at a military review。 But this was
one of those unlucky accidents for which nobody is to blame； so that the
small folks never took it to heart； and only requested the Giant to be
careful forever afterwards to examine the acre of ground where he
intended to squat himself。
It is a very pleasant picture to imagine Antaeus standing among the
Pygmies； like the spire of the tallest cathedral that ever was built； while
they ran about like pismires at his feet； and to think that； in spite of their
difference in size； there were affection and sympathy between them and
him！ Indeed； it has always seemed to me that the Giant needed the little
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people more than the Pygmies needed the Giant。 For； unless they had been
his neighbors and well wishers； and； as we may say； his playfellows；
Antaeus would not have had a single friend in the world。 No other being
like himself had ever been created。 No creature of his own size had ever
talked with him； in thunder… like accents； face to face。 When he stood with
his head among the clouds； he was quite alone； and had been so for
hundreds of years； and would be so forever。 Even if he had met another
Giant； Antaeus would have fancied the world not big enough for two such
vast personages； and； instead of being friends with him； would have fought
him till one of the two was killed。 But with the Pygmies he was the most
sportive and humorous； and merry…hearted； and sweet…tempered old Giant
that ever washed his face in a wet cloud。
His little friends； like all other small people； had a great opinion of
their own importance； and used to assume quite a patronizing air towards
the Giant。
〃Poor creature！〃 they said one to another。 〃He has a very dull time of it；
all by himself； and we ought not to grudge wasting a little of our precious
time to amuse him。 He is not half so bright as we are； to be sure； and； for
that reason； he needs us to look after his comfort and happiness。 Let us be
kind to the old fellow。 Why； if Mother Earth had not been very kind to
ourselves； we might all have been Giants too。〃
On all their holidays； the Pygmies had excellent sport with Antaeus。
He often stretched himself out at full length on the ground； where he
looked like the long ridge of a hill； and it was a good hour's walk； no
doubt； for a short…legged Pygmy to journey from head to foot of the Giant。
He would lay down his great hand flat on the grass； and challenge the
tallest of them to clamber upon it； and straddle from finger to finger。 So
fearless were they； that they made nothing of creeping in among the folds
of his garments。 When his head lay sidewise on the earth； they would
march boldly up； and peep into the great cavern of his mouth； and take it
all as a joke （as indeed it was meant） when Antaeus gave a sudden snap of
his jaws； as if he were going to swallow fifty of them at once。 You would
have laughed to see the children dodging in and out among his hair； or
swinging from his beard。 It is impossible to tell half of the funny tricks
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that they played with their huge comrade； but I do not know that anything
was more curious than when a party of boys were seen running races on
his forehead； to try which of them could get first round the circle of his
one great eye。 It was another favorite feat with them to march along the
bridge of his nose； and jump down upon his upper lip。
If the truth must be told； they were sometimes as troublesome to the
Giant as a swarm of ants or mosquitoes； especially as they had a fondness
for mischief； and liked to prick his skin with their little swords and lances；
to see how thick and tough it was。 But Antaeus took it all kindly enough；
although； once in a while； when he happened to be sleepy； he would
grumble out a peevish word or two； like the muttering of a tempest； and
ask them to have done with their nonsense。 A great deal oftener； however；
he watched their merriment and gambols until his huge； heavy； clumsy
wits were completely stirred up by them； and then would he roar out such
a tremendous volume of immeasurable laughter； that the whole nation of
Pygmies had to put their hands to their ears； else it would certainly have
deafened them。
〃Ho！ ho！ ho！〃 quoth the Giant； shaking his mountainous sides。 〃What a
funny thing it is to be little！ If I were not Antaeus； I should like to be a
Pygmy； just for the joke's sake。〃
The Pygmies had but one thing to trouble them in the world。 They
were constantly at war with the cranes； and had always been so； ever since
the long… lived Giant could remember。 From time to time； very terrible
battles had been fought in which sometimes the little men won the victory；
and sometimes the cranes。 According to some historians； the Pygmies used
to go to the battle； mounted on the backs of goats and rams； but such
animals as these must have been far too big for Pygmies to ride upon； so
that； I rather suppose； they rode on squirrel…back； or rabbit…back； or
redbook； or perhaps got upon hedgehogs； whose prickly quills would be
very terrible to the enemy。 However this might be； and whatever creatures
the Pygmies rode upon； I do not doubt that they made a formidable
appearance； armed with sword and spear； and bow and arrow； blowing
their tiny trumpet； and shouting their little war cry。 They never failed to
exhort one another to fight bravely； and recollect that the world had its
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eyes upon them； although； in simple truth； the only spectator was the Giant
Antaeus； with his one； great； stupid eye in the middle of his forehead。
When the two armies joined battle； the cranes would rush forward；
flapping their wings and stretching out their necks； and would perhaps
snatch up some of the Pygmies crosswise in their beaks。 Whenever this
happened； it was truly an awful spectacle to see those little men of might
kicking and sprawling in the air； and at last disappearing down the crane's
long； crooked throat； swallowed up alive。 A hero； you know； must hold
himself in readiness for any kind of fate； and doubtless the glory of the
thing was a consolation to him； even in the crane's gizzard。 If Antaeus
observed that the battle was going hard against his little allies； he
generally stopped laughing； and ran with mile…long strides to their
assistance； flourishing his club aloft and shouting at the cranes； who
quacked and croaked； and retreated as fast as they could。 Then the Pygmy
army would march homeward in triumph； attributing the victory entirely
to their own valor； and to the warlike skill and strategy of whomsoever
happened to be captain general； and for a tedious while afterwards；
nothing would be heard of but grand processions； and public banquets； a
nd brilliant illuminations； and shows of wax…work； with likenesses of the
distinguished officers； as small as life。
In th