to come and fight me.' He's saying that to me now. I'm David, you know,
and I'm going. Just wait a moment till I'm ready."

She darted away to where her doll was, and soon returned with a tiny
calico bag, which she opened very carefully and disclosed to her uncle's
puzzled gaze five round stones.

"You see," she went on, "it's a pity I haven't a sling, but Tom in the
stable says he will make me a cattypot; that's a lovely sling, he says,
which would kill anything. But it's all right; I pretend I have a sling,
you know. Now you wait here; I'm going to meet him. I'm not a bit
afraid, though he looks so big, because David wasn't, you know. God
helped him. Now, Goliath, I'm ready!"

Sir Edward looked on in some amusement as Milly stepped out with regular
even steps until she was about twenty feet from the tree, then suddenly
stopped.

"I hear what you say, Goliath. You say you'll give my body to be pecked
at and eaten by the birds; but you won't do that, for I am coming, and I
am going to kill you."

And then with all her strength the child flung her stones one by one at
the tree, pausing for some moments when she had done so.

"He's quite dead, uncle," she said calmly, as she retraced her steps and
stood before Sir Edward, again looking up at him with those earnest eyes
of hers, "quite dead; and if I had a sword I would play at cutting off
his head. I suppose you wouldn't lend me your sword hanging up in the
hall, would you?"