A pile of small bodies instantly heaped itself at my back.

Then I struggled to my feet, with much pushing and pulling from the Little Ones, who were wonderfully strong for their size.
"You must go away, good giant," they said.

"When the bad giants see you hurt, they will all trample on you." "I think I must," I answered.
"Go and grow strong, and come again," they said.
"I will," I replied--and sat down.
"Indeed you must go at once!" whispered Lona, who had been supporting me, and now knelt beside me.
"I listened at his door," said one of the bigger boys, "and heard the bad giant say to his wife that he had found you idle, talking to a lot of moles and squirrels, and when he beat you, they tried to kill him.

He said you were a wizard, and they must knock you, or they would have no peace." "I will go at once," I said, "and come back as soon as I have found out what is wanted to make you bigger and stronger." "We don't want to be bigger," they answered, looking very serious.
"We WON'T grow bad giants!--We are strong now; you don't know how much strong!" It was no use holding them out a prospect that had not any attraction for them! I said nothing more, but rose and moved slowly up the slope of the valley.

At once they formed themselves into a long procession; some led the way, some walked with me helping me, and the rest followed.