The ogre is angry that the Hay-Town people are not paying their taxes, and he threatens to destroy the town if the people do not pay him. The people of Hay-town are very poor, and the only way they can survive is with the help of the ogre, who eats people who try to escape. The two men agree to meet with the ogre in order to find out what is going on. The ogre tells the men that he has come to collect food from the town, but that the people will not let him in because they do not want him to know that they are jealous of his wealth.