The Story of Jack and the Giants | Page 2

a shovel,
and a pickaxe, he went over to the Mount in the beginning of a dark
winter's evening, when he fell to work, and before morning had dug a
pit twenty-two feet deep, and nearly as broad, and had covered it over
with long sticks and straw. Then strewing a little mould upon it, he
made it appear like plain ground. Then Jack placed the horn to his
mouth, and blew with all his might such a loud tantivy, that the Giant
awoke and rushed towards Jack, exclaiming:
"You saucy villain, why are you come here to disturb my rest? you
shall pay dearly for this. I will take you home, and broil you whole for
my breakfast."
He had no sooner uttered this cruel threat, than, tumbling into the pit,
he made the very foundations of the Mount to shake.
"Oh, oh, Mr. Giant," said Jack, "where are you now? do you think now
of broiling me for your breakfast? will nothing else serve you but poor
Jack?"
Thus did little Jack torment the big Giant, as a cat does a mouse when
she knows it cannot escape; and when he had tired of that amusement,
he gave the monster a heavy blow with a pickaxe on the very crown of
his head, which tumbled him down, and killed him on the spot. When
Jack saw that the Giant was dead, he filled up the pit with earth, and
went to search the cave, which he found contained much treasure.

Jack then made haste back to rejoice his friends with the news of the
Giant's death.
[Illustration: The Justices present unto Jack a Sword and Belt]
Now, when the justices of Cornwall heard of this valiant action, they
sent for Jack, and declared that he should always be called
Jack the Giant Killer;
and they also gave him a magnificent sword and an embroidered belt,
upon which was emblazoned, in letters of gold,
"This is the valiant Cornish man Who slew the Giant Cormoran"
The news of Jack's victory soon spread over all the west of England; so
that another Giant, named Blunderbore, hearing of it, vowed to be
revenged on Jack, if ever it was his fortune to light on him. This Giant
kept an enchanted castle, situated in the midst of a lonely wood.
Now Jack, about four months after his last exploit, riding near this
castle in his journey towards Wales, being weary, lay down near a
pleasant fountain in the wood, and quickly fell asleep. Presently the
Giant, coming to the fountain for water, discovered him; and as the
lines written on the belt shewed who he was, he immediately took Jack
on his shoulders, and carried him towards his castle. Now, as they
passed through a thicket, the rustling of the boughs awakened Jack,
who was terribly frightened to find himself in the clutches of
Blunderbore. Yet this was nothing to his fright soon after; for when
they reached the castle, he beheld the floor covered all over with skulls
and bones of men and women.
The Giant took him into a large room, where lay the limbs of persons
that had been lately killed; and he told Jack, with a horrid grin, that
men's hearts, eaten with pepper and vinegar, were his nicest food, and
that he thought he should make a dainty meal on his. When he had said
this, he locked Jack up in the room, while he went to fetch another
Giant, who lived in the same wood, to enjoy a dinner off poor Jack.

While he was away. Jack heard dreadful shrieks, and groans, and cries,
from many parts of the castle; and soon after he heard a mournful voice
repeat these lines:
"Haste, valiant Stranger, haste away, Lest you become the Giant's prey.
On his return he'll bring another Still more savage than his brother;--
A horrid, cruel monster, who, Before he kills, will torture you. Oh,
valiant Stranger! haste away, Or you'll become these Giants' prey."
This warning was so shocking to poor Jack, that he was ready to go
mad. He ran to the window, and saw the two Giants coming along arm
in arm. This window was right over the gates of the castle.
"Now," thought Jack, "either my death or freedom is at hand."
Now there were two strong cords in the room. Jack made a large noose
with a slip-knot at the ends of both these; and as the Giants were
coming through the iron gates, he threw the ropes over their heads. He
then made the other ends fast to a beam in the ceiling, and pulled with
all his might till he had almost strangled them. When he saw that they
were both quite black in the face, and had not the