The Story of Jack and the Giants | Page 3

least strength left, he
drew his sword, and slid down the ropes; he then killed the Giants, and
thus saved himself from the cruel death they meant to put him to.
Jack next took a great bunch of keys from the pocket of Blunderbore,
and went into the castle again. He made a strict search through all the
rooms; and in them found three ladies tied up by the hair of their heads,
and almost starved to death. They told him that their husbands had been
killed by the Giants, who had then condemned them to be starved to
death, because they would not eat the flesh of their own husbands.
"Charming Ladies," said Jack, "I have put an end to the monster and his
wicked brother; and I give you this castle, and all riches that it contains,
to make you some amends for the dreadful pains you have felt."
He then very politely gave them the keys of the castle, and went further
in his journey to Wales.

[Illustration: A Giant looketh out for Jack. Initial]
Caring very little for riches, Jack had not taken any of the Giant's
wealth for himself, and having but little money of his own, he thought
it best to travel as fast as he could.
At length he lost his way; and when night came on, he was in a valley
between two lofty mountains. He thought himself lucky at last in
finding a large and handsome house. He went to it, and knocked at the
gate; when, to his surprise, there came forth a Giant with two heads. He
spoke to Jack very civilly, for he was a Welsh Giant, and all the
mischief he did was done under a show of friendship. Jack told him he
was a benighted traveller, when the monster bade Jack welcome, and
led him into a room where he could pass the night. But though he was
weary he could not sleep, for he heard the Giant walking backward and
forward in the next room, saying,
"Though here you lodge with me this night, You shall not see the
morning-light; My club shall dash your brains out quite."
"Say you so?" quoth Jack; "that is like one of your Welsh tricks."
Then getting out of bed, Jack groped about the room, and at last found
a billet of wood; he laid it in his place in the bed, and hid himself in a
corner of the room. In the middle of the night the Giant came with his
great club, and struck many heavy blows on the bed, in the very place
where Jack had laid the billet; and then went to his own room, thinking
he had broken all Jack's bones.
[Illustration: The deceitful Civility of the Welsh Giant]
Early in the morning Jack walked into the Giant's room to thank him
for his lodging. The Giant started when he saw him, and began to
stammer out,--
"Pray, how did you sleep last night? Did you hear or see any thing in
the dead of the night?"

"Nothing worth speaking of," said Jack, carelessly; "a rat, I believe,
gave me three or four flaps with its tail, but I soon went to sleep again."
[Illustration: He partaketh of his Pudding with Jack]
The Giant did not answer a word, but brought in two bowls of
hasty-pudding for their breakfasts. Jack wanted to make the Giant
believe that he could eat as much as himself, so he contrived to button a
leathern bag inside his coat, and slipped the pudding into the bag
instead of his mouth.
When breakfast was over, he said to the Giant, "I will shew you a fine
trick: I could cut my head off one minute, and put it on sound the next.
But see here!"
He then took a knife, ripped up the bag, and all the pudding fell on the
floor.
"Odds splutter hur nails," cried the Giant, who was ashamed to be
outdone by Jack, "hur can do that hurself!"
So he snatched up the knife, plunged it into his stomach, and in a
moment dropped down dead.
Jack having thus outwitted the monster, went further on his journey.

PART THE SECOND.
[Illustration: Jack measureth with the Legs of a Giant. Initial]
Jack travelled on until he met with King Arthur's only son, who was
seeking all through Wales for a very beautiful lady that was enchanted.
Jack asked leave to be the Prince's attendant, and the Prince granted his
request.
After a long day's journey, when night drew on, the Prince was anxious
to secure a lodging, but they had no means to hire one, for both the

Prince and Jack had spent all their money; but Jack said,--
"Never mind, master, we shall do well enough, for