The Story of Jack and the Giants | Page 5

Jack took leave of the King, the Prince, and all the Knights
of the Round Table, and set off. He went along over hills and
mountains, until he came to a large forest, through which his road lay.
On a sudden he heard piercing shrieks. He forced his way through the
trees, and saw a huge Giant, thirty-five feet high, dragging along by the
hair of their heads a Knight and his beautiful Lady, one in each hand,
with as much ease as if they had been a pair of gloves. Jack shed tears
at such a sight, and alighting from his horse, and tying him to an oak,
put on his invisible coat, under which he carried his sword of
sharpness.
[Illustration: Jack slayeth the Giant, and delivereth a Knight and his

Lady]
When he came up to the Giant, he made many strokes at him, but could
not reach his body, on account of his great height. Still, he wounded his
ankles in many places: at last, putting both hands to his sword, and
aiming with all his might, he cut off both the Giant's legs below the
garter; so that his body tumbled to the ground.
[Illustration: Jack setteth his foot on the Giant's neck. Initial]
Jack then set one foot upon his neck, and cried out, "Thou cruel wretch!
behold I give thee the just reward of thy crimes." And so plunging his
sword into the Giant's body, the monster gave a loud groan and yielded
up his life; while the noble Knight and his Lady were joyful at their
deliverance. They heartily thanked Jack for what he had done, and
invited him to their house to refresh himself.
"No," said Jack, "I cannot be at ease till I find out this monster's
dwelling."
The Knight, hearing this, grew sad, and replied, "Noble stranger, it is
too much to run a second hazard. This monster lived in a den under
yonder mountain, with a brother of his, more fierce and cruel than
himself: therefore, if you should go thither and perish in the attempt to
overthrow this wicked brother, it would be heart-breaking to me and
my lady; so let me persuade you to go with us, and desist from any
farther pursuit."
"Nay," said Jack, "even if there were twenty, I would shed the last drop
of my blood before one of them should escape me. When I have done
this task, I will return and visit you."
Jack had not rode a mile and a half before he came in sight of the
mouth of the cavern; and nigh the entrance of it he beheld the other
Giant sitting on a huge rock, with a knotted iron club in his hand,
waiting for his brother. His eyes flashed like flames of fire, his face was
grim, and his cheeks seemed like two flitches of bacon; the bristles of
his beard were as thick rods of iron wire; and his locks of hair hung

down like curling snakes. Jack alighted from his horse, and turned him
into a thicket; then he put on his invisible coat, and drew a little nearer,
to behold this figure; and said softly, "O monster, are you there! it will
not be long before I shall take you fast by the beard."
[Illustration: The Giant's Brother awaiteth his return]
The Giant, all this while, could not see him, by reason of his invisible
coat: then Jack came quite close to him, and struck a blow at his head
with his sword of sharpness; but, missing his aim, only cut off his nose,
whilst the Giant roared like loud claps of thunder. And though he rolled
his glaring eyes round on every side, he could not see who had given
him the blow; yet he took up his iron club, and began to lay about him
like one that was mad.
"Nay," said Jack, "if this is the case, I will kill you at once." So he
slipped nimbly behind him, and jumping upon the rocky seat as the
Giant rose from it, he thrust his sword up to the hilt in his body. After a
hideous howling, the Giant dropped down dead.
When Jack had thus killed these two monsters, he searched their cave
for treasure. He passed through many dark windings, which led him to
a room paved with freestone; at the end of it was a boiling cauldron,
and on the right hand stood a large table, where the Giants used to dine.
He then came to a window secured with iron bars, through which he
saw a number of wretched captives, who cried out, when they saw Jack,
"Alas! alas! young man, are you come to be one among us in this horrid
den?"
[Illustration: The Knight and his