The Story of Jack and the Giants

The Story of Jack and the Giants, by Anonymous

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Story of Jack and the Giants, by Anonymous This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: The Story of Jack and the Giants
Author: Anonymous
Release Date: April 14, 2005 [EBook #15621]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STORY OF JACK AND THE GIANTS ***

Produced by University of Florida Childrens Library, Shui Ming Ho and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.

Transcriber's note:
In this e-text illustrations have been labelled according to their descriptions at the beginning of the book.

[Illustration: By Stratagem of a Pit Jack killeth the Giant Cormoran Frontispiece THE DEATH OF THE GIANT CORMORAN]
[Illustration: Jack listeneth to Stories of Giants and Fairies Title page]

THE STORY OF Jack and the Giants.
ILLUSTRATED WITH Thirty-Five Drawings by RICHARD DOYLE. Engraved by G. and E. DALZIEL.
[Illustration]
LONDON: CUNDALL & ADDEY, 21 OLD BOND STREET. 1851.
LONDON: Printed by ROBSON, LEVEY, and FRANKLYN, Great New Street, Fetter Lane.

[Illustration]
THE STORY OF JACK AND THE GIANTS ILLUSTRATED BY RICHARD DOYLE
Jack listeneth to Stories of Giants and Fairies. Title page
Jack at Rest. Initial
The Giant cometh
Cormoran carryeth off his Booty
Panick of the Shepherd. Initial
By Stratagem of a Pit Jack killeth the Giant Cormoran. Frontispiece
The Justices present unto Jack a Sword and Belt
A Giant looketh out for Jack. Initial
The deceitful Civility of the Welsh Giant
He partaketh of his Pudding with Jack
Jack measureth with the Legs of a Giant. Initial
Jack alarmeth his Three-headed Uncle
Jack delivereth the Lady from the Enchanter
Jack is dubbed a Knight by King Arthur
He is accourted by Ladies. Initial
He discovereth a Giant above the Trees
Jack slayeth the Giant, and delivereth a Knight and his Lady
Jack setteth his foot on the Giant's neck. Initial
The Giant's Brother awaiteth his return
The Knight and his Lady thank Jack for their delivery
Jack releaseth the captive Ladies
A pale Herald interrupteth the Feast
The Stratagem of Jack with the Giant Thundel
Jack maketh sport of Him, and draggeth Him out of the Moat
His Head goeth to Court
The Lady of the Knight. Initial
The Giant Galligantus
Jack passeth the Fiery Griffins
Destruction of Galligantus
Jack goeth with Company to Court
Jack slaketh his Thirst at the end of his Labours

THE STORY of Jack and the Giants.
[Illustration: Jack at Rest. Initial]
During the reign of good King Arthur there lived in the County of Cornwall, near to the Land's End of England, a wealthy farmer, who had an only son named Jack. Jack was a brisk boy, and of a ready wit: he took great delight in hearing stories of Giants and Fairies, and used to listen eagerly while any old woman told him of the great deeds of the brave Knights of King Arthur's Round Table.
When Jack was sent to take care of the sheep and oxen in the fields, he used to amuse himself with planning battles and sieges, and the means to conquer or surprise a foe. He was above the common sports of children; but hardly any one could equal him at wrestling; or if he met with a match for himself in strength, his skill and address always made him the victor.
[Illustration: The Giant cometh]
In those days the Mount of Cornwall was kept by a huge and monstrous Giant, eighteen feet in height, and about three yards in compass, of a fierce and grim countenance, the terror of all the neighbouring towns and villages. He dwelt in a cave in the middle of the Mount; and he was such a selfish monster that he would not suffer any one to live near him. He fed on other men's cattle, which often became his prey; for whensoever he wanted food, he would wade over to the mainland, where he would furnish himself with whatever came in his way.
[Illustration: Cormoran carryeth off his Booty]
[Illustration: Panick of the Shepherd. Initial]
Panic seized the inhabitants at his approach, they forsook their habitations, and took flight, while the Giant seized upon their cattle, making nothing of carrying half-a-dozen oxen on his back at a time; and as for their sheep and hogs, he would tie them by dozens round his waist. This course he had followed for many years, so that a great part of the county was impoverished by his depredations.
Jack resolved to kill this monster; and taking with him a horn, 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.