The Story of Jack and the Giants | Page 5

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 Lady thank Jack for their delivery]
"I hope," said Jack, "you will not tarry here long but pray tell me, what is the meaning of your captivity?"
[Illustration: Jack releaseth the captive Ladies]
"Alas!" said one, "we have been taken by the Giants that hold this cave, and are kept till they have a feast; then the fattest of us is killed and cooked. It is not long since they took three for this purpose."
"Say you so?" said Jack; "I have given them such a dinner that it will be long enough before they want more." The captives were amazed at his words. "You may believe me," said Jack; "for I have slain both the monsters, and sent their heads in a wagon to King Arthur, as trophies of my victory."
To shew them that what he said was true, he