The Story of Jack and the Giants | Page 6

unlocked the gate, and set them all free. Then he led them to the great room, where they feasted plentifully. Supper being over, they searched the Giant's coffers, and Jack shared the store among the captives. Jack started at sunrise to the house of the Knight, whom he had left not long before.
[Illustration: Initial]
Presently Jack reached the Knight's castle, where he was received with the greatest joy. In honour of the hero's exploits, a grand feast was given, which lasted many days. The Knight also presented Jack with a beautiful ring, on which was engraved the Giant dragging the knight and the lady by the hair, with this motto:
"We were in sad distress, you see, Under the Giant's fierce command, But gained our lives and liberty By valiant Jack's victorious hand."
Among the guests present at the feast were fire aged gentlemen, who were fathers to some of those captives who had been freed by Jack from the dungeon. These old men pressed round him with tears of joy, and returned him thanks. One day the bowl went round merrily, and every one drank to the health and long life of the gallant hero. The hall resounded with peals of laughter and joyful cries.
[Illustration: A pale Herald interrupteth the Feast]
But, lo! to the midst, a herald, pale and breathless with haste and terror, rushed in, and told the company, that Thundel, a Giant with an immense head, having heard of the death of his two kinsmen, was come to take revenge on Jack, and that he was now near the house, and the country-people all flying before him.
At this dismal news, the very boldest of the guests trembled; but Jack drew his sword, and said, "Let him come; I have a tool to pick his teeth with. Pray, ladies and gentlemen, walk into the garden, and you shall joyfully behold the Giant's defeat and death."
The knight's castle was surrounded by a moat, thirty feet deep and twenty wide, over which lay a drawbridge. Jack set men to work, to cut the bridge on both sides, near the middle; and then dressing himself in his invisible coat, went against the Giant with his sword of sharpness. As he came close to him, though the Giant could not see him, yet he cried out,--
"Fie! foh! fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman; Be he alive or be he dead, I'll grind his bones to make my bread."
"Say you so, my friend?" said Jack; "you are a clever miller indeed!"
"Art thou," cried the Giant, "the villain who killed my kinsmen? Then I will tear thee with my teeth, and grind thy bones to powder."
"You must catch me first," said Jack; and throwing off his invisible coat, he put on his shoes of swiftness, and began to run; the Giant following him like a walking castle, making the earth shake at every step.
[Illustration: The Stratagem of Jack with the Giant Thundel]
Jack led him round and round the walls of the castle, that the company might see the monster; and to finish the work. Jack ran over the drawbridge, the Giant going after him with his club: but when the Giant came to the middle, where the bridge had been cut on both sides, the great weight of his body made it break, and he tumbled into the water, where he rolled about like a large whale. Jack now stood by the side of the moat, and laughed and jeered at him, saying,
"I think you told me you would grind my bones to powder; when will you begin?"
[Illustration: Jack maketh sport of Him, and draggeth Him out of the Moat]
[Illustration: Jack maketh sport of Him, and draggeth Him out of the Moat]
The Giant foamed horridly at the mouth with fury, and plunged from side to side of the moat; but he could not get out to have revenge on his little foe. At last Jack ordered a cart-rope to be brought to him; he then drew it over his great head, and by the help of a team of horses, dragged him to the edge of the moat, where he cut off the monster's head; and before he either ate or drank, he sent it to the court of King Arthur. He then went back to the table with the company, and the rest of the day was spent in mirth and good cheer.
[Illustration: His Head goeth to Court]

PART THE FOURTH.
[Illustration: The Lady of the Knight. Initial]
Courted and flattered as he was, yet after staying with the Knight and his lady for some time, Jack grew weary of such an idle life, and set out again in search of new adventures. He went over hills and dales without meeting any, till he came to the foot of a very high mountain. Here he knocked at