Page:History of Jack and the giants (1).pdf/19

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JACK AND THE GIANTS.
19

Now among the vast assembly there present, were five aged gentlemen, who were fathers to some of those miserable captives whom Jack had lately set at liberty, who understanding that he was the person that performed these great wonders, immediately paid him their venerable respects; after which their mirth increased and the smiling bowl went freely round to the prosperous success of the victorious conqueror-But in the midst of all the mirth, a dark cloud appeared, which daunted all the hearts of this assembly.

Thus it was a messenger brought the dismal tidings of the approach of one Thunderful a huge giant with two heads, who having heard of the death of his kinsmen, the above named giants, who was come from the northern pole in search of Jack, to be revenged on him for their most terrible downfall, and was within a mile of the knight's seat, the country people flying before him, from their house and habitations, like chaff before the wind. When they had related this, Jack not a whit undaunted said let him come, I am prepared with a tool to pick his teeth, and you ladies and gentlemen, walk but forth into the garden, and you shall be the joyful spectators of this monstrous giants death and destruction. To which they all consented, every one wishing him good fortune in that great and dangerous enterprise.

How Jack overthrew the Giants in the Moat, and cut off both his Heads, &c.

THE situation of the knight's house was as follows; it was placed in the midst of a small island encompassed round with a vast moat thirty feet deep and twenty feet wide, over which was a draw bridge. Wherefore Jack employed two men to cut it on both sides, almost to the