Page:History of Jack and the giants (6).pdf/17

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waggoner, whom he hired for the purpoſe, together with an account of his proſperous ſucceſs, in all his undertakings.

How Jack ſearched their Cave, and delivered many out of Captivity.

JACK having thus diſpatched theſe two monſters, reſolved with himſelf to enter the cave, in ſearch of theſe Giants' treaſure: he paſſed along through many turnings and windings, which led him at length to a room paved with free-ſtone, at the upper end of which, was a boiling cauldron; then on the right hand, ſtood a large table, whereat he ſuppoſed the Giants uſed to dine, then he came to the iron gate, where was a window ſecured with bars of iron, through which he looked, and there beheld a vaſt many miſerable captives, who ſeeing Jack at a diſtance, cried out with a loud voice, Alas! young man, art thou come to be one among us in this miſerable den? Ay, quoth Jack, I hope I ſhall be long here, but pray, tell me what is the meaning of your captivity? Why, ſaid one of them, I'll tell you, we are perſons that have been taken by the Giants that keep this cave, and here we are kept till ſuch time as they've occaſion for a good feaſt, and then the fatteſt among us is ſlaughtered, and prepared for their devouring jaws; it is not long ſince they took three of us for the ſame purpoſe: Nay, many are the times they've dined on murdered men. Say you ſo, quoth Jack, well I have given them both ſuch a dinner, that it will be long enough ere they'll have occaſion for any rare. The miſerable captives were amazed at theſe words. You may believe me, quoth Jack, well I have ſlain them both with the point of my ſword, and as for their monſtrous heads, I ſent them in a waggon to the