Page:Jack the giant-killer.pdf/7

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make some amends for the dreadful pains you have felt." He then very politely gave them the keys of the castle, and went farther on his journey to Wales.

As Jack had not taken any of the giant's riches for himself, and so had very little money of his own, he thought it best to travel as fast as he could. At length he lost his way; and when night came on he was in a lonely valley, between two lofty mountains, where he walked about for some hours without seeing any dwelling-place; so he thought himself very lucky at last in finding a large and handsome house.

He went up to it boldly, and knocked loudly at the gate; when, to his great terror and surprise, there came forth a monstrous giant with two heads. He spoke to Jack very civilly, for he was a Welsh giant; and all the mischief he did was by private and secret malice, under the show of friendship and kindness. Jack told him that he was a traveller who had lost his way; on which the huge monster made him welcome, and led him into a room, where there was a good bed to pass the night in.

Jack took off his clothes quickly, but, though he was weary, he could not go to sleep. Soon after this he heard the giant walking backward and ford ward in the next room, and saying to himself,

"Though here you lodge with me this night,
You shall not see the morning light;
My club shall dash your brains out quite."

"Say you so?" thought Jack. "Are these your tricks upon travellers? But I hope to prove as cunning as you are."—Then getting out of bed he gropped about the room; and at last found a