Page:History of Jack and the giants (1).pdf/14

 ACK travelled over vast hills and wonderful mountains, which at the end of three days, he came to a large and spacious wood, thro' which he must needs pass, where on a sudden, to his great amazement, he heard dreadful shrieks and cries whereupon casting his eyes round to behold what it might be, he beheld with wonder a giant rushing along with a worthy knight and his fair lady, whom he held by the hair of their heads in his hands with as much ease, as if they had been but a pair of gloves, the sight of this melted poor Jack into tears of pity and compassion. Wherefore, he alighted from off his horse, which he left-tied to an oak tree, and then putting on his invisible coat, under which he, carried his sword of sharpness, he came up to the giant, and tho' he made several passes at him, yet nevertheless it could not reach the trunk of his body, by reason of his height, tho' it wounded his thighs in several places; but at length giving him a swinging stroke, he cut off both his legs just below the knee, so that the trunk of the body made not only the ground to shake, but likewise the trees to tremble with the force of his fall, at which by mere fortune, the knight and the lady escaped his rage, then had jack time to talk with him, and setting his foot upon his neck, and said, you savage and barbarous wretch, I am come to execute upon you the just reward of your villainy. And with that, running him thro' and thro', the monster sent forth a hedious groan, and yield up his life into the hands of the valient conquerer Jack the giant-killer, while the noble knight and virtuous lady were both joyful spectators of his sudden downfal and their own deliverance.

This being done, the courtious knight and his fair lady not only returned him hearty thanks for their deliverance, but also invited him home