Page:History of Jack and the giants (3).pdf/4



N those days the mount of Cornwall was kept by a huge monstrous Giant; of 27 feet in height, and about three yards in compass, of a fierce and grim countenance, to the terror of all the neighbouring towns and villages. His habitation was in a cave in the midst of all the mount, neither would he suffer any living creature to inhabit near him. His feeding was upon other mens cattle, which often became his prey, for whenever he had occasion for food, he would wade over the main land, where he would furnish himself with whatever he could find. For the people at his approach would forsake their habitations. Then would he seize upon the cows and oxen, of which he would think nothing to carry over his back half a dozen at a time; and as for sheep and hogs he would tie them round his waist like a bunch of bandeliers. This he had for many years practise in Cornwall which was much impoverished by him.

But one day Jack coming to the town hall, where the magistrates were sitting in consultation about the Giant asked them what reward they would give to any person that would destroy him? They answered, he should have all the Giant’s treasure in recompense. Quoth Jack, then I myself will undertake the work.

ACK having undertaken this task, he furnished himself with a horn, a shovel, and a pick-ax and over to the mount he goes, in the beginning of a dark winter evening, where he fell to work, and before morning had digged a pit forty feet deep, and almost as broad, and covered the same over with long sticks