Page:History of Jack and the giants (4).pdf/16

 flames of fire, his countenance grim and ugly, and his checks appeared like a couple of large fat flitches of bacon: moreover the briſtles of his head ſeem'd to reſemble rods of iron wire; his locks hung down upon his broad ſhoulders, like curled ſnakes or hiſſing adders.

Jack alighted from his horſe, and put him into a thicket, then with his coat of darkneſs he come ſomewhat near to behold his figure, and ſaid ſoftly, Oh! are you there! It will not be long e'er I take you by the beard. The Giant all this time could not ſee him by reaſon of his inviſible coat, ſo coming up cloſe to him, valiant Jack fetching a blow at his head with his ſword of ſharpneſs, and miſſing ſomewhat of his aim, cut off the Giant's noſe, whoſe noſtrils were wider than a pair of jack-boots; the pain was terrible and ſo he put up his hand to his noſe, and when he could not find it, he rav'd and roar'd louder than claps of thunder: and tho he turn'd up his large eyes, he could not ſee from whence the blow came, which had done him that great diſaſter; nevertheleſs he took up his iron knotted club, and began to lay about him like one ſtark mad: Nay, quoth Jack, if you be for that ſport, then will I diſpatch you quickly, for fear of an accidental blow falling out. Then as the Giant roſe from his block, Jack makes no more to do, but runs his ſword up to the hilt in the Giant's fundament, where he left it ſticking for a while and ſtood laughing with his hands a kim bow to ſee the Giant caper and dance the cannaries with his ſword in his arſe, crying out, he ſhould die, he ſhould die, with the gripping of his guts. Thus did the Giant continue raving for an hour or more, and at length fell down dead whoſe dreadful fall had like to have cruſhed poor Jack, had he not been nimble to avoid the ſame.