Page:History of Jack and the giants (4).pdf/20



ſituation of the Knight's houſe take as follows: It was placed in the midst of a ſmall iſland, encompaſſed round with a vaſt moat, thirty feet deep, and twenty feet wide, over which lay a draw bridge. Wherefore Jack employed two men to cut it on both ſides, almost to the middle; and then dreſſing himſelf in his coat of darkneſs, likewiſe putting on his Shoes of ſwiftneſs, he marches forth againſt the Giant, with his ſword of ſharpneſs ready drawn; yet when he came cloſe up to him, the Giant could not ſee Jack by reaſon of his inviſible coat which he had on, yet nevertheleſs he was ſenſible of ſome approaching danger, which made him cry out in theſe words.

Says thou ſo quoth Jack, then thou art a monſtrous Miller indeed: But how if I ſhould ſerve thee as I did the two Giants of late, in my conſcience I ſhould ſpoil your practice for the future. At which time the Giant ſpoke with a voice as loud as thunder: Art thou that villian which destroyed my two kinſmen? Then will I tear thee with my teeth, ſuck thy blood and what is more, I will grind thy bones to powder. You moſt catch me first quoth Jack; and with that he threw off his coat of darkneſs that the Giant might ſee him clearly, and then run from him as through fear. The Giant with a foaming mouth, and glaring eyes, following after like a walking cattle, making the foundation of the Earth, as it were, to ſhake at every ſtep, Jack led him a dance three or four times round the moat that belonged to the Knight's houſe,