Page:History of Jack and the giants (6).pdf/10

10 no money, where can we think to lodge this night? Jack replied, Maſter, we'll do well enough, for I have an uncle lives within two little miles of this; he's a huge and monſtrous Giant, with three heads: he'll fight five hundred men in armour, and make them to fly before him. Alas! quoth the king's ſon, what ſhall we do there? he'll certainly chop us both up at one mouthful! nay, we are ſcarce enough to fill one of his hollow teeth. It is no matter for that, quoth Jack, I myſelf will go before, and prepare the way for you, therefore carry here and wait my return.

He waits, and Jack rides full ſpeed, when coming to the gates of the caſtle, he knocked with ſuch a force, that he made all the neighbouring hills to reſound. The Giant, with a voice like thunder, roared out, Who's there? He anſwered, none but your poor couſin Jack. He replied, dear uncle, heavy news, God wot Prithee, what heavy news can come to me? I am a Giant with three heads, and beſides, thou knoweſt, I can fight five hundred men in armour, and make them fly like chaff before the wind. O! but, quoth Jack, here's the king's ſon coming with a thouſand men in armour, to kill you, and to to deſtroy all that you have! Oh! couſin Jack, this is heavy news indeed: I have a large vault under the ground, where I will immediately hide myſelf, and thou ſhalt lock, bolt, and bar me in, and keep the keys till the king's ſon is gone.

Now Jack, having ſecured the Giant, he ſoon returned and fetched his maſter. They were both heartily merry with the wine and other dainties which were in the houſe: ſo that night they reſted in very pleaſant lodgings, whilſt the poor uncle, the Giant, lay trembling in the vault under ground.

Early in the morning, Jack furniſhed his maſter with a freſh ſupply of gold and ſilver, and then ſet