Page:History of Jack and the giants (6).pdf/15

15 This being done, the courteous Knight and his fair Lady not only returned him hearty thanks for their deliverance, but alſo invited him home, there to refreſh himſelf after the dreadful encounter, as likewiſe to receive ſome ample reward, by way of gratitude for his good ſervice. No, quoth Jack, I cannot be at eaſe till I find out the den, which was this monſter's habitation, the Knight hearing this, waxed right ſorrowful, and replied, noble ſtranger, it is too much to run a ſecond riſk, for this noted monſter lived in a den under yon mountain, with a brother of his, more fierce and fiery than himſelf, and therefore, if you ſhould go thither and periſh in the attempt, it would be the heart-breaking of both me and my lady, let me perſuade you to go with us, and deſiſt from any further purſuit: Nay, my quoth Jack, if there be another, nay, were there twenty, I would ſhed the laſt drop of blood in my body, before one of them ſhould eſcape my fury, and when I have finiſhed this taſk, I will come and pay my reſpects to you. So taking directions to their habitation, he mounted his horſe, leaving them to return home, while he went in purſuit of the deceaſed Giant's brother.

How Jack ſlew the other Giant, and ſent both their heads to King Arthur.

ACK had not ridden paſt a mile and a half, before he came in ſight of the cave's mouth, near to the entrance of which, he beheld the other Giant ſitting upon a huge block of timber, with a knotty iron club lying by his ſide, waiting, as he ſuppoſed, for his brother's return with his cruel prey. His gogle eyes appeared like terrible flames of fire, his countenance grim and ugly, and his cheeks appeared like a couple of large fat ſlices of bacon,