Page:Jack the giant-killer.pdf/14

14 and ugly, and his cheeks seemed like two flitches of bacon; the britles of his beard appeared to be thick rods of iron wire, and his long locks of hair hung down upon his broad shoulders like curling snakes.

Jack got down from his horse, and turned him into a thicket; then he put on his coat of darkness, and, drawing nearer, said softly, "O monster! are you there? it will not be long before I shall take you fast by the beard."

The giant all this while could not see him by reason of his invisible coat; so Jack came quite close to him, and struck a blow at his head with his sword of sharpness; but he missed his aim, and only cut off his nose. He then roared like loud claps of thunder. And though he rolled his glaring eyes round on every side, he could not see who had given him the blow; yet he took up his iron club, and began to lay about him like one who was mad with pain and fury.

"Nay," said Jack, "if this be the case, I will kill you at once." So he slipped nimbly behind him, and, jumping upon the block of timber as the giant rose from it, stabbed him in the back, when, after a few howls, he dropped down dead.

Jack cut off his head, and sent it with the head of his brother, whom he had killed before in the forest, to King Arthur, by a waggon which he hired for that purpose, with an account of all his exploits. When Jack had thus killed these two monsters, he went into their cave in search of their treasure. He passed through many turnings and windings, which led him to a room paved with freestone; at the end of it was a boiling cauldron, and on the right hand stood a large table, where the giants used to dine.

He then came to a window that was secured