Part 11

JACK THÉ ĜÎÁNT KILLER

IN thé reign of^uv King Arthur theŕè livèd in thé Countý of^uv Cornwåll a wòŕthý farmer, whö had an ônlý sőn, nâmèd Jack. Jack wáś^woś strong and brâvè and verý dãring, and wáś^woś never backwàŕd when dânĝer wáś^woś in thé way.

Now, in thôśè dayś theŕè livèd a hûĝè ĝîánt in a glöömý cavern on St. Mîcháèl's Mount, which rîśėś out of^uv thé sea nėàŕ thé shorèś of^uv Cornwåll. Thé Cornish pêòplè had sufferèd grèâtlý fróm hiś thefts and pilláĝing; for hê ûśèd tó^tö wâdè thröügh thé sea tó^tö thé mainland, and carrý off hālf a dőzén or morè of^uv their oxén at a tîmè.

At last Jack mâdè up hiś mînd tó^tö dėstroy this monster. Hê tōōk a horn, a shóvél, a pickaxè, and a dark lantern, and one^wőnè winter's êvèning swam ôver thé sea tó^tö thé Mount. Then hê set tó^tö wòŕk, and bėforè morning had dug a grèât pit. Hê cőverèd it cãŕèfullý ôver with sticks and straw, and strewèd sőmè èàŕth on thé top tó^tö mâkè it lōōk lîkè solíd ground. And then hê blew hiś horn sô loudlý that thé Ĝîánt áwôkè, and câmè out røáring lîkè thunder:

"Yöü impüdént villaín—yöü shall pay dėàŕlý for disturbing mŷ rest. Î will broil yöü for mŷ breàkfást!"

But ålmôst aś hê spôkè, hê tumblèd heàdlong intö thé pit.

"Ôh, hô, Mr. Ĝîánt!" sãìd Jack. "How iś yøùr appétîtè now! Will nőthing servè yöü for breàkfást but broiling pōōr Jack?" then hê struck thé ĝîánt such a blôw on thé heàd with a pickaxè that hê killèd him.

When thé Justiçėś of^uv Cornwåll hèàŕd of^uv this valĩánt deed, they sent for Jack, and dėclãŕèd that hê shōūld ålwayś bê cållèd Jack thé Ĝîánt Killer; and they gâvè him a sword, and a belt upon which wáś^woś writtén, in letterś of^uv gôld:

"This iś thé valĩánt Cornishman.

Whö slew thé ĝîánt Cormòŕán."

Theŕè wáś^woś ánőther ĝîánt in Ėñglánd cållèd Blunderborè, whö vowèd tó^tö tâkè rėvenĝè on Jack for this exploit. One^wőnè day, aś Jack wáś^woś passing thröügh a wōōd on a jòurnêy tó^tö Wâlèś, hê fell ásleep bŷ thé sîdè of^uv a fountáìn. Thé Ĝîánt, cőming álong, found him theŕè; and, sêeing bŷ thé wrîting on thé belt whö Jack wáś^woś, hê liftėd him on hiś shôùlder and carrìêd him off tó^tö hiś castlè.

When Jack áwôkè and found himself in thé clutchėś of^uv Blunderborè hê wáś^woś terríblý frighténèd. Thé ĝîánt carrìêd him intö a rööm and lockèd him up, whîlè hê went tó^tö fetch ánőther ĝîánt whö livèd clôsè bŷ tó^tö help him eat Jack for dinner. Whîlè hê wáś^woś gonè, Jack hèàŕd dreàdful shrìêks and groanś fróm diffèrént parts of^uv thé castlè, and söön after hê hèàŕd a møùrnful voiçè sâying:

"Hâstè, valĩánt strânĝer, hâstè áway, Lest yöü bėcőmè thé ĝîánt's prey."

On hiś rėturn hê'll bring ánőther, Still morè saváĝè than hiś brőther;

A horríd, crüél monster, whö Bėforè hê killś will torťurè yöü!"

Pōōr Jack lōōkèd out of^uv thé windôw, which wáś^woś just ôver thé gâtè of^uv thé castlè, and saw twö ĝîánts cőming álong arm in arm.

"Now," thøùght hê, "deàth or freedóm iś at hand." theŕè happénèd tó^tö bê twö strong cordś in thé rööm, and Jack mâdè a larĝè nöösè with a slip-knot in each of^uv them. Then, just aś thé ĝîánts werè cőming thröügh thé gâtè hê threw thé rôpès ôver their heàdś, and, fasténing thé őther endś tó^tö a beam in thé çêìling, hê pūllèd thé rôpès with åll hiś might until hê had nėàŕlý strañglèd thé ĝîánts. Then hê drew hiś sword and slippèd down thé rôpès and killèd them bôth.

Next Jack tōōk thé kêyś fróm Ĝîánt Blunderborè and sèàŕchèd thröügh thé castlè. In one^wőnè of^uv thé röömś hê found three lâdìêś whö tôld him that their huśbándś had bėèn-been killèd bŷ thé ĝîánt, whö had afterwàŕdś cóndemnèd them tó^tö bê starvèd tó^tö deàth.

Jack gâvè them thé castlè and åll thé richėś it cóntainèd tó^tö mâkè sőmè ámendś for thé dreàdful painś they had sufferèd, and then went on hiś way.

After travèling sőmè dayś, hê lost himself in a lônèlý vallêy; but, when hê had wānderèd^wonderèd ábout sőmè whîlè, hê at length sucçeedėd in fînding a larĝè housè. Hê went up tó^tö it and knockèd loudlý at thé gâtè, when, tó^tö hiś grèât horròŕ, a monstròús ĝîánt with twö heàdś câmè forth. Hê spôkè verý çivillý, however, and tōōk Jack intö thé housè, leading him tó^tö a rööm wheŕè theŕè wáś^woś a gōōd bed, in which hê cōūld pass thé night.

Jack tōōk off hiś clôthèś; but, thôùgh hê wáś^woś verý tîrèd, hê cōūld not gô tó^tö sleep. Preśéntlý hê hèàŕd thé ĝîánt wålking ábout in thé bedchâmber, which wáś^woś thé next rööm, sâying tó^tö himself:

"Thôùgh hėŕè yöü lodĝè with mê this night;

Yöü shall not see thé morning light;

Mŷ club shall dash yøùr brainś out qυîtè."

When hê hèàŕd this, Jack got out of^uv bed, and, tâking a larĝè, thick pìêçè of^uv wōōd, hê laid it in hiś ôwn plâçè in thé bed, and hid himself in a dark corner of^uv thé rööm.

In thé middlè of^uv thé night, thé ĝîánt câmè with hiś grèât club, and struck sevèrál heàvý blôwś upon thé bed. Then hê went off, thiñking hê had brôkén åll Jack's bônèś.

Yèàŕlý next morning Jack wålkèd intö thé ĝîánt's rööm and thañkèd him for thé night's lodĝing. Thé ĝîánt wáś^woś terríblý startlèd tó^tö see him, and stammerèd out:

"Ôh, dėàŕ mê! Iś it yöü? Pray, how did yöü sleep last night? Did yöü hėàŕ or see ãnýthing tó^tö disturb yöü?"

"Nőthing wòŕth speaking of^uv, thañk yöü," answerèd Jack, cãrèlésslý. "A rat, Î bėlìêvè, gâvè mê three or føùr slaps with hiś tail; but that wáś^woś åll."

Thé ĝîánt sãìd nőthing; but went and fetchèd twö bôwlś of^uv hâstý pūdding for their breàkfást.

Jack did not wish thé ĝîánt tó^tö thiñk that hê cōūld not eat aś much aś himself, sô hê cóntrîvèd tó^tö fastén a leàthern bag insîdè hiś coat. Hê then manáĝèd tó^tö slip thé pūdding intö this bag, whîlè prêtending tó^tö eat it. When breàkfást wáś^woś dőnè, hê sãìd tó^tö thé ĝîánt:

"Now Î will shôw yöü a fînè trick. Î can cûrè åll wöündś with a tòuch. Yöü shall see an ėxamplè." Hê then tōōk a knîfè, rippèd up thé leàthern bag, and åll thé hâstý pūdding tumblèd out upon thé flòor.

"Ods splutter hur nailś!" crîèd thé ĝîánt, whö wáś^woś áshâmèd tó^tö bê outdónè bŷ such a littlè fellôw. "Hur can dö that hurself!" and, snatching up thé knîfè, hê plunĝèd it intö hiś stómách and fell down deàd.

After this, Jack went farther on hiś jòurnêy. In a few dayś hê met King Arthur's ônlý sőn, whö wáś^woś travèling intö Wâlèś tó^tö dėliver a bèàûtíful lâdý fróm thé põwer of^uv a wickéd máĝićián. Jack áttachèd himself tó^tö thé Prinçè, and they travélèd on tógether.

Thé Prinçè wáś^woś verý ĝenéròús, and söön gâvè áway åll thé mőnêy hê póśśessèd.

After having partėd with hiś last penný tó^tö an ôld beggàŕ-wōmán, hê wáś^woś verý uneaśý aś tó^tö wheŕè they werè tó^tö pass thé night.

"Sir," sãìd Jack, "twö mîlèś farther on theŕè livèś a ĝîánt with three heàdś, whö can fight fîvè hundred men at őnçè^wőnçè and mâkè them flŷ. Î will gô on and viśit him—dö yöü wait hėŕè until Î rėturn."

Jack rôdè on tó^tö thé gâtès of^uv thé castlè, and gâvè a loud knock. Thé ĝîánt, with a voiçè lîkè thunder, røàrèd out:

"Whö iś theŕè?"

"Nô one^wőnè but yøùr pōōr Còuśín Jack."

"Well, whåt newś, Còuśín Jack?"

"Dėàŕ Uñclè, Î havè bad newś for yöü. Hėŕè iś thé King's sőn cőming with twö thouśánd men tó^tö kill yöü!"

"Còuśín Jack, this iś bad newś indeed! But Î havè a larĝè çellàŕ underground, wheŕè Î shall hîdè mŷself, and yöü shall lock, bôlt and bar mê in until thé King's sőn iś gonè."

Sô Jack lockèd, bôltėd and barrèd thé ĝîánt in thé çellàŕ, and then went back and fetchèd thé Prinçè, and they feastėd and mâdè merrý, and spent thé night verý cőmfòŕtáblý in thé castlè.

In thé morning Jack gâvè thé Prinçè gôld and silver fróm thé ĝîánt's treàŝúrý. Then thé Prinçè set forth on hiś jòurnêy, whîlè Jack let thé ĝîánt out of^uv thé çellàŕ.

Thé ĝîánt thañkèd Jack verý much for sâving him, and askèd whåt hê shōūld givè him aś a rėwård?

"Whŷ, gōōd Uñclè," sãìd Jack, "Î dėśîrè nőthing but thé coat and cap, with thé rustý sword and thé slipperś which arè hanging bėsîdè thé bed."

"Tâkè them," sãìd thé ĝîánt, "and keep them for mŷ sâkè. They will bê verý ûsèful tó^tö yöü. Thé coat will mâkè yöü inviśíblè; thé cap will givè yöü knowlédgè; thé sword will cut thröügh ãnýthing, nô matter whåt it may bê, and thé shöèś arè of^uv vast swiftnéss."

Jack tōōk thé gifts, thañkèd thé ĝîánt, and then qυicklý caught up with thé Prinçè.

After a few day's further jòurnêy they reachèd thé dwelling of^uv thé bèàûtíful lâdý whöm thé Prinçè had cőmè tó^tö rescûè.

Shê rėçêìvèd thé Prinçè verý grâćìòúslý and mâdè a feast for him. When it wáś^woś endėd shê rôśè, and, tâking her hañdkerchièf, sãìd:

"Mŷ lord; tó^tö-morrôw morning Î cómmand yöü tó^tö tell mê on whöm Î havè bėstôwèd this hañdkerchièf—or elsè löśè yøùr heàd."

Thé Prinçè went tó^tö bed verý møùrnfullý; but Jack pūt on thé cap of^uv knowlédgè, which tôld him that thé lâdý wáś^woś forçèd bŷ thé põwer of^uv enchantmént tó^tö meet thé wickéd máĝićián evèrý night in thé forést.

Hê, theŕèforè, pūt on hiś coat of^uv darknéss, and hiś shöèś of^uv swiftnéss, and wáś^woś theŕè bėforè her. When thé lâdý câmè, shê gâvè thé hañdker chìêf tó^tö thé máĝićián. Jack with hiś sword of^uv sharpnéss cut off hiś heàd with one^wőnè blôw; and thé enchantmént wáś^woś endėd in a minútè.

Thé next day thé lâdý wáś^woś marrìêd tó^tö thé Prinçè, and söön after went with her huśbánd tó^tö thé Cøùrt of^uv King Arthur, wheŕè Jack wáś^woś mâdè one^wőnè of^uv thé Knights of^uv thé Round Tâblè for hiś herôiśm.

Verý söön Jack set off in sèàŕch of^uv new advenťurèś. On thé third day of^uv hiś travél hê câmè tó^tö a wîdè forést. Hardlý had hê enterèd it when hê hèàŕd dreàdful shrìêks and crîèś, and söön hê saw a monstròús ĝîánt dragging álong bŷ thé hãir of^uv their heàdś a handsőmè knight and a bèàûtíful lâdý. Their tėàŕś and crîèś meltėd Jack's hèart. Hê álightėd fróm hiś horsè, and pūt on hiś inviśíblè coat, and immêdïátèlý áttackèd thé ĝîánt. Hê cōūld not reach up tó^tö thé ĝîánt's bodý; sô, tâking a mightý blôw, hê cut off bôth thé monster's legś just bėlôw thé garter, sô that hê fell fūll length upon thé ground. Then Jack set hiś fōōt upon hiś neck and plunĝèd hiś sword intö thé ĝîánt's bodý.

Thé knight and thé lâdý, ôverjoyèd, beggèd Jack tó^tö cőmè tó^tö their housè tó^tö rėfresh himself after this fight; but Jack, hėáring that thé ĝîánt had a brőther whö wáś^woś morè crüél and wickéd êvén than himself, wōūld not rest until hê had ålsô dėstroyèd him.

Söön hê câmè in sight of^uv thé cavern wheŕè thé ĝîánts livèd. Theŕè wáś^woś thé őther ĝîánt sitting on a hûĝè block of^uv timber, with a knottėd îŕòn club lŷing bŷ hiś sîdè. Jack, in hiś coat of^uv darknéss, wáś^woś qυîtè inviśíblè. Hê drew clôsè up tó^tö thé ĝîánt and struck a blôw at hiś heàd with hiś sword of^uv sharpnéss; but hê missèd hiś aim and ônlý cut off hiś nôśè. Thé ĝîánt røàrèd with pain, and hiś røàrś werè lîkè claps of^uv thunder. Hê tōōk up hiś îŕòn club and bėgan tó^tö lay ábout him, but not bêing âblè tó^tö see Jack, hê cōūld not hit him; for Jack slippèd nimblý bėhînd, and jumping upon thé block of^uv wōōd, stabbèd thé ĝîánt in thé back; and after a few howlś, thé monster droppèd down deàd.

Having thus killèd thé twö monsterś Jack enterèd thé câvè tó^tö sèàŕch for thé treàŝurè. One^wőnè rööm cóntainèd a grèât boiling cauldron and a dîning tâblè, wheŕè thé ĝîánts feastėd. Ánőther part of^uv thé câvè wáś^woś barrèd with îŕòn and wáś^woś fūll of^uv miśèráblè men and women^wimėn whöm thé ĝîánts had impriśónèd. Jack set them åll free and divîdéd thé treàŝurè ámőng them.

Jack cut off thé ĝîánt's heàd, and sent it with thé heàd of^uv hiś brőther tó^tö thé Cøùrt of^uv King Arthur; then hê rėturnèd tó^tö thé housè of^uv thé knight and hiś lâdý.

Hê wáś^woś rėçêìvèd with thé grèâtést joy; and thé knight gâvè a grand feast in hiś honòŕ. When åll thé cőmpáný wáś^woś gatherèd tógether, thé knight prêśentéd Jack with a ring, on which wáś^woś ėngrâvèd thé picťurè of^uv thé ĝîánt dragging thé knight and thé lâdý bŷ thé hãir, with this mottô round it—

"Bėhôld, in dîrè distress werè wê, Under a ĝîánt's fierçè cómmand, But gainèd õυŕ lîvèś and libertý Fróm valĩánt Jack's victorïòús hand.

But whîlè thé merrïment wáś^woś at its hèight, a heráld rushèd intö thé rööm and tôld thé cőmpáný that thundel, a saváĝè ĝîánt with twö heàdś, had hèàŕd of^uv thé deàth of^uv hiś twö kinśmen, and wáś^woś cőmè tó^tö tâkè hiś rėvenĝè on Jack. Thé gùests tremblèd with terròŕ and fright; but Jack ônlý drew hiś sword and sãìd, "Let him cőmè!"

Thé knight's housè wáś^woś súrroundėd bŷ a moat ôver which theŕè wáś^woś a drawbridĝè. Jack set men tó^tö wòŕk tó^tö cut thé bridĝè on bôth sîdèś, nėàŕlý tó^tö thé middlè, and then, dressèd in hiś maĝic coat, went out tó^tö meet thé ĝîánt. Aś thé ĝîánt câmè álong, ålthôùgh hê cōūld not see Jack, yet hê cōūld tell that someone^sőmèwőnè wáś^woś nėàŕ for hê crîèd out:

"Fa, fĕ, fi, fô, fum,

Î smell thé blōōd of^uv an Ėñglishmán

Bê hê álîvè, or bê hê deàd,

Î'll grînd hiś bônèś tó^tö mâkè mŷ breàd."

"Say yöü sô, mŷ frìend," crîèd Jack. "Yöü arè indeed a monstròús miller!"

"Āh!" crîèd thé ĝîánt; "yöü arè thé villaín that killèd mŷ kinśmen! Î will teàŕ yöü with mŷ teeth, and grînd yøùr bônèś tó^tö powder!"

"Yöü must catch mê first!" sãìd Jack. Then hê threw off hiś coat and pūt on hiś shöèś of^uv swiftnéss, and bėgan tó^tö run, thé ĝîánt follôwing him lîkè a wålking castlè. Jack led him round and round thé housè, and then hê ran ôver thé drawbridĝè, whîlè thé ĝîánt rushèd after him with hiś club. But when hê câmè tó^tö thé middlè of^uv thé bridĝè, wheŕè it had bėèn-been cut on bôth sîdèś, hiś grèât weĩght brôkè it, and hê tumblèd intö thé wåter.

Jack now got a cart rôpè and flung it ôver hiś twö heàdś, and then, bŷ thé help of^uv a team of^uv horsėś, drew him tó^tö thé edĝè of^uv thé moat, wheŕè hê cut off hiś heàdś.

Őnçè^wőnçè ágãìn, Jack set out in sèàŕch of^uv new advenťurèś. Hê went ôver fìêldś and dâlèś without meeting with ãný, until hê câmè tó^tö thé fōōt of^uv a high mountáìn. Hėŕè wáś^woś a littlè, lônèlý housè; and when hê knockèd at thé dòor it wáś^woś ôpénèd bŷ an ôld man with a bėàŕd aś whîtè aś snôw. This ôld man wáś^woś a gōōd hermít, and when Jack had eatén well, hê sãìd:

"Mŷ sőn, Î knôw that yöü arè thé fâmòús coñqùeròŕ of^uv ĝîánts. Î knôw, at thé top of^uv this mountáìn theŕè iś an enchantėd castlè, kept bŷ a ĝîánt nâmèd Galligantes, whö, bŷ thé help of^uv a máĝićián, gets mãný knights intö hiś põwer—whöm hê chânĝėś intö beasts. Ábővè åll, Î láment thé hard fâtè of^uv a dükè's daughter, whöm they havè chânĝèd intö a dėer. Mãný knights havè trîèd tó^tö dėstroy thé enchantmént, yet nőnè havè bėèn-been âblè tó^tö dö sô, bėcauśè of^uv twö fîérý griffinś whö gùard thé gâtès of^uv thé castlè. But aś yöü, mŷ sőn, havè an inviśíblè coat, yöü may pass them bŷ without bêing seen. On thé gâtès of^uv thé castlè yöü will fînd ėngrâvèd thé meanś bŷ which thé enchantmént may bê brôkén."

Jack promísèd that in thé morning hê wōūld risk hiś lîfè in an ėndeàvòŕ tó^tö brèâk thé enchantmént; and, after a sound sleep, hê árôśè yèàŕlý and set out on hiś áttempt.

Hê passèd bŷ thé fîérý griffinś without thé least fėàŕ of^uv dânĝer; for they cōūld not see him, bėcauśè of^uv hiś inviśíblè coat.

On thé castlè gâtè hê found a gôldén trumpét hanging, under which werè writtén thêśè wòŕdś—

"Whöever can this trumpét blôw, Shall cauśè thé ĝîánt's ôverthrôw."

Jack sêìzèd thé gôldén trumpét and blew a mightý blast, which mâdè thé gâtès flŷ ôpén and shōōk thé castlè tó^tö its foundâtionś. Thé ĝîánt and thé máĝićián, knôwing that their end wáś^woś now nėàŕ, stōōd bîting their thumbś and shâking with terròŕ. Jack, with hiś maĝic sword, söön killèd thé ĝîánt, and thé máĝićián wáś^woś carrìêd off bŷ a whirlwind. Thé castlè vanishèd áway lîkè smôkè, and thé dükè's daughter and åll thé knights and lővèlý lâdìêś whö had bėèn-been turnèd intö birdś and beasts rėturnèd tó^tö their proper shâpè.

Jack's fâmè rang thröügh thé whôlè còuntrý, and thé King gâvè him a larĝè ėstâtè tó^tö rėwård him for åll hiś brâvè and knightlý deedś. And Jack marrìêd thé dükè's daughter, and livèd in joy and cóntentmént for thé rest of^uv hiś dayś.