JACK THE GIANT RILLER. 207

knights of King Arthur's Round Table. When Jack was sent
to take care of the sheep and oxen in the fields, he used to amuse
himself with planning battles, sieges, and the means to conquer
or surprise a foe. He was above the common sports of children ;
but hardly any one could equal him at wrestling ; or, if he met
with a match for himself in strength, his skill and address
always made him the victor. In those days there lived on
St. Michael's Mount, of Cornwall, which rises out of the sea
at some distance from the main land, a huge giant. He was
eighteen feet high, and three yards round ; and his fierce and
savage looks were the terror of all his neighbours. He dwelt
in a gloomy cavern on the very top of the mountain, and used
tw wade over to the main land in search of his prey. When he
came near, the people left their houses; and, after he had
glutted his appetite upon their cattle, he would throw half-a-
dozen oxen upon his back, and tie three times as many eae
and hogsround his waist,and somarch
back to his own abode. The giant
had done this for many years, and the
coast of Cornwall was greatly hurt
by his thefts, when Jack boldly re-
solved to destroy him. He there-
fore took a horn, a shovel, a pi
axe, and a dark lantern, and carly
in a long winter's evening, he swam
tothe Mount. There he fell to work
at once, and before morning, he had
dug a pit twenty-two fect deep, and
almost as many broad. He covered =
it over with sticks and straw, and strewed some of the earth over
them to make it look just like solid ground. He then put his horn
to his mouth, and biew such aloud and long tantivy, that the