220 JACK THE GIANT KILLER,

they feasted to their fill. When supper was over, they searched
the giant’s coffers, and Jack shared the store in them among
the captives, who thanked him for their eseape. The next
morning they set off to their homes, and Jack to the knight's
house, whom he had left with his lady not long before. It was
just at the time of sun-rise that Jack mounted his horse to
proceed on his journey.

He arrived at the knight's house, where he was received with
the greatest joy by the thankful knight and his lady, who, in
honour of Jack’s exploits, gave a grand feast, to which all the
nobles and gentry were invited. When the company were
assembled, the knight declared to them the great actions of
Jack, and gave him, as a mark of respect, a fine ring, on which
was engraved the picture of the giant dragging the knight and
the lady by the hair, with this motto round it—

Behold, in dire distress were we,
Under a giant's fierce command 3
Bat gained our lives and liberty
From valiant Jack’s victorious hand.”

Among the guests then present were five aged gentlemen,
who were fathers to some of those captives who had been freed
by Jack from the dungeon of the giants. As soon as they heard
that he was the person who had done such wonders, they
pressed round him with tears of joy, to return him thanks
for the happiness he had caused to them. After this the bowl
went round, and every one drank the health and long life of the
gallant hero. Mirth increased, and the hall was filled with
peals of laughter and joyful cries. But, on asudden, a herald,
pale and breathless with haste and terror, rushed into the
midst of the company, and told them that Thundel, a savage
giant with two heads, had heard of the death of his two kins-
men, and was come to take his revenge on Jack; and that he