Jack fondly kissed his Flora,
And then they felt the splash :

Head over heels the whirlpools
Them and the frail boat dash!

All are in sudden darkness ;
Down, and yet down they go:
Jack feels as if all’s over,
Yet finds the pumpkin grow.

The waters soon grow calmer,
He finds himself afloat,

The pumpkin rolling forward,
And yonder is the boat.

And there is Flora in it,
Soaked, by her mother’s side :

Ms)

' T may unfold just this much,
The Giant whom you slew

Has three or four young brothers,
Whom you must clear off, too.’

At length again they landed,
And take an upward course;
Their progress getting slower,
Jack walks to rest the horse.
| But soon the rocks close round them,
The end seems gained at last ;
‘Jack, have you any matches ?
For I the rock must blast.’

Above them is a black hole,
‘Which proves a lofty shaft :

 

‘You're late!’ the dame said, frowning, | What can the dame be up to?

‘I must this dawdling chide.

But soon we stop for breakfast,
And you will both require

To stand for half an hour,
And dry before the fire.

Bring in the pair of pumpkins,
For they contain our store.
I’m glad you haven't lost them,
For hunger you'd deplore.’

They land and feast, and, now dry,
They take the boat again,

And onward go quite merry ;
Jack can no more refrain.

‘Good mother, may I hear now
What you require of me?’
‘Wait patiently an hour,
And we at home shall be.

Jack fears she has gone daft.

| A charge of some queer powder

| She drives into a hole ;

Then, guiding, makes the boat-car
Right o’er the spot to roll.

The hedgehog, smelling danger,
Again has jumped inside,

Just as the dame leaned over
And the bright torch applied.

A terrible explosion,
And they ascend the shaft ;
Jack feels he’s being blown up,—
The gipsy only laughed.
They’re shot into a crevice,
| Jack hands the ladies out ;
| Alone to find his way back
Would puzzle him, no doubt.