(We)

Ah, see ! he now is floating,
And being towed to shore ;

Let Reynard now be careful,
The strat-a-gem he saw,

And, like a skilful angler,
He means to tire his trout ;
And keep him in the water,
Till he is wearied out.

The length of rope he shortens,
And spurring on his horse,
Again he takes the river,
And drags his foe across.

This once or twice repeated,
With jerks he can’t evade,

The monster so far weakened,
That Jack could use his blade.

And now the cord is loosened,
The current, somewhat strong,
Bears onward to the ocean
The hideous form along.

‘Well done ! cried friendly Hedgehog, | Wien drasaed-i tone eene

‘There’s but two more to slay,
Ere loud the bells are ringing
For Flora’s bridal day.

* * * *
Their homes are somewhat distant,
But Jack wants no respite ;
His young heart beats for conquest,
And cries, ‘We'll start to-night.’

They travel all the next day,
Through forests wild and wide ;
His trusty fishing-tackle
(The rope) his cloak must hide.

 

 

| And luckily he brought it,

Or sad had been his fate:

| But he was skilled and cunning,

As now I will relate.

At eve they neared a castle,
One of gigantic size ;

| When, ere a plan’s concocted,

Jack’s taken by surprise.

A crash amongst the branches,
A hand has grasped him tight,
And now a heavy pressure
Has forced him to alight.

‘You're just the thing I wanted!’
The monster cried with glee ;

‘My pantry’s cleared and I’ve asked
A friend to sup with me.

You're welcome to my table—
Will be an honoured guest :

| In fact, of my two chums you

Will suit my taste the best.’

Jack knows that death’s his doom,
Though with a bow politely
The Giant shows his room.

The massive door was bolted ;
The windows soon he found
Were just above the hall-door,
Some distance from the ground. .

The casement’s somewhat ruined,
An iron bar gave hope ;

Here he can make attachment,
And slide down by his rope.