make life happy, she seated me on a stool, and
with her golden comb, the only article of luxury
that remained to her, she combed out my long
black tresses. Now, no sooner had she done this,
and spread my black hair all over me, than I was
transformed into a crow, and as a crow I flew
away, and a crow I remain until I can peck the
three golden hairs out of the mole that grows on
the tip of the giant’s nose, that is, of the giant who
slew your father.

‘In order to reward your mother, and also to ad-
vance my own interest, I flew over you as you were
making a great ass of yourself with the butcher,
who was laughing in his sleeve to think what a
greenhorn you were, and how easily gulled by
a little vulgar flattery, and I dropped among the
scarlet-runner beans three of a very different kind
from those the butcher was giving you; and it is
these three magical beans out of fairyland that
have grown to such a size, and up which you have
climbed.

‘You are now in the country where lives the
giant.

‘You will have difficulties and dangers to en-
counter, but you must persevere in avenging the
death of your father, and in doing all you can to
enable me to get the three gold hairs out of the
mole at the end of the ogre’s nose. One thing I
charge you strictly: do not let your mother know
of your adventures till all are accomplished; the
knowledge would be more than she could endure.’
Jack promised that he would obey the directions
of the fairy. Then she said: ‘Go along due east
over this barren plain, you will soon arrive at the
ogre’s castle.’

Then the crow spread its wings and flew away.
Jack walked on and on, till at last he saw a
large mansion. A woman was standing in the
Tocrney: He accosted her and begged a morsel