Then a little dog that was lying under the table
began to bark, and Jack, fearing lest the giant
should wake, slipped back into his hiding-place.
He however remained unconscious, snoring heavily;
then the wife, who was washing-up in the back
kitchen, came in and called the dog to attend her.
The coast was now clear. Jack crept out of the
hutch, and, seizing the bags, made off with them, as
they were his father’s treasure which had been
carried away by the giant.
On his way to the top of the bean stalk, the
only difficulty Jack had to encounter arose from
the weight of the bags, which burdened him im-
mensely. On reaching the bean plant, he climbed
down nimbly, carrying the treasure of gold and
silver with him, and on reaching the bottom gave
them to his mother. They were now well off, and
might have exchanged the cottage for a handsome
house, but Jack would in no way consent to this,
for he knew that he had not as yet avenged his
father, and released the fairy.
He thought and thought upon the world above
the bean stalk, and his mother saw that he was
meditating on another expedition.
She was sorrowful, as there was really now in
her mind no need for anything further; but she
knew how resolved her son was when he had
made up his mind to anything, and that it was not
in her power to dissuade him from it.
One midsummer day, very early in the morning,
Jack reascended the bean stalk. He found the
plain above the clouds as before. He arrived at
the giant’s mansion in the evening, and found his
wife standing at the door. Jack had disguised
himself so completely that she did not recognise
him. He had painted his face and hands with red
ochre. When he pleaded hunger and weariness
in order to gain admission, he found it very diffi-
cult indeed to persuade her. At last he prevailed,
Il