one night he dug a deep pit before the gateway JACK THE
into the castle, and covered it with sticks and _GIANT
heather, and over that he laid sods of turf. KILLER
When this was done, he blew a loud blast with his
horn, and this roused Cormoran from sleep. He
issued from his castle in a great rage, and when
he saw Jack he roared with a voice of thunder,
‘Who are you, that you dare to disturb me?’
Then he charged from his gate with great strides,
so as to catch Jack and kill him; but at the very
second step he took, he went headlong into the
pitfall Jack had prepared for him.
Jack at once ran to the side of the pit, and as the
giant tried to scramble out, he aimed at him with
Als DICESER Es cleft his skull, and the ogre fell back
ead.
Jack now ran home in great glee to tell his ‘friends
what he had done. The whole country was moved
at the news, and resolved to show to Jack some
token of gratitude for having delivered it from
such an encumbrance. They therefore presented
him with a sword and belt on which was written
in pearls—

‘This is the valiant Cornishman
Who slew the giant Cormoran ;’

and they named him Jack the Giant-killer.

But this only whetted Jack’s desire to achieve

fame, and kill giants.

The news of what he had done had reached the ears

of another equally greedy giant, named Blunder-

bore, and he resolved on chastising Jack for having

killed Cormoran.

Jack heard of this, and he therefore resolved on

being beforehand with Blunderbore, by attacking

him before he got under way to punish him.

The giant lived in a castle in the depths of a great

forest. Jack started in quest of him, and shortly

before reaching the castle sat down to drink of a
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