the giants struggled, kicked; but the more they JACK THE
struggled the tighter grew the slip-knots, and at GIANT
last they were quite choked and dead. , KILLER
He now pulled at that bar of his window to which
the giants had been attached, and which they in
their struggles had almost torn out of its socket.
He easily slipped between it and the next bar, and
finished the giants with his sword.

Then seizing the keys which hung from the belt of
Blunderbore, he entered the castle and examined
all the prisons. In one he found three ladies hung
by the hair of their heads to nails, and almost
starved to death. Jack at once released them,
and asked how they came to be there. They
informed him that the giant had killed their
husbands, and then had hung them up as Jack
had seen, that they might starve. Jack then very
gallantly offered them the keys of the castle and
bade them live there.

He then bade them farewell, and departed for
Wales. Jack now travelled as fast as he could.
At length he reached a handsome mansion and
knocked at the door. Then out came a Welsh
giant. He was rather dismayed at this, but did
not allow the giant to see it. He said he was a’
traveller who had lost his way, and that he sought
a night’s lodging. Thereat the giant welcomed
him and escorted him in, and gave him a room
with a good bed in it.

Jack undressed and went to bed, but could not
sleep, although he was very weary. Presently he
heard the giant walking backwards and forwards
in the next room, muttering to himself—

‘Though here you lodge with me this night,
You shall not see the morning light,
For with my club I will kill you quite.’

‘Oh! is that your intention!’ thought Jack. ‘I
must see if my wits will help me.’
187