FIRESIDE STORIES. 527

 

had no sooner entered than his ears were assailed with piercing
shrieks. Advancing softly towards the place where the cries
appeared to proceed from, he was horror-struck at perceiving a
huge giant dragging along a fair lady, and a knight her hus-
band, by the hair of their heads, “ with as much ease,” says the
original narrative, “as if they had been a pair of gloves.” Jack
shed tears of pity on the fate of this hapless couple; but not
suffering his feelings to render him neglectful of action, he put
on his invisible coat, and taking with him his infallible sword,
succeeded, after considerable trouble and many cuts, to dispatch
the monster, whose dying groans were so terrible that they
made the whole wood ring again. The courteous knight and
his fair lady were overpowered with gratitude, and, after re-
turning Jack their best thanks, they invited him to their resi-
dence, there to recruit his strength after the frightful encounter,
and receive more substantial demonstrations of their obligations
to him. Jack, however, declared that he would not rest until
he had found out the giant’s habitation. The knight, on hear-
ing this determination, was very sorrowful, and replied, “Noble
stranger, it is too much to run a second hazard: this monster
lived in a den under yonder mountain, with a brother more
fierce and cruel than himself. Therefore, if you should go
thither, and perish in the attempt, it would be a heart-breaking
to me and my lady: let me persuade you to go with us and
desist: from any further pursuit.” The knight’s reasoning had
the very opposite effect that was intended, for Jack, hearing of
another giant, eagerly embraced the opportunity of displaying
his skill, Promising, however, to return to the knight when he
had accomplished his second labour.