“Haste, valiant Stranger, haste away, Lest you become the Giant’s prey.  On his return he’ll bring another Still more savage than his brother;—­ A horrid, cruel monster, who, Before he kills, will torture you.  Oh, valiant Stranger! haste away, Or you’ll become these Giants’ prey.”

This warning was so shocking to poor Jack, that he was ready to go mad.  He ran to the window, and saw the two Giants coming along arm in arm.  This window was right over the gates of the castle.

“Now,” thought Jack, “either my death or freedom is at hand.”

Now there were two strong cords in the room.  Jack made a large noose with a slip-knot at the ends of both these; and as the Giants were coming through the iron gates, he threw the ropes over their heads.  He then made the other ends fast to a beam in the ceiling, and pulled with all his might till he had almost strangled them.  When he saw that they were both quite black in the face, and had not the least strength left, he drew his sword, and slid down the ropes; he then killed the Giants, and thus saved himself from the cruel death they meant to put him to.

Jack next took a great bunch of keys from the pocket of Blunderbore, and went into the castle again.  He made a strict search through all the rooms; and in them found three ladies tied up by the hair of their heads, and almost starved to death.  They told him that their husbands had been killed by the Giants, who had then condemned them to be starved to death, because they would not eat the flesh of their own husbands.

“Charming Ladies,” said Jack, “I have put an end to the monster and his wicked brother; and I give you this castle, and all riches that it contains, to make you some amends for the dreadful pains you have felt.”

He then very politely gave them the keys of the castle, and went further in his journey to Wales.

[Illustration:  A Giant looketh out for Jack. Initial]

Caring very little for riches, Jack had not taken any of the Giant’s wealth for himself, and having but little money of his own, he thought it best to travel as fast as he could.

At length he lost his way; and when night came on, he was in a valley between two lofty mountains.  He thought himself lucky at last in finding a large and handsome house.  He went to it, and knocked at the gate; when, to his surprise, there came forth a Giant with two heads.  He spoke to Jack very civilly, for he was a Welsh Giant, and all the mischief he did was done under a show of friendship.  Jack told him he was a benighted traveller, when the monster bade Jack welcome, and led him into a room where he could pass the night.  But though he was weary he could not sleep, for he heard the Giant walking backward and forward in the next room, saying,

  “Though here you lodge with me this night,
   You shall not see the morning-light;
   My club shall dash your brains out quite.”