le
to do so, because of two fiery griffins who guard the gates of the
castle. But as you, my son, have an invisible coat, you may pass them by
without being seen. On the gates of the castle you will find engraved
the means by which the enchantment may be broken."

Jack promised that in the morning he would risk his life in an endeavor
to break the enchantment; and, after a sound sleep, he arose early and
set out on his attempt.

He passed by the fiery griffins without the least fear of danger; for
they could not see him, because of his invisible coat.

On the castle gate he found a golden trumpet hanging, under which were
written these words--

"Whoever can this trumpet blow,
Shall cause the giant's overthrow."

Jack seized the golden trumpet and blew a mighty blast, which made the
gates fly open and shook the castle to its foundations. The giant and
the magician, knowing that their end was now near, stood biting their
thumbs and shaking with terror. Jack, with his magic sword, soon killed
the giant, and the magician was carried off by a whirlwind. The castle
vanished away like smoke, and the duke's daughter and all the knights
and lovely ladies who had been turned into birds and beasts returned to
their proper shape.

Jack's fame rang through the whole country, and the King gave him a
large estate to reward him for all his brave and knightly deeds. And
Jack married the duke's daughter, and lived in joy and contentment for
the rest of his days.

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK

[Illustration]

Jack was an idle, lazy boy who would do no work to support his widowed
mother; and at last they both came to such poverty that the poor woman
had to sell her cow to buy food to keep them from starving. She sent
Jack to market with the cow, telling him to be sure and sell it for a
good price.

[Illustration]

As Jack was going along the road to market he met a butcher. The butcher
offered to buy the cow in exchange for a hatful of colored beans. Jack
thought the beans looked very pretty, and he was glad to be saved the
long hot walk to market; so he struck the bargain on the spot and went
back to his mother with the beans, while the butcher went off with the
cow.

But the poor widow was very disappointed. She scolded her son for an
idle, lazy, good-for-nothing boy, and flung the beans out of the window
in a passion.

[Illustration]

Now the beans were magic beans, and the next morning, when Jack awoke,