get this wonderful hen
to take home to his mother, they would never want any more. So when
the ogre fell asleep--as he did after a little while--he came out of
the closet, and, seizing the hen in his arms, made off with her. The
hen squawked, but the ogre's snoring was like the roaring of the sea
when the tide is coming in, and Jack got safely down the beanstalk.

The hen laid so many golden eggs that Jack and his mother became quite
rich and prosperous; and there was really no need for Jack to go again
to the ogre's country. But he liked the danger and excitement, and he
remembered that the fairy had told him to take as many of the ogre's
treasures as he could; and at last, without saying a word to anybody,
he started off once more to climb the magic beanstalk.

And he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed, and he
climbed, and he climbed, and he climbed--until at last he reached the
very tiptop, and stood in the ogre's country.

This time when he reached the castle he began to be afraid that the
ogre's wife really would not let him in.

"Indeed and indeed, I dare not," she said. "Twice lately have I
given shelter to a wayfaring youth, and each time he stole some of
my husband's treasures, and made off with them. Now my husband has
forbidden me, on pain of instant death, to give food or lodging
to any traveler."

But Jack pleaded and pleaded, and at last the good-natured woman, moved
to pity by his travel-stained appearance, gave way and let him into the
castle.

[Illustration]

When the ogre came home, the wife hid Jack in the copper. As usual, the
ogre's first words were:

"Wife, wife, I smell fresh meat!" And, in spite of all his wife could
say, he insisted upon searching all round the room. Jack was in a
terrible fright whilst he was hunting: but fortunately, he forgot to
look in the copper, and after a time he sat down to his supper.

When supper was over, the ogre told his wife to fetch his harp. Jack
peeped out of the copper and saw the harp brought in and set down
before the ogre. It was marvelously made; and when the ogre said "Play!"
it played the finest music without being touched. Jack was enchanted,
for he had never before heard such wonderful music, and he felt that he
must have the harp for his own.

The ogre was soon lulled to sleep by the sweet sound of the harp; and
when he was snoring heavily, Jack crept out of the copper, and taking up
the harp was about to make off wi