the giants were coming
through the 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 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 a cruel death. 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 dead husbands.

"Ladies," said Jack, "I have put an end to the monster and his wicked
brother; and I give you this castle and all the riches 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 farther on
his journey to Wales.

As Jack had not taken any of the giant's riches for himself, and had
very 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 lonely valley between two lofty mountains. There he walked about for
some hours, without seeing any dwelling-place, so he thought himself
very lucky at last in finding a large and handsome house. He went up
to it boldly, and knocked loudly at the gate; when, to his great
terror and surprise, there came forth a monstrous giant with two
heads. He spoke to Jack very civilly, for he was a Welsh giant, and
all the mischief he did was by private and secret malice, under the
show of friendship and kindness.

Jack told him that he was a traveller who had lost his way, on which
the huge monster made him welcome, and led him into a room where there
was a good bed in which to pass the night. Jack took off his clothes
quickly; but though he was so weary he could not go to sleep. Soon
after this he heard the giant walking backward and forward in the next
room, and saying to himself:

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

"Say you so?" thought Jack. "Are these your tricks upon travellers?
But I hope to prove as c