assed through many dark windings, which led him to
a room paved with freestone; at the end of it was a boiling cauldron,
and on the right hand stood a large table, where the Giants used to
dine. He then came to a window secured with iron bars, through which
he saw a number of wretched captives, who cried out, when they saw
Jack, "Alas! alas! young man, are you come to be one among us in this
horrid den?"

[Illustration: The Knight and his Lady thank
Jack for their delivery]

"I hope," said Jack, "you will not tarry here long but pray tell me,
what is the meaning of your captivity?"

[Illustration: Jack releaseth the captive Ladies]

"Alas!" said one, "we have been taken by the Giants that hold this
cave, and are kept till they have a feast; then the fattest of us is
killed and cooked. It is not long since they took three for this
purpose."

"Say you so?" said Jack; "I have given them such a dinner that it will
be long enough before they want more." The captives were amazed at his
words. "You may believe me," said Jack; "for I have slain both the
monsters, and sent their heads in a wagon to King Arthur, as trophies
of my victory."

To shew them that what he said was true, he unlocked the gate, and set
them all free. Then he led them to the great room, where they feasted
plentifully. Supper being over, they searched the Giant's coffers, and
Jack shared the store among the captives. Jack started at sunrise to
the house of the Knight, whom he had left not long before.

[Illustration: _Initial_]

Presently Jack reached the Knight's castle, where he was received with
the greatest joy. In honour of the hero's exploits, a grand feast was
given, which lasted many days. The Knight also presented Jack with a
beautiful ring, on which was engraved the Giant dragging the knight
and the lady by the hair, with this motto:

"_We were in sad distress, you see,
Under the Giant's fierce command,
But gained our lives and liberty
By valiant Jack's victorious hand._"

Among the guests present at the feast were fire aged gentlemen, who
were fathers to some of those captives who had been freed by Jack from
the dungeon. These old men pressed round him with tears of joy, and
returned him thanks. One day the bowl went round merrily, and every
one drank to the health and long life of the gallant hero. The hall
resounded with peals of laughter and joyful cries.

[Illustration: A pale Herald interrup