e on
his little foe. At last Jack ordered a cart-rope to be brought to him;
he then drew it over his great head, and by the help of a team of
horses, dragged him to the edge of the moat, where he cut off the
monster's head; and before he either ate or drank, he sent it to the
court of King Arthur. He then went back to the table with the company,
and the rest of the day was spent in mirth and good cheer.

[Illustration: His Head goeth to Court]

PART THE FOURTH.

[Illustration: The Lady of the Knight. _Initial_]

Courted and flattered as he was, yet after staying with the Knight and
his lady for some time, Jack grew weary of such an idle life, and set
out again in search of new adventures. He went over hills and dales
without meeting any, till he came to the foot of a very high mountain.
Here he knocked at the door of a small and lonely house, and an old
man, with a head as white as snow, let him in.

"Good father," said Jack, "can you lodge a traveller who has lost his
way?"

"Yes," said the hermit, "I can, if you will accept such fare as my
poor house affords."

Jack entered, and the old man set before him some bread and fruit for
his supper. When Jack had eaten as much as he chose, the hermit
said,--

"My son, I know you are the famous conqueror of Giants; now, at the
top of this mountain is an enchanted Castle, kept by a Giant named
Galligantus, who, by the help of a vile Magician, gets many knights
and ladies into his Castle, where he changes them into the shape of
beasts. Above all, I lament the hard fate of a duke's daughter, whom
they seized as she was walking in her father's garden, and brought
hither through the air in a chariot drawn by two fiery dragons, and
turned her into the shape of a deer. Many knights have tried to
destroy the enchantment, and deliver her; yet none have been able to
do it, by reason of two fiery Griffins, who guard the gate of the
Castle, and destroy all who come nigh: but as you, my son, have an
invisible coat, you may pass by them without being seen; and on the
gates of the Castle you will find engraved by what means the
enchantment may be broken."

[Illustration: The Giant Galligantus]

Jack promised that, in the morning, at the risk of his life, he would
break the enchantment; and, after a sound sleep, he arose early, put
on his invisible coat, and got ready for the attempt. When he had
climbed to the top of the mountain, he saw the two fiery Griffins;
but he