eary, lay down near a
pleasant fountain in the wood, and quickly fell asleep. Presently the
Giant, coming to the fountain for water, discovered him; and as the
lines written on the belt shewed who he was, he immediately took Jack
on his shoulders, and carried him towards his castle. Now, as they
passed through a thicket, the rustling of the boughs awakened Jack,
who was terribly frightened to find himself in the clutches of
Blunderbore. Yet this was nothing to his fright soon after; for when
they reached the castle, he beheld the floor covered all over with
skulls and bones of men and women.

The Giant took him into a large room, where lay the limbs of persons
that had been lately killed; and he told Jack, with a horrid grin,
that men's hearts, eaten with pepper and vinegar, were his nicest
food, and that he thought he should make a dainty meal on his. When he
had said this, he locked Jack up in the room, while he went to fetch
another Giant, who lived in the same wood, to enjoy a dinner off poor
Jack.

While he was away. Jack heard dreadful shrieks, and groans, and cries,
from many parts of the castle; and soon after he heard a mournful
voice repeat these lines:

"_Haste, valiant Stranger, haste away,
Lest you become the Giant's prey.
On his return he'll bring another
Still more savage than his brother;--
A horrid, cruel monster, who,
Before he kills, will torture you.
Oh, valiant Stranger! haste away,
Or you'll become these Giants' prey._"

This warning was so shocking to poor Jack, that he was ready to go
mad. He ran to the window, and saw the two Giants coming along arm in
arm. This window was right over the gates of the castle.

"Now," thought Jack, "either my death or freedom is at hand."

Now there were two strong cords in the room. Jack made a large noose
with a slip-knot at the ends of both these; and as the Giants were
coming through the iron 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 quite 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 the cruel death they meant to put
him to.

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
t