d as a lion at the thought
of being face to face with his father's cruel murderer. So he crept into
the oven--for there was no fire near it--and listened to the giant's
loud voice and heavy step as he went up and down the kitchen scolding
his wife. At last he seated himself at the table, and Jack, peeping
through a crevice in the oven, was amazed to see what a quantity of food
he devoured. It seemed as if he never would have done eating and
drinking; but he did at last, and, leaning back, called to his wife in a
voice like thunder:

"Bring me my hen!"

She obeyed, and placed upon the table a very beautiful live hen.

"Lay!" roared the giant, and the hen laid immediately an egg of solid
gold.

"Lay another!" and every time the giant said this the hen laid a larger
egg than before.

He amused himself a long time with his hen, and then sent his wife to
bed, while he fell asleep by the fireside, and snored like the roaring
of cannon.

As soon as he was asleep Jack crept out of the oven, seized the hen, and
ran off with her. He got safely out of the house, and finding his way
along the road he had come, reached the top of the bean-stalk, which he
descended in safety.

His mother was overjoyed to see him. She thought he had come to some ill
end.

"Not a bit of it, mother. Look here!" and he showed her the hen. "Now
lay!" and the hen obeyed him as readily as the giant, and laid as many
golden eggs as he desired.

These eggs being sold, Jack and his mother got plenty of money, and for
some months lived very happily together; till Jack got another great
longing to climb the bean-stalk and carry away some more of the giant's
riches. He had told his mother of his adventure, but had been very
careful not to say a word about his father. He thought of his journey
again and again, but still he could not summon resolution enough to
break it to his mother, being well assured that she would endeavor to
prevent his going. However, one day he told her boldly that he must take
another journey up the bean-stalk. She begged and prayed him not to
think of it, and tried all in her power to dissuade him. She told him
that the giant's wife would certainly know him again, and that the giant
would desire nothing better than to get him into his power, that he
might put him to a cruel death in order to be revenged for the loss of
his hen. Jack, finding that all his arguments were useless, ceased
speaking, though resolved to go at all eve