n, who, bewildered and half-frightened, was
wondering how to get away.

'Tell your false king that to-morrow I will destroy his castle as easily
as I have broken this table.'

The chamberlain hastened back to the palace, and gave the king Jack's
message, at which he laughed more than before, and called all his
courtiers to hear the story. But they were not quite so merry when they
woke next morning and beheld ten thousand horsemen, and as many archers,
surrounding the palace. The king saw it was useless to hold out, and
he took the white flag of truce in one hand, and the real table in the
other, and set out to look for Jack.

'I committed a crime,' said he; 'but I will do my best to make up for
it. Here is your table, which I own with shame that I tried to steal,
and you shall have besides, my daughter as your wife!'

There was no need to delay the marriage when the table was able to
furnish the most splendid banquet that ever was seen, and after everyone
had eaten and drunk as much as they wanted, Jack took his bag and
commanded a castle filled with all sorts of treasures to arise in the
park for himself and his bride.

At this proof of his power the king's heart died within him.

'Your magic is greater than mine,' he said; 'and you are young and
strong, while I am old and tired. Take, therefore, the sceptre from my
hand, and my crown from my head, and rule my people better than I have
done.'

So at last Jack's ambition was satisfied. He could not hope to be more
than king, and as long as he had his cornet to provide him with soldiers
he was secure against his enemies. He never forgave his brothers for
the way they had treated him, though he presented his mother with a
beautiful castle, and everything she could possibly wish for. In the
centre of his own palace was a treasure chamber, and in this chamber the
table, the cornet, and the bag were kept as the most prized of all his
possessions, and not a week passed without a visit from king John to
make sure they were safe. He reigned long and well, and died a very old
man, beloved by his people. But his good example was not followed by
his sons and his grandsons. They grew so proud that they were ashamed
to think that the founder of their race had once been a poor boy; and
as they and all the world could not fail to remember it, as long as the
table, the cornet, and the bag were shown in the treasure chamber,
one king, more foolish than the rest, thrust them in