f the room in which Jack
was, and two of these he took, and made a strong noose at the end; and
while the giants were unlocking the iron gate of the castle he threw
the ropes over each of their heads. Then he drew the other ends across
a beam, and pulled with all his might, so that he throttled them.
Then, when he saw they were black in the face, he slid down the rope,
and drawing his sword, slew them both. Then, taking the giant's keys,
and unlocking the rooms, he found three fair ladies tied by the hair
of their heads, almost starved to death. "Sweet ladies," quoth Jack,
"I have destroyed this monster and his brutish brother, and obtained
your liberty." This said he presented them with the keys, and so
proceeded on his journey to Wales.

Jack made the best of his way by traveling as fast as he could, but
lost his road, and was benighted, and could find no habitation until,
coming into a narrow valley, he found a large house, and in order
to get shelter took courage to knock at the gate. But what was his
surprise when there came forth a monstrous giant with two heads; yet
he did not appear so fiery as the others were, for he was a Welsh
giant, and what he did was by private and secret malice under the
false show of friendship. Jack, having told his condition to the
giant, was shown into a bedroom, where, in the dead of night, he heard
his host in another apartment muttering these words:

"Though here you lodge with me this night,
You shall not see the morning light:
My club shall dash your brains outright!"

"Say'st thou so," quoth Jack; "that is like one of your Welsh tricks,
yet I hope to be cunning enough for you." Then, getting out of bed, he
laid a log in the bed in his stead, and hid himself in a corner of
the room. At the dead time of the night in came the Welsh giant, who
struck several heavy blows on the bed with his club, thinking he had
broken every bone in Jack's skin. The next morning Jack, laughing in
his sleeve, gave him hearty thanks for his night's lodging. "How
have you rested?" quoth the giant; "did you not feel anything in the
night?" "No," quoth Jack, "nothing but a rat, which gave me two or
three slaps with her tail." With that, greatly wondering, the giant
led Jack to breakfast, bringing him a bowl containing four gallons of
hasty pudding. Being loth to let the giant think it too much for him,
Jack put a large leather bag under his loose coat, in such a way that
he could convey the pudd