and the
bear. The King came to see him, too, and asked him on which side he
was going to fight.

"I will strike no stroke this day," says Jack, "except on the side of
the King of Scotland."

The King thanked him very heartily, and said he was sure they would
win. So they went into the battle with Jack at their head, and Jack
struck east and west and in all directions and at every blow of his
sword the wind of his stroke tossed houses on the other side of the
world, and in a very short time the King of the East ran off, with
all his soldiers that were still left alive. Then the King of Scotland
invited Jack to come home with him, as he was going to give a great
feast in his honor, but Jack said no, he could not go.

"They don't know at home," said Jack, "where I am at all"--and neither
they did--"so I must be off to them as quickly as possible."

"Then," says the King, "the least I can do is to give you a present.
Here is a tablecloth," says he, "and every time you spread it out you
will have it covered with eating and drinking of all sorts."

Jack took it, and thanked him, and rode away. He left the mare and the
bear in their own wood, and became Hookedy-Crookedy again, and ran
back to his garden. The Yellow Rose told him of the brave soldier that
had won her father's battle that day.

"Well, well," says Jack, says he, "he must have been a grand fellow
entirely. It is a pity I was not there, but I had to go on a message
for the King."

"Poor Hookedy-Crookedy," says she, "what could you do if you were
there yourself?"

Jack went to the wood again next morning, and consulted with the mare.

"Jack," said the mare, "look in the inside of my left ear, and see
what you will see," and Jack took out of her left ear a soldier's
suit, done off with silver, the grandest ever seen, and at the mare's
advice he put the suit on, and mounted on her back, and the three of
them went off to the battle. Every one was admiring the beautiful,
dashing fellow that was riding to the battle this day, and word came
to the King, and the King came to speak to him and welcomed him
heartily.

He said, "Your brother came with us the last day we went into the
battle. Your brother is a very handsome, fine-looking fellow. What
side are you going to fight on?"

Says Jack, "I will strike no stroke on any side but yours this day."

The King thanked him very heartily, and into the battle they went
with Jack at their head, and Jack struck eas