nvisible Coat, under
which he carried his Sword of sharpness, he came up to the Giant, and,
though he made several passes at him, yet he could not reach the trunk
of his body, by reason of his height, though he wounded his thighs in
several places; but at length, giving a swinging stroke, he cut off both
his legs just below the knee, so that the trunk of his body made the
ground to shake with the force of his fall, at which the knight and the
lady escaped. Then had Jack time to talk with him, and, setting his foot
upon his neck, said, "You savage and barbarous wretch, I am come to
execute upon you the just reward of your villainy." And with that
running him through and through, the monster sent forth a hideous groan,
and yielded up his life, while the noble knight and virtuous lady were
joyful spectators of his sudden downfall and their own deliverance.

This being done, the courteous knight and his fair lady returned him
hearty thanks for their deliverance, but also invited him home, there to
refresh himself after the dreadful encounter, as likewise to receive
ample reward, by way of gratitude for his good service.

"No," quoth Jack, "I cannot be at ease till I find out the den which was
this monster's habitation."

The knight hearing this, waxed sorrowful, and replied, "Noble stranger,
it is too much to run a second risk, for this monster lived in a den
under yon mountain, with a brother of his, more fierce than himself;
therefore, if you go thither and perish in the attempt, it will be the
heartbreaking of both me and my lady. Let me persuade you to go with
us."

"Nay," quoth Jack, "if there were twenty I would shed the last drop of
my blood before one of them should escape my fury, but when I have
finished this task, I will come and pay my respects to you." So, taking
directions to their habitation, he mounted his horse, and went in
pursuit of the deceased Giant's brother.

Jack had not rode past a mile before he came in sight of the cave's
mouth, at the entrance of which he beheld the other Giant sitting upon a
huge block of timber, with a knotty iron club by his side, waiting for
his brother's return with his cruel prey; his goggle eyes appeared like
terrible flames of fire, his countenance grim and ugly, and his cheeks
appeared like a couple of large flitches of bacon; the bristles of his
head seemed to resemble rods of iron wire; his locks hung down on his
broad shoulders like curled snakes. Jack alighted f