ulling out the egg from
his pocket.

"How will you get it out again?" said the princess.

"With a crooked stick," replied Jack, producing the hazel.

"Where did that come from?" said the princess.

"From a nut," answered Jack, pulling out the nut from his pocket. "I've
answered the three questions, and now I'll have the lady." "No, no,"
said the king, "not so fast. You have still an ordeal to go through. You
must come here in a week's time and watch for one whole night with the
princess, my daughter. If you can manage to keep awake the whole night
long you shall marry her next day."

"But if I can't?" said Jack.

"Then off goes your head," said the king. "But you need not try unless
you like."

Well, Jack went back home for a week, and thought over whether he should
try and win the princess. At last he made up his mind. "Well," said
Jack, "I'll try my vorton; zo now vor the king's daughter, or a
headless shepherd!"

And taking his bottle and bag, he trudged to the court. In his way
thither, he was obliged to cross a river, and pulling off his shoes and
stockings, while he was passing over he observed several pretty fish
bobbing against his feet; so he caught some and put them into his
pocket. When he reached the palace he knocked at the gate loudly with
his crook, and having mentioned the object of his visit, he was
immediately conducted to the hall where the king's daughter sat ready
prepared to see her lovers. He was placed in a luxurious chair, and rich
wines and spices were set before him, and all sorts of delicate meats.
Jack, unused to such fare, ate and drank plentifully, so that he was
nearly dozing before midnight.

"Oh, shepherd," said the lady, "I have caught you napping!"

"Noa, sweet ally, I was busy a-feeshing."

"A fishing," said the princess in the utmost astonishment: "Nay,
shepherd, there is no fish-pond in the hall."

"No matter vor that, I have been fishing in my pocket, and have just
caught one."

"Oh me!" said she, "let me see it."

The shepherd slyly drew the fish out of his pocket and pretending to
have caught it, showed it her, and she declared it was the finest she
ever saw.

About half an hour afterwards, she said, "Shepherd, do you think you
could get me one more?"

He replied, "Mayhap I may, when I have baited my hook;" and after a
little while he brought out another, which was finer than the first, and
the princess was so delighted that she gave him leave to go to slee