m his hiding-place watched the counting of the money, which he
knew was his poor father's, and wished it was his own; it would give him
much less trouble than going about selling the golden eggs. The giant,
little thinking he was so narrowly observed, reckoned it all up, and
then replaced it in the two bags, which he tied up very carefully and
put beside his chair, with his little dog to guard them. At last he fell
asleep as before, and snored so loud that Jack compared his noise to the
roaring of the sea in a high wind when the tide is coming in.

At last Jack, concluding all secure, stole out, in order to carry off
the two bags of money; but just as he laid his hands upon one of them,
the little dog, which he had not seen before, started from under the
giant's chair and barked most furiously. Instead of endeavoring to
escape, Jack stood still, though expecting his enemy to awake every
instant. Contrary, however, to his expectation, the giant continued in a
sound sleep, and Jack, seeing a piece of meat, threw it to the dog, who
at once ceased barking and began to devour it. So Jack carried off the
bags, one on each shoulder, but they were so heavy that it took him two
whole days to descend the bean-stalk and get back to his mother's door.

When he came he found the cottage deserted. He ran from one room to
another, without being able to find any one. He then hastened into the
village, hoping to see some of the neighbors who could inform him where
he could find his mother. An old woman at last directed him to a
neighboring house, where she was ill of a fever. He was greatly shocked
at finding her apparently dying, and blamed himself bitterly as the
cause of it all. However, at sight of her dear son, the poor woman
revived, and slowly recovered health. Jack gave her his two money-bags.
They had the cottage rebuilt and well furnished, and lived happier than
they had ever done before.

For three years Jack heard no more of the bean-stalk, but he could not
forget it, though he feared making his mother unhappy. It was in vain
endeavoring to amuse himself; he became thoughtful, and would arise at
the first dawn of day, and sit looking at the bean-stalk for hours
together.

His mother saw that something preyed upon his mind, and endeavored to
discover the cause; but Jack knew too well what the consequence would be
should she succeed. He did his utmost, therefore, to conquer the great
desire he had for another journey up the