Jack furnished himself with a horn, a shovel, and a pick-axe, and over
to the mount he goes in the beginning of a dark winter evening, where he
fell to work, and before morning had digged a pit 22 feet deep, and as
broad, and covered the same over with long sticks and straw; then
strewed a little mould upon it, so that it appeared like the plain
ground.
This done, Jack places himself on the contrary side of the pit just
about the dawning of the day, when, putting his horn to his mouth, he
then blew, "Tan twivie, tan twivie," which unexpected noise roused the
giant, who came roaring towards Jack, crying out, "You incorrigible
villain, are you come hither to break my rest? You shall dearly pay for
it; satisfaction I will have, and it shall be this--I will take you
wholly and broil you for my breakfast," which words were no sooner out
of his mouth but he tumbled headlong into the deep pit, whose heavy fall
made the very foundation of the mount to shake.
"Oh! giant, where are you now? Faith, you are got into Lobb's Pond,
where I shall plague you for your threatening words. What do you think
now of broiling me for your breakfast? Will no other diet serve you but
poor Jack?" Thus having tantalized the giant for a while, he gave him a
most weighty knock on the crown of his head with his pick-axe, so that
he immediately tumbled down, gave a most dreadful groan, and died. This
done, Jack threw the earth in upon him, and so buried him; then, going
and searching the cave, he found a great quantity of treasure.
Now, when the Magistrates who employed him heard the work was over, they
sent for him, declaring that he should henceforth be called Jack the
Giant-Killer. And in honour thereof, they presented him with a sword,
together with a fine rich embroidered belt, on which these words were
wrought in letters of gold--
"Here's the right valiant Cornish man
Who slew the giant Cormillan."
The news of Jack's victory was soon spread; when another huge giant,
named Blunderboar, hearing of it, vowed to be revenged on Jack if ever
it was his fortune to light upon him. This giant kept an enchanted
castle, situated in the midst of a lonesome wood. Now, Jack, about four
months after, walking near the borders of the said wood, on his journey
towards Wales, grew weary, and therefore sat himself down by the side of
a pleasant fountain, where a deep sleep suddenly seized on him, at which
time the giant coming for water, found him; and by the line on his belt
knew him to be Jack that killed his brother; and, without any words,
threw him upon his shoulder, to carry him to his enchanted castle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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