"This is the very thing," said the tired traveller, and he announced his arrival by lifting the heavy knocker of a brass door. "What do you want?" said a voice from the inside. "I want a lodging-place," said Jack, "for myself and my little companion." "The master of this house," said the porter, opening the door, "never refuses hospitality to those who demand shelter. Come in, and make yourself at home." When Jack had entered, the friendly porter inquired: "My friend, have you dined this afternoon?" "My faith, no!" exclaimed Jack. "My wallet is empty, and it has been empty since morning." "Come to the table, then," exclaimed the porter, pushing Jack along the wide hall-way. "Eat and drink and spare nothing, for you are the guest of his most powerful majesty King Calamor." Jack did not wait for a second invitation. He hurried to the dining-room and ate his fill, and his rooster—the rooster with the golden feathers—ate heartily of the crumbs that fell from the table. As it was already late, the porter made haste to prepare a bed for the wayfarer, and Jack soon fell asleep, with the rooster perched on the headboard of his bed. It so happened that in that country those who served King Calamor had to go and search for Day every morning. They not only had to search for Day, but they had to hunt for the place where it could be found. Jack slept but lightly, and he heard the conversation of the servants, who were in the same room. "Get up!" said one; "it is time for us to be going. We must be hunting for Day." "Wait a little," said the other, "I am very sleepy." "No, no," said the first, "we must make haste, or some one who rises earlier might seize the Sun and carry it away, and then the King, our master, would be very angry." "Is the wagon ready?" asked another. "Yes, and the axles are all well greased. It is early, and the wagon will not break, as it did last week, and we will be able to go much faster." All this time Jack was thinking to himself in this wise: "Truly this is a queer country that the King's people have to go off to hunt Day." The servants were up and ready to go, when Jack cried out: "Friends, get back to bed, and I will take charge of your work. I will fetch the Day." "What! you!" said a servant. "Only one man! And do you pretend that you can do what ten horses can hardly accomplish? You are making game of us." "I make game of no one. You will soon see that I mean what I say," said Jack. "That seems very queer," said the head-servant. "Fear not," said Jack, "I will help you through this by the assistance of my little companion—my rooster with the golden feathers." "But, see here!" exclaimed the head-servant, with an air of sternness, "if you do not bring Day at the appointed hour, the King will be without mercy, and you will be hanged." "Nay, let me do as I wish," said Jack, sleepily; "go to bed quietly."