In ghastly moans and sounds of wail, The castle's cells replied; Jack, whose high spirits ne'er could quail, Whistled like blackbird in the vale, And, "Bravo, Weber!" cried. When, lo! a dismal voice, in verse, This pleasant warning did rehearse:-- See Page image: ==> {015} IX. "Haste!" quoth the hero, "yes, but how? They come, the brutes!--I hear them now.' He flew to the window with mickle speed, There was the pretty pair indeed, Arm-in-arm in the court below, O'Blunderbore and his brother O. "Now then," thought Jack, "I plainly see I 'm booked for death or liberty;-- Hallo! those cords are 'the jockeys for me.' X. Jack was nimble of finger and thumb-- The cords in a moment have halters become {016} Deft at noosing the speckled trout, So hath he caught each ill-favoured lout: He hath tethered the ropes to a rafter tight, And he tugs and he pulls with all his might, "Pully-oi! Pully-oi!" till each Yahoo In the face is black and blue; Till each Paddy Whack Is blue and black; "Now, I think you're done _brown_," said courageous Jack. Down the tight rope he slides, And his good sword hides In the hearts of the monsters up to the hilt; So he settled them each: O'Blunderbore's speech, Ere he gave up the ghost was, "Och, murder, I'm kilt!" XI. The dungeons are burst and the captives freed; Three princesses were among them found-- Very beautiful indeed; Their lily white hands were behind them bound: They were dangling in the air, Strung up to a hook by their dear "back hair." Their stomachs too weak On bubble and squeak, From their slaughtered lords prepared, to dine (A delicate rarity); With horrid barbarity, The Giants had hung them up there to pine. [Illustration: 039] {017} XII. Jack, the monsters having "licked," Had, of course, their pockets picked, And their keys and eke their riches Had abstracted from their breeches. "Ladies," he said, with a Chesterfield's ease, Permit me, I pray you, to present you with these," And he placed in their hands the coin and the keys: "So long having swung, By your poor tresses hung, Sure your nerves are unhinged though yourselves are unstrung; To make you amends, Take these few odds and ends, This nice little castle, I mean, and its wealth; And I 've only to say, That I hope that you may For the future enjoy the most excellent health." Said the ladies--"Oh, thank you!--expressions we lack "-- "Don't mention it pray," said the complaisant Jack. XIII.