where they should lodge.  “Sir,” said Jack, “be of good heart; two miles farther there lives a large giant, whom I know well.  He has three heads, and will fight five hundred men, and make them fly before him.”  “Alas!” replied the king’s son, “we had better never have been born than meet with such a monster.”  “My lord, leave me to manage him, and wait here in quiet till I return.”  The prince now staid behind, while Jack rode on full speed.  And when he came to the gates of the castle, he gave a loud knock.  The giant, with a voice like thunder, roared out:  “Who is there?” And Jack made answer, and said:  “No one but your poor cousin Jack.”  “Well,” said the giant, “what news, cousin Jack?” “Dear uncle,” said Jack, “I have some heavy news.”  “Pooh!” said the giant, “what heavy news can come to me?  I am a giant with three heads; and can fight five hundred men, and make them fly before me.”  “Alas!” said Jack, “Here is the king’s son, coming with two thousand men, to kill you, and to destroy the castle and all that you have.”  “Oh, cousin Jack,” said the giant, “This is heavy news indeed!  But I have a large cellar under ground, where I will hide myself, and you shall lock, and bar me in, and keep the keys till the king’s son is gone.”

Now when Jack had made the giant fast in the vault, he went back and fetched the prince to the castle; they both made themselves merry with the wine and other dainties that were in the house.  So that night they rested very pleasantly, while the poor giant lay trembling and shaking with fear in the cellar under ground.  Early in the morning, Jack gave the king’s son gold and silver out of the giant’s treasure, and set him three miles forward on his journey.  He then went to let his uncle out of the hole, who asked Jack what he should give him as a reward for saving his castle.  “Why, good uncle,” said Jack, “I desire nothing but the old coat and cap, with the old rusty sword and slippers, which are hanging at your bed’s head,” Then said the giant:  “You shall have them; and pray keep them for my sake, for they are things of great use:  the coat will keep you invisible, the cap will give you knowledge, the sword cut through anything, and the shoes are of vast swiftness; these may be useful to you in all times of danger, so take them with all my heart.”  Jack gave many thanks to the giant, and then set off to the prince.  When he had come up with the king’s son, they soon arrived at the dwelling of the beautiful lady, who was under the power of a wicked magician.  She received the prince very politely, and made a noble feast for him; and when it was ended, she rose, and wiping her mouth with a fine handkerchief, said:  “My lord, you must submit to the custom of my palace; to-morrow morning I command you to tell me on whom I bestow this handkerchief or lose your head.”  She then went out of the room.  The young prince went to bed very mournful:  but Jack put on his cap of knowledge, which told him that the lady was