Now, after a time, Jack, watching through the window, saw the two giants tramping hastily down the road, eager for their dinner.

“Now,” quoth Jack to himself, “my death or my deliverance is at hand.”  For he had thought out a plan.  In one corner of the room he had seen two strong cords.  These he took, and making a cunning noose at the end of each, he hung them out of the window, and, as the giants were unlocking the iron door of the gate, managed to slip them over their heads without their noticing it.  Then, quick as thought, he tied the other ends to a beam, so that as the giants moved on the nooses tightened and throttled them until they grew black in the face.  Seeing this, Jack slid down the ropes, and drawing his sword, slew them both.

So, taking the keys of the castle, he unlocked all the doors and set free three beauteous ladies who, tied by the hair of their heads, he found almost starved to death.  “Sweet ladies,” quoth Jack, kneeling on one knee—­for he was ever polite—­“here are the keys of this enchanted castle.  I have destroyed the giant Blunderbore and his brutish brother, and thus have restored to you your liberty.  These keys should bring you all else you require.”

So saying he proceeded on his journey to Wales.

III

He travelled as fast as he could; perhaps too fast, for, losing his way, he found himself benighted and far from any habitation.  He wandered on always in hopes, until on entering a narrow valley he came on a very large, dreary-looking house standing alone.  Being anxious for shelter he went up to the door and knocked.  You may imagine his surprise and alarm when the summons was answered by a giant with two heads.  But though this monster’s look was exceedingly fierce, his manners were quite polite; the truth being that he was a Welsh giant, and as such double-faced and smooth, given to gaining his malicious ends by a show of false friendship.

So he welcomed Jack heartily in a strong Welsh accent, and prepared a bedroom for him, where he was left with kind wishes for a good rest.  Jack, however, was too tired to sleep well, and as he lay awake, he overheard his host muttering to himself in the next room.  Having very keen ears he was able to make out these words, or something like them: 

  “Though here you lodge with me this night,
   You shall not see the morning light. 
   My club shall dash your brains outright.”

“Say’st thou so!” quoth Jack to himself, starting up at once, “So that is your Welsh trick, is it?  But I will be even with you.”  Then, leaving his bed, he laid a big billet of wood among the blankets, and taking one of these to keep himself warm, made himself snug in a corner of the room, pretending to snore, so as to make Mr. Giant think he was asleep.

And sure enough, after a little time, in came the monster on tiptoe as if treading on eggs, and carrying a big club.  Then—­