As soon as they heard that he was the person
who had done such wonders, they pressed round him with tears of joy,
to return him thanks for the happiness he had caused them. After this
the bowl went round, and every one drank the health and long life of
the gallant hero. Mirth increased, and the hall was filled with peals
of laughter. But, on a sudden, a herald, pale and breathless, rushed
into the midst of the company, and told them that Thundel, a savage
giant with two heads, had heard of the death of his two kinsmen, and
was come to take his revenge on Jack; and that he was now within a
mile of the house, the people flying before him like chaff before the
wind. At this news the very boldest of the guests trembled; but Jack
drew his sword, and said, "Let him come, I have a rod for him also.
Pray, ladies and gentlemen, do me the favour to walk into the garden,
and you shall soon behold the giant's defeat and death."
To this they all agreed, and heartily wished him success in his
dangerous attempt.
The knight's house stood in the middle of a moat, thirty feet deep and
twenty wide, over which lay a drawbridge. Jack set men to work, to cut
the bridge on both sides, almost to the middle, and then dressed
himself in his coat of darkness, and went against the giant with his
sword of sharpness. As he came close to him, though the giant could
not see him for his invisible coat, yet he found some danger was near,
which made him cry out:--
"Fa, fe, fi, fo, fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman;
Let him be alive, or let him be dead,
I'll grind his bones to make me bread.
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