按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
‘Mother I mother！' cried Jack； ‘make haste and give me the
axe。'
His mother ran to him with a hatchet in her hand； and Jack
with one tremendous blow cut through all the Beanstalks except
one。
‘Now； mother； stand out of the way！' said he。
THE GIANT BREAKS HIS NECK。
Jack's mother shrank back； and it was well she did so； for just
as the Giant took hold of the last branch of the Beanstalk； Jack cut
the stem quite through and darted from the spot。
Down came the Giant with a terrible crash； and as he fell on his
head； he broke his neck； and lay dead at the feet of the woman he
had so much injured。
Before Jack and his mother had recovered from their alarm and
agitation； a beautiful lady stood before them。
‘Jack；' said she； ‘you have acted like a brave knight's son； and
deserve to have your inheritance restored to you。 Dig a grave and
bury the Giant； and then go and kill the Giantess。'
‘But；' said Jack； ‘I could not kill anyone unless I were fighting
with him； and I could not draw my sword upon a woman。 Moreover；
the Giantess was very kind to me。'
The Fairy smiled on Jack。
‘I am very much pleased with your generous feeling；' she said。
‘Nevertheless； return to the castle； and act as you will find needful。'
Jack asked the Fairy if she would show him the way to the castle；
as the Beanstalk was now down。 She told him that she would
drive him there in her chariot； which was drawn by two peacocks。
Jack thanked her； and sat down in the chariot with her。
The Fairy drove him a long distance round； till they reached a
village which lay at the bottom of the hill。 Here they found a
number of miserable…looking men assembled。 The Fairy stopped
her carriage and addressed them：
‘My friends；' said she； ‘the cruel giant who oppressed you and
ate up all your flocks and herds is dead； and this young gentleman
was the means of your being delivered from him； and is the son of
your kind old master； the knight。'
The men gave a loud cheer at these words； and pressed forward
to say that they would serve Jack as faithfully as they had served
his father。 The Fairy bade them follow her to the castle； and they
marched thither in a body； and Jack blew the horn and demanded
admittance。
The old Giantess saw them coming from the turret loop…hole。
She was very much frightened； for she guessed that something had
happened to her husband； and as she came downstairs very fast
she caught her foot in her dress； and fell from the top to the bottom
and broke her neck。
When the people outside found that the door was not opened to
them； they took crowbars and forced the portal。 Nobody was to be
seen； but on leaving the hall they found the body of the Giantess at
the foot of the stairs。
Thus Jack took possession of the castle。 The Fairy went and
brought his mother to him； with the hen and the harp。 He had the
Giantess buried； and endeavoured as much as lay in his power to do
right to those whom the Giant had robbed。
Before her departure for fairyland； the Fairy explained to Jack
that she had sent the butcher to meet him with the beans； in order
to try what sort of lad he was。
If you had looked at the gigantic Beanstalk and only stupidly
wondered about it；' she said； ‘I should have left you where
misfortune had placed you； only restoring her cow to your mother。
But you showed an inquiring mind； and great courage and enterprise；
therefore you deserve to rise； and when you mounted the Beanstalk
you climbed the Ladder of Fortune。'
She then took her leave of Jack and his mother。