( 17 )
This being done, Jack cut off both the Giant's heads, and sent them both to king Arthur, by a waggoner, whom he hired for that purpose, together with an account of his prosperous success in his undertakings.
CHAP. XI.
How Jack searched their cave, and delivered many men out of captivity.
JACK having thus dispatched these two monsters, resolved with himself to enter the cave in search o these Gaints treasure He passed along through many turnings and windings, which led him at length to a room paved with a free stone, at the upper end of which, was a boiling caldron; then on the right hand stood a large table, whereat he supposed the Giants used to dine; then he came to the iron gate, where was a window secured with bars of iron, through which he looked, and there beheld a vast many miserable captives, who seeing Jack at a distance, cried out with a loud voice, Alas! young man, art thou come to be one among us in this miserable den? Ay, quoth J ck, I hope I shall not tarry long here: but pray tell me what is the meaning of your captivity? Why, said one young man, I'll ell you, we are persons that have been taken by the Giants that keep this cave, and here are we kept till such time as they have occasion for a particular feast, and then the fattest among us is slaughtered and prepared for their devouring jaws; it is not long since they took three of us for the same purpose; nay, many times they have dined entirely on murdered men. Say you so; quoth Jack, well I have given them both such a dinner, that it will be long enough e're they will have occasion for any more. The miserable captives were amazed at these words. You may believe me, quoth Jack for I have slain them both with the point of
