JACK MADE another journey up the bean stalk to the giant's castle one day, while his mother had gone to market,
but first he dyed his hair and disguised himself. The old woman didn't know him again.

She dragged him in as she had done before. The lad was to help her to do the work.
 Then she heard her husband coming and hid him in the wardrobe.
She did not think it was the same boy who had stolen the hen.
She bade him stay quite still there, or the giant would eat him.

Then the giant came in saying:

"Fee-faw-fum,
I smell a wind of a warring man.
Let him be dead,
So he can make us some bread."

"Nonsense!" said the wife, "sit down and I'll bring up a roasted bullock at once."
The giant sat down, and soon his wife brought up a roasted bullock on a large dish, and they began their supper.
Jack was amazed to see them pick the bones of the bullock as if it had been a lark.
Right after the meal the giantess rose and said:

"Now, my dear, I want to go to my room and finish a story I'm reading. Do call for me if you want me."
"Ah, yes, but first bring me my money bags, that I may count my golden pieces before I sleep." answered the giant.

The giantess went and soon returned with two large bags over her shoulders, and put down the bags by her husband.

"There," she said; 
"that's all that's left of the knight's money. When you have spent it you must go and take another baron's castle."

When his wife was gone, the giant took out heaps and heaps of golden pieces. 
He counted them and put them in piles, till he was tired of the amusement. 
Then he swept them all back into their bags and fell asleep in his comfortable chair. 
He was snoring so loud that no other sound was audible.

Jack stole softly out of the wardrobe and stole to the money,
that was his very own because the giant had grabbed them from his father.
He ran off, and with great difficulty descended the bean stalk.
At last he laid the bags of gold on his mother's table.
She had just returned from town, and was crying at not finding Jack.

"There, mother, I've brought you the gold that my father lost."
"Oh, Jack! you risked your precious life in the giant's castle!"
And Jack told her all about it.
Jack's mother was very glad, however, she didn't like him to run any risk for her.

Act 6 >>