Afterwards he sent an officer to Prince Houssain to acquaint him with the change and make him an offer of which province he liked best ; but that Prince thought himself so happy in his solitude that he bade the officer return the Sultan his brother thanks for the kindness he designed him , assuring him of his submission ; and that the only favor he desired of him was to give him leave to live retired in the place he had made choice of for his retreat . -LRB- 1 -RRB- -LRB- 1 -RRB- Arabian Nights . THE HISTORY OF JACK THE GIANT-KILLER In the reign of the famous King Arthur there lived in Cornwall a lad named Jack , who was a boy of a bold temper , and took delight in hearing or reading of conjurers , giants , and fairies ; and used to listen eagerly to the deeds of the knights of King Arthur 's Round Table . In those days there lived on St. Michael 's Mount , off Cornwall , a huge giant , eighteen feet high and nine feet round ; his fierce and savage looks were the terror of all who beheld him . He dwelt in a gloomy cavern on the top of the mountain , and used to wade over to the mainland in search of prey ; when he would throw half a dozen oxen upon his back , and tie three times as many sheep and hogs round his waist , and march back to his own abode . The giant had done this for many years when Jack resolved to destroy him . Jack took a horn , a shovel , a pickaxe , his armor , and a dark lantern , and one winter 's evening he went to the mount . There he dug a pit twenty-two feet deep and twenty broad . He covered the top over so as to make it look like solid ground . He then blew his horn so loudly that the giant awoke and came out of his den crying out : `` You saucy villain ! you shall pay for this I 'll broil you for my breakfast ! '' He had just finished , when , taking one step further , he tumbled headlong into the pit , and Jack struck him a blow on the head with his pickaxe which killed him . Jack then returned home to cheer his friends with the news . Another giant , called Blunderbore , vowed to be revenged on Jack if ever he should have him in his power . This giant kept an enchanted castle in the midst of a lonely wood ; and some time after the death of Cormoran Jack was passing through a wood , and being weary , sat down and went to sleep . The giant , passing by and seeing Jack , carried him to his castle , where he locked him up in a large room , the floor of which was covered with the bodies , skulls and bones of men and women . Soon after the giant went to fetch his brother who was likewise a giant , to take a meal off his flesh ; and Jack saw with terror through the bars of his prison the two giants approaching . Jack , perceiving in one corner of the room a strong cord , took courage , and making a slip-knot at each end , he threw them over their heads , and tied it to the window-bars ; he then pulled till he had choked them . When they were black in the face he slid down the rope and stabbed them to the heart . Jack next took a great bunch of keys from the pocket of Blunderbore , and went into the castle again .
He made a strict search XXXXX all the rooms , and in one of them found three ladies tied up by the hair of their heads , and almost starved to death .
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