Prevod
Nekoč je živel krepak fant iz Cornwalla po imenu Jack, ki se je izuril v vseh mogočih športnih veščinah. Bolje kot kateri koli drug fant v deželi se je znal rokoboriti, metati in plavati; pravzaprav je bilo celo med odraslimi možmi le malo takih, ki bi se lahko z njim kosali po moči in spretnosti.
V tistem času je na otoku tik ob cornwallski obali živel velikan po imenu Cormoran. Ta velikan je bil nadloga vse dežele. Visok je bil dvajset čevljev in širok za tri može. Ljudje so se ga tako bali, da so vselej, ko je z otoka pribredel na kopno, pobegnili in se poskrili po hišah, on pa jim je odnašal drobnico in govedo, kakor se mu je zahotelo, ne da bi kogar koli vprašal za dovoljenje. Za en obrok je pojedel sedem ovc in tudi trije voli mu niso bili preveč. Po vsej deželi so se ljudje pritoževali nad njegovim pustošenjem.
Jack pa je bil prav tako pogumen, kot je bil močan, in sklenil je ljudi rešiti te velikanske nadloge. Počakal je na temno noč brez lune, nato pa s kopnega odplaval na otok. Valovi so bili visoki in voda mrzla, a Jack se za to ni zmenil. S seboj je vzel kramp, lopato, sekiro in rog.
Brž ko je stopil na otok, je začel pred velikanovo votlino kopati jamo — široko in globoko. Velikan je spal, saj ga je Jack slišal smrčati v votlini, zato ni ničesar vedel o tem, kaj počne pogumni fant.
Proti jutru je bila jama izkopana. Jack jo je prekril z vejami ter po njih potresel zemljo in kamenje, tako da nihče ne bi mogel opaziti, da se razlikuje od tal okoli nje. Nato je vzel rog in dolgo in glasno zatrobil.
Zvok je velikana prebudil. Skočil je na noge in se opotekel iz votline. Srdito se je ozrl naokrog in kmalu zagledal Jacka.
»Ničvredni pritlikavec!« je zavpil. »Si si ti drznil zmotiti moj spanec? Le počakaj, da te dobim v roke, pa te bom kaznoval, kakor si zaslužiš!«
Jack se je glasno zasmejal. »Prav nič se te ne bojim!« je zavpil. »Kar pa zadeva kazen, boš videl, da je to laže reči kot storiti.« Velikan je zarjovel od jeze in planil proti Jacku, toda komaj je stopil na veje, ki so prekrivale jamo, so se mu vdrle pod nogami. Padel je v jamo in si zlomil vrat. Tam je obležal brez glasu in brez giba. Ko je Jack videl, da je mrtev, ga je pustil, kjer je ležal, in odplaval nazaj na kopno.
Ko so ljudje izvedeli, da je velikan mrtev in jih ne bo več nadlegoval, so kar ponoreli od veselja. Jacka so slavili kot junaka in mu podarili pas, na katerem je z zlatimi črkami pisalo: »To je pogumni mož iz Cornwalla, ki je ubil velikana Cormorana.«
Odtlej fanta niso več klicali samo Jack, temveč Jack Ubijalec velikanov. Mnogo milj proč pa je v globokem gozdu živel še en velikan, ki mu je bilo ime Blunderbore. Bil je prav tako močan in velik, kot je bil Cormoran.
Ko je Blunderbore slišal, kako je fant iz Cornwalla ubil Cormorana in da mu zdaj pravijo »Jack Ubijalec velikanov«, ga je popadla silna jeza. Prisegel je, da bo poiskal Jacka in ga pokončal, kakor je bil pokončan Cormoran.
Jacka pa ni bilo niti malo strah. Sklenil je deželo povsem osvoboditi velikanov in ničesar si ni želel bolj, kakor da bi svojo bistroumnost preizkusil proti Blunderboru. Nekega dne je torej vzel v roke krepko hrastovo gorjačo in se odpravil iskat velikana.
Hodil je in hodil, dokler ni prišel do gozda, kjer je v senci dreves žuborel hladen studenec. Jack je bil lačen, žejen in tudi utrujen, zato je sedel k studencu, pojedel kruh in sir, ki ju je nosil s seboj, ter se napil sveže vode. Potem se je zleknil in trdno zaspal.
Ni še dolgo spal, ko je mimo prišel velikan Blunderbore. Silno se je začudil, ko je zagledal mladeniča, ki je ležal ob njegovem studencu in mirno spal, saj si zaradi strahu pred njim še nihče ni drznil stopiti v ta gozd.
Na fantovem pasu je opazil lesket zlatih črk. Sklonil se je in prebral napis: »To je pogumni mož iz Cornwalla, ki je ubil velikana Cormorana.«
Velikan je nemudoma spoznal, kdo je Jack, in prevzelo ga je veselje ob misli, da ima zdaj fanta v svoji oblasti. Ni čakal, da bi se Jack prebudil, temveč si ga je zavihtel na ramo in ga odnesel skozi gozd.
Blunderbore je bil tako visok, da so mu med hojo ramena segala med veje. Te so Jacka šibale po obrazu in ga prebudile. Silno se je začudil, ko je ugotovil, da namesto mirnega počivanja ob studencu potuje med listjem na velikanovi rami. Vendar ga ni bilo strah. »Za zdaj ne morem ničesar storiti,« si je mislil, »a prej ali slej me bo velikan odložil in takrat se bom že domislil, kako naj ga ukanim.«
Velikan je brez postanka korakal naprej, dokler ni prišel do velikega, mračnega gradu, v katerem je prebival. Jacka je odnesel skozi vrata in po kamnitih stopnicah navzgor v sobo tik nad vhodom v grad. Tam se je ustavil in Jacka vrgel na kup slame v kotu.
»Nekaj časa kar leži tam, moj mali ubijalec velikanov,« je zavpil. »Imam brata, ki ni le večji in močnejši od mene, temveč je tudi pametnejši. Šel bom ponj, in ko pride, bova sklenila, kaj naj storiva s teboj.«
S temi besedami je velikan zapustil sobo, zaklenil vrata za seboj in se odpravil čez griče iskat brata. Komaj je Jack ostal sam, že je začel pregledovati sobo. Hitro je opazil, da je vhod v grad tik pod njegovim oknom. V kotu sobe je ležal velik zvitek vrvi. Jack jo je vzel in na enem koncu naredil zadrgo. Zanko je obesil skozi okno, drugi konec vrvi pa napeljal čez velik tram pod stropom. Nato je sedel in počakal, da se pošast vrne.
Ni mu bilo treba dolgo čakati. Kmalu je zaslišal velikana in njegovega brata, kako se pogovarjata in godrnjata, medtem ko prihajata po cesti h gradu. Počakal je, da sta dosegla vhod in stala tik pod oknom. Tedaj jima je čez obe glavi spustil zanko. Hitro je pograbil drugi konec vrvi, potegnil z vso močjo in oba velikana dvignil v zrak, kjer sta se zvijala in brcala. Nato se je nagnil skozi okno in jima z mečem odsekal glavi.
Potem se je hitro spustil po vrvi in vzel ključe, ki so viseli na Blunderborovem pasu. Z njimi v roki je znova vstopil v grad in ga prehodil od kraja do kraja ter odklepal vrata za vrati.
Odprl je velikanovo zakladnico in jo našel polno zlata, srebra, draguljev in vsakovrstnega dragocenega blaga, ukradenega prebivalcem dežele, saj je bil Blunderbore velik razbojnik.
V ječah pod gradom je bilo mnogo trgovcev, plemičev in lepih gospa, ki jih je velikan oropal in jih zadrževal v ujetništvu. Ko so izvedeli, da jih je Jack prišel osvobodit in da je ubil velikana, so bili tako veseli in hvaležni, da bi za fanta storili kar koli. Nekateri so jokali od sreče.
Jack jih je odpeljal v zakladnico in jim naročil, naj vzamejo toliko zakladov, kolikor jih lahko odnesejo. Z veseljem bi vse prepustili njemu, toda fant ni hotel ničesar.
»Ne, ne,« je rekel. »Bogastva ne potrebujem, in če bi bil obložen z zlatom in srebrom, ne bi mogel tako lahkotno potovati, kakor potujem zdaj.« Poslovil se je od hvaležnih ljudi in nadaljeval pot, njim pa prepustil, da sami najdejo pot domov, kar jim je brez dvoma vsem pravočasno uspelo.
Do večera naslednjega dne je bil Jack že daleč od Blunderborovega gozda. Prav ko se je spraševal, kje bo našel hrano in zavetje za noč, je prišel do velike hiše in zagledal svetlobo, ki je sijala iz oken.
Potrkal je in vrata mu je odprl dvoglavi velikan. Ta je bil prav tako hudoben kot Cormoran ali Blunderbore, a zelo prebrisan in zvit. Namesto da bi Jacka zgrabil in ga vrgel v ječo, ga je prijazno sprejel. Predenj je postavil vročo večerjo, se z njim prijazno pogovarjal in ga čez nekaj časa odpeljal v sobo, kjer bi lahko prespal.
A čeprav je bil velikan nasmejan in prijazen, mu Jack ni zaupal. Prepričan je bil, da pošast naklepa nekaj hudega, zato po njegovem odhodu ni legel v posteljo, temveč se je prikradel k vratom in prisluhnil. Slišal je velikana, kako koraka sem in tja, nato pa je zaslišal njegovo mrmranje: »Čeprav nocoj pri meni spiš, jutranje luči ne doživiš, saj še to noč življenje izgubiš.«
»Tega pa ne boš storil,« si je mislil Jack. »In če misliš, da bom zlezel v posteljo in mirno ležal, medtem ko me boš mlatil z gorjačo, se motiš.«
Začel je tipati po sobi in kmalu našel veliko poleno. Položil ga je v posteljo namesto sebe, ga prekril z odejo, sam pa se skril v kot sobe.
Nedolgo zatem je velikan odprl vrata. Čisto potiho se je prikradel k postelji in potipal, kje pod odejo leži poleno. Nato je vzel gorjačo in po njem udrihal tako silovito, da bi Jacka, če bi res ležal tam, gotovo zmlel v kašo. Potem se je pošast zadovoljna vrnila v svojo posteljo, zaspala in smrčala.
Kako zelo pa se je začudil naslednje jutro, ko se je Jack pojavil živahen in nasmejan, brez ene same modrice. »Si — si ponoči dobro spal?« je zajecljal velikan.
»O, kar dobro,« je odgovoril Jack, »le podgana je najbrž tekala po postelji, saj se mi je zdelo, da me je enkrat ali dvakrat z repom oplazila po obrazu. Zjutraj sem jo iskal, a je nisem našel, zato sem morda samo sanjal.«
Ko je velikan to slišal, se je prestrašil. Pomislil je, da mora biti Jack izjemen junak, če prenese takšne udarce in jih komaj občuti. Vendar ni rekel nič več in skupaj sta sedla k zajtrku. Velikan je pojedel in popil za deset mož, Jack pa je pod jopič skril usnjeno vrečo in vanjo tlačil hrano tako hitro, kakor mu jo je velikan postavljal na mizo. Pošast se ni mogla načuditi, da lahko tako majhen človek toliko poje.
Po zajtrku je Jack rekel: »Zdaj ti bom pokazal spretnost, in če je ne boš znal ponoviti, boš moral priznati, da sem boljši mož od tebe.«
Velikan je privolil. Jack je nato vzel nož in razparal usnjeno vrečo, skrito pod jopičem. »Tako!« je zavpil. »Znaš tudi ti storiti kaj takega?«
Velikan je osupnil, saj niti pomislil ni, da je Jack prerezal zgolj vrečo. Vendar se ni hotel pustiti prekositi. Pograbil je nož in si razparal trebuh — in tako je bilo po njem.
»Svet se je rešil še ene pošasti,« je rekel Jack. Velikana je pustil, kjer je ležal, in se odpravil novim dogodivščinam naproti. Ni še dolgo hodil po cesti, ko je srečal mladega princa, ki je jezdil brez vsakršnega spremstva. Ta princ je bil sin velikega britanskega kralja Arturja. Zapustil je očetov dvor in odjezdil v svet iskat lepo damo, ki jo je ugrabil čarovnik. Ta jo je s svojimi uroki zadrževal v ujetništvu, in princ se je sam odpravil na pot, da bi jo osvobodil.
Ko je Jack izvedel, kdo je princ in kakšne dogodivščine se je namenil, ga je prosil, ali bi ga smel spremljati kot služabnik. »Vse lepo in prav,« je rekel princ, »a če boš potoval z menoj, se ti bo res slabo godilo. Ves denar sem razdal in ne vem, kje bi dobil hrano ali vsaj prenočišče.«
»Naj vas to ne skrbi,« je rekel Jack. »Nedaleč od tod živi triglavi velikan. Ima imeniten grad in dobro založeno shrambo. Le prepustite zadevo meni in uredil bom, da boste tam lahko prenočili, povrhu pa si privoščili še izvrstno pojedino.«
Princ sprva nikakor ni hotel pristati na to. Podvig se mu je zdel zelo nevaren, a nazadnje ga je Jack prepričal. Zajahal je prinčevega konja in se odpravil h gradu, princ pa ga je ostal čakat ob cesti.
Jack je urno jezdil in kmalu dosegel grad. Pogumno je potrkal na vrata. »Kdo je tam?« je od znotraj zavpil velikan.
»Tvoj bratranec Jack, ki ti prinaša novice,« je odgovoril Jack. Velikan je odprl vrata in pogledal ven. »No, bratranec Jack, kakšne novice mi prinašaš?«
Novica je bila ta, da namerava princ s svojim spremstvom prenočiti v velikanovem gradu in da so tako rekoč že pred vrati. Če je velikan pameten, naj pobegne in prepusti grad princu. Ko bo princ s spremstvom odšel, se bo lahko varno vrnil.
A ne, pošasti ni bilo tako lahko pregnati iz njenega gradu. »Petsto mož lahko odbijem!« je zavpil. »Zakaj bi se torej bal?«
»Da, toda ali lahko odbiješ dva tisoč mož?« je vprašal Jack. »Dva tisoč! Si rekel dva tisoč?« To pa je bilo nekaj drugega. Če prihaja princ z dva tisoč možmi za seboj, je res skrajni čas, da se velikan skrije. Jacku je povedal, kje je skrivna soba, vsa narejena iz železa. Tam se bo skril, fanta pa je prosil, naj ga zaklene vanjo in naj pod nobenim pogojem ne odklene vrat, dokler princ ne odide.
Jack je obljubil. Velikana je zaklenil v skrivno sobo, nato pa odjezdil po svojega gospodarja. Tisto noč sta se Jack in princ veselo gostila z dobrotami iz pošastine shrambe. Naslednje jutro je princ odjezdil naprej, Jack pa je odklenil vrata skrivne sobe in izpustil velikana.
»Kakšen tepec sem!« je vzkliknila pošast, brž ko je bila na prostosti. »Tamle v kotu ležijo kapa nevidnosti, plašč modrosti in meč ostrine. Ko bi se le spomnil nadeti si kapo, me nihče ne bi mogel videti in ne bi se mi bilo treba skrivati v skrivni sobi.«
»Res je,« je odgovoril Jack. »A po moji zaslugi si vendarle na varnem in mislim, da si zaslužim nagrado.« Nato je velikana prosil, naj mu podari kapo, plašč in meč, in velikan je iz hvaležnosti prav rad privolil. »Tebi bodo tako ali tako bolj koristili kot meni,« je rekel, »saj ravno takrat, ko jih najbolj potrebujem, povsem pozabim nanje.«
Jack je vzel kapo, plašč in meč ter se velikanu zahvalil za darove. Takoj se je odpravil za princem, ki ga je čakal nedaleč stran.
Nadaljevala sta pot, dokler nista prišla do drugega gradu, kjer sta upala dobiti prenočišče. Prijazno so ju sprejeli in povabili k pojedini s plemenito gospo, ki je bila gospodarica gradu. Ta gospa je bila prav tista, ki jo je princ iskal, vendar je ni prepoznal, pa tudi ona ni prepoznala njega zaradi uroka, ki jo je držal v svoji oblasti.
Ko so gospa, princ in Jack skupaj pojedli, je gospa izvlekla dragocen robec in si z njim obrisala ustnice. »Jutri,« je rekla, »mi bosta povedala, komu sem ponoči dala ta robec. Če mi tega ne bosta znala povedati, tega gradu ne bosta nikoli zapustila živa.«
Princa so te besede silno zaskrbele, Jack pa mu je rekel, naj se ne boji. Počakal je, da ju je gospa zapustila, nato pa si je nadel kapo nevidnosti in ji sledil. Zaradi kape ga ni mogla videti. Ni vedela, da ji kdo sledi, in odšla je iz gradu po stezi do gozdnega roba. Tam jo je pričakal visok, temen mož. Zaradi plašča modrosti, ki ga je nosil, je Jack takoj vedel, da je ta mož čarovnik.
Gospa mu je izročila robec. »Dobro,« je rekel čarovnik. »Jutri bom tega drznega princa spremenil v še en marmornat kip, ki bo krasil mojo dvorano. Njegovega služabnika pa bom spremenil v psa, lisico ali jelena, kakor se mi bo pač zahotelo.«
»Tega pa ne boš storil!« je zavpil Jack. Izvlekel je meč ostrine in čarovniku z enim zamahom odsekal glavo. Gospa je bila v hipu rešena uroka in ozrla se je naokrog kakor nekdo, ki se prebuja iz sanj. Ni vedela, kje je in kako je prišla tja.
Jack jo je odpeljal nazaj v grad, in brž ko sta se s princem srečala, sta drug drugega prepoznala. Prevzelo ju je veselje in princ se je pripravil, da jo odpelje na očetov dvor. Želel je, da gre Jack z njim, in mu obljubil, da bo postal velik plemič, če privoli. Toda ubijalec velikanov ni hotel pristati na to. V domači deželi ga je čakalo še delo in Walesa ne bo zapustil, dokler ga povsem ne osvobodi nadloge velikanov.
Princ in njegova dama sta se zato poslovila od Jacka in skupaj odjezdila, Jack pa se je odpravil novim dogodivščinam naproti. Prepotoval je že dolgo pot in spuščala se je noč, ko je iz bližnjega gozda zaslišal bridke krike. Trenutek zatem je iz gozda prilomastil velikan, ki je za seboj vlekel viteza in gospo. Ujel ju je in ju peljal v svojo votlino.
Jack si je brez trenutka obotavljanja nadel kapo nevidnosti, stekel čisto k velikanu in ga pokončal z enim samim zamahom meča. Gospa in vitez sta osupnila. Nikogar nista videla, pa vendar se je velikan nenadoma zgrudil mrtev, presekan z mečem. Še bolj sta se začudila, ko je Jack snel kapo in se pojavil pred njima. Nato jima je pojasnil, kdo je in kako mu je uspelo na tako nenavaden način ubiti velikana.
»To je čudovita zgodba,« je rekel vitez, »in rešili ste naju pred usodo, hujšo od smrti.« Z gospo sta nato Jacka prosila, naj se z njima vrne v njun grad. Privolil je, saj je bil utrujen od vseh svojih dogodivščin.
Ko so prispeli na grad, so pripravili veliko pojedino in Jacku izkazovali najvišje časti. Sedel je na vitezovi desnici in zanj ni bilo nič predobro, kar je grad premogel.
Toda ko so bili še sredi pojedine, je v silni naglici prispel sel. Obraz je imel bled in zobje so mu šklepetali od strahu.
»Kaj je?« je vzkliknil vitez. »Kakšne novice prinašaš?« »Velikan! Veliki velikan Thundel!« je zavpil sel. »Slišal je, da je tukaj Jack Ubijalec velikanov, in prihaja uničit grad in vse, ki so v njem.«
Ob tej novici je pobledel celo vitez, toda Jack mu je rekel, naj se ne boji. »Nameraval sem se odpraviti iskat tega velikana,« je rekel, »zdaj pa mi je prihranil trud.« Nato je viteza prosil, naj pokliče ducat krepkih delavcev. Ko so prišli, jih je Jack takoj odpeljal do mostu čez grajski jarek in jim naročil, naj lesene nosilce skoraj povsem prežagajo, tako da bodo zdržali le težo enega človeka ali največ dveh. Ta most je bil edina pot v grad, in če ga velikan ne bi prečkal, ne bi mogel priti do njega.
Medtem ko so delavci še opravljali svojo nalogo, se je prikazal velikan, ki je z dolgimi koraki prihajal proti gradu. Jack si je nemudoma nadel kapo nevidnosti in mu pohitel naproti.
Velikan Jacka zaradi kape nevidnosti ni mogel videti, imel pa je zelo izostren voh. Nenadoma se je ustavil in začel vohljati naokrog kakor lovski pes.
»Fi, faj, fo, fam! Angleško kri zavoham! Naj živ bo ali mrtev že, iz zmletih kosti kruh spečem si!« je zavpil velikan. »Vse lepo in prav,« je rekel Jack, »a najprej ga boš moral ujeti.« Nato je skakal sem in tja z ene velikanove strani na drugo. »Tukaj! Tukaj sem!« je klical. »Tu, na tvoji desni! Ne, na levi. Hitro, hitro, če me hočeš ujeti!«
Velikan se je obračal zdaj na eno, zdaj na drugo stran in grabil v prazno, saj je bil Jack neviden in se je zlahka izmikal njegovim rokam.
Nazadnje se je fant naveličal igre. Ozrl se je in videl, da so delavci končali nalogo in se umaknili v grad. Tedaj je snel kapo nevidnosti in stekel čez most. »No, ti velikan mlinar, ki bi rad zmlel moje kosti, ujemi me, če me moreš!« je zavpil.
Velikan je zarjovel od jeze in stekel za Jackom, ki je že dosegel drugo stran. Nosilci so zdržali, dokler velikan ni prišel na sredino mostu. Tedaj so se z glasnim pokom vdali pod njim in padel je v jarek ter utonil. Tako je Jack vitezu in njegovi gospe že drugič rešil življenje, deželo pa osvobodil še enega velikana.
Zdaj pa je prišla najnevarnejša od vseh Jackovih dogodivščin. Gargantua je bil največji in najmogočnejši med vsemi velikani, povrhu pa še čarovnik. Živel je na vrhu visoke gore, od koder je prihajal ropat, krast in odnašat ujetnike. Te je spreminjal v razne divje živali in jih zadrževal v vrtovih, ki so obdajali njegovo palačo. Tako je ugrabil tudi edino hčer nekega vojvode in jo spremenil v srno.
Vojvoda je bil zaradi izgube hčere obupan, saj je bila njegov edini otrok in jo je neizmerno ljubil. Obljubil je, da jo bo tisti, ki mu jo pripelje nazaj, dobil za ženo. Ker je bila zelo lepa, so jo šli iskat številni princi in pogumni junaki, vendar se ni vrnil niti eden od njih.
Jack je sklenil poiskati in pokončati prav tega nevarnega velikana. Opasal si je meč ostrine, vzel kapo nevidnosti in plašč modrosti ter se odpravil na pot.
Potoval je in potoval, dokler ni prišel do visoke skalnate gore. Prav na njenem vrhu je zagledal velik grad, obdan z vrtovi in visokim obzidjem.
Jack se je vzpenjal vse više, čez skale in robidovje, štore in kamenje, dokler ni prišel do vrtnih vrat. Tam se je ustavil in si nadel kapo nevidnosti, nato pa si drznil vstopiti.
Takoj je videl, da so vrtovi prekrasni. Številne živali so se pasle na travi ali počivale v senci. Ena od njih, lepa srna, je dvignila glavo in pogledala proti njemu. Nato je nemudoma prišla k njemu, položila glavo na njegovo roko in ga pogledala z velikimi temnimi očmi.
Jacka je to zelo zaskrbelo. Bal se je, da nad tem krajem leži kakšen urok, zaradi katerega je viden kljub kapi nevidnosti. Vendar se nobena druga žival ni zmenila zanj, zato je upal, da ga lahko vidi samo srna.
Šel je naprej skozi vrtove, dokler ni prišel do grajskih vrat. Ob njih je visel zlat rog, na katerem so bile zapisane te besede:
»Kdor v ta rog bo zatrobil, velikana bo pogubil, zlomil črni bo urok, srečo vrnil vsem naokrog.« Jack je dvignil rog k ustnicam in zatrobil tako glasno in jasno, da je ves grad odmeval.
V hipu se je na vrtu zgodila čudežna sprememba. Srna ob njem se je spremenila v dekle, lepše od vseh, o katerih je Jack kdaj sanjal. Divje živali so postale princi, junaki in plemenite gospe.
Sam grad pa se je sesul v ruševine. Pod njim se je razprl velik prepad in grad se je s strašnim hruščem zrušil vanj ter s seboj potegnil velikana. Nato so se tla zaprla nad ruševinami in niti en sam kamen ni ostal, da bi zaznamoval kraj, kjer je nekoč stal grad.
Tako se je končala zadnja Jackova pustolovščina in tako je poginil zadnji in najhudobnejši izmed vseh njegovih orjaških sovražnikov. Odtlej je v deželi vladal mir. Jack se je poročil s prelepo mladenko, ki mu je sledila v podobi srne, in ker je bila vojvodova hči, je ubogi fant postal zelo bogat in vpliven. Z vojvodovo hčerjo sta se srčno ljubila in tako sta vse življenje živela v veliki sreči, spoštovali pa so ju vsi okoli njiju.
Izvirnik
There was once a stout Cornish lad named Jack who had trained himself in every sort of sport. He could wrestle and throw and swim better than any other lad in the country; indeed there were few, even among the men, who could equal him in strength and skill.
At that time there lived, on an island just off the coast of Cornwall, a giant named Cormoran. This giant was the pest of the whole land. He was twenty feet high, and as broad as any three men. People were so afraid of him that when he waded over from his island to the mainland they all ran and hid in their houses, and then he carried off their flocks and herds as he chose, and asked no leave of anyone. Seven sheep he ate at a meal, and three oxen were not too much for him. There was much complaining through the land because of the way he wasted it.
Now Jack was as bold as he was strong, and he made up his mind to free the people from this scourge of a giant. He waited for a dark night when there was no moon, and then he swam from the mainland over to the island. The waves were high and the water cold, but Jack paid no heed to that. He took with him a pick, a shovel, an ax, and a horn.
As soon as he landed on the island he set to work to dig a pit in front of the giant’s cave—a pit both wide and deep. The giant was asleep, for Jack could hear him snoring in his cave, and so he knew nothing of what was being done by the brave lad.
Toward morning the pit was finished. Then Jack covered it over with branches, and scattered earth and stones over it so that no one could have told it was any different from the ground around it. After that he took his horn and blew a blast both loud and long.
The sound awakened the giant from his sleep, and he sprang to his feet and came stumbling out from his cave. He glared about him and presently his eyes fell upon Jack.
“Miserable dwarf!” he cried. “Is it you who has dared to disturb my sleep? Wait but a moment until I have my hands on you, and I will punish you as you deserve!”
Jack laughed aloud. “I fear you not!” he cried. “And as for punishing me, you will find that easier said than done.”
The giant gave a cry of rage and sprang toward Jack, but no sooner did he step upon the branches that covered the pit than they gave way beneath him, and he fell down into the pit and broke his neck. There he lay without sound or motion, and seeing that he was dead Jack left him where he lay and swam back to the mainland.
When the people learned that the giant was dead and would trouble them no more they went wild with joy. Jack was hailed as a hero and a belt was given him on which were letters of gold that read—
“This is the gallant Cornishman Who killed the giant Cormoran.”
And now the lad was no longer called plain Jack, but Jack-the-Giant-Killer.
Now many miles away in a deep forest there lived still another giant named Blunderbore. This giant was full as strong and great as Cormoran had ever been.
When Blunderbore heard how the Cornish lad had killed Cormoran, and that now he was called “Jack-the-Giant-Killer” he was filled with rage. He swore he would find Jack and destroy him even as Cormoran had been destroyed.
But Jack was no whit afraid. He had made up his mind to altogether free the land from giants; and he wished nothing better than to try his wits with Blunderbore. So one day he took a stout oak in his hand and set out in search of the giant.
He walked along and walked along, and after awhile he came to a forest, and there a cool spring bubbled up in the shade of the trees.
Jack was hungry and thirsty, and tired too, so he sat him down by the spring and ate the bread and cheese he carried, and drank of the fresh water, and then he stretched himself out and went fast asleep.
He had not been long asleep when the giant Blunderbore came by that way. Blunderbore was very much surprised to see a youth lying there and sleeping quietly beside his fountain, for none ever before had dared to venture here into this forest for fear of him.
He saw a glitter of golden letters upon a belt the lad wore, and stooping he read the words—
“This is the gallant Cornishman Who slew the giant Cormoran.”
At once the giant knew who Jack was, and he was filled with joy at the thought that now he had the lad in his power. He did not wait for Jack to waken, but swung him up on his shoulder, and made off with him through the forest.
Now Blunderbore was so tall that his shoulders were up among the branches as he strode along, and the boughs whipped Jack in the face and woke him from his sleep. He was greatly amazed to find himself journeying along among the leaves on the giant’s shoulder instead of resting quietly beside the fountain. However, he was not afraid. “I can do nothing at present,” thought he to himself, “but after awhile the giant will put me down, and then my wits will soon teach me a way to get the better of him.”
The giant strode along without stop or stay until at last he came to a great gloomy castle and, this was where he lived. He carried Jack in through the door into the castle and up a flight of stone steps to a room that was directly over the outer doorway. Here he came to a halt and threw Jack down upon a heap of straw in the corner.
“Lie there for awhile, my little giant-killer,” cried he. “I have a brother who is not only bigger and stronger than I am, but has more wits as well. I will go off and fetch him, and after he gets here then we will decide what to do with you.”
So saying the giant left the room, and after locking the door behind him he made off across the hills in search of his brother.
No sooner was Jack left alone than he began to examine the room. He quickly noticed that the door of the castle was directly under his window. In one corner of the room lay a great coil of rope. Jack took up this rope and made a slip noose in one end of it. This noose he hung from the window. The other end he passed over a great beam overhead. Then he sat down and waited for the monster to return.
He did not have long to wait. Soon he heard the giant and his brother talking and grumbling together as they came up the road to the castle. He waited until they had reached the doorway and were directly under the window. Then he dropped the slip noose over both their heads. Quickly snatching up the other end of the rope he pulled with all his might and drew the two giants up into the air, struggling and kicking. He then leaned from the window and with his sword he cut off both their heads.
It did not take him long after that to slide down the rope and get the keys that hung from Blunderbore’s belt. With these in his hand he reëntered the castle and went all through it, unlocking door after door.
He opened the giant’s treasure-chamber and found it full of gold and silver and jewels and all sorts of precious stuffs that had been stolen from the people of the land, for Blunderbore was a great robber.
In the dungeons under the castle were many merchants and noblemen and fair ladies whom the giant had robbed and kept as prisoners.
When these people found that Jack had come to free them, and that he had killed the giant, they were so glad and grateful that there was nothing they would not have done for the lad. Some of them wept for joy.
Jack led them to the treasure-chamber and bade them take all they could carry of the treasures that were there. They would gladly have left it all for him, but the lad would have none of it.
“No, no,” he said. “I have no need of riches, and if I were loaded down with gold and silver I could not travel about so lightly as I do.”
He bade the grateful people good-by and journeyed on his way, leaving them to find their own way home, which, no doubt they all did in good time.
By evening of the next day Jack was well away from Blunderbore’s forest, and just as he was wondering where he should find food and shelter for the night he came to a great house and saw a light shining from the windows.
He knocked, and the door was opened to him by a giant with two heads. This giant was quite as wicked as either Cormoran or Blunderbore, but he was very sly and cunning. Instead of seizing Jack and throwing him into a dungeon he made him welcome. He set a hot supper before him, and talked with him pleasantly, and after awhile he showed the lad to a room where he could sleep.
But smiling and pleasant though the giant was Jack did not trust him. He felt sure the monster was planning some mischief, so instead of going to bed after the giant left him, he stole to the door of the room and listened. He heard the giant striding up and down, and presently he heard him mutter to himself,
“Though here with me you lodge to-night, You shall not see the morning light, Because I mean to kill you quite.”
“That you shall not,” thought Jack to himself. “And if you think I am going to get into bed and lie there while you beat me with a cudgel you are mistaken.”
He began to feel about the room, and presently he found a great billet of wood. This he laid in the bed in his place, and drew the coverlet over it, and then he hid in a corner of the room.
Not long afterward the giant opened the door. He crept over to the bed very quietly and felt where the billet of wood was lying under the covers. Then he took his club and beat it until, if Jack had been lying there, he would certainly have been pounded to a jelly. After that the monster went back to his own bed well satisfied, and slept and snored.
But what was his astonishment the next morning when Jack appeared brisk and smiling and without so much as even a bruise upon him.
“Did—did you sleep well last night?” stammered the giant.
“Oh, well enough,” answered Jack, “but a rat must have run over the bed, for I thought I felt him whisk his tail in my face once or twice. I looked for him this morning, but I could not find him, so perhaps I dreamed it.”
When the giant heard this he was frightened. He thought Jack must be a wonderful hero to stand such blows as his and scarcely feel them. However, he said no more, and the two sat down to breakfast together. The giant ate and drank as much as ten men, but Jack had hidden a leather bag under his doublet and he kept slipping the food into this as fast as the giant set it before him. The monster wondered and wondered that such a small man could eat so much.
After breakfast Jack said, “Now I will show you a trick, and if you cannot do the same thing then you will have to own that I am the better fellow of us two.”
To this the giant agreed. Jack then took a knife and ripped open the leather bag that was hidden under his doublet.
“There!” he cried. “Can you do the like?”
The giant was amazed, for he never guessed that it was only a bag that Jack had cut open. However, he was not to be outdone. Catching up a knife he ripped himself open, and that was the end of him.
“The world is well rid of another monster,” said Jack, and leaving the giant where he lay he set out in search of further adventures.
He had not gone far along the road when he met a young prince riding along without any attendants to follow him. This Prince was the son of the great King Arthur of Britain, and he had left his father’s court and ridden out into the world in search of a lovely lady who had been carried off by a magician. This magician held her prisoner by his enchantments and it was to free her that the Prince had ridden forth alone.
When Jack learned who the Prince was, and the adventure he was bent on, he begged to be allowed to go along as an attendant.
“That is all very well,” said the Prince, “but if you travel with me you will fare hard indeed. I have given away all my money, and I do not know where to find food or even a place to sleep.”
“Do not let that trouble you,” said Jack. “Not far from here lives a three-headed giant. He has a fine castle and a well-stocked larder. Only leave the matter to me and I will arrange it so that you can spend the night there and have a fine feast beside.”
At first the Prince was very unwilling to agree to this. The adventure seemed to him a very dangerous one, but in the end Jack persuaded him to agree to it, and mounting on the Prince’s horse he set out for the castle, leaving the Prince to await him by the wayside.
Jack rode briskly along and it did not take him long to reach the castle. He knocked boldly at the door.
“Who is there?” called the giant from within.
“It is your Cousin Jack, and I bring you news,” answered Jack.
The giant opened the door and looked out. “Well, Cousin Jack, and what is the news you bring?”
Why, the news was that a Prince and his company intended to spend the night in the giant’s castle, and were even then almost at the door. If the giant were wise he would flee away and leave the castle to the Prince. Then after the Prince and his company had gone the giant might safely return again.
But no, the monster was not so easily to be scared out of his castle. “I can drive back five hundred men,” cried he, “so why should I be afraid?”
“Yes, but can you drive back two thousand?” asked Jack.
“Two thousand! Two thousand, did you say?” Why that was a different matter, and if the Prince were coming with two thousand men at his back, then it was indeed time for the giant to hide away. He then told Jack where there was a secret chamber all made of iron. There he would hide, and he begged the lad to lock him in, and not, for any cause to unlock the door until the Prince had gone.
This Jack promised. He locked the giant in the secret chamber, and then he rode back to fetch his master.
That night Jack and the Prince feasted right merrily on the good things from the monster’s larder, and the next morning the Prince rode on his way and Jack unlocked the chamber door and let the giant out.
“What a blockhead I am!” cried the monster as soon as he was free. “Yonder in the corner lie the cap of darkness, the cloak of wisdom, and the sword of sharpness. If I had only thought of putting on the cap no one could have seen me, and I would not have had to hide in the secret chamber.”
“That is true,” answered Jack. “But thanks to me you are safe at any rate, and I think I should be rewarded.”
He then asked the giant to give him the cap, the cloak, and the sword, and out of gratitude the giant agreed right gladly. “They will be of more use to you than to me at any rate,” said the giant, “for when I need them most is the time when I forget all about them.”
Jack took the cap, the cloak, and the sword and thanked the giant for the gifts, and at once set out after the Prince, whom he found waiting for him not far away.
They now journeyed on until they came to another castle where they hoped to spend the night. Here they were made welcome, and bidden to feast with the noble lady who was the mistress there. This lady was, indeed, the very one of whom the Prince was in search, but he did not know her, and she did not know him because of the spell of enchantment that was upon her.
After the lady, the Prince, and Jack had feasted together the lady drew out a precious handkerchief and passed it over her lips. “To-morrow,” said she, “you shall tell me to whom I have given this handkerchief in the night. If you cannot tell me this, you shall never leave this castle alive.”
The Prince was greatly troubled when he heard these words, but Jack bade him have no fear. He waited until the lady left them, and then he put the cap of darkness on his head and followed her, and she could not see him because of the cap. She did not know that anyone followed her, and she went out from the castle and along a path to the edge of a wood. There she was met by a tall dark man, and because of the cloak of wisdom which he wore, Jack knew this man at once as a magician.
The lady gave him the handkerchief. “That is well,” said the magician. “To-morrow I will change this bold Prince into another marble statue to adorn my hall. As to his servant I will change him into a dog, a fox, or a deer as the fancy strikes me.”
“That you shall not!” cried Jack, and drawing the sword of sharpness he struck the magician’s head from his shoulders with one blow.
At once the lady was freed from the enchantment, and she looked about her like one wakening from a dream. She did not know where she was nor how she came there.
Jack led her back to the castle and no sooner did the Prince and she meet than they knew each other. They were filled with joy, and the Prince made ready to take her back with him to his father’s court. He wished Jack to come with him, and promised that if he would he should be made a great nobleman, but to this the giant-killer would not consent. He still had work to do in his own country, and he would never leave Wales until it was freed entirely from the pest of giants.
So the Prince and his lady bade Jack farewell, and rode away together, while Jack set out in search of further adventures.
He had traveled a long distance, and night was falling when he heard doleful cries sounding from a wood near by. A moment later a giant came breaking out from the wood dragging a knight and a lady with him. He had captured them and was taking them with him to his cave.
Without a moment’s pause, Jack put on his cap of darkness, and running up close to the giant he cut him down with one single blow of his sword. The lady and the knight were amazed. They had seen no one, and yet the giant had suddenly fallen dead, cleft through with a sword. They were still more amazed when Jack lifted the cap from his head and appeared before them. He then explained to them who he was, and how he had been able to kill the giant so strangely.
“This is a wonderful story,” said the knight, “and you have saved us from worse than death.” He and his lady then begged Jack to come back with them to their castle, and to this he agreed, for he was weary with all his adventures.
When they reached the castle, a great feast was made ready, and Jack was treated with the greatest honor. He sat at the knight’s right hand, and all the best in the castle was none too good for him.
But while they were still in the midst of their feasting, a messenger arrived in great haste. His face was pale, and his teeth chattered with fear.
“What is it?” cried the knight. “What is the news you bring?”
“The giant! The great giant Thundel!” cried the messenger. “He has heard that Jack-the-Giant-Killer is here, and he is coming to destroy this castle and all who are in it.”
Even the knight turned pale at this news, but Jack bade him have no fear. “I had intended to set out in search of this giant,” said he, “but now he has saved me the trouble.” He then asked the knight to send for a dozen stout workmen. This was done and Jack at once led the workmen out to the bridge that crossed the moat, and bade them cut the timbers almost through so that they would only bear the weight of one man, or of two at most. This bridge was the only way of entrance, and unless the giant crossed it he could not get to the castle.
While the workmen were still busy over their task, the giant appeared, striding along toward the castle. At once Jack slipped on his cap of darkness and hurried out to meet him.
The giant could not see Jack because of his cap of darkness, but his sense of smell was very keen. He stopped short, and began to snuff about him like a hound.
“Fee, fi, fo, fum! I smell the blood of an Englishman; Be he alive or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread!”
cried the giant.
“That is all very well,” said Jack, “but first you will have to catch him.” He then jumped about from one side of the giant to the other. “Here! Here I am!” he cried. “Here to the right of you! No, to the left. Quick, quick, if you would catch me.”
The giant turned first one way and then the other, clutching at the empty air, for Jack was invisible and so was easily able to keep out of his reach.
At last the lad tired of the game. He looked behind him and saw that the workmen had finished their task and had retreated to the castle. He then caught the cap of darkness from his head and ran across the bridge. “Now, you miller-giant, who would grind my bones, catch me if you can,” he cried.
The giant gave a bellow of rage and ran after Jack, who had already reached the other side. The timbers held till the giant was in the middle of the bridge; then, with a great crash, they gave way beneath him, and down he fell into the moat and was drowned. So Jack saved the lives of the knight and his lady for the second time, and freed the land of still another giant.
But now came the most dangerous of all of Jack’s adventures.
Gargantua was the greatest and most powerful of all the giants, and he was a magician as well. He lived on the top of a high mountain, and from there he would come down to rob and steal and carry off prisoners. These prisoners he changed into various sorts of wild animals, and he kept them in the gardens that surrounded his palace. He had carried off a duke’s only daughter in this way, and had changed her into a doe.
The duke had been in despair over the loss of his daughter for she was his only child and he loved her dearly. He promised that anyone who brought her back to him should have her for his bride, and because she was very beautiful many princes and brave heroes had gone in search of her, but of them all none had ever returned.
It was this dangerous giant that Jack determined to seek out and destroy.
He girded the sword of sharpness at his side and took his cap of darkness and his cloak of wisdom and set out.
He journeyed on and journeyed on, and after awhile he came to a high and rocky mountain, and at the very top of it he could see a great castle with gardens around it and high walls.
Jack climbed up and up over rock and brier, stump and stone, until he came to the gate of the garden. There he stopped to put the cap of darkness on his head; then he ventured in.
The gardens were very fine, as he saw at once, and many animals were grazing on the grass, or resting in the shadows. One of them, a beautiful doe, raised its head and looked toward him, then at once came over to him and rested its head on his arm, and looked up at him with its great dark eyes.
Jack was very much troubled at this. He feared there was some enchantment about the place that made him visible in spite of his cap of darkness. However, none of the other animals paid any attention to him, so he hoped it was only the doe that could see him.
He went on through the gardens until he came to the door of the castle, and there hanging beside it was a golden horn, and on the horn were these words:
“Whoever doth this trumpet blow Shall soon the giant overthrow, And break the black enchantment straight, So all shall be in happy state.”
Jack raised the horn to his lips and blew a blast so loud and clear that the castle echoed with it.
At once a wonderful change came over the garden. The doe beside him changed into a maiden more beautiful than any Jack had ever dreamed of. The wild animals became princes and heroes and noble ladies.
As for the castle itself, it fell into ruins; a great chasm yawned under it, and into this chasm it crumbled with a dreadful noise, carrying the giant with it. Then the ground closed over the ruins and not a single stone was left to mark the place where the castle had stood.
So ended the last of Jack’s adventures, and so perished the last and most wicked of all his giant foes. From then on the land was at peace.
Jack was married to the beautiful maiden who had followed him as a doe, and as she was the duke’s daughter the poor lad became very rich and powerful. He and the duke’s daughter loved each other dearly, and so they lived in great happiness all their lives, honored by everyone about them.
