Jack decided he would not worry his mother, but he would find a way to fool the Giant. He got some paint to color his skin brown and had a queer suit of clothes made so that no one could discover who he was. Without telling anyone, he got up early one morning and climbed up the beanstalk.
It was dark and cold before he reached the Giant’s house. There at the front door was the Giant’s wife; but she did not know Jack in his queer clothes.
“Good evening, Lady,” said Jack, very politely. “Will you let me in for a night’s rest? I am very tired and hungry.”
But the woman shook her head. “I can’t let anyone in. One night I let in a poor boy like yourself, and he stole my husband’s favorite treasure. My husband is a cruel Giant, and since his hen was stolen he has been worse than ever.”
“Oh, please let me come in just for to-night. If you don’t I shall have to lie here on the ground and die.”
“Well, I can’t let you do that. But mind, I shall have to hide you in the lumber-closet, or my husband may find you and eat you up.”
Of course, Jack was very glad to agree to do this. As soon as he was safely hidden away he heard a tremendous noise, and knew that the Giant had come home. The big fellow walked so heavily that he shook the whole house.
“Fe, fi, fo, fum,
I smell the blood of an Englishman!” he shouted.
“Oh, no, my dear,” she answered. “It is an old piece of meat that a crow left on the roof.”
“All right,” said the Giant. “Now, hurry and get my supper.” And with that he tried to strike his poor wife. Jack could see from where he was hiding that the Giant was even uglier than before.