Gobborn told Jack to keep a good heart, and they would come off all
right.

When the king had come back Gobborn told him he had been unable to
complete the job for lack of a tool left at home, and he should like to
send Jack after it.

"No, no," said the king, "cannot one of the men do the errand?"

"No, they could not make themselves understood," said the Seer, "but
Jack could do the errand."

"You and your son are to stop here. But how will it do if I send my own
son?"

"That will do."

So Gobborn sent by him a message to Jack's wife. "Give him _Crooked and
Straight_!"

Now there was a little hole in the wall rather high up, and Jack's wife
tried to reach up into a chest there after "crooked and straight," but
at last she asked the king's son to help her, because his arms were
longest.

But when he was leaning over the chest she caught him by the two heels,
and threw him into the chest, and fastened it down. So there he was,
both "crooked and straight!"

Then he begged for pen and ink, which she brought him, but he was not