Early in the morning Jack furnished his master with a fresh supply of
gold and silver, and then sent him three miles forward on his journey,
at which time the prince was pretty well out of the smell of the
giant. Jack then returned, and let the giant out of the vault, who
asked what he should give him for keeping the castle from destruction.
"Why," quoth Jack, "I want nothing but the old coat and cap, together
with the old rusty sword and slippers which are at your bed's head."
Quoth the giant: "You know not what you ask; they are the most
precious things I have. The coat will keep you invisible, the cap will
tell you all you want to know, the sword cuts asunder whatever you
strike, and the shoes are of extraordinary swiftness. But you have
been very serviceable to me, therefore take them with all my heart."
Jack thanked his uncle, and then went off with them. He soon overtook
his master and they quickly arrived at the house of the lady the
prince sought, who, finding the prince to be a suitor, prepared a
splendid banquet for him. After the repast was concluded, she told him
she had a task for him. She wiped his mouth with a handkerchief,
saying: "You must show me that handkerchief to-morrow morning, or else
you will lose your head." With that she put it in her bosom. The
prince went to bed in great sorrow, but Jack's cap of knowledge
informed him how it was to be obtained. In the middle of the night she
called upon her familiar spirit to carry her to Lucifer. But Jack put
on his coat of darkness and his shoes of swiftness, and was there as
soon as she was. When she entered the place of the Old One, she gave
the handkerchief to old Lucifer, who laid it upon a shelf, whence Jack
took it and brought it to his master, who showed it to the lady next
day, and so saved his life. On that day, she gave the prince a kiss
and told him he must show her the lips to-morrow morning that she
kissed last night, or lose his head.