howassofondofhimthattheotherservantsgrewjealousandplottedtogetridofhim.
NowthekinghadadaughterwhohadbeenkidnappedinherinfancybythesorcererBody-without-Soul,andnoonehadheardofhersince.TheservantswenttothekingclaimingJackhadboastedtoeverybodyhewouldfreeher.Thekingsentforhim.Jackwasamazedandsaidthiswasthefirsthehadevenheardofthekingsdaughter.Butthefactthatanyonehaddaredmakelightoftheepisodeconcerninghisdaughtersoinfuriatedthekingthathesaid,"Eitheryoufreeher,orIllhaveyoubeheaded."
Sincetherewasnocalmingthekingnow,Jackaskedforarustyswordtheykepthangingonthewall,saddledRondello,androdeoff.Crossingaforest,hesawalionmotioninghimtostop.Althoughabituneasy,Jackdislikedtheideaofrunningaway,sohedismountedandaskedwhatthelionwanted.
"Jack,"saidthelion,"asyoucansee,therearefourofushere:myself,adog,aneagle,andanant.Wehaveadeaddonkeytoparcelamongus.Sinceyouhaveasword,carvetheanimalandgiveuseachaportion."Jackcutoffthedonkeysheadandgaveittotheant."Hereyouare.Thiswillmakeyouanicehomeandsupplyyouwithallthefoodyoulleverwant."Nexthecutoffthehoofsandgavethemtothedog."Heressomethingtognawonaslongasyoulike."Hecutouttheentrailsandgavethemtotheeagle."Thisisyourfood,whichyoucancarrytothetreetopswhereyouperch."Alltheresthegavetothelion,whichasthebiggestofthefourdeservedthelargestportion.Hegotbackonhishorseandstartedoff,onlytohearhisnamecalled."Dearme,"hethought,"Imusthavemadesomemistakeindividingtheparts."Butthelionsaidtohim,"Youdidusabigfavorandyouwereveryfair.Asonegooddeeddeservesanother,Imgivingyouoneofmyclawswhichwillturnyouintothefiercestlionintheworldwhenyouwearit."Thedogsaid,"Hereisoneofmywhiskers,whichwillturnyouintothefastestdogonearth,wheneveryouplaceitunderyournose."Theeaglesaid,"Hereisafeatherfrommywingswhichcanchangeyouintothebiggestandstrongesteagleinthesky."Theantsaid,"Imgivingyouoneofmytinylegs.Putitonandyouwillbecomeanantsosmallthatnoonecanseeyou,evenwithamagnifyingglass."
Jacktookhispresents,thankedthefouranimals,anddeparted.Ashewasuncertainwhetherthegiftsweremagicornot,thinking
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