196 GLOOSCAP AND OTHER STORIES "Give you my cow indeed!" cried Jack. "I will give you a stone on your head instead." Jack picked up a large stone, and was just about to throw it, when the man pulled out a tiny flute from his pocket and began to play upon it. The stone dropped from Jack's hand. His arms and his legs began to twitch, and before he knew what he was about, he began to dance. The cow joined him, and both together danced away with all their might. "Hold! Hold!" cried Jack. "Stop your music, and let me catch my breath." "Give me your cow and I will," said the man. "I will not do it!" answered Jack. "Then dance away," said the man, and poor Jack danced until he was ready to drop from fatigue, and was glad to give up the cow to have the music stopped. The man took the cow, and gave Jack the flute. Jack went home without his cow or his money, and was obliged to tell his mother for the third time that he had been trapped. This time her anger knew no bounds. She vowed that she would kill him, and seized an iron to strike him. But Jack whipped out his magical flute and began to play as if his life depended upon it, as indeed it did. The old woman was charmed by the music and danced and danced, scolding away all the while, telling