198 GLOOSCAP AND OTHER STORIES

The king fell into the trap. He tasted the food, and then began eating heartily. The ser- vants became b-ewitched, too, and began to eat the magical food.

Meantime Jack made believe that he was pre- paring to count the money. He hurried about, going from one room to another, as though he had forgotten something.

All this time the king and his servants were eating from the dish as fast as they could. Soon they began to feel that they had eaten enough, but they could neither stop nor push the magical platter away. They called to Jack to come and take away the food, but Jack was too busy to notice them or hear them. At last, when they were ready to fall over in their dis- tress, the king said:

“Jack, if you will only take the platter away, I will give you the rent, and the house, and the stock, and the farm, and everything here that is mine.”

Jack was ready to let them go on these terms, and the king and his servants were glad indeed to leave everything for the widow and Jack as they had promised.

When they had gone, the old woman came out of her hiding-place, and this time she had only words of praise for her stupid son.

“Now that you will be able to get along with-