Jack had always been a jumper.
    Even when he was a little tyke it was:
   
    By the time he'd grown into a young man, he was could jump over just about anything.   

      Jack became something of a leaping legend.  Now, Jack never did claim to be the best jumper in the whole world - or in the country for that matter.  But others claimed it on his behalf.  Oh yes!  You didn't have to travel very far to hear:  "That Jack can jump higher than any man born, I swear it!"
    "I saw him - ask my Myrtle if I didn't - I saw him jump across Nukko Lake.  From a standing start!"
    "I saw him jump so quick he left his shadow behind on the ground.  He had to jump back the next day and fetch it!"
    "I heard he jumped across the Fraser River - lengthwise!"
    Oh yes!
    Well, as a legend is born, a legend is challenged.  So it wasn't much of a surprise to anyone - except Jack - when a long-legged, weasel-faced fellow said to him one day:  "Well, you must be the famous jumper...  You don't look so tough to me.  Why, I'd be surprised if you could jump out of bed if the house was on fire."
    Jack didn't quite know what to say.  But Tom Sprout piped up:  "Spider Lawson, you're just so much bone and stupidity stuck together with nasty.  Jack can — and will — out-jump you any day of the week, any hour of the day, any minute of the hour!"
    "Saturday morning.  Ten o'clock.  Moore's Meadow," said Spider Lawson.
    "Done!" said Tom Sprout.
    Lawson stood up and crossed the room in two easy strides.
    Jack didn't care much whether he or Spider Lawson was the better jumper.  But he loved to jump, and Moore's Meadow on a Saturday morning seemed like as good a place as any to do some jumping.
    Judge Stewart was to be the judge - it seemed fitting.
    "The contestants will keep on jumping until one of them catches a toe and falls down.  The first obstacle will be the hay wagon.  The contestants will... "  But before he finished, both Jack and Spider Lawson were standing on the far side of the hay wagon.  Nobody had even seen them bend their knees.
    "Next," said the judge,  "Spider Lawson will attempt to jump up into the hay loft."
    Lawson bent his knees ever so slightly, and the next thing you know, he was in the hay loft.
    "Then," said the judge, "Jack will... oh, I see he's already up there.  Alright then, the contestants will now attempt to leap over the barn.  Jack, are you ready?"
    Jack took a couple of long steps and jumped over the barn.  His foot cleared the weather cock by a good six inches.  Lawson took a couple of long strides and jumped.  He rattled the weather cock, but he didn't trip, and the judge judged it a fair jump.
    The hay wagon was lifted up onto the barn.  They both cleared it.
    The tractor was piled onto the hay wagon.  The both cleared it.
    The cow was piled onto the tractor.  They both cleared it.
    The horse was piled onto the cow.  They both cleared it.
    The goat was piled onto the horse.  They both cleared it.
    They jumped all day till the moon came up.
    Finally, they ran out of things to pile on things.
    "Well, boys," said Judge Stewart,  "I guess we'll just have to call it a draw."
    Jack was happy enough to call it a draw.  He'd had enough jumping for one day.  But Spider Lawson wasn't about to settle for anything short of an out and out win.
    "I'm the best, and I aim to prove it," he said.  "One more jump, Jackie.  If you're up to it."
    "What do you propose to jump over, Mr. Lawson?" asked the judge.
    "That!" said Lawson.  He was pointing one long skinny finger at - THE MOON.
    "We'll jump together he said.  "Agreed?"
    The two jumpers backed up right to the edge of the meadow.  They started running.  They picked up speed.  They picked up more speed.  When they went past the barn they were just a hum and a blur.  They jumped!
    They found Spider Lawson in Moose Jaw.
    As for Jack, it's:


[Note:  The illustrations should make it clear, that, although the people on the ground are missing Jack, Jack himself is happy to be sailing higher and higher...]