" said the leader, "I cannot think what ails the windmills,
turning without wind;" and he went on with his followers about two miles
farther, and then they came to a man sitting up in a tree, holding one
nostril and blowing with the other.

"Now then," said the leader, "what are you doing up there?"

"Two miles from here," answered he, "there are seven windmills; I am
blowing, and they are going round."

"Oh, go with me," cried the leader, "four of us together can stand
against the world."

So the blower got down and went with them, and after a time they came to
a man standing on one leg, and the other had been taken off and was
lying near him.

"You seem to have got a handy way of resting yourself," said the leader
to the man.

"I am a runner," answered he, "and in order to keep myself from going
too fast I have taken off a leg, for when I run with both, I go faster
than a bird can fly."

"Oh, go with me," cried the leader, "five of us together may well stand
against the world."

So he went with them all together, and it was not long before they met a
man with a little hat on, and he wore it just over one ear.

"Manners! manners!" said the leader; "with your hat like that, you look
like a jack-fool."

"I dare not put it straight," answered the other; "if I did, there would
be such a terrible frost that the very birds would be frozen and fall
dead from the sky to the ground."

"Oh, come with me," said the leader; "we six together may well stand
against the whole world."

So the six went on until they came to a town where the king had caused
it to be made known that whoever would run a race with his daughter and
win it might become her husband, but that whoever lost must lose his
head into the bargain. And the leader came forward and said one of his
men should run for him.

"Then," said the king, "his life too must be put in pledge, and if he
fails, his head and yours too must fall."

When this was quite settled and agreed upon, the leader called the
runner, and strapped his second leg on to him.

"Now, look out," said he, "and take care that we win."

It had been agreed that the one who should bring water first from a far
distant brook should be accounted winner. Now the king's daughter and
the runner each took a pitcher, and they started both at the same time;
but in one moment, when the king's daughter had gone but a very little
way, the runner was out of sight, for his running was as if the wind