Shepherd
Paul.'

'May all your wishes be fulfilled as easily, for I am Shepherd Paul,
and can wrestle with you at once,' replied the lad; and he seized Tree
Comber and flung him with such force to the ground that he sank up
to his knees in the earth. However, in a moment he was up again, and
catching hold of Paul, threw him so that he sank up to his waist; but
then it was Paul's turn again, and this time the man was buried up to
his neck. 'That is enough,' cried he; 'I see you are a smart fellow, let
us become friends.'

'Very good,' answered Paul, and they continued their journey together.

By-and-by they reached a man who was grinding stones to powder in his
hands, as if they had been nuts.

'Good morning,' said Paul politely; 'upon my word, you must be a strong
fellow!'

'I am Stone Crusher,' answered the man, and the greatest wish of my life
is to wrestle with Shepherd Paul.'

'May all your wishes be as easily fulfilled, for I am Shepherd Paul, and
will wrestle with you at once,' and the sport began. After a short time
the man declared himself beaten, and begged leave to go with them; so
they all three travelled together.

A little further on they came upon a man who was kneading iron as if
it had been dough. 'Good morning,' said Paul, 'you must be a strong
fellow.'

'I am Iron Kneader, and should like to fight Shepherd Paul,' answered
he.

'Let us begin at once then,' replied Paul; and on this occasion also,
Paul got the better of his foe, and they all four continued their
journey.

At midday they entered a forest, and Paul stopped suddenly. 'We three
will go and look for game,' he said, 'and you, Tree Comber, will stay
behind and prepare a good supper for us.' So Tree Comber set to work to
boil and roast, and when dinner was nearly ready, a little dwarf with
a pointed beard strolled up to the place. 'What are you cooking?' asked
he, 'give me some of it.'

'I'll give you some on your back, if you like,' answered Tree Comber
rudely. The dwarf took no notice, but waited patiently till the dinner
was cooked, then suddenly throwing Tree Comber on the ground, he ate
up the contents of the saucepan and vanished. Tree Comber felt rather
ashamed of himself, and set about boiling some more vegetables, but
they were still very hard when the hunters returned, and though they
complained of his bad cooking, he did not tell them about the dwarf.

Next day Stone Crusher was left behind, and after him Iron Kneader