lty about that,' replied Long, and he stretched
himself up and up and up till he was three times as tall as the tallest
tree in the forest. Then he looked all round and said, 'We must go in
this direction in order to get out of the wood,' and shortening himself
again, he took the prince's horse by the bridle, and led him along.
Very soon they got clear of the forest, and saw before them a wide plain
ending in a pile of high rocks, covered here and there with trees, and
very much like the fortifications of a town.

As they left the wood behind, Long turned to the prince and said, 'My
lord, here comes my comrade. You should take him into your service too,
as you will find him a great help.'

'Well, call him then, so that I can see what sort of a man he is.'

'He is a little too far off for that,' replied Long. 'He would hardly
hear my voice, and he couldn't be here for some time yet, as he has so
much to carry. I think I had better go and bring him myself,' and this
time he stretched himself to such a height that his head was lost in the
clouds. He made two or three strides, took his friend on his back, and
set him down before the prince. The new-comer was a very fat man, and as
round as a barrel.

'Who are you?' asked the prince, 'and what can you do?'

'Your worship, Broad is my name, and I can make myself as wide as I
please.'

'Let me see how you manage it.'

'Run, my lord, as fast as you can, and hide yourself in the wood,' cried
Broad, and he began to swell himself out.

The prince did not understand why he should run to the wood, but when he
saw Long flying towards it, he thought he had better follow his example.
He was only just in time, for Broad had so suddenly inflated himself
that he very nearly knocked over the prince and his horse too. He
covered all the space for acres round. You would have thought he was a
mountain!

At length Broad ceased to expand, drew a deep breath that made the whole
forest tremble, and shrank into his usual size.

'You have made me run away,' said the prince. 'But it is not every day
one meets with a man of your sort. I will take you into my service.'

So the three companions continued their journey, and when they were
drawing near the rocks they met a man whose eyes were covered by a
bandage.

'Your excellency,' said Long, 'this is our third comrade. You will do
well to take him into your service, and, I assure you, you will find him
worth his salt.'

'Who are you?'