"Stop and take me with you, and take me into your service,
and you won't regret it!" "Who are you," said the prince, "and what can
you do?" "My name is Long, and I can extend myself. Do you see a bird's
nest in that pine yonder? I will bring you the nest down without having
to climb up."
Long then began to extend himself; his body grew rapidly till it was as
tall as the pine; he then reached the nest, and in a moment contracted
himself again and gave it to the prince. "You know your business well,
but what's the use of birds' nests to me, if you can't conduct me out of
this forest?"
"Ahem! that's an easy matter," said Long, and began to extend himself
till he was thrice as high as the highest fir in the forest, looked
round, and said: "Here on this side we have the nearest way out of the
forest." He then contracted himself, took the horse by the bridle, and
before the prince had any idea of it, they were beyond the forest.
Before them was a long and wide plain, and beyond the plain tall gray
rocks like the walls of a large town, and mountains overgrown with
forest trees.
"Yonder, sir, goes my comrade!" said Long, and pointed suddenly to the
plain; "you should take him also into your service; I believe he would
serve you well." "Shout to him, and call him hither, that I may see what
he is good for." "It is a little too far, sir," said Long; "he would
hardly hear me, and it would take a long time before he came, because he
has a great deal to carry.
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