I'll jump after him instead." Then Long again
extended himself to such a height that his head plunged into the clouds,
made two or three steps, took his comrade by the arm, and placed him
before the prince. He was a short, thick-set fellow, with a paunch like
a sixty-four-gallon cask. "Who are you?" demanded the prince, "and what
can you do?" "My name, sir, is Broad; I can widen myself." "Give me a
specimen." "Ride quick, sir, quick, back into the forest!" cried Broad,
as he began to blow himself out.
The prince didn't understand why he was to ride away; but seeing that
Long made all haste to get into the forest, he spurred his horse and
rode full gallop after him. It was high time that he did ride away, or
else Broad would have squashed him, horse and all, as his paunch rapidly
grew in all directions; it filled everything everywhere, just as if a
mountain had rolled up. Broad then ceased to blow himself out, and took
himself in again, raising such a wind that the trees in the forest bowed
and bent, and became what he was at first. "You have played me a nice
trick," said the prince, "but I shan't find such a fellow every day;
come with me."
They proceeded further. When they approached the rocks, they met a man
who had his eyes bandaged with a handkerchief. "Sir, this is our third
comrade," said Long, "you ought to take him also into your service.
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