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. 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