again.

'Well, have you got as much as you can eat?' said the smith.

'No, not nearly,' said Hans; 'I must try to find a better place
than this, for I can see that I shall never get my fill here.'

Hans wished to set off at once, as soon as his father would make
a staff for him of such a kind as he wanted.

'It must be of iron,' said he, 'and one that can hold out.'

The smith brought him an iron rod as thick as an ordinary staff,
but Hans took it and twisted it round his finger, so that
wouldn't do. Then the smith came dragging one as thick as a
waggon-pole, but Hans bent it over his knee and broke it like a
straw. The smith then had to collect all the iron he had, and
Hans held it while his father forged for him a staff, which was
heavier than the anvil. When Hans had got this he said, 'Many
thanks, father; now I have got my inheritance.' With this he set
off into the country, and the smith was very pleased to be rid of
that son, before he ate him out of house and home.

Hans first arrived at a large estate, and it so happened that the
squire himself was standing outside the farmyard.

'Where are you going?' said the squire.

'I am looking for a place,' said Hans, 'where they have need of
strong fellows, and can give them plenty to eat.'