Not long after, Juan saw a man carrying a mountain on his shoulders. “Carguin Cargon,[5] son of the great Strong-Back!” shouted Juan, “what are you doing?”
“I’m going to carry this mountain to the other side of the country to build a dam across the river,” said the man.
“Don’t exert yourself so much,” said Juan. “Come up here and take some refreshment!” The brawny carrier threw aside his load; and, as the mountain hit the ground, the whole kingdom was shaken so violently that the inhabitants thought that all the volcanoes had simultaneously burst into eruption.
By and by the ship came to a place where Juan saw young flourishing trees falling to the ground, with branches twisted and broken. “Friends,” said Juan, “is a storm blowing?”
“No, sir!” answered the sailors, amazed at the sight.
“Master Juan,” shouted Mirin Miron, “sitting on the summit of yonder mountain,” pointing to a peak three miles away, “is a man blowing with all his might.”
“He is a naughty fellow,” muttered Juan to himself; “he will destroy all the lumber-trees in this region if we do not stop him.” Pretty soon Juan himself saw the mischievous man, and said, “Soplin Soplon,[6] son of the great Blast-Blower, what are you doing?”
“Oh, I’m just exercising my lungs and trumpeter’s muscles,” replied the other.
“Come along with us!” After blowing down a long line of trees like grain before a hurricane, Soplin Soplon went on board.
As the ship neared the capital, Juan saw a man lying on a bed of rushes, with his ear to the ground. “What are you doing, friend?” said Juan.