“Not a bit of it,” said the king. “You would only lose your head like the rest.”
But the prince was very anxious to go, and when he found his father was firm, he fell ill and took to his bed for seven years, and not all the doctors in the land could make him well again or restore his fallen spirits. Then the father knew that the lad must die, unless he was allowed to have his own way, so he said:
“Get up, my son, and try your fate.”
At these joyful words the boy jumped out of bed, quite recovered, and you may be sure it was not long before he was ready for his journey and on the road.
One day, as he was swinging along over hill and dale, and fern and brake, he saw a great big thing lying by the roadside. At first he thought it was a huge animal, but as he drew nearer he saw that it was really an enormously fat man, who was as round and jolly as you can imagine. Seeing the traveler, he rose to his feet, and I do believe the earth trembled as he did so.
“If you are in need of a servant, take me, and you will not repent,” he said, pulling off his cap and bowing.
“Why, whatever should I do with such a fat fellow as you?” answered the prince.
“If I were three thousand times as fat it would not matter, so long as I served you well,” said the man.
“Hum! well, that is very true,” replied the prince. “You may come along, and I dare say I shall be able to put you to some use.”
So they journeyed on together, and presently they came upon a man lying with his ear pressed to the ground.