“What are you doing?” asked the prince.
“I am listening,” answered the man. “I can hear everything that is going on in the world, even the growing of the grass.”
“Ah,” said the prince, “then you can tell me what you hear in the palace of the old queen.”
“I hear the cutting off of a suitor’s head.”
“Come with me, then,” said the prince, “for I can see that you will be useful.”
A little farther on they came upon a pair of legs lying stretched on the grass, but they were so long that the travelers had to walk an hour before they came to the body, and then nearly another hour before they reached the head.
“Well, what a long strip of a chap you are!” said the prince.
“Why, master, you have only seen me when I am lying down,” replied the man. “Just you wait till I stand up. I am thrice as tall as the highest mountain you have ever seen on your travels. Just let me come and be your servant, and I promise that you will find me useful.”
“Willingly,” answered the prince.
Then they all went on their way again till they came to a wood, and here they found a man who, though he was lying in the full heat of the sun, was shivering and shaking so that it was a wonder his teeth did not fall out of his head.