"Well, my father," cried the enthusiastic young prince, "I will be her deliverer!" "Alas, my son!" said the King, "I fear you will fail, and then you will be turned into a statue of stone." "The risk is mine," cried Prince Erian. "I shall overcome him." "Ah, my son! your defeat is certain. Remain with me." "It is too late, my father, I cannot." The princely lover lost no time in setting out to conquer Magor, the King of the Magicians, who held the beautiful Princess in enchantment. Prince Erian had been travelling for several days, when he came to a gloomy forest. Unfortunately, in passing through this dark forest, he lost his way, and in spite of all his efforts, he could not find it again. He wandered about in the woods for some time when, suddenly, and as if by magic, a stranger appeared before him. "Good-day, friend!" exclaimed Prince Erian. "What are you doing, and what is your name?" "My name is Long," replied the other; "and I am looking for a master who needs my services." "The master is already found," said the young Prince. "If you give your consent you shall serve me." "Agreed!" exclaimed Long. "From this day I am entirely subject to your orders." "For the present," said Prince Erian. "I ask nothing of you except to help me find my way out of this terrible forest." "Is that all? Wait a moment." With this, Long stretched himself to such an amazing extent that his head was above the tallest trees of the forest. "What are you doing?" asked the astonished Prince. "I am trying to find our way out." In a little while Long made himself short again, no taller than an ordinary man. "Well, have you found the road?" the Prince inquired anxiously. "Surely," replied Long. "We must take the one to the right of you, and soon we shall be out of this jungle." So the Prince and his companion took the road to the right and soon found themselves clear of the impenetrable forest. As they came to its borders they saw a stout man sitting at the foot of a tree. He was round as any barrel, and he sat breathing heavily and wiping his face with the back of his hand. "Good-day, my slim friend," said the Prince. "What are you doing here, and what is your name?" "My father named me Large," replied the stout man; "and I am resting in the shade here, waiting for some one who needs my services." "Your services? And what can you do, my man?" inquired the Prince. Large made no reply. He simply caused his body to expand to such an extent that he filled the open field. Before Prince Erian and Long could recover from their astonishment, Large caused himself to subside, being careful however, not to collapse so suddenly as to create a great storm. "Now, then," said he, "can I be of service to any one?" "I think you can," the Prince answered; "and since you possess such an extraordinary talent, I will take you as my servant. Come with me." "Gladly!" exclaimed Large, and the Prince and his two servants continued on their way.