Well, that was easy enough, and the man would be glad enough to oblige him. So he began to stretch himself. He stretched and stretched and stretched until he was taller than the tallest tree in the forest. His head and body were quite lost to sight among the branches, and all that the Prince could see were his legs and feet. “Is that enough?” the man called down to the Prince. “Yes, that is enough,” answered the Prince, and he had to shout to make himself heard, the man’s head was so far away. Then the man began to shrink. He shrank and shrank until he was no taller than the Prince himself. “You are a wonderful fellow,” said the Prince. “What is your name?” The man’s name was Long. “And what did you see up there?” “I saw a plain and great mountains beyond, and still beyond that an iron castle, and it was so far away that it must be at the very end of the world.” “It is that castle that I am seeking,” said the Prince, “and now I see that you are the very man to guide me there. Tell me, Long, will you take service with me? If you will, I will pay you well.” Yes, Long would do that, and not for the sake of the money either, but because he had taken a fancy to the Prince. So the Prince and his new servant travelled along together, and presently they came out of the forest on to a plain, and there, far in front of them, was another man also travelling along toward the mountains. “Look, Master!” said Long. “Do you see that man? His name is Broad. You ought to have him for a servant too, for he is even more wonderful than I am.” “Call him, then,” said the Prince, “and I will speak with him.” No, Long could not call him, for Broad was too far away to hear him, but he could soon overtake him. So Long stretched himself out until he was tall enough to go half a mile at every step. In this way he soon overtook Broad and stopped him, and then he and Broad waited until the Prince had caught up to them. “Good day,” said the Prince to Broad. “Good day,” answered Broad. “My servant here tells me that you are a very wonderful person,” said the Prince. “What can you do that is so wonderful?” What Broad could do was to spread himself out until he was as broad across as he wished to be. “I should like to see that,” said the Prince. Very well! Nothing was easier, and Broad was willing to show him. “But first,” said Broad, “do you get behind those rocks over yonder. Otherwise you may get hurt. And now I will begin.” “Quick! quick, Master!” cried Long, in a voice of fear. “We have not a moment to lose,” and he ran at full speed and crouched down behind the rocks. The Prince followed him, and he also got behind the rocks, but he did not know why Long was in such a hurry, nor why he seemed so frightened. He soon saw, however, for when Broad began to spread, he spread so fast and with such force that unless the Prince and Long had been behind the rocks, they would certainly have been pushed against them and crushed.