s from behind in
such a manner that it seems just as if the west wind were blowing."
"Let me see him, I pray," cried Moscione. So the mason called the lad,
and Moscione said to him, "Tell me, by the life of your father, what is
your name? what country are you from? and what is your profession!" And
the lad replied, "My name is Blow-blast; I am from Windy-land; and I
can make all the winds with my mouth. If you wish for a zephyr, I will
breathe one that will send you in transports; if you wish for a squall,
I will throw down houses."

"Seeing is believing," said Moscione. Whereupon Blow-blast breathed at
first quite gently, so that it seemed to be the wind that blows at
Posilippo towards evening; then turning suddenly to some trees, he sent
forth such a furious blast that it uprooted a row of oaks.

When Moscione saw this he took him for a companion; and travelling on
as far again, he met another lad, to whom he said, "What is your name,
if I may make so bold? Whence are you, if one may ask? And what is your
trade, if it is a fair question?" And the lad answered, "My name is
Strong-back; I am from Valentino; and I have such strength that I can
take a mountain on my back, and it seems to me only a feather."

"If that be the case," said Moscione, "you deserve to be the king of
the custom-house, and you should be chosen for standard-bearer on the
first of May. But I should like to see a proof of what you say."

Then Strong-back began to load himself with masses of rock, trunks of
trees, and so many other weights that a thousand large waggons could
not have carried them; which, when Moscione saw, he agreed with the lad
to join him.

So they travelled on till they came to Fair-Flower, the King of which
place had a daughter who ran like the wind, and could pass over the
waving corn without bending an ear; and the King had issued a
proclamation that whoever could over-take her in running should have
her to wife, but whoever was left behind should lose his head.

When Moscione arrived in this country and heard the proclamation, he
went straight to the King, and offered to run with his daughter, making
the wise agreement either to win the race or leave his noddle there.
But in the morning he sent to inform the King that he was taken ill,
and being unable to run himself he would send another young man in his
place. "Come who will!" said Ciannetella (for that was the King's
daughter), "I care not a fig--it is all one to me."