'What's your name, my friend; where
do you come from, and what can you do?'

The man thus addressed answered promptly, 'I am called Hare's-ear, I
come from Curiosity Valley, and if I lay my ear on the ground, without
moving from the spot, I can hear everything that goes on in the world,
the plots and intrigues of court and cottage, and all the plans of mice
and men.'

'If that's the case,' replied Moscione, 'Just tell me what's going on in
my own home at present.'

The youth laid his ear to the ground and at once reported: 'An old man
is saying to his wife, "Heaven be praised that we have got rid of
Moscione, for perhaps, when he has been out in the world a little, he
may gain some common sense, and return home less of a fool than when he
set out."'

'Enough, enough,' cried Moscione. 'You speak the truth, and I believe
you. Come with us, and your fortune's made.'

The young man consented; and after they had gone about ten miles, they
met a third man, to whom Moscione said: 'What's your name, my brave
fellow; where were you born, and what can you do?'

The man replied, 'I am called Hit-the-Point, I come from the city of
Perfect-aim, and I draw my bow so exactly that I can shoot a pea off a
stone.'

'I should like to see you do it, if you've no objection,' said Moscione.

The man at once placed a pea on a stone, and, drawing his bow, he shot
it in the middle with the greatest possible ease.

When Moscione saw that he had spoken the truth, he immediately asked
Hit-the-Point to join his party.

After they had all travelled together for some days, they came upon a
number of people who were digging a trench in the blazing sun.

Moscione felt so sorry for them, that he said: 'My dear friends, how can
you endure working so hard in heat that would cook an egg in a minute?'

But one of the workmen answered: 'We are as fresh as daisies, for we
have a young man among us who blows on our backs like the west wind.'

'Let me see him,' said Moscione.

The youth was called, and Moscione asked him: 'What's your name; where
do you come from, and what can you do?'

He answered: 'I am called Blow-Blast, I come from Wind-town, and with my
mouth I can make any winds you please. If you wish a west wind I can
raise it for you in a second, but if you prefer a north wind I can blow
these houses down before your eyes.'

'Seeing is believing,' returned the cautious Moscione.

Blow-Blast at once began to convince him of the trut