her." As he said the words the damsel bowed her head, blushed like a
rose, and that instant all the pictures disappeared.

When he went down and related to his father what he had seen and which
damsel he had selected, the old king became sad, bethought himself, and
said: "You have done ill, my son, in uncovering what was curtained over,
and have placed yourself in great danger on account of those words. That
damsel is in the power of a wicked wizard, and kept captive in an iron
castle; of all who have attempted to set her free, not one has hitherto
returned. But what's done cannot be undone; the plighted word is a law.
Go! try your luck, and return home safe and sound!"

The prince took leave of his father, mounted his horse, and rode away in
search of his bride. It came to pass that he rode through a vast forest,
and through the forest he rode on and on till he lost the road. And as
he was wandering with his horse in thickets and amongst rocks and
morasses, not knowing which way to turn, he heard somebody shout behind
him, "Hi! stop!" The prince looked round, and saw a tall man hastening
after him. "Stop and take me with you, and take me into your service,
and you won't regret it!" "Who are you," said the prince, "and what can
you do?" "My name is Long, and I can extend myself. Do you see a bird's
nest in that pine yonder? I will bring you the nest down without having
to climb up."

Long then began to extend himself; his body grew rapidly till it was as
tall as the pine; he then reached the nest, and in a moment contracted
himself again and gave it to the prince. "You know your business well,
but what's the use of birds' nests to me, if you can't conduct me out of
this forest?"

"Ahem! that's an easy matter," said Long, and began to extend himself
till he was thrice as high as the highest fir in the forest, looked
round, and said: "Here on this side we have the nearest way out of the
forest." He then contracted himself, took the horse by the bridle, and
before the prince had any idea of it, they were beyond the forest.
Before them was a long and wide plain, and beyond the plain tall gray
rocks like the walls of a large town, and mountains overgrown with
forest trees.

"Yonder, sir, goes my comrade!" said Long, and pointed suddenly to the
plain; "you should take him also into your service; I believe he would
serve you well." "Shout to him, and call him hither, that I may see what
he is good for." "It is a little to