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Lang, Andrew, 1844-1912

"The Yellow Fairy Book"

Then said the master, 'You have made
yourself very comfortable to rest!'
'I am a runner,' answered he; 'and so that I shall not go too
quickly, I have unstrapped one leg; when I run with two legs, I
go faster than a bird flies.'
'Oh, go with me; if we five are together, we shall easily travel
through the wide world.' So he went with him, and, not long
afterwards, they met a man who wore a little hat, but he had it
slouched over one ear.
'Manners, manners!' said the master to him; 'don't hang your hat
over one ear; you look like a madman!'
'I dare not,' said the other, 'for if I were to put my hat on
straight, there would come such a frost that the very birds in
the sky would freeze and fall dead on the earth.'
'Oh, go with me,' said the master; 'if we six are together, we
shall easily travel through the wide world.
Now the Six came to a town in which the King had proclaimed that
whoever should run with his daughter in a race, and win, should
become her husband; but if he lost, he must lose his head. This
was reported to the man who declared he would compete, 'but,' he
said, 'I shall let my servant run for me.'
The King replied, 'Then both your heads must be staked, and your
head and his must be guaranteed for the winner.


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