THE BROAD MAN 165

narrowly and only waiting for this moment, got up from her
seat, and changing herself into a little fly, flew out of the
window. Once free, she again changed herself into a fish, and
falling into the palace well, plunged and hid herself in the
depths of the water.

She would certainly have made her escape if, as a fly, she
had not just touched the tip of the nose of the Man with
Eyes of Flame. He sneezed, and opened his eyes in time to
notice the direction in which she had disappeared. Without
losing an instant he gave the alarm, and all four ran into the
courtyard. The well was very deep, but that did not matter.
Tall soon stretched himself to the required depth, and searched
in all the corners: but he was unable to find the little fish, and
it seemed impossible that it could ever have been there.

“ Now then, get out of that, I will take your place,” said
Broad.

And getting in at the top by the rim, he filled up all the
inside of the well, stopping it so completely with his huge
body that the water sprang out: but nothing was seen of the
little fish.

“‘ Now it is my turn,” said the Man with Eyes of Flame, ‘I
warrant I’ll dislodge this clever magician.”

When Broad had cleared the well of his enormous person
the water returned to its place, but it soon began to boil
from the heat of the eyes of flame. It boiled and boiled, till
it boiled over the rim ; then, as it went on boiling and rising
ever higher and higher, a little fish was seen to throw itself
out on the grass half cooked. As it touched the ground it
again took the form of the princess.

Matthias went to her and kissed her tenderly.