"you are, indeed, a very strong child. there are few men who can boast of the strength of my right arm!" said the woodcutter. "i saw you first on the banks of the river a few hours ago, when you pulled up that large tree to make a bridge across the torrent. hardly able to believe what i saw i followed you home. your strength of arm, which i have just tried, proves what i saw this afternoon. when you are full-grown you will surely be the strongest man in all japan. it is a pity that you are hidden away in these wild mountains."