when the fat man saw the traveller, he stood up and said, "if you are in need of any one, take me into your service." the prince answered, "what can i do with such a great big man?" "oh," said the stout one, "this is nothing, when i stretch myself out well, i am three thousand times fatter." "if that’s the case," said the prince, "i can make use of thee, come with me." so the stout one followed the prince, and after a while they found another man who was lying on the ground with his ear laid to the turf. "what art thou doing there?" asked the king’s son. "i am listening," replied the man. "what art thou listening to so attentively?" "i am listening to what is just going on in the world, for nothing escapes my ears; i even hear the grass growing." "tell me,"