Page:Tales from the Fjeld.djvu/369

Rh "and why is it that you stand there aiming and aiming?"

"I am so sharp-sighted," he said, "that I'm a dead shot up to the world's end;" and so he, too, asked if he might have leave to be one of the ship's company.

"If you care to come, step in," said Boot?.

Yes, he was willing enough, and so he stepped up into the ship and joined Boots and his comrades.

So when they had sailed a bit farther, they came on a man who went about hopping on one leg, and on the other he had seven hundredweight.

"What sort of a chap are you?" asked Boots; "and what's the good of your limping and hopping on one leg, with seven hundredweight on the other?"

"Oh," said he, "I'm as light as a feather, and if I went on both legs I should be at the world's end in less than five minutes;" and so he, too, begged if he might have leave to be one of the ship's company.

"It you care to come, step in," said Boots.

Yes, he was willing enough, and he stepped on board to Boots and his comrades.

So when they had sailed a bit farther, they met a man who stood holding his throat.

"What sort of a chap are you?" asked Boots; "and why in the world do you stand here holding your throat?"

"Oh," said he, "you must know I have got seven summers and fifteen winters inside me, so I've good need to hold my gullet, for if they all slipped out at once they'd freeze the whole world in a trice." That was what he said, and so he begged leave to be with them.