按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
lay down and； putting his ear to the ground； listened。
'That's a nice sort of fellow！' he suddenly exclaimed。 'He's
lying on the ground； snoring hard！'
At this the marksman seized his gun； took aim； and fired in the
direction of the world's end； in order to awaken the sluggard。
And a moment later the swift runner reappeared； and； stepping on
board the ship； handed the healing water to the Simpleton。 So
while the King was still sitting at table finishing his dinner
news was brought to him that his orders had been obeyed to the
letter。
What was to be done now？ The King determined to think of a still
more impossible task。 So he told another courtier to go to the
Simpleton with the command that he and his comrades were
instantly to eat up twelve oxen and twelve tons of bread。 Once
more the sharp…eared comrade overheard the King's words while he
was still talking to the courtier； and reported them to the
Simpleton。
'Alas； alas！' he sighed； 'what in the world shall I do？ Why； it
would take us a year； possibly our whole lives； to eat up twelve
oxen and twelve tons of bread。'
'Never fear；' said the glutton。 'It will scarcely be enough for
me； I'm so hungry。'
So when the courtier arrived with the royal message he was told
to take back word to the King that his orders should be obeyed。
Then twelve roasted oxen and twelve tons of bread were brought
alongside of the ship； and at one sitting the glutton had
devoured it all。
'I call that a small meal；' he said。 'I wish they'd brought me
some more。'
Next； the King ordered that forty casks of wine； containing forty
gallons each； were to be drunk up on the spot by the Simpleton
and his party。 When these words were overheard by the
sharp…eared comrade and repeated to the Simpleton； he was in
despair。
'Alas； alas！' he exclaimed； 'what is to be done？ It would take
us a year； possibly our whole lives； to drink so much；'
'Never fear；' said his thirsty comrade。 'I'll drink it all up at
a gulp； see if I don't。' And sure enough； when the forty casks
of wine containing forty gallons each were brought alongside of
the ship； they disappeared down the thirsty comrade's throat in
no time； and when they were empty he remarked：
'Why； I'm still thirsty。 I should have been glad of two more
casks。'
Then the King took counsel with himself and sent an order to the
Simpleton that he was to have a bath； in a bath…room at the royal
palace； and after that the betrothal should take place。 Now the
bath…room was built of iron； and the King gave orders that it was
to be heated to such a pitch that it would suffocate the
Simpleton。 And so when the poor silly youth entered the room； he
discovered that the iron walls were red hot。 But； fortunately；
his comrade with the straw on his back had entered behind him；
and when the door was shut upon them he scattered the straw
about； and suddenly the red…hot walls cooled down； and it became
so very cold that the Simpleton could scarcely bear to take a
bath； and all the water in the room froze。 So the Simpleton
climbed up upon the stove； and； wrapping himself up in the bath
blankets； lay there the whole night。 And in the morning when
they opened the door there he lay sound and safe； singing
cheerfully to himself。
Now when this strange tale was told to the King he became quite
sad； not knowing what he should do to get rid of so undesirable a
son…in…law； when suddenly a brilliant idea occurred to him。
'Tell the rascal to raise me an army； now at this instant！' he
exclaimed to one of his courtiers。 'Inform him at once of this；
my royal will。' And to himself he added； 'I think I shall do for
him this time。'
As on former occasions； the quick…eared comrade had overheard the
King's command and repeated it to the Simpleton。
'Alas； alas！' he groaned； 'now I am quite done for。'
'Not at all；' replied one of his comrades （the one who had
dragged the bundle of wood through the forest）。 'Have you quite
forgotten me？'
In the meantime the courtier； who had run all the way from the
palace； reached the ship panting and breathless； and delivered
the King's message。
'Good！' remarked the Simpleton。 'I will raise an army for the
King；' and he drew himself up。 'But if； after that； the King
refuses to accept me as his son…in…law； I will wage war against
him； and carry the Princess off by force。'
During the night the Simpleton and his comrade went； together
into a big field； not forgetting to take the bundle of wood with
them； which the man spread out in all directionsand in a moment
a mighty army stood upon the spot； regiment on regiment of foot
and horse soldiers； the bugles sounded and the drums beat； the
chargers neighed； and their riders put their lances in rest； and
the soldiers presented arms。
In the morning when the King awoke he was startled by these
warlike sounds； the bugles and the drums； and the clatter of the
horses； and the shouts of the soldiers。 And； stepping to the
window； he saw the lances gleam in the sunlight and the armour
and weapons glitter。 And the proud monarch said to himself； 'I
am powerless in comparison with this man。' So he sent him royal
robes and costly jewels； and commanded him to come to the palace
to be married to the Princess。 And his son…in…law put on the
royal robes； and he looked so grand and stately that it was
impossible to recognise the poor Simpleton； so changed was he；
and the Princess fell in love with him as soon as ever she saw
him。
Never before had so grand a wedding been seen； and there was so
much food and wine that even the glutton and the thirsty comrade
had enough to eat and drink。