And the man answered : ` If you will give me enough to eat and drink I will gladly stay with you . ' So they took him on their ship , and the youth said , as they started off again , ` Good father , before we were two , and now we are three ! ' After they had travelled a little further they met a man who had torn up half the forest , and was carrying all the trees on his shoulders . ` Good father , ' exclaimed the youth , ` only look ! What can he have done that for ? ' ` Ask him why he has torn up all those trees . ' And the man replied , ` Why , I 've merely been gathering a handful of brushwood . ' ` Beg him to come with us , ' whispered the hermit . And the strong man answered : ` Willingly , as long as you give me enough to eat and drink . ' And he came on the ship . And the youth said to the hermit , ` Good father , before we were three , and now we are four . ' The ship travelled on again , and some miles further on they saw a man drinking out of a stream till he had nearly drunk it dry . ` Good father , ' said the youth , ` just look at that man ! Did you ever see anybody drink like that ? ' ` Ask him why he does it , ' answered the hermit . ` Why , there is nothing very odd in taking a mouthful of water ! ' replied the man , standing up . ` Beg him to come with us . ' And the youth did so . ` With pleasure , as long as you give me enough to eat and drink . '
And the youth whispered XXXXX the hermit , ` Good father , before we were four , and now we are five . '
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