The six Simons bowed and went to dinner . But they had hardly begun before a messenger came to say that the king wanted to see them . They obeyed at once and found him surrounded by all his court and men of state . ` Listen , my good fellows , ' cried the king , as soon as he saw them . ` Hear what my wise counsellors have thought of . As you , Simon the second , can see the whole world from the top of the great pillar , I want you to climb up and to see and hear . For I am told that , far away , across many seas , is the great kingdom of the Island of Busan , and that the daughter of the king is the beautiful Princess Helena . ' Off ran the second Simon and clambered quickly up the pillar . He gazed around , listened on all sides , and then slid down to report to the king . ` Sire , I have obeyed your orders . Far away I saw the Island of Busan . The king is a mighty monarch , but full of pride , harsh and cruel . He sits on his throne and declares that no prince or king on earth is good enough for his lovely daughter , that he will give her to none , and that if any king asks for her hand he will declare war against him and destroy his kingdom . ' ` Has the king of Busan a great army ? ' asked King Archidej ; ` is his country far off ? ' ` As far as I could judge , ' replied Simon , ` it would take you nearly ten years in fair weather to sail there . But if the weather were stormy we might say twelve . I saw the army being reviewed . It is not so very large -- a hundred thousand men at arms and a hundred thousand knights . Besides these , he has a strong bodyguard and a good many cross-bowmen .
Altogether you may say another hundred thousand , and there is a picked body of heroes who reserve themselves XXXXX great occasions requiring particular courage . '
Besides across as before for if of on that to