` Oh , I am only going out for a little walk , ' answered he . ` Ask him if he will come with us . ' ` Gladly , if you will give me as much as I want to eat and drink , ' said he , climbing up into the ship . And the young man whispered , ` Good father , before we were six , and now we are seven . ' But the hermit knew what he was about , and why he gathered these strange people into the ship . After many days , at last they reached the town where lived the king and his daughter . They stopped the vessel right in front of the palace , and the young man went in and bowed low before the king . ' O Majesty , I have done your bidding , and now is the ship built that can travel over land and sea . Give me my reward , and let me have your daughter to wife . ' But the king said to himself , ` What ! am I to wed my daughter to a man of whom I know nothing . Not even whether he be rich or poor -- a knight or a beggar . ' And aloud he spake : It is not enough that you have managed to build the ship . You must find a runner who shall take this letter to the ruler of the Underworld , and bring me the answer back in an hour . ' ` That is not in the bond , ' answered the young man . ` Well , do as you like , ' replied the king , ` only you will not get my daughter . ' The young man went out , sorely troubled , to tell his old friend what had happened . ` Silly boy ! ' cried the hermit , ` Accept his terms at once . And send off the long-legged man with the letter .
He will take it XXXXX no time at all . '
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