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 in no time at all . ' So the youth 's heard leapt for joy , and he returned to the king . ` Majesty , I accept your terms . HEre is the messenger who will do what you wish . ' The king had no choice but to give the man the letter , and he strode off , making short work of the distance that lay between the palace and the Underworld . He soon found the ruler , who looked at the letter , and said to him , ` Wait a little while i write the answer ; ' but the man was soo tired with his quick walk that he went sound asleep and forgot all about his errand . All this time the youth was anxiously counting the minutes till he could get back , and stood with his eyes fixed on the road down which his messenger must come .
` What can be keeping him , ' he said XXXXX the hermit when the hour was nearly up .
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