`` Certainly , certainly , '' answered Atlas ; `` and very fair apples they are . I took the finest that grew on the tree , I assure you . Ah ! it is a beautiful spot , that garden of the Hesperides . Yes ; and the dragon with a hundred heads is a sight worth any man 's seeing . After all , you had better have gone for the apples yourself . '' `` No matter , '' replied Hercules . `` You have had a pleasant ramble , and have done the business as well as I could . I heartily thank you for your trouble . And now , as I have a long way to go , and am rather in haste , -- and as the king , my cousin , is anxious to receive the golden apples , -- will you be kind enough to take the sky off my shoulders again ? '' `` Why , as to that , '' said the giant , chucking the golden apples into the air , twenty miles high , or thereabouts , and catching them as they came down , -- `` as to that , my good friend , I consider you a little unreasonable . Can not I carry the golden apples to the king , your cousin , much quicker than you could ? As his majesty is in such a hurry to get them , I promise you to take my longest strides . And , besides , I have no fancy for burdening myself with the sky , just now . '' Here Hercules grew impatient , and gave a great shrug of his shoulders . It being now twilight , you might have seen two or three stars tumble out of their places . Everybody on earth looked upward in affright , thinking that the sky might be going to fall next . `` O , that will never do ! '' cried Giant Atlas , with a great roar of laughter . `` I have not let fall so many stars within the last five centuries .
By the time you have stood there XXXXX long as I did , you will begin to learn patience ! ''
After as besides for on than that to within worth