And a moment later the swift runner reappeared , and , stepping on board the ship , handed the healing water to the Simpleton . So while the King was still sitting at table finishing his dinner news was brought to him that his orders had been obeyed to the letter . What was to be done now ? The King determined to think of a still more impossible task . So he told another courtier to go to the Simpleton with the command that he and his comrades were instantly to eat up twelve oxen and twelve tons of bread . Once more the sharp-eared comrade overheard the King 's words while he was still talking to the courtier , and reported them to the Simpleton . ` Alas , alas ! ' he sighed ; ` what in the world shall I do ? Why , it would take us a year , possibly our whole lives , to eat up twelve oxen and twelve tons of bread . ' ` Never fear , ' said the glutton . ` It will scarcely be enough for me , I 'm so hungry . ' So when the courtier arrived with the royal message he was told to take back word to the King that his orders should be obeyed . Then twelve roasted oxen and twelve tons of bread were brought alongside of the ship , and at one sitting the glutton had devoured it all . ' I call that a small meal , ' he said . ' I wish they 'd brought me some more . ' Next , the King ordered that forty casks of wine , containing forty gallons each , were to be drunk up on the spot by the Simpleton and his party . When these words were overheard by the sharp-eared comrade and repeated to the Simpleton , he was in despair . ` Alas , alas ! ' he exclaimed ; ` what is to be done ? It would take us a year , possibly our whole lives , to drink so much . '
` Never XXXXX , ' said his thirsty comrade .
arrived brought devoured fear ordered overheard reappeared reported said sitting