the tall one carried them thither, and said, "i would soon get it out, if i could only see it." "oh, is that all!" cried the stout one, and lay down and put his mouth to the water, on which all the waves fell into it just as if it had been a whirlpool, and he drank up the whole sea till it was as dry as a meadow. the tall one stooped down a little, and brought out the ring with his hand. then the king’s son rejoiced when he had the ring, and took it to the old queen. she was astonished, and said, "yes, it is the right ring. thou hast safely performed the first task, but now comes the second. dost thou see the meadow in front of my palace? three hundred fat oxen are feeding there, and these must thou eat, skin, hair, bones, horns and all, and down below in my cellar lie three hundred casks of wine, and these thou must drink up as well, and if one hair of the oxen, or one little drop of the wine is left, thy life will be forfeited to me." "may i invite no guests to this repast?" inquired the prince, "no dinner is good without some company."