and then she told him also what he was to say if he was questioned by the king. the next day, therefore, the peasant stood there, and fished on dry ground. when the king passed by, and saw that, he sent his messenger to ask what the stupid man was about? he answered, "i am fishing." the messenger asked how he could fish when there was no water there? the peasant said, "it is as easy for me to fish on dry land as it is for an ox to have a foal." the messenger went back and took the answer to the king, who ordered the peasant to be brought to him and told him that this was not his own idea, and he wanted to know whose it was? the peasant must confess this at once. the peasant, however, would not do so, and said always, god forbid he should! the idea was his own.