The youth said:  “Go and say to your father, ’Dip a bundle of hay in water, strew it with salt, and put it near the horses’ stall.  In the morning the mare will come first, the two-year-old second, the one-year-old last.’”

They did this and sent the King of the West his answer.

He waited a little and sent a steel spear and a steel shield, and said:  “If you pierce the shield with the spear, I will give my daughter to your son.  If not, send your daughter to my son.”

Many people tried, and among them the King himself, but they could find no way of piercing the shield.  The King’s daughter told him of her beloved prisoner, and the King sent for him.  The youth thrust the spear into the ground, and, striking the shield against it, pierced it through.

As the King had no son, he sent the youth in place of a son to the King of the West to demand his daughter, according to agreement.

He went on and on—­how long it is not known—­and saw someone with his ear to the ground listening.

“Who are you?” the youth asked.

“I am he who hears everything that is said in the whole world.”

“This is a brave fellow,” said the youth.  “He knows everything that is said in the world.”

“I am no brave fellow.  He who has pierced a steel shield with a steel spear is a brave fellow,” was the answer.

“I am he,” said the youth.  “Let us be brothers.”

They journeyed on together and saw a man with a millstone on each foot, and one leg stepped toward Chisan and the other toward Stambul.

“That seems to me a brave fellow!  One leg steps toward Chisan and the other toward Stambul.”

“I am no brave fellow.  He who has pierced a steel shield with a steel spear is a brave fellow,” said the man with the millstones.

“I am he.  Let us be brothers.”

They were three and they journeyed on together.

They went on and on and saw a mill with seven millstones grinding corn.  And one man ate all and was not satisfied, but grumbled and said, “O little father, I die of hunger.”

“That is a brave fellow,” said the youth.  “Seven millstones grind for him and yet he has not enough, but cries, ‘I die of hunger.’”

“I am no brave fellow.  He who pierced a steel shield with a steel spear is a brave fellow,” said the hungry man.

“I am he.  Let us be brothers,” said the youth and the four journeyed on together.  They went on and on and saw a man who had loaded the whole world on his back and even wished to lift it up.

“That is a brave fellow.  He has loaded himself with the whole world and wishes to lift it up,” said the youth.

“I am no brave fellow.  He who has pierced a steel shield with a steel spear is a brave fellow,” said the burdened man.

“I am he.  Let us be brothers.”

The five journeyed on together.  They went on and on and saw a man lying in a brook and he sipped up all its waters and yet cried, “O little father, I am parched with thirst.”