They went back to the shore, and they looked up and down for him that was drowned. All the time they were lamenting loudly.
A courtier came riding by. "What are you seeking?" he asked, "and why are you so sorrowful?"
"Oh," said they, "this day we came to fish in the stream. There were twelve of us, but one is drowned."
"Why," said the courtier, "count yourselves and see how many there be."
Again they counted, and again each man failed to count himself.
"Well, this is sad," said the courtier, who saw how the mistake had been made. "What will you give me if I find the twelfth man?"
"Sir," cried all together, "you may have all the money we own."
"Give me the money," said the courtier.
Then he began to count. He gave the first man a whack over the shoulders and said, "There is one."