When the King saw that, he became exceedingly sorrowful, and began to weep and therewithal to say:
“What is there now left for me to do? how shall I get all this cattle back into so little a coffer?”
Lo! there came out of the water a man—came up to him, and asked:
“Wherefore are you weeping so bitterly, O lord King?”
“How can I help weeping!” answers the King. “How shall I be able to get all this great herd into so small a coffer?”
“If you like, I will set your mind at rest. I will pack up all your cattle for you. But on one condition only. You must give me whatever you have at home that you don’t know of.”
The King reflected.
“Whatever is there at home that I don’t know of?” says he. “I fancy I know about everything that’s there.”
He reflected, and consented. “Pack them up,” says he. “I will give you whatever I have at home that I know nothing about.”
So that man packed away all his cattle for him in the coffer. The King went on board ship and sailed away homewards.