Then each staked his three hundred florins , and the king said he would decide the question by sending a servant into that country to see if it was true . So the servant set out on horseback , and on the way he met a man , and he asked him whence he came . And the man told him that he came from the self-same country to which the servant was at that moment bound . ` If that is the case , ' said the servant , ` you can tell me how high the hops grow in your country , and how many barrels of beer can be brewed from one branch ? ' ' I ca n't tell you that , ' answered the man , ` but I happened to be present when the hops were being gathered in , and I saw that it took three men with axes three days to cut down one branch . ' Then the servant thought that he might save himself a long journey ; so he gave the man ten florins , and told him he must repeat to the king what he had just told him . And when they got back to the palace , they came together into the king 's presence . And the king asked him : ` Well , is it true about the hops ? ' ` Yes , sire , it is , ' answered the servant ; ` and here is a man I have brought with me from the country to confirm the tale . ' So the king paid the thief the three hundred florins ; and the partners once more set out together in search of adventures . As they journeyed , the thief said to his comrade : ' I will now go to another king , and will tell him something still more startling ; and you must follow and back up my lie , and we shall get some money out of him ; just see if we do n't . ' When they reached the next kingdom , the thief presented himself to the king , and requested him to give him a cauliflower . And the king answered : ` Owing to a blight among the vegetables we have no cauliflower . ' ` That is strange , ' answered the thief . ' I have just come from a country where it grows so well that one head of cauliflower filled twelve water-tubs . ' ' I do n't believe it , ' answered the king . ' I bet you six hundred florins it is true , ' replied the thief . ` And I bet you six hundred florins it is not true , ' answered the king . And he sent for a servant , and ordered him to start at once for the country whence the thief had come , to find out if his story of the cauliflower was true . On his journey the servant met with a man .
Stopping his horse he asked him where he came from , and the man replied XXXXX he came from the country to which the other was travelling .
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