So now there were five of them, and just as they turned a corner the
parson saw two peasants, and called to them to set him and his sexton
free.
They threw down their spades at once and tried to do so, but they too,
stuck fast, and so Johnny had a fine string of seven folk hanging on
to the wing of his golden goose.
On and on they ran, until at length they came into the country of a
powerful King.
This King had an only daughter, who all her life had been so sad that
no one had ever been able to make her laugh. So the King made a decree
that the man who could bring a smile to his daughter's face should
have her for his bride.
When Johnny heard what the King had promised, he at once made his way
into the Princess's presence, and when she saw the goose, with the
seven queer-looking companions hanging on behind, she burst into such
a hearty fit of laughter that it was thought she would never be able
to stop again.
Of course, the Simpleton claimed her as his bride, but the King did
not fancy him for a son-in-law, so he made all sorts of excuses.
"You shall have her," said he, "if you can first bring me a man who can
drink up a whole cellarful of wine."
Johnny at once remembered the little gray man, and, feeling sure that
he would help him, he set out for the wood where he had first met him.
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