his answer.

"You stupid," said his witty wife, "if you had told a tale you would
have shortened the road! Now listen till I tell you a story, and then
catch up with Gobborn Seer and begin it at once. He will like hearing
it, and by the time you are done you will have reached the
foundation-stone."

So Jack sweated and overtook his father. Gobborn Seer said never a word,
but Jack began his story, and the road was shortened as his wife had
said.

When they came to the end of their journey, they started building of
this castle which was to outshine all others. Now the wife had advised
them to be intimate with the servants, and so they did as she said, and
it was "Good-morning" and "Good-day to you" as they passed in and out.

Now, at the end of a twelvemonth, Gobborn, the wise man, had built such
a castle thousands were gathered to admire it.

And the king said: "The castle is done. I shall return to-morrow and pay
you all."

"I have just a ceiling to finish in an upper lobby," said Gobborn, "and
then it wants nothing."

But after the king was gone off, the housekeeper sent for Gobborn and
Jack, and told them that she had watched for a chance to warn them, for
the king was so afraid they should carry their art away and build some
other king as fine a castle, he meant to take their lives on the morrow.