he built his great white pillar far, far up into the clouds, as high as
the nearest stars; but the other stars were higher still.

Then the second Simon climbed up the pillar and saw and heard all
that was going on through the whole world. When he came down
he had all sorts of wonderful things to tell. How one king was
marching in battle against another, and which was likely to be the
victor. How, in another place, great rejoicings were going on,
while in a third people were dying of famine. In fact there was not
the smallest event going on over the earth that was hidden from
him.

Next the third Simon began. He stretched out his arms, once,
twice, thrice, and the wonder-ship was ready. At a sign from the
king it was launched, and floated proudly and safely like a bird on
the waves. Instead of ropes it had wires for rigging, and musicians
played on them with fiddle bows and made lovely music. As the
ship swam about, the fourth Simon seized the prow with his strong
hand, and in a moment it was gone--sunk to the bottom of the sea.
An hour passed, and then the ship floated again, drawn up by
Simon's left hand, while in his right he brought a gigantic fish from
the depth of the ocean for the royal table.

Whilst this was going on the fifth Simon had built his forge and
hammered out his iron, and when the king returned from the
harbour the magic cross-bow was made.

His Majesty went out into an open field at once, looked up into the
sky and saw, far, far away, an eagle flying up towards the sun and
looking like a little speck.