There was once upon a time a thief, who, being out of a job, was
wandering by himself up and down the seashore. As he walked he
passed a man who was standing still, looking at the waves.

‘I wonder,' said the thief, addressing the stranger, ‘if you have
ever seen a stone swimming?'

‘Most certainly I have,' replied the other man, ‘and, what is
more, I saw the same stone jump out of the water and fly through
the air.'

‘This is capital,' replied the thief. ‘You and I must go into
partnership. We shall certainly make our fortunes. Let us start
together for the palace of the king of the neighbouring country.
When we get there, I will go into his presence alone, and will
tell him the most startling thing I can invent. Then you must
follow and back up my lie.'

Having agreed to do this, they set out on their travels. After
several days' journeying, they reached the town where the king's
palace was, and here they parted for a few hours, while the thief
sought an interview with the king, and begged his majesty to give
him a glass of beer.

‘That is impossible,' said the king, ‘as this year there has been
a failure of all the crops, and of the hops and the vines; so we
have neither wine nor beer in the whole kingdom.'