Once upon a time, a rich man died, leaving his fortune equally to his three sons. Soon after, the king proclaimed that whoever could build a ship that sailed on both land and sea would win his daughter's hand.
The eldest brother spent his fortune hiring skilled shipbuilders but harshly turned away the old, the young, and the unskilled who begged for work, including a little old man with a long white beard. His ship was destroyed in a squall upon launch, ruining him.
The second brother repeated the same mistake, showing no kindness to those seeking work. His ship also met a tragic end in a gale, and he lost everything.
The youngest brother, though not wealthy, decided to try. He welcomed all who came seeking work: the old, the young, and the unskilled. When the white-bearded old man appeared, the youth kindly made him an overseer instead of letting him labor. This old man was a holy hermit, who, touched by the youth's kindness, vowed to help him succeed.
With the hermit's guidance, a perfect ship was built. The hermit agreed to accompany the youth to the king on condition of receiving half of all rewards. On their voyage, they encountered and recruited six men with extraordinary abilities:
1. A man who could gather fog into a sack.
2. A man of immense strength who could carry a forest on his shoulders.
3. A man with an unquenchable thirst who could drink a stream dry.
4. A peerless archer who could hit any target, even in the Underworld.
5. A man with incredibly long strides who could cover vast distances instantly.
Upon arriving at the palace, the king, reluctant to give his daughter to a stranger, set three additional impossible tasks:
1. The Message: Deliver a letter to the ruler of the Underworld and return with a reply within an hour. The long-legged man accomplished the journey but fell asleep. The archer woke him with a perfectly aimed arrow, and he returned just in time.
2. The Drink: Drink half the royal wine cellar in a day. The thirsty man drank the entire cellar dry.
3. The Dowry: Carry away the princess's dowry, limited to what one man could bear. The strong man stripped the palace bare, carrying everything of value, including the king's crown, to the ship.
Enraged, the king pursued them with his warships. The man with the sack released the fog, blinding the royal fleet and allowing the youth's ship to escape safely.
Back home, the hermit asked the youth to fulfill his promise of sharing half of everything. The youth divided all the treasures faithfully. When the hermit pointed out he had forgotten to divide the princess, the heartbroken youth prepared to keep his word, drawing his sword. The hermit stopped him, revealing his test: the youth's honor and kindness were his true rewards. The hermit blessed the couple and vanished.
The youngest son married the princess, shared his wealth with his brothers, and they all lived happily, never forgetting the kind hermit.