“I came to you， wise man， for an answer to my questions. Ifyou can give me none， tell me so， and I will return home.”
“Here comes some one running，” said the hermit， “let us seewho it is.”
The King turned round， and saw a bearded man comerunning out of the wood. The man held his hands pressedagainst his stomach， and blood was flowing from under them.
When he reached the King， he fell fainting on the groundmoaning feebly. The King and the hermit unfastened theman’s clothing. There was a large wound in his stomach.
The King washed it as best he could， and bandaged it withhis handkerchief and with a towel the hermit had. But theblood would not stop flowing， and the King again and againremoved the bandage soaked with warm blood， and washedand rebandaged the wound. When at last the blood ceasedflowing， the man revived and asked for something to drink.
The King brought fresh water and gave it to him. Meanwhilethe sun had set， and it had become cool. So the King， with thehermit’s help， carried the wounded man into the hut and laidhim on the bed. Lying on the bed the man closed his eyes andwas quiet； but the King was so tired with his walk and withthe work he had done， that he crouched down on the threshold，and also fell asleep—so soundly that he slept all through theshort summer night. When he awoke in the morning， it waslong before he could remember where he was， or who was thestrange bearded man lying on the bed and gazing intently athim with shining eyes.
“Forgive me！” said the bearded man in a weak voice， whenhe saw that the King was awake and was looking at him.
“I do not know you， and have nothing to forgive you for，”
said the King.
“You do not know me， but I know you. I am that enemyof yours who swore to revenge himself on you， because youexecuted his brother and seized his property. I knew you hadgone alone to see the hermit， and I resolved to kill you on yourway back. But the day passed and you did not return. So Icame out from my ambush to find you， and I came upon yourbodyguard， and they recognized me， and wounded me. I escapedfrom them， but should have bled to death had you not dressedmy wound. I wished to kill you， and you have saved my life.
Now， if I live， and if you wish it， I will serve you as your mostfaithful slave， and will bid my sons do the same. Forgive me！”
The King was very glad to have made peace with his enemyso easily， and to have gained him for a friend， and he not onlyforgave him， but said he would send his servants and his ownphysician to attend him， and promised to restore his property.
Having taken leave of the wounded man， the King went outinto the porch and looked around for the hermit. Before goingaway he wished once more to beg an answer to the questionshe had put. The hermit was outside， on his knees， sowing seedsin the beds that had been dug the day before.
The King approached him， and said：
“For the last time， I pray you to answer my questions， wiseman.”
“You have already been answered！” said the hermit， stillcrouching on his thin legs， and looking up at the King， whostood before him.
“How answered？ What do you mean？” asked the King.
“Do you not see，” replied the hermit. “If you had not pitiedmy weakness yesterday， and had not dug those beds for me，but had gone your way， that man would have attacked you，and you would have repented of not having stayed with me.
So the most important time was when you were digging thebeds； and I was the most important man； and to do me goodwas your most important business. Afterwards when thatman ran to us， the most important time was when you wereattending to him， for if you had not bound up his wounds hewould have died without having made peace with you. So hewas the most important man， and what you did for him wasyour most important business. Remember then： there is onlyone time that is important—Now！ It is the most important timebecause it is the only time when we have any power. The mostnecessary man is he with whom you are， for no man knowswhether he will ever have dealings with any one else： andthe most important affair is， to do him good， because for thatpurpose alone was man sent into this life！”
