Once upon a time there was a tailor, and, whenever he hadn't a job,
he used to spend his time mending stockings. One day after dinner
the table was covered with flies. The tailor struck at them with a
stocking and killed nine of them at a blow.
As he hadn't any job in hand, he started out to see the world, and
his belt had written on it "Nine at a blow." On his way he met a
boy, who asked him to buy a finch from him. He bought it, put it in
his knapsack, and went on his way. Then he came to a farm where the
farmer's wife was making cheese. He asked her for something to eat,
so she gave him some sour milk and a piece of Yorkshire cheese. The
tailor drank the milk and put the cheese in his knapsack and went on
his way. At last he reached a town. It was a hot day, so he lay down
and fell asleep. Now, a giant happened to pass that way, and he saw
written in golden letters: "Nine at a blow."
So he waked the tailor and asked him: "Have you really killed nine
at a blow?"
The tailor answered that he had, and the giant said: "Let's have a
trial which of us is the stronger. I'll cast a stone, and it will be
an hour before it comes down."