Once upon a time there was a king who went out for a ride, like kings sometimes do. He came to a farm with a sign on the gate, which said, No Worries.

That's odd, the king thought; although I am the most privileged person in the whole country, I have plenty of worries. How can there be someone here who has no worries? So he made the carriage stop and went up to the farmer's wife.

"So, woman," he said, "how's life treating you?"

"Well enough, sir, and how's that with you?"

"Quite good, thank you. Are you happy out here?"

"Can't complain."

"Do you have any worries?"

"I should think so, sir. I've got a bunch of boys to feed, to clothe and to raise; that's quite a job, you know."

"Funny you should say that," the king replied, "because the sign on the gate says, No Worries."

"Yes, well, I didn't put it there," the farmer's wife replied. "It's the landlord who put it there."

"What's the name of your landlord?"

Then the farmer's wife mentioned the name of one of the servants of the king.

"Come again?" the king said.

She repeated the name, and now the king was sure that the farm belonged to one of his court's servants.

The next day the king summoned the servant.

"Well, mate," the king said, "how are you coming along?"

"Quite alright, sir."

"You own a farm, don't you?"

"Yes, sir."

"So you have no worries?"

"No sir, I can cope very nicely; you pay me a good week's wages, too, and I have saved some money for a rainy day, so why should I worry?"

"Right," said the king, "now let me tell you something. I do have worries, and I can't stand that people in my service don't have any worries. So I will fire you right this instant and give you something to worry about."

The servant was shocked and asked if there was no alternative.

Finally, the king decided to keep him, provided he could answer three questions within three days:

1. How many buckets does it take to empty the sea?

2. How long does it take to travel around the world?

3. What am I thinking?

Now the servant was even more depressed. As merry as he used to be, he was that worried now. His head sank lower and lower between his shoulders. At a certain moment, he met one of his comrades, who happened to look a lot like him.

"What's the matter?" said the friend. "You look as if you're at your wit's end."

The servant explained the whole matter and finally said, "Now, wouldn't you be upset?"

"Not at all," the other said. "Hand me over your clothes, and I will solve this matter in a decent way."

The servant agreed.

The third day, the friend went to the king.

"Ah," the king said, "there you are. Tell me, how many buckets does it take to empty the sea?"

"Just one," he answered, "provided your bucket is big enough."

"Clever," the king said. "And how many days does it take to travel around the world?"

"Twenty-four hours," he replied, "as long as you sit on the sun." [1]

"That's really smart," said the king. "Now, what am I thinking?"

"Well," he said, "you think I am your servant, but in fact I am his mate."

The king started laughing, because the other had outwitted him, and he decided the servant was allowed to stay.