content: ' if he will not come of his own free will , he must be brought , ' said the king , and the messengers who had seen the face of the victor were sent to seek him in every street of the town . this took many days , and when at last they found the young man in the weaver 's cottage , he was so dirty and ugly and had such a strange appearance , that they declared he could not be the winner they had been searching for , but a wicked robber who had murdered ever so many people , but had always managed to escape . ' yes , it must be the robber , ' said the king , when the fisher 's son was led into his presence ; ' build a gallows at once and hang him in the sight of all my subjects , that they may behold him suffer the punishment of his crimes . '
answer: he was dirty and ugly and had such a strange appearance .
question: why did the messengers believe ian was not the winner ?
target: why did the messengers believe ian was not the winner ?
references: why did the messengers believe ian was not the winner ?