-board,
and bright gold piece that the King had lost about a year before.

'Don't remind me of them!' said the King.

Red, however, went on to say that, since Ring was such a mighty man that
he could do everything, it had occurred to him to advise the King to
ask him to search for these treasures, and come back with them before
Christmas; in return the King should promise him his daughter.

The King replied that he thought it altogether unbecoming to propose
such a thing to Ring, seeing that he could not tell him where the things
were; but Red pretended not to hear the King's excuses, and went on
talking about it until the King gave in to him. One day, a month or so
before Christmas, the King spoke to Ring, saying that he wished to ask a
great favour of him.

'What is that?' said Ring.

'It is this,' said the King: 'that you find for me my gold cloak, my
gold chess-board, and my bright gold piece, that were stolen from me
about a year ago. If you can bring them to me before Christmas I will
give you my daughter in marriage.'

'Where am I to look for them, then?' said Ring.

'That you must find out for yourself,' said the King: 'I don't know.'

Ring now left the King, and was very silent, for he saw he was in a
great difficulty: but, on the other hand, he thought it was excellent
to have such a chance of winning the King's daughter. Snati noticed that
his master was at a loss, and said to him that he should not disregard
what the King had asked him to do; but he would have to act upon his
advice, otherwise he would get into great difficulties. The Prince
assented to this, and began to prepare for the journey.

After he had taken leave of the King, and was setting out on the
search, Snati said to him, 'Now you must first of all go about the
neighbourhood, and gather as much salt as ever you can.' The Prince did
so, and gathered so much salt that he could hardly carry it; but Snati
said, 'Throw it on my back,' which he accordingly did, and the Dog then
ran on before the Prince, until they came to the foot of a steep cliff.

'We must go up here,' said Snati.

'I don't think that will be child's play,' said the Prince.

'Hold fast by my tail,' said Snati; and in this way he pulled Ring up on
the lowest shelf of the rock. The Prince began to get giddy, but up went
Snati on to the second shelf. Ring was nearly swooning by this time, but
Snati made a third effort and reached the top of the cliff, where the
Prince