wish to be recognized as the prince.

Dressed as a poor fisherman he wandered from one kingdom to another.
He caught fish for his food, and he soon recognized the fact that the
net which the fisherman had given him as part of his outfit was a most
wonderful net. The biggest fish in the sea could not break through.
"This net must have the special blessing of _Nossa Senhora_ upon it,"
said the prince.

In the course of his wanderings the prince arrived at a city where a
great _festa_ was being held. The palace was decked with gay banners.
Every afternoon the messenger of the king rode up and down the city
streets proclaiming, "The princess of our kingdom is the most
beautiful princess in all the world."

The prince remembered the beautiful princess who had let him out of
the giant's cave. "Surely this princess cannot be as beautiful as
she," said the prince. "I am going to see this princess with my own
eyes and find out."

Accordingly the prince went to the palace gate to watch for the
princess. Soon she came to the balcony and leaned over the railing.
She was very beautiful, but her nose was just a tiny bit crooked. She
did not compare at all with the princess of the cave.

"This princess is not by any means the most beautiful one in the
world," said the prince dressed as a fisherman. "I know where there is
a princess who is much more beautiful."

The people standing by heard him. His words were at once reported to
the royal guards. They seized him roughly and took him to the king.

"So you are the fisherman who says that my daughter is not the most
beautiful princess in the world?" said the king sternly. "You say, I
hear, that you know a princess who is much more beautiful. I am a just
king or else I should order that you be put to death immediately. As
it is, I'll give you the chance to prove what you say. If you are
unable to fulfil your boast and show me this princess who in the
opinion of my court is more beautiful than my daughter, you shall lose
your life. Remember that you will have to bring her here to my court
to have her beauty proven."

"Thanks, your majesty," said the prince. "If you will allow me two
weeks to fulfil the contract, and if you'll prepare a _festa_ for the
night two weeks hence, I'll endeavour to present the most beautiful
princess in the world to your assembled court."

The king was astonished at the fisherman's words, for he had not
thought that a poor fisherman like him knew many