ond, on the edge of which
he noticed three fishes which had got entangled in the reeds and were
gasping for water. Though fish are generally supposed to be quite mute,
he heard them grieving aloud at the prospect of dying in this wretched
manner. Having a very kind heart he dismounted and soon set the
prisoners free, and in the water once more. They flapped with joy, and
stretching up their heads cried to him: 'We will remember, and reward
you for saving us.'

He rode further, and after a while he thought he heard a voice in the
sand under his feet. He paused to listen, and heard the King of the Ants
complaining: 'If only men with their awkward beasts would keep clear of
us! That stupid horse is crushing my people mercilessly to death with
his great hoofs.' The servant at once turned into a side path, and the
Ant-King called after him, 'We'll remember and reward you.'

The road next led through a wood, where he saw a father and a mother
raven standing by their nest and throwing out their young: 'Away with
you, you young rascals!' they cried, 'we can't feed you any longer. You
are quite big enough to support yourselves now.' The poor little birds
lay on the ground flapping and beating their wings, and shrieked, 'We
poor helpless children, feed ourselves indeed! Why, we can't even fly
yet; what can we do but die of hunger?' Then the kind youth dismounted,
drew his sword, and killing his horse left it there as food for the
young ravens. They hopped up, satisfied their hunger, and piped: 'We'll
remember, and reward you!'

He was now obliged to trust to his own legs, and after walking a
long way he reached a big town. Here he found a great crowd and much
commotion in the streets, and a herald rode about announcing, 'The
King's daughter seeks a husband, but whoever would woo her must first
execute a difficult task, and if he does not succeed he must be content
to forfeit his life.' Many had risked their lives, but in vain. When the
youth saw the King's daughter, he was so dazzled by her beauty, that he
forgot all idea of danger, and went to the King to announce himself a
suitor.

On this he was led out to a large lake, and a gold ring was thrown into
it before his eyes. The King desired him to dive after it, adding, 'If
you return without it you will be thrown back into the lake time after
time, till you are drowned in its depths.'

Everyone felt sorry for the handsome young fellow and left him alone on
the shore. There