the other. "I am his son.
I'll tell him: 'This man did me a good service,' When he asks you to go to
the treasure and take as much money as you wish, answer him: 'I don't want
any. I only want you to spit a benediction into my mouth,' If he asks you,
'Who told you that?' answer, 'Nobody.'"

The man went and found the King and complained of the woman. The King
called her and asked her: "Why have you taken this man captive?"

"He ate my son."

"Why was your son metamorphosed into a jerboa? When men see one of those
they kill him and eat him." Then addressing the man: "Give her back the
ear-ring." He gave it to her.

"Go," said the King, "take this man to the place from which you brought
him."

The son of the King then said to his father: "This man did me a favor; you
ought to reward him."

The King said to him: "Go to the treasure, take as much money as you can."

"I don't want money," he answered; "I want you to spit into my mouth a
benediction."

"Who told you that?"

"Nobody."

"You will not be able to bear it."

"I will be able."

"When I have spat into your mouth, you will understand the language of
beasts and birds; you will know what they say when they speak; but if you
reveal it to the people you will die."

"I will not reveal it." So the King spat into his mouth and sent him away,
saying to the woman, "Go and take him back where you found him." She
departed, and took him back there.

He mounted his ass and came back to his house. He arranged the load and
took back to the people the linen he had washed. Then he remounted the
beast to go and seek some earth. He was going to dig when he heard a crow
say in the air:

"Dig beneath; you will sing when God has made you rich."

He understood what the crow said, dug beneath, and found a treasure. He
filled a basket with it. On the top he put a little earth and went home,
but often returned to the spot. On one of these occasions his ass met a
mule, which said:

"Are you working still?"

The ass replied: "My master has found a treasure and he is taking it away."

The mule answered: "When you are in a crowd balk and throw the basket to
the ground. People will see it, all will be discovered, and your master
will leave you in peace."

The man had heard every word of this. He filled his basket with earth only.
When they arrived at a crowd of people the ass kicked and threw the load to
the ground. Her master beat her till she had enough. He applied hi