bik!" the farmer cried when at last he found his voice, "where did
you get that ring? You must have stolen it, you wicked boy!" And
without waiting to hear what Kubik had to say, he reached for a whip
and trounced the poor lad to within an inch of his life. Then he took
the ring and hid it carefully away.

"Now, my boys," he said to his sons, "you will all have to make
another trial. This time ask of your promised brides the gift of an
embroidered kerchief and he who brings back the most beautiful
kerchief shall be my heir."

So the next day the three sons again started out, each in a different
direction.

Kubik thought to himself: "I won't go the way I went yesterday or I
may meet that old frog again and then, when I get home, the only prize
I'll get will be another beating."

So he took a different path but he hadn't gone far before the old frog
hopped up in front of him.

"What's the matter, Kubik?" she asked.

At first Kubik didn't want to tell her but she questioned him and
finally, not to seem rude, he told her about the beating his father
had given him on account of Kachenka's ring and about the new quest
for embroidered kerchiefs upon which his father was now sending him
and his brothers.

"Now don't think any more about that whipping," the old frog advised
him. "And as for an embroidered kerchief, why, Kachenka is the very
girl for that! She will give you one that will make your brothers open
their eyes!"

Kubik wasn't sure that he wanted to accept another of Kachenka's
gifts, but the old frog urged him and at last he agreed. So again they
took the path to the rocky cliff. The old frog called her daughter out
as before and presently Kachenka appeared dragging a chest that was
filled with the most wonderful of kerchiefs, all of fine silk and all
richly embroidered and so large that they were more like shawls than
kerchiefs.

Kubik reached in and took the first that came to hand.

"Tut, tut!" the old frog said. "That's no way to select a kerchief."

Then she herself picked out the biggest and the most richly
embroidered of them all and wrapped it up in paper. She gave it to
Kubik and said:

"Now hurry home, for your brothers are already there and your father
is waiting for you."

As soon as Kubik reached home the farmer called his three sons
together and demanded to be shown their betrothal gifts.

All the eldest one had was a small cheap kerchief of no value
whatever.

"Um," the farmer said