stance from Spain. Then the old
woman said to the young prince, "Take this whip. On your way home you
will see a dead Negro. Flay him, and put on his skin so that you will
be disguised. Cultivate humility, be kind to others, and look to the
whip in time of need." Having given these directions, the old woman,
who was none other than the Virgin Mary in disguise, disappeared.

Pugut-Negru ("disguised Negro") went on his way, and soon found
the dead Negro. When he had flayed him and put on the black skin,
he mounted his horse and rode facing its tail. When he reached the
capital of Albania, he was greatly ridiculed by every one. However,
he went to the king and applied for work. The king said that he might
take care of his sheep which were in a certain meadow. When he had been
conducted to the meadow where the sheep were, he saw the bones of many
men. It was said that every shepherd in that place had been killed by
"spirits" (multos). That night the spirits threw bones at Pugut-Negru;
but he chastised them with his whip, and was left in peace.

This Negro disguise of Prince Fernando, however, was only for
Albania. Leaving Albania for a time, he went in his princely garments
to visit his parents. He found them in the power of the Moors, who had
conquered the kingdom of Spain. With his whip he drove all the Moors
out of the country, and freed his family. Later he went to Navarre,
and won a tournament and the hand of the princess. Instead of marrying
her, however,--for he had already fallen in love with the youngest
daughter of the King of Albania,--he went back and resumed his old
work as shepherd, disguised as a Negro.

Some time afterwards it was proclaimed that whoever could cure the
king's illness would be amply rewarded. The king had an eye-disease,
but none of the learned doctors could help him. Finally it was said
that Pugut-Negru knew how to cure eye-diseases, and so the king
summoned him. "If you can cure my disease," said the afflicted king,
"I will marry one of my daughters to you. If you cannot, you shall be
hung."--"I'll do my best, your Majesty," said Pugut-Negru humbly. Then
he gathered certain herbs, and applied them to the king's eyes. The
king soon got well, and asked his three daughters which of them wanted
to marry his savior. "I won't!" said the eldest. "Neither will I,"
rejoined the second. But the youngest and prettiest one said, "I am
at your disposal, father." So Pugut-Negru took the youngest for hi