rowing there. One day
when he was in the top of the tree, he saw on another high mountain a
beautiful princess, Dona Maria. When he returned home to his palace,
he sent a proclamation all over his kingdom, saying that the one
who could take Dona Maria from her mountain and bring her before him
should have one-half of his kingdom.

Juan was a beggar; and it was his custom, whenever he saw a beggar
like himself, to share with that beggar the alms which had been given
him. One day he saw a wretched old woman, and out of pity for her he
gave her all the food he had begged that day. Then the old woman,
who knew of the proclamation of the king, said to Juan, "You must
tell the king, my boy, that you will fetch Dona Maria for him." Juan
did not want to, because he said that he did not know where and how he
might get Dona Maria; but the old woman at last persuaded Juan to go by
telling him that she would accompany him, and promising her help. After
Juan had visited the palace and told the king that he would bring the
princess Dona Maria to him, the poor boy and the old woman set out
on their journey to the distant mountain. When they reached the gates
of the city, the old woman said to Juan, "Juan, I am very tired, and
I cannot go any farther, but I will give you this handkerchief. When
you come to the first mountain, you must spread the handkerchief on the
ground, and many fat horses will approach you; but I advise you not to
choose any of them. You must choose the very last one, which will be
lean and weak-looking. That is the horse which can endure hardships,
and which will be able to carry you to the princess's palace."

Juan followed the advice of the old woman, when the time came, and
chose the thin horse. He mounted on its back, and rode on towards the
mountain of Dona Maria. When he had ridden very far, he saw before
him a hill full of ants. He was afraid to try to pass over this hill,
lest the ants should devour him and his animal. The horse said to
him, "You must ask the handkerchief for food, and we will feed the
ants." Juan spread out the handkerchief, and asked it to bring him
much food. After he had scattered it on the ground for the ants, the
leader of the ants approached Juan, and said, "Since you have been
very kind to us, I will give you one of my legs; and at any time you
want aid from us, you must burn the leg, and let the ashes be carried
by the wind. Then we will come to help you."

When Juan had again