gently against his cheek, began to speak. "Dear
master," said he, "do not grieve. I am not as useless as you think me,
and will undertake to make your fortune for you, if only you will buy
me a pair of boots, and give me that old bag."

Now, Jack had very little money to spare, but, knowing Puss to be a
faithful old friend, he made up his mind to trust him, and so spent
all he possessed upon a smart pair of boots made of buff-colored
leather. They fitted perfectly, so Puss put them on, took the old bag
which his master gave him, and trotted off to a neighboring warren in
which he knew there was a great number of rabbits.

Having put some bran and fresh parsley into the bag, he laid it upon
the ground, hid himself, and waited. Presently two foolish little
rabbits, sniffing the food, ran straight into the bag, when the clever
cat drew the strings and caught them.

Then, slinging the bag over his shoulder, he hastened off to the
palace, where he asked to speak to the King. Having been shown into
the royal presence, he bowed and said:

"Sire, my Lord the Marquis of Carabas has commanded me to present
these rabbits to your Majesty, with his respects."

The monarch having desired his thanks to be given to the Marquis (who,
as you will guess, was really our poor Jack), then ordered his head
cook to dress the rabbits for dinner, and he and his daughter partook
of them with great enjoyment.

Day by day Puss brought home stores of good food, so that he and his
master lived in plenty, and besides that, he did not fail to keep the
King and his courtiers well supplied with game.

Sometimes he would lay a brace of partridges at the royal feet,
sometimes a fine large hare, but whatever it was, it always came
with the same message: "From my Lord the Marquis of Carabas"; so that
everyone at Court was talking of this strange nobleman, whom no one
had ever seen, but who sent such generous presents to his Majesty.

At length Puss decided that it was time for his master to be
introduced at Court. So one day he persuaded him to go and bathe in a
river near, having heard that the King would soon pass that way.

Jack stood shivering up to his neck in water, wondering what was to
happen next, when suddenly the King's carriage appeared in sight. At
once Puss began to call out as loudly as he could:

"Help, help! My Lord the Marquis of Carabas is drowning!"

The King put his head out of the carriage window and, recognizing the
cat, o