good horse.

Early the next day he set forth, with a resolute heart and the King's
letter to the Princess. One day when he had ridden a great distance,
he dismounted and sat down under a tree that grew beside a river. He
took from his pocket a little book, in which he jotted down some happy
thoughts that he meant to use in his plea to the Princess. Not far
from where he sat, a golden carp was springing from the water to catch
flies, and a bound too high landed it on the grass at Charming's feet.
It panted helplessly, and would have died had he not taken pity on it
and thrown it back into the river. It sank out of sight, but presently
returned to the surface long enough to say:

"Thank you, Charming, for saving my life. Some day I may repay you."
Naturally, he was greatly surprised at so much politeness from a fish.

A few days later, while riding along his way, he saw a raven pursued
by an eagle. In a moment more the eagle would have overtaken the
raven, had not Charming aimed his arrow in time and killed the
pursuer. The raven perched on a tree near by and croaked its
gratitude:

"You have rescued me from a dreadful fate," it said. "Some day I will
repay you."

A day or two afterward, in the dusk of early morning, he heard the
distressful cries of an owl. Hunting about, he found the unfortunate
bird caught in a net which some birdcatchers had spread. "Why will men
persecute and torment harmless creatures!" exclaimed Charming, as he
set the bird free. The owl fluttered above his head, saying:

"You have saved me from the fowlers, who would have killed me. I am
not ungrateful, and some day I will repay you!" After that it flew
swiftly away.

Charming at last reached the palace of the Princess, and asked an
audience. His name so pleased her that she at once received him. He
was ushered into the presence of the Princess, who sat on a throne of
gold and ivory. Her satin dress was embroidered with jewels, and her
golden hair was confined by a crown of flowers. Soft music and perfume
filled the air, and Charming was so awed by all this splendor that at
first he could not speak. Recovering himself in a moment, he told
of his mission, and set forth the good qualities of the King in such
glowing terms that the Princess listened.

"You have argued so eloquently," replied she, "that I regret to deny
you; but I have made a vow not to marry, until the ambassador can
return to me a ring which I lost in the river a month a