“What beautiful sheep!” he said, drawing up his horse. “I have none so fine in my pastures. Whose are they?”
“Count Piro’s,” answered the shepherd, who did not know the king.
“Well, he must be a very rich man,” thought the king to himself, and rejoiced that he had such a wealthy son-in-law.
Meanwhile the fox had met with a huge herd of pigs, snuffling about the roots of some trees.
“To whom do these pigs belong?” he asked of the swineherd.
“To an ogre,” replied he.
“Hush!” whispered the fox, though nobody could hear him; “do you see that troop of armed men riding towards us? If you tell them that the pigs belong to the ogre they will kill them, and then the ogre will kill you! If they ask, just say that the pigs belong to Count Piro; it will be better for everybody.” And he ran hastily on.
Soon after the king rode up.
“What fine pigs!” he said, reining in his horse. “They are fatter than any I have got on my farms. Whose are they?”
“Count Piro’s,” answered the swineherd, who did not know the king; and again the king felt he was lucky to have such a rich son-in-law.