The Rat King said, “Seize thou any rat thou wantest.” Having said, “Take this rat chief,” he gave him. Afterwards the Cat let go [the Rat King].

The Parrot, calling that rat [who had been appointed to assist him], went to the palace in which was the Princess. After the rat had cut [his way into] seven boxes, there was a gem-set ring [in the last one].

Taking it, when he gave it to the Parrot, the Parrot said, “This ring is not ours (apaṭa nāe).”

Afterwards the Parrot and the rat having come near the Prince, [the rat] said, “I cut into seven boxes; there was one ring. When I gave it to the Parrot youngster (girā-pōṭa­kayāṭa) the Parrot said, ‘It is not ours,’ ” he said.

Then the Prince said, “Are there not other boxes?”

The rat said, “There is one more.”

The Prince said, “If so, cut thou

The Parrot and the rat having gone [there], the rat cut into that box. Then the gem-set ring was there. [The rat took it to the Parrot, who handed it over to the Prince. By means of it he recovered the Princess.]

Taking the ring, and having brought back the Princess, they all remained at the palace.

Tom-tom Beater. North-western Province.