"Well, give me a meadow and a mill, a vineyard and a thousand crown-pieces, and a carriage to ride in."
"They shall be yours," said the Prince.
"Then," said John, "my beautiful cat is yours."
The Story of the Reap-hook
We have thus far followed the history of Jack, with his rooster, and John, with his cat. What became of Jack-John, the younger brother, with his reap-hook?
Journeying over hills and across valleys, with his reap-hook hung over his shoulder, stopping only to eat and to drink, the younger brother, at the end of thirty days and thirty nights, arrived in the great empire of Malissours. It was in the month of July, and the fields were yellow with the golden grain, which waved lightly in the wind. For the first time since he left home, Jack-John felt tired; his limbs refused to carry him farther. How happy he would be, he thought, if he could only reach the village near by, where there was an orange-grove. But his efforts were useless, and the young fellow lay down in the shadow of a big oak, and was soon fast asleep.
How long he remained there he did not know; but when Jack-John awoke, it was morning, and he was surrounded by a crowd of people who eyed him curiously without daring to approach.
"Hey, friends!" he cried, "I am ravenously hungry. Have you nothing to offer me?"
"Yes, yes," was the reply on all sides, "but on one condition."