“Why did you not come when you were called?” inquired the King Fish.
“I have eaten so much that I cannot swim,” replied the poor fish.
Then the King Fish, suspecting the truth, ordered it cut open, and inside they found the lost ring. Benito was overjoyed at this, and expressing his great thanks, hastened with the precious ring to his master.
The King, greatly pleased, carried the ring to the Princess and said:
“Now that I have your ring will you become my wife?”
“I will be your wife,” replied the Princess, “if you will find my earring that I lost in the forest as I was journeying with Benito.”
Again the King sent for Benito, and this time he commanded him to find the earring. The boy was very weary from his long journeys, but with no complaint he started out once more. Along the road through the thick forest he searched carefully, but with no reward. At last, tired and discouraged, he sat down under a tree to rest.
Suddenly there appeared before him a mouse of great size, and he was surprised to find that it was the King of Mice.
“Why are you so sad?” asked the King Mouse.
“Because,” answered the boy, “I cannot find an earring which the Princess lost as we were going through the forest together.”