‘Do not be frightened; call to the eagle you set free from the net, he will bring it to you.’
So José called to the eagle, and the eagle flew to the top of the tree and brought back the handkerchief in its beak. José thanked him, and vaulting on his horse they rode on to the river.
A great deal of rain had fallen in the night, and the river, instead of being clear as it was before, was dark and troubled.
‘How am I to fetch the ring from the bottom of this river when I do not know exactly where it was dropped, and cannot even see it?’ asked José. But the horse answered: ‘Do not be frightened; call the little fish whose life you saved, and she will bring it to you.’
So he called to the fish, and the fish dived to the bottom and slipped behind big stones, and moved little ones with its tail till it found the ring, and brought it to José in its mouth.
Well pleased with all he had done, José returned to the palace; but when the king took the precious objects to Bella-Flor, she declared that she would never open her door till the bandit who had carried her off had been fried in oil.
‘I am very sorry,’ said the king to José, ‘I really would rather not; but you see I have no choice.’
While the oil was being heated in the great caldron, José went to the stables to inquire of his friend the horse if there was no way for him to escape.