THE
WHITE
CAT

throne to that one among you, my sons, who
furnishes me with the most acceptable little dog.’

The three princes were exceedingly surprised at
their father’s sudden fancy for a little dog, but by
his announcement a chance of succession to the
throne was opened to the two younger, who in the
ordinary course of affairs would have had no such
chance; they therefore gladly accepted the com-
mission, and the eldest, fearing to be deprived of

- his rights, was fain also to start in quest of a

perfect dog.
They resolved, before they separated, to meet each
other and go together before the king, in a year
and a day from that at which they started on their
several journeys.
Each now took a different road, and the two elder
brothers met with many adventures; but as those
of the youngest were the most interesting, you
shall hear only of them.
This prince was young, light-hearted, and very
handsome; he was well educated; and as for his
courage, it was boundless.
Hardly a day passed without his purchasing dogs,
big and small, and of every description, mastiffs,
bull-dogs, staghounds, spaniels, beagles, lap-dogs.
Whenever he had bought a pretty one, he was
sure next moment to be offered another that was
still prettier, and then he had to get rid of those
he had already purchased, and to buy that which
took his fancy last; it was, as can well be under-
stood, quite impossible for him, who was alone, to
tare! the country with a thousand dogs about
im.
He journeyed on from day to day, not knowing
whither he was going, till one day at nightfall he
found himself in a large and gloomy forest. He
completely lost his way, and what made matters
worse was that a thunderstorm came on and
the rain poured down in torrents. He took
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