84 SLAV TALES

“Ah, if I only had my good little ants here,” he cried,
“they would be able to help me.”

“Here we are, young man, at your service,” answered the
ants, suddenly appearing. Then they all ran round him,
crying out, ‘‘ What is the matter? What do you want?”

“‘T have to find all the pearls lost in this field, and cannot
see a single one: can you help me?”

“Wait a little, we will soon get them for you.”

He had not to wait very long, for they brought him a
heap of pearls, and all he had to do was to thread them
on the string. Just as he was about to make a knot he
saw a lame ant coming slowly towards him, for one of her
feet had been burned in the bush fire.

“Wait a moment, George,” she called out; “do not tie
the knot before threading this last pearl I am_ bringing
you.”

When George took his pearls to the king, his majesty
first counted them to make sure they were all there, and
then said, “‘You have done very well in this test, to-morrow
I will give you another.”

Early next morning the king summoned George to him
and said, “My daughter, the Princess with the Golden Hair,
dropped her gold ring into the sea while bathing. You must
find the jewel and bring it me to-day.”

The young fellow walked thoughtfully up and down the
beach. The water was pure and transparent, but he could
not see beyond a certain distance into its depths, and there-
fore could not tell where the ring was lying beneath the
water.

“Ah, my golden fishling, why are you not here now?