he feared to follow his advice. But he was
in such pain that he decided to go to the river, which flowed like a
silver ribbon through the fields toward the ocean. Into the cool water
he plunged and immediately felt better, as the sand and bitter salt of
the sea were washed from his wounds. Then he took a nap on the soft
rushes.

"When he awoke he no longer was in pain, so he was filled with gratitude
toward the young prince who had given him such kind and wise advice. He
sat up, feeling quite strong again, and tried to think of a way in which
he could repay his benefactor. In the distance he saw the roofs of the
princess's palace rising among the trees which surrounded it. This gave
him an idea, and he lost no time in carrying it out.

"Across the fields he hopped toward the palace, never stopping till he
reached the garden wall. He crept in under the high gate, and there
stood the princess under a cherry-tree covered with blossoms. The
little hare went up to her and said respectfully:

"'Gracious Princess, I bring to you advice, if you will accept it from
so insignificant a person as I.'

"'Speak, little hare,' the beautiful princess answered, for she knew
that the best things are often found in unexpected places, and things
are not always what they seem to be.

"'Eighty princes are coming to-day as suitors for your hand. They are
dressed in rich and beautiful robes, and their faces are gay and
smiling; but all that is only to hide the cruelty of their hearts.
Following them is a young man who is as wise as he is kind and gentle.
Turn the eighty from your gate, but honor the youngest suitor as greater
than they.'

"'How do you know all this?' the princess questioned.

"So the little hare told his story for the third time, speaking so
earnestly that the princess could not fail to be impressed by it. She
thanked him for his advice, and after giving him some tender leaves
to eat, prepared to receive the eighty-one brothers. They came a few
minutes later, resplendent in the magnificent clothes they had put on in
the princess's honor. Indeed, they all looked so handsome that she found
it hard to believe the story of their cruelty. While they were talking
of their journey to her kingdom, however, some of the princes told how
they had made sport of a little hare too stupid to know that salt was
not the best thing for open wounds, and she noticed that the youngest
brother was the only one who did not enjoy the story.