. The woman thanked him gratefully, and said:

'Listen, my lord. You must walk straight on till you notice a very
strong scent, which comes from a garden by the side of the road. Go in
and hide yourself close to a tank, where three doves will come to bathe.
As the last one flies past you, catch hold of its robe of feathers, and
refuse to give it back till the dove has promised you three things.'

The young man did as he was told, and everything happened as the woman
had said. He took the robe of feathers from the dove, who gave him in
exchange for it a ring, a collar, and one of its own plumes, saying:
'When you are in any trouble, cry "Come to my aid, O dove!" I am the
daughter of the king you are going to serve, who hates your father and
made you gamble in order to cause your ruin.'

Thus the prince went on his way, and in course of time he arrived at the
king's palace. As soon as his master knew he was there, the young man
was sent for into his presence, and three bags were handed to him with
these words:

'Take this wheat, this millet, and this barley, and sow them at once, so
that I may have loaves of them all to-morrow.'

The prince stood speechless at this command, but the king did not
condescend to give any further explanation, and when he was dismissed
the young man flew to the room which had been set aside for him, and
pulling out his feather, he cried: 'Dove, dove! be quick and come.'

'What is it?' said the dove, flying in through the open window, and
the prince told her of the task before him, and of his despair at being
unable to accomplish it. 'Fear nothing; it will be all right,' replied
the dove, as she flew away again.

The next morning when the prince awoke he saw the three loaves standing
beside his bed. He jumped up and dressed, and he was scarcely ready
when a page arrived with the message that he was to go at once into the
king's chamber. Taking the loaves in his arm he followed the boy, and,
bowing low, laid them down before the king. The monarch looked at the
loaves for a moment without speaking, then he said:

'Good. The man who can do this can also find the ring which my eldest
daughter dropped into the sea.'

The prince hastened back to his room and summoned the dove, and when she
heard this new command she said: 'Now listen. To-morrow take a knife
and a basin and go down to the shore and get into a boat you will find
there.'

The young man did not know what he was to do when he wa