gged to lend him the animal
just for one night. Schippeitaro's master was not at all willing to
give him in charge to a man of whom he knew nothing, but in the end
he consented, and the youth led the dog away, promising faithfully to
return him next day to his master. He next hurried to the hut where
the maiden lived, and entreated her parents to shut her up safely in a
closet, after which he took Schippeitaro to the cask, and fastened him
into it. In the evening he knew that the cask would be placed in the
chapel, so he hid himself there and waited.

At midnight, when the full moon appeared above the top of the mountain,
the cats again filled the chapel and shrieked and yelled and danced
as before. But this time they had in their midst a huge black cat who
seemed to be their king, and whom the young man guessed to be the Spirit
of the Mountain. The monster looked eagerly about him, and his eyes
sparkled with joy when he saw the cask. He bounded high into the air
with delight and uttered cries of pleasure; then he drew near and undid
the bolts.

But instead of fastening his teeth in the neck of a beautiful maiden,
Schippeitaro's teeth were fastened in HIM, and the youth ran up and cut
off his head with his sword. The other cats were so astonished at the
turn things had taken that they forgot to run away, and the young man
and Schippeitaro between them killed several more before they thought of
escaping.

At sunrise the brave dog was taken back to his master, and from that
time the mountain girls were safe, and every year a feast was held in
memory of the young warrior and the dog Schippeitaro.

(Japanische Marchen.)

THE THREE PRINCES AND THEIR BEASTS (LITHUANIAN FAIRY TALE)

Once on a time there were three princes, who had a step-sister. One day
they all set out hunting together. When they had gone some way through a
thick wood they came on a great grey wolf with three cubs. Just as they
were going to shoot, the wolf spoke and said, 'Do not shoot me, and I
will give each of you one of my young ones. It will be a faithful friend
to you.'

So the princes went on their way, and a little wolf followed each of
them.

Soon after they came on a lioness with three cubs. And she too begged
them not to shoot her, and she would give each of them a cub. And so it
happened with a fox, a hare, a boar, and a bear, till each prince had
quite a following of young beasts padding along behind him.

Towards evening they