rning the hands awoke him, and dressing him in a
handsome hunting costume, led him to the courtyard, where he found the
White Cat upon a splendid monkey, with about five hundred other cats
assembled, all ready for the chase; and never had the Prince enjoyed
anything so much, for although mounted only upon a wooden horse, he
rode at a great pace.

Day after day passed in such delights as made the Prince almost forget
his own country.

"Alas!" said he to the White Cat again and again, "how sad I shall be
to leave you! I love you so dearly! Either become a woman, or change
me into a cat!"

A year passes very quickly when one has no care or trouble, and is
enjoying life. But the White Cat knew when the Prince should return
home, and reminded him, saying, "Don't you know you have only three
days to look for the little dog for your father, and that your
brothers will have found the most beautiful?"

Then the Prince came to himself, and cried, "By what charm have you
made me forget what is so important? Where shall I find the dog, and a
horse swift enough for such a journey?" And he was in great distress.

The White Cat comforted him, however, saying that the wooden horse
would take him to his journey's end sufficiently quickly, and that she
would herself also provide the little dog; then she handed to him
a walnut, saying, "Put your ear to this shell and you will hear him
barking."

So the Prince met his brothers, and they came into the King's
presence.

[Illustration]

The two elder sons had brought little dogs so delicate and small that
one hardly dared to touch them, and none could decide which should
have the kingdom. Then the youngest took from his pocket the nut the
Cat had given to him, and there was seen a little dog so tiny that
it could go through a ring without touching it; he was also able to
dance, and play the castanets, while his ears touched the ground.
The King was embarassed, for it was impossible to find a flaw in this
lovely little creature.

However as he did not desire to part with his crown, he declared that
they had succeeded so well in their first quest that now he should
like them to search, by land and sea, for a piece of linen so fine
that it would pass through the eye of a very small needle.

Then the three Princes set out once more, but the youngest mounted his
wooden horse and repaired at once to the White Cat, who was rejoiced
to see him, and the second year passed by as the first