y found a tiny fish at the end of the hook.

'What a wretched little creature!' cried one brother. 'However, it is
better than nothing, and I will bake him with bread crumbs and have him
for supper.'

'Oh, do not kill me yet!' begged the fish; 'I will bring you good
luck--indeed I will!'

'You silly thing!' said the young man; 'I've caught you, and I shall eat
you.'

But his brother was sorry for the fish, and put in a word for him.

'Let the poor little fellow live. He would hardly make one bite, and,
after all, how do we know we are not throwing away our luck! Put him
back into the sea. It will be much better.'

'If you will let me live,' said the fish, 'you will find on the sands
to-morrow morning two beautiful horses splendidly saddled and bridled,
and on them you can go through the world as knights seeking adventures.'

'Oh dear, what nonsense!' exclaimed the elder; 'and, besides, what proof
have we that you are speaking the truth?'

But again the younger brother interposed: 'Oh, do let him live! You know
if he is lying to us we can always catch him again. It is quite worth
while trying.'

At last the young man gave in, and threw the fish back into the sea; and
both brothers went supperless to bed, and wondered what fortune the next
day would bring.

At the first streaks of dawn they were both up, and in a very few
minutes were running down to the shore. And there, just as the fish had
said, stood two magnificent horses, saddled and bridled, and on their
backs lay suits of armour and under-dresses, two swords, and two purses
of gold.

'There!' said the younger brother. 'Are you not thankful you did not
eat that fish? He has brought us good luck, and there is no knowing how
great we may become! Now, we will each seek our own adventures. If you
will take one road I will go the other.'

'Very well,' replied the elder; 'but how shall we let each other know if
we are both living?'

'Do you see this fig-tree?' said the younger. 'Well, whenever we want
news of each other we have only to come here and make a slit with our
swords in the back. If milk flows, it is a sign that we are well and
prosperous; but if, instead of milk, there is blood, then we are either
dead or in great danger.'

Then the two brothers put on their armour, buckled their swords, and
pocketed their purees; and, after taking a tender farewell of each
other, they mounted their horses and went their various ways.

The elder brother r