ut, as the race had to be
run a second time, she determined she would not be beaten again.
Accordingly she went home and sent Quick-as-Thought a magic ring, which
prevented the person who wore it, not only from running, but even from
walking, and begged that he would wear it for her sake.

Early next morning the crowd assembled on the race-course, and
Canetella and Quick-as-Thought began their trial afresh. The princess
ran as quickly as ever, but poor Quick-as-Thought was like an overloaded
donkey, and could not go a step.

Then Hit-the-Point, who had heard all about the princess's deception
from Hare's-ear, when he saw the danger his friend was in, seized his
bow and arrow and shot the stone out of the ring Quick-as-Thought was
wearing. In a moment the youth's legs became free again, and in five
bounds he had overtaken Canetella and won the race.

The king was much disgusted when he saw that he must acknowledge
Moscione as his future son-in-law, and summoned the wise men of his
court to ask if there was no way out of the difficulty. The council at
once decided that Canetella was far too dainty a morsel for the mouth of
such a travelling tinker, and advised the king to offer Moscione a
present of gold, which no doubt a beggar like him would prefer to all
the wives in the world.

The king was delighted at this suggestion, and calling Moscione before
him, he asked him what sum of money he would take instead of his
promised bride.

Moscione first consulted with his friends, and then answered: 'I demand
as much gold and precious stones as my followers can carry away.'

The king thought he was being let off very easily, and produced coffers
of gold, sacks of silver, and chests of precious stones; but the more
Strong-Back was loaded with the treasure the straighter he stood.

At last the treasury was quite exhausted, and the king had to send his
courtiers to his subjects to collect all the gold and silver they
possessed. But nothing was of any avail, and Strong-Back only asked for
more.

When the king's counsellors saw the unexpected result of their advice,
they said it would be more than foolish to let some strolling thieves
take so much treasure out of the country, and urged the king to send a
troop of soldiers after them, to recover the gold and precious stones.

So the king sent a body of armed men on foot and horse, to take back the
treasure Strong-Back was carrying away with him.

But Hare's-ear, who had