them with him
and went far away, for he could no longer live with his family. He
reached at last a great desert, and saw some crows flying towards a
mountain. One of them was a long way behind, and when he arrived his
brothers inquired what had made him so late. 'Winter is here,' they
said, 'and it is time to fly to other countries.' He told them that he
had seen in the middle of the sea the most wonderful house that ever was
built.

On hearing this, Jenik at once concluded that this must be the
hiding-place of his wife. So he proceeded directly to the shore with his
dog and his cat. When he arrived on the beach, he said to the dog: 'You
are an excellent swimmer, and you, little one, are very light; jump on
the dog's back and he will take you to the palace. Once there, he will
hide himself near the door, and you must steal secretly in and try to
get hold of my watch.'

No sooner said than done. The two animals crossed the sea; the dog hid
near the house, and the cat stole into the chamber. The Princess
recognised him, and guessed why he had come; and she took the watch down
to the cellar and locked it in a box. But the cat wriggled its way into
the cellar, and the moment the Princess turned her back, he scratched
and scratched till he had made a hole in the box. Then he took the watch
between his teeth, and waited quietly till the Princess came back.
Scarcely had she opened the door when the cat was outside, and the
watch into the bargain.

The cat was no sooner beyond the gates than she said to the dog:

'We are going to cross the sea; be very careful not to speak to me.'

The dog laid this to heart and said nothing; but when they approached
the shore he could not help asking, 'Have you got the watch?'

The cat did not answer--he was afraid that he might let the talisman
fall. When they touched the shore the dog repeated his question.

'Yes,' said the cat.

And the watch fell into the sea. Then our two friends began each to
accuse the other, and both looked sorrowfully at the place where their
treasure had fallen in. Suddenly a fish appeared near the edge of the
sea. The cat seized it, and thought it would make them a good supper.

'I have nine little children,' cried the fish. 'Spare the father of a
family!'

'Granted,' replied the cat; 'but on condition that you find our watch.'

The fish executed his commission, and they brought the treasure back to
their master. Jenik rubbed the watch and wished that t