Philippine Folk-Tales | Page 5

"Why are you so sad?" asked the Fish.
"I wish to cross the sea to find the beautiful Princess," replied the
youth.
"Get on my back and I will take you across," said the King of the

Fishes.
Benito rode on the back of the Fish and crossed the sea. As soon as he
reached the other side, a fairy in the form of a woman appeared to him,
and became a great aid to him in his adventure. She knew exactly what
he wanted; so she told him that the Princess was shut up in a castle
guarded by giants, and that he would have to fight the giants before he
could reach her. For this purpose she gave him a magic sword, which
would kill on the instant anything it touched.
Benito now felt sure he could take the Princess from her cruel
guardsmen. He went to the castle, and there he saw many giants round
about it. When the giants saw him coming, they went out to meet him,
thinking to take him captive. They were so sure that they could easily
do it, that they went forth unarmed. As they came near, he touched the
foremost ones with his sword, and one after another they fell down
dead. The other giants, seeing so many of their number slain, became
terrified, and fled, leaving the castle unguarded.
The young man went to the Princess and told her that his master had
sent him to bring her to his palace. The young Princess was only too
glad to leave the land of the giants, where she had been held captive. So
the two set out together for the King's palace.
When they came to the sea they rode across it on the back of the same
fish that had carried Benito. They went through the forest, and at last
came to the palace. Here they were received with the greatest
rejoicings.
After a short time the King asked the Princess to become his wife. "I
will, O King!" she replied, "if you will get the ring I lost in the sea as I
was crossing it."
The monarch called Benito, and ordered him to find the ring which had
been lost on their journey from the land of the giants.
Obedient to his master, Benito started, and travelled on and on till he
came to the shore of the sea. There he stood, gazing sadly out over the

waters, not knowing how he was to search for what lay at the bottom of
the deep ocean.
Again the King of the Fishes came to him, asking the cause of his
sadness. Benito replied, "The Princess lost her ring while we were
crossing the sea, and I have been sent to find it."
The King-Fish summoned all the fishes to come to him. When they had
assembled, he noticed that one was missing. He commanded the others
to search for this one, and bring it to him. They found it under a stone,
and it said, "I am so full! I have eaten so much that I cannot swim." So
the larger ones took it by the tail and dragged it to their King.
"Why did you not come when summoned?" asked the King-Fish. "I
was so full I could not swim," replied the Fish.
The King-Fish, suspecting that it had swallowed the ring, ordered it to
be cut in two. The others cut it open, and, behold I there was the lost
ornament. Benito thanked the King of the Fishes, took the ring, and
brought it to the monarch.
When the great ruler got the ring, he said to the Princess, "Now that I
have your ring, will you become my wife?"
"I will be your wife," replied the Princess, "if you will find the earring I
lost in the forest as I was journeying with Benito."
Instantly Benito was called, and was ordered to find the lost jewel. He
was very weary from his former journey; but, mindful of his duty, he
started for the forest, reaching it before the day was over. He searched
for the earring faithfully, following the road which he and the Princess
had taken; but all in vain. He was much discouraged, and sat down
under a tree to rest. To his surprise a mouse of monstrous size appeared
before him. It was the King of the Mice.
"Why are you so sad?" asked the Mouse.
"I am searching for an earring which the Princess lost as we passed

through the forest, but am unable to find it."
"I will find it for you," said the King-Mouse.
Benito's face brightened at hearing this. The King-Mouse called all his
followers, and all but one little mouse responded. Then the King of the
Mice ordered some of