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94 GRIMM’S FAIRY TALES, . NE OL EEE ii ing it. The King summoned him to his presence, and after many reproaches told him that if by the next day he was not | able to name the thief he should be considered guilty, and ! punished. It was in vain that he protested his innocence ; he | could get no better sentence. In his uneasiness and anxiety ! he went out into the courtyard, and began to consider what — he could do in so great a necessity. There sat the ducks by © the running water and rested themselves, and plumed them- | selves with their flat bills, and held a comfortable chat. The ! servant stayed where he was and listened to them. They told — how they had waddled about all yesterday morning and found © good food ; and then one of them said pitifully, “Something lies very heavy in my craw,—it is the ring | that was lying under the Queen’s window ; I swallowed it down | in too great a hurry.” Then the servant seized her by the neck, took her into the | kitchen, and said to the cook, | “ Kill this one, she is quite ready for cooking.” - Ves, said the cook, weighing it in her hand; “there ! will be no trouble of fattening this one—it has been ready ever so long.” She then slit up its neck, and when it was opened the | Queen’s ring was found in its craw. The servant could now — clearly prove his innocence, and in order to make up for the " injustice he had suffered the King permitted him to ask some © favour for himself, and also promised him the place of greatest / honour in the royal household. But the servant refused it, and only asked for a horse and © money for travelling, for he had a fancy to see the world, and © look about hima little. So his request was granted, and he © set out on his way; and one day he came to a pool of water, © by which he saw three fishes who had got entangled in the © rushes, and were panting for water. Although fishes are / usually considered dumb creatures, he understood very well their lament that they were to perish so miserably ; and as | he had a compassionate heart he dismounted from his horse, i and put the three fishes back again into the water. ‘They © quivered all over with joy, stretched out their heads, and ) called out to him, | c We will remember and reward thee, because thou hast | ; |
