"Do you think," asked the King, "that she could be induced to change
her mind?"
Charming replied that he was at the King's service and willing to
undertake the task of winning the Princess for him. The King was
delighted and offered him a splendid escort, but he asked only for a
good horse.
Early the next day he set forth, with a resolute heart and the King's
letter to the Princess. One day when he had ridden a great distance,
he dismounted and sat down under a tree that grew beside a river. He
took from his pocket a little book, in which he jotted down some happy
thoughts that he meant to use in his plea to the Princess. Not far
from where he sat, a golden carp was springing from the water to catch
flies, and a bound too high landed it on the grass at Charming's feet.
It panted helplessly, and would have died had he not taken pity on it
and thrown it back into the river. It sank out of sight, but presently
returned to the surface long enough to say:
"Thank you, Charming, for saving my life. Some day I may repay you."
Naturally, he was greatly surprised at so much politeness from a fish.
A few days later, while riding along his way, he saw a raven pursued
by an eagle.
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