Satisfied with the lot that had befallen him, the poor fellow went on his way singing and whistling, feeling no uneasiness as to his destination. He paused only to drink the sparkling waters, or to eat the luscious fruit that had been ripened by the golden sun. He travelled thus for many miles, until one day he found himself in the country where the birds speak the language of men—the country of the Murzipouloums, where the flowers sing songs to themselves, and the cattle fly in the air. He was astonished by these things, but presently he came to a village where a new and a more astonishing spectacle presented itself to his sight. More than a hundred people were abroad in the streets, armed with sticks, chasing rats and mice that seemed to laugh at them. At the sight of this new and peculiar war, John could not keep his countenance. He laughed aloud. At this unseemly display of jollity the people on all sides cried out: "What in the world are you laughing at?" Some were furious and some were curious. "I laugh, my poor friends," said John, "because you give yourselves so much trouble for so small a thing." "So small a thing!" they cried—"a small thing! One can tell you are a stranger here, otherwise you would know that the rats and the mice are our most terrible enemies. It would be an easier matter for us to contend with ten thousand men." "Now, is this true?" exclaimed John. "Well, here is my little companion who will aid you greatly. In one hour's time he will do more of this kind of work than all the rest of you could do in a year." The people gathered around, admiring the little creature with gray eyes. It seemed to be very mild. "Young man," cried they, "do you wish to have a laugh at our expense?" "You can see for yourselves," said John, and with that he turned the cat loose among the rats and mice. You may be sure the cat was very happy. A leap here, a bound there, a jump yonder—to the right and to the left, before and behind—and the rats and the mice were destroyed by hundreds and by thousands. The people marvelled greatly, the more so since the cat had accomplished in a very short time a work that would have required the aid of an army of rat-killers. While this work was going on, the Prince of the country happened to be passing by. He saw the work the cat had accomplished, and cried out: "Hey, my friends! Where did you find such a creature as that? Where did you discover such a warrior?" Thereupon John advanced politely, and said to the Prince: "The creature which you see so cleverly amusing itself with the mice is called a cat. It is my faithful friend, and since it came into my possession I have never permitted it to leave me." "My young friend," said the Prince, "you have there a fine fortune. My castle is infested with rats and mice; sell me your companion, and you shall be well paid." "Be separated from my best friend!" exclaimed John. "Never, never will I do that."