"Why was your son metamorphosed into a jerboa? When men see one of those they kill him and eat him." Then addressing the man: "Give her back the ear-ring." He gave it to her. "Go," said the King, "take this man to the place from which you brought him." The son of the King then said to his father: "This man did me a favor; you ought to reward him." The King said to him: "Go to the treasure, take as much money as you can." "I don't want money," he answered; "I want you to spit into my mouth a benediction." "Who told you that?" "Nobody." "You will not be able to bear it." "I will be able." "When I have spat into your mouth, you will understand the language of beasts and birds; you will know what they say when they speak; but if you reveal it to the people you will die." "I will not reveal it." So the King spat into his mouth and sent him away, saying to the woman, "Go and take him back where you found him." She departed, and took him back there. He mounted his ass and came back to his house. He arranged the load and took back to the people the linen he had washed. Then he remounted the beast to go and seek some earth. He was going to dig when he heard a crow say in the air: "Dig beneath; you will sing when God has made you rich." He understood what the crow said, dug beneath, and found a treasure. He filled a basket with it. On the top he put a little earth and went home, but often returned to the spot. On one of these occasions his ass met a mule, which said: "Are you working still?" The ass replied: "My master has found a treasure and he is taking it away." The mule answered: "When you are in a crowd balk and throw the basket to the ground. People will see it, all will be discovered, and your master will leave you in peace." The man had heard every word of this. He filled his basket with earth only. When they arrived at a crowd of people the ass kicked and threw the load to the ground. Her master beat her till she had enough. He applied himself to gathering the treasure, and became a rich merchant. He had at home some chickens and a dog. One day he went into the granary, and a hen followed him and ate the grain. A cock said to her: "Bring me a little." She answered, "Eat for yourself." The master began to laugh. His wife asked him: "What are you laughing at?" "Nothing." "You are laughing at me." "Not at all." "You must tell me what you are laughing at." "If I tell you I shall die." "You shall tell me, and you shall die." "To-night." He brought out some grain and said to his wife, "Give alms." He invited the people, bade them to eat, and when they had gone he brought food to the dog, but he would not eat. The neighbor's dog came, as it did every day, to eat with his dog. To-day it found the food intact. "Come and eat," it said. "No," the dog answered. "Why not?"