Pedro and Pablo rushed off and secured the best horses, so that when Juan, who had stopped to thank his father, arrived at the stable, he found only an old horse, scarcely able to walk.  However, he determined to set out; but after getting a mile or so from home, he saw that it was impossible to go farther, so sat down on a well-curb and wept bitterly.  While he was weeping, a frog floated to the top of the water and asked what the matter was, and Juan told him all about his trouble.  The frog said:  “Never mind.  Go to sleep for an hour and I will look for a wife for you.”

At the end of the hour the frog awoke Juan and said:  “Go home now, and tell your father that you have found a wife.”  Juan did so, and found his brothers at home, each claiming to have found a wife.  Their father said:  “I wish to test your wives.  Here are three handkerchiefs.  Each of you must take one of them to his bride and have it embroidered.”  They took the handkerchiefs and departed; but Juan, when he had arrived at the well, sat down as before and wept, because he thought that now he would surely be found out.

The frog floated again to the surface of the well and asked Juan what the matter was.  Juan replied, “I told my father that I had found a wife, as you bade me, and now he wishes to test my wife, to see if she is a suitable mate for me, and has sent me with this handkerchief for her to embroider.  I do not know what to do, for now my father will surely find out that I have deceived him, and I shall be disgraced.”  The frog said:  “Do not worry.  Give me your handkerchief and go to sleep for an hour and I will have it embroidered for you.”  At the end of the hour the frog brought to Juan the handkerchief, all beautifully embroidered.  When Juan arrived at home, he found his brothers there, each with his handkerchief beautifully embroidered, but Juan’s handkerchief was embroidered the most beautifully of all.

Then their father said:  “Your wives, evidently, can embroider well, but I must see how they can cook.  Here are three cows.  Each of you must take one of them and have your wife cook it.”  The brothers went off with the cows, but Juan led his cow to the well in which the frog lived, and, as before, sat down and began to weep.  After a while the frog came to the top of the water and asked:  “Why are you weeping so bitterly?” “Oh, my dear frog!  Here is a cow which my father says my wife must cook.  What shall I do?” The frog replied:  “Go to sleep for an hour and I will cook the meat for you.”  Juan went to sleep, and at the end of the hour the frog woke him, and showing him the cow cooked whole, said:  “Take this home and when you have carried it upstairs, break off one horn and see what will happen.”  Juan took the roast cow home, and when he arrived there found his brothers before him, with their meat roasted.  Juan carried his cow upstairs and each animal was placed upon a table by itself.  The king tasted Pedro’s meat, and found it too salt.