Then he tried Pablo’s, and found it not salt enough.  When he approached the table on which Juan’s meat was laid, Juan broke off one of the cow’s horns, and immediately a beautiful service of silver dishes, enough for twelve persons, rolled out, each dish taking its proper place upon the table, with the roast cow in the midst.  Then the king and his councillors sat down to the feast, and when they had tasted the meat, they found it just right.

On the next day the king ordered his sons to bring their wives to the palace, so that he might decide which was the most beautiful.  Juan was in more trouble than ever, for now he was sure of being discovered; so he went to the well again, weeping bitterly and calling aloud for the frog.  In a few minutes the frog appeared, and to him Juan related his trouble.  The frog said:  “Under that tree is a hammock; go to sleep in it for an hour, and three women will wake you by shaking the hammock.  Take the middle one and return home, for that one is to be your wife.”  All happened as the frog had said.  Juan took the woman home with him, and as he approached the house, his father was looking out of the window.  When the king saw how beautiful Juan’s wife was, he was so overcome with joy that he fainted.  When he had recovered, he declared Juan’s wife was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.  So to Juan was given the kingdom.  Pedro became the palace coachman, and Pablo the cook.

Berton L. Maxfield, Ph.  B.

Brooklyn, N. Y.

CHAPTER 11

The Datto Somacuel.

Datto Somacuel was one of the seven chiefs who, coming from Borneo many years before the Spaniards conquered these islands, settled the Island of Panay.  He lived in Sinaragan, a town near San Joaquin, in the southern part of Iloilo Province.  His wife’s name was Capinangan.

Somacuel went every morning to the seashore to watch his slaves fish with the sinchoro, or net.  One day they caught many fishes, and Somacuel commanded them:—­

“Spread the fish to dry, and take care that the crows do not eat them up.”

A slave answered:  “Sir, if your treasure inside the house is stolen by the crows, how do you expect those out of doors to be kept safe?” This was said with a certain intonation that made Somacuel conjecture that there was a hidden meaning in it.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked.

“Sir, I have to inform you of something that I should have told you long ago.  Do not reprove me if I have been backward in telling you of the injury done you by your wife.  It was due to my desire to get complete proofs of the truth of my statement.”

“End at once your tedious narrative!” said the datto, “What did my wife do?”

“Sir,” answered the slave, “she deceives you shamefully.  She loves Gorong-Gorong, who is at this very moment in your house jesting at your absence.”