“Ask me nothing, if you cannot help me.”

“Relate the matter, and I will.”

Magboloto related all that had happened to him.  Then the king of the wild boars called all his subjects together and set them at work cutting down the trees with their tusks.  In a few minutes the trees were all down.

When the grandmother saw that Magboloto accomplished every task she gave him to do she became tired of trying to think of things for him to do; so she allowed him to depart with Macaya, and leaving the celestial abode they descended to their home on the earth, where they lived happily together for many years.

CHAPTER 13

Why Dogs Wag Their Tails.

Once upon a time there lived in a certain pueblo a rich man who had a dog and a cat.  His only daughter, of whom he was very fond, was studying in a convent in a city several miles distant and it was his custom, about once a week, to send the dog and cat to take her a little present.  The dog was so old that he had lost all his teeth, and so was unable to fight, but the cat was strong and very cunning, and so one could help the other, since the dog knew better how to find the way.

One day the rich man wished to send a magic ring to his daughter, so he called the dog and the cat to him.  To the cat he said:  “You are very cunning and prudent.  You may carry this magic ring to my daughter, but be sure to take very great care of it.”  To the dog he said:  “You are to go with the cat to take a magic ring to my daughter.  Take care not to lose the way, and see that no one molests the cat.”  Both animals promised to do their best and set out immediately.

On the way they were obliged to cross a wide and deep river, over which there was no bridge, and as they were unable to find a boat, they determined to swim across it.  The dog said to the cat:  “Give me the magic ring.”  “Oh, no,” replied the cat.  “Did you not hear the master say just what each of us had to do?”

“Yes, but you are not very good at swimming, and may lose the ring, while I am strong and can take good care of it,” answered the dog.  The cat continued to refuse to disobey its master, until at last the dog threatened to kill it, and it was obliged to intrust the ring to the dog’s keeping.

Then they began to swim across the river, which was so strong that they were about an hour in getting over, so that both became very tired and weak.  Just before they came to the other side, the dog dropped the ring into the water, and it was impossible to find it.  “Now,” said the cat, “we had better go back home and tell our master that we have lost the ring.”  “Yes,” answered the dog, “but I am very much afraid.”  So they turned back toward home, but as they drew near the house his fear so overcame him that he ran away and was never seen again.