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Therefore he obeyed the man who had charge over him, and who constantly cruelly beat him, and one day when this keeper lay asleep, and a tiger who had broken loose was about to devour him, Cheri fought the fierce beast, and saved the man’s life.

Then a voice was heard saying, “a good action shall be rewarded!” and, to Cheri’s joy he was instantaneously transformed into a pretty little dog which the keeper carried to the Queen.

The Queen was delighted with him, but, for fear he should grow bigger, she gave him only small pieces of bread to eat, so that poor Cheri nearly died of hunger.

One day he carried his little piece of bread into the garden to eat it there, but wandering with it in his mouth, still further on, he saw a young girl pale and thin, and almost fainting for want of food.

“I am hungry,” thought Cheri, “but if I give my breakfast to this poor thing, perhaps I shall save her life.”  He placed his bread in the girl’s hand, and she ate it hungrily.  Just then he heard loud cries, and saw that it was the beautiful Zelie struggling to free herself from four men who were carrying her into a house near by.

Cheri, longing to help her, followed them barking, and although the men kicked him savagely, he would not leave the place.  Presently from a window was thrown a plateful of tempting-looking food.  Cheri was just about to devour it, when the girl to whom he had given the bread, rushed forward and throwing her arms around him cried,

[Illustration:  “COME, MY CHILDREN, I AM GOING TO TRANSPORT YOU TO YOUR PALACE.”]

“Poor little dog, do not touch that food, it is poisoned.”  Just then a voice was heard saying, “You see that a good action meets with reward,” and at the same time Cheri was changed into a pretty white pigeon.  For several days he flew around hoping to catch sight of Zelie, and at last, seated by a hermit, outside a cave, he found her.  Fluttering down he alighted upon her shoulder.  Zelie stroked his feathers whispering that she now accepted his gift and would love him always, and at that moment Cheri regained his natural figure, and Fairy Candide appeared in place of the hermit whose form she had taken.  “Come, my children,” said she, “I am going to transport you to your Palace, that Cheri may receive his crown of which he has now become worthy,” and hardly had she ceased speaking, when they found themselves in Suliman’s presence.  The worthy Governor was delighted to behold his dear master, and gladly resigned the throne to him.  Cheri and Zelie reigned long and happily, and we are told that the ring, which the Prince now wore again, never once severely pricked him.

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THE WHITE CAT