There was once a miller who had three sons, and when he died his estate was divided among them.

The older sons fared very well, but the youngest received nothing but the cat, and he often

complained bitterly of his lot.2My brothers may get their living easily enough,"he said, "but as for me, I may soon die of hunger and want"

The cat, who had heard this, came out of the cupboard where he had been listening."Do not worry,

my good master,"he said."You have only to give me a bag and have a pair of boots made for me,

and you shall see that your portion is not so bad as you imagine it to be".The cat's master obtained

both bag and boots, and watched the cat pull on the boots and throw the bag over his shoulder.

Then Puss in Boots sallied forth. He went to a warren in which there were a great number of rabbits.

He put some bran and some parsley into his bag, and then waited for some innocent rabbit to feast

on the daintie

Soon two young rabbits jumped into his bag and Puss in Boots drew the strings and caught them.

Puss in Boots was very proud of his prey, and hurried with it to the palace and asked to speak to the

king. Bowing low, Puss said,"Sire, I have brought for you rabbits from the warren of my noble lord,

the Marquis of Carabas (the title Puss gave to his master), which he commanded me to present to

your majesty with his compliments."

The king was much pleased and said,"Tell your lord Marquis of Carabas that I accept his present

with pleasure."In this manner the cat continued to carry presents of game to the king at least once a

week for two or three months. Then one day, Puss in Boots said to his master,"If you will only follow

my advice, your fortune is made. Go to the river and bathe just where I show you."The Marquis of

Carabas did exactly as the cat advised, and while he was bathing, the king passed by, riding in his

coach with his daughter, the loveliest princess in the world. Then Puss in Boots began to cry out,

"Help! Help! My lord Marquis of Carabas is going to be drowned!"

Hearing the cries, the king ordered his attendants to go to the rescue of my lord Marquis of

Carabas. While the servants were drawing the young man from the river, Puss in Boots came up to

the coach and told his majesty that thieves had run off with his master's clothes, though in reality he

himself had hidden them under a stone. After the marquis was dressed, the king was much

impressed with him, and asked him to ride in the royal coach; and it was not at all strange that the

king's daughter at once fell deeply in love with him. Quite overjoyed, Puss in Boots marched beforethe coach, giving orders to the workmen he met along the way.

Presently as the king came by, he saw some mowers working in a meadow, and asked them to whom

the meadow belonged. To my lord Marquis of Carabas!" the mowers answered, as the cat had

instructed them. "A very fine piece of land you have there, my lord marquis," said the king. "You

speak the truth, sire," replied the young man, "for it never fails to bring me a most bountiful

harvest.

"Soon the coach passed another field where laborers were working industriously. When the

king asked to whom the field belonged, they answered, "To my lord Marquis of Carabas!" The king

once more complimented the marquis upon his rich possesions. At last Puss in Boots arrived at a stately castle. It belonged to an ogre, the richest ever known, and all the lands through wich the king had passed that morning belonged to him.