Puss in Boots

Long, long ago, a miller died and left behind three sons. The eldest inherited the mill, the middle son received the donkey, and the youngest was given nothing but a cat. Saddened, the youngest sat down and sighed, “Nothing good awaits me now. I might as well eat the cat, make myself a furry cap, and spend the rest of my days in poverty.”

But this cat was no ordinary animal. His eyes flashed cleverly, and with a graceful leap he climbed onto the young man’s knees. “Do not worry, my good master!” he said in a perfectly human voice. “Give me a sack and a pair of tall boots, and you shall see that all is not lost.”

The boy, startled but kind-hearted, used his very last coins to buy the cat a sturdy sack and a handsome pair of bright red boots. The cat dressed himself smartly, pulled on the boots, slung the sack over his shoulder, and set out into the world with the proud stride of a noble lord.

Puss in Boots headed for the king’s pond, where plump rabbits hopped among the reeds. He opened the sack, sprinkled carrots and grain inside, and quietly stepped away to hide. Before long, two young, hungry rabbits hopped right in. The cat tugged the string tight and, in his usual manner, dispatched them. Without delay he hurried to the royal palace.

Passing through the gates, he bowed politely to everyone he met. At last he stood before the king, knelt on one knee, and said, “Your Majesty, a humble gift from my master, the Marquis of Carabas! He would accept your gracious favor with the deepest gratitude, and may your dreams be ever sweet!”

The king was pleased with the rabbits and ordered his strange guest to be richly rewarded. The next day, the cat repeated his clever trick - this time catching two fat partridges, which he again presented to the king. And so it went for many weeks: gift after gift from the “Marquis of Carabas,” though the poor young man lived in misery, never knowing why such honors were being bestowed on his name.

One day, the cat learned that the king and his daughter - the most beautiful princess in the land - were taking a carriage ride along the riverbank. At once he dashed to his master. “Listen, sir! You must go bathe in the river. Leave the rest to me.”

Though confused, the young man obeyed and stepped into the water. The cat hid his clothes beneath a large stone. As soon as the royal carriage passed by, he cried out at the top of his lungs, “Help! The Marquis of Carabas is drowning! Thieves have stolen his clothes! Have mercy, Your Majesty - save him at once!”

The king ordered the carriage to halt, and his servants pulled the young man from the river. Since no clothes were to be found, the king commanded fine garments, a splendid cloak, and elegant shoes to be brought for him. Dressed like a nobleman, the miller’s son looked strikingly handsome. The princess cast an admiring glance his way, and the young man blushed at her beauty.

The king invited the marquis into his carriage. Meanwhile the cat raced ahead, arriving first at the meadows where great herds of cattle grazed - herds owned by a terrible ogre who ruled the region. Puss spoke sharply to the herdsmen: “If the king asks whose lands and cattle these are, you will say they belong to the Marquis of Carabas. Do so, and you shall be rewarded. But if you dare lie, the ogre will gobble you up!”

Terrified, the herdsmen agreed. When the royal procession came by and the king asked whose fine cattle he saw, they answered in unison, “They belong to the Marquis of Carabas!”

The king was delighted. They traveled on, and again the cat ran ahead, warning the farmers who worked the ogre’s wheat fields and barley lands: “If anyone asks who owns these fields, say: the Marquis of Carabas. Otherwise, you may pay the highest price.”

At last they reached the ogre’s castle - an enormous, fearsome fortress with black walls and a moat of dark swirling water. Undaunted, the cat stepped inside, bowed politely, and said, “Your Majesty! Your magical powers are said to be beyond imagining. Word has it you can transform yourself into any creature at all - a lion, an elephant, even a tiger!”

The ogre sneered proudly. To prove his power, he transformed himself into a mighty lion. The cat leapt back in pretend terror, then bowed again and asked, “Most impressive, Your Greatness! But tell me - could you also become something as small as… a mouse?”

Certain of his abilities, the ogre instantly changed into a mouse. In that very moment, the cat sprang forward in a single bound and swallowed him whole. And thus ended the ogre’s dreadful reign.

Soon the royal carriage arrived. The cat rushed down the steps. “Your Majesty! Welcome to the castle of the Marquis of Carabas - the finest lord in all these lands!”

The king and princess were enchanted by the castle’s splendor. The young man, dressed in silk and shining with confidence, impressed the princess even more. During the feast, the king declared, “My son! Would you like to become my son-in-law?”

Overcoming his shyness, the Marquis of Carabas joyfully agreed. The wedding and celebration followed at once. As for Puss in Boots, he became a grand gentleman himself - sleeping only on soft cushions by the fireplace, dining on roasted squab, and catching mice solely for sport.

And so, through the wit and courage of one remarkable cat, the miller’s youngest son gained wealth, honor, and happiness. He missed neither mill nor donkey, and he forever cherished his faithful friend - Puss in Boots.