the princess's ring. When Suan was in the carriage, he exclaimed in
great sorrow, "Death is at hand!" Then he blasphemed, and said aloud
to himself, "You will lose your life now."

The coachman thought that Suan was addressing him. He said to himself,
"I once heard that this man is a good guesser. He must know that
it was I who stole the ring, because he said that my death is at
hand." So he knelt before Suan, and said, "Pity me! Don't tell the
king that it was I who stole the ring!"

Suan was surprised at what the coachman said. After thinking for a
moment, he asked, "Where is the ring?"

"Here it is."

"All right! Listen, and I will tell you what you must do in order
that you may not be punished by the king. You must catch one of the
king's geese to-night, and make it swallow the ring."

The coachman did what Suan had told him to do. He caught a goose and
opened its mouth. He then dropped the ring into it, and pressed the
bird's throat until it swallowed the ring.

The next morning the king called Suan, and said, "Tell me now who
stole my daughter's ring."

"May I have a candle? I cannot guess right if I have no candle,"
said Suan.

The king gave him one. He lighted it and put it on a round table. He