Chapter 3

Then one day, puss-in-boots decided it was time for his master to meet the king’s daughter. She was the most beautiful princess in the entire world. He found out that the king would be taking his daughter for a carriage ride the very next day on the road by the river. He had no time to waste. Puss-in-boots ran back to come up with a plan.

Early the next morning. Hurry master. You must come with me and bathe in the river by the road. What? Why should I bathe in the river? Just do as I tell you and you will be very lucky! Take off your clothes and get into the water quickly. But it’s cold, and I don’t know how to swim. Trust me. So , the youngest son did as the cat said. Now, I have to hide these clothes and hope he will never have to wear them again. Puss! Puss! Where are my clothes? Just then, the king’s carriage came into view. Puss! Puss! My clothes! Be quiet, or you will ruin everything! Listen to what I say. I will do all the talking , okay? Help! My lord, the marquis of carabas, is drowning! Guards! Hurry! Help that man! My generous friend, the marquis of carabas, must not drown! So the guards of the king ran to the rescue of the poor miller’s son and saved him just in time. Bring a robe to cover the marquis! He is shivering with a cold. What has happened to the marquis, and where are his clothes?

A terrible thing has happened, your majesty. His clothes have all been stolen. We were riding along the riverside so peacefully, when suddenly a bank of villains with weapons jumped out at us from behind some rocks and attacked us. The thieves stole everything he had and would have killed him too, but fortunately the marquis escaped and jumped into the river. Unfortunately though, my master doesn’t know how to swim. When the miller’s son heard puss’ clever story, he thought to himself. Hmm. My puss is very smart. He might really make me a rich man. Puss was very happy and pleased when he saw the young princess admiring the miller’s son. The king sent his servants immediately back to the palace to order the master of the royal wardrobe to prepare clothing for the marquis. Your majesty, you are really too kind. Look at all the fine things the marquis has given me. This is the least that I can do to repay him. In the king’s fine clothes, the miller’s youngest son looked like a fine noble, indeed. The king never doubted for a moment that the young man was a noble or a prince. My friend, I am so glad that I finally met you! Since you don’t have your own horse, will yu please ride with us? You majesty, it would be my pleasure. Puss raced ahead of the carriage. He thought to himself.

I have given my master his name, and the king has given him his clothes. Now all he needs is land and a castle. The rich farmland and the castle belong to a wicked magician but I will claim it for my prince today. Hey, you there! Stop your work and listen to what I have to say. In a little while, the king will pass by here in his carriage. If he asks you who the owner of this land is, then you must answer, the marquis of carabas. The marquis of carabas? Who is that? If you obey me you will be very lucky! We will obey you, sir. As the royal carriage came nearer to the field with the farmers, puss-in-boots jumped aboard. Puss, I say , who owns this fine land? Just ask the farmers over there, sir. Good people, please tell me who owns this great land. This land belongs to the marquis of carabas, your majesty. Now , if your majesty will excuse me, I will go ahead and make sure that a proper welcome is ready for you at the marquis’s castle. Castle? What castle? Shhhhhh! Wait and see. Just trust me.

Chapter 4

Once again, puss raced ahead of the carriage. When he arrived at the wicked magician’s castle, he paused for a moment to come up with a plan.

Puss-in-boots was sure no one would lower the castle fate for a cat, but they would for a damsel in distress. Please, oh please, help me! I am a damsel in distress and I need your help! When the large gate was lowered, no one could see a damsel in distress anywhere, so it was slowly raised again. Meanwhile, puss-in-boots was able to enter the castle unnoticed. Once inside, he began looking for the wicked magician. Ah ha! There he is! He is the man I must conquer for my master. He owns the castle and everything the marquis will need. Your excellency! Please excuse me, but I have traveled from very far away to see you. You are famous throughout the world. Why would you come so far just to see me? I heard that you were the greatest magician in the entire world. So, I wanted to see for myself if it was really true. Of course it is true! I can turn myself into anything! I can turn myself into a lion, a bear, an elephant or a tiger! Impossible! I don’t believe you can turn yourself into a lion. Without any more words, the magician immediately turned himself into a huge, ferocious, and very scary lion. Puss was so scared that he begged the magician to turn himself back. Okay, I believe you now that you can turn yourself into large creatures. But, can you also turn yourself into small creatures, like a mouse or a rat?

That must be too difficult even for someone like you. What do you mean too difficult? Watch what I can do ! In the blink of an eye, the wicked magician turned himself into a small mouse. Ah ha , my friend! You may be the greatest magician in the entire world, but I am the greatest mouser. Puss pounced on the mouse, and that was the end of the wicked magician. Attention guards! Please prepare to welcome your new master, the marquis of carabas! He will be the new master of the castle! All of the servants were so happy to hear the news of a new master, that they immediately obeyed puss. Just then, the royal carriage arrived. Bowing low, puss said. Welcome, your majesty, to the home of my lord and master, the marquis of carabas. Everyone was so happy with the new master, who was so young and handsome, that the finest feast ever was prepared and everyone had a wonderful time. My lord of carabas, I have never been so well entertained. It will be your own fault if I do not become your father-in-law. Would you really be willing to marry me, princess? I would love to marry you, marquis of carabas.

The next day, the poor miller’s son and the most beautiful princess in the whole world were married. And , everyone lived happily ever after.