A poor miller died and left his three sons only three things: a mill, a donkey, and a cat. The youngest son got the cat. "What can I do with a cat?" he said sadly. But the cat could talk. "Do not worry, master," said the cat. "Just give me a bag and a pair of boots."
The son found the boots, and the cat put them on. He looked very fine. Then he took the bag, caught a fat rabbit, and carried it to the king. "A gift from my master, the Lord of Carabas," said the cat. The king was pleased. Every week the clever cat brought the king a gift.
One day the cat heard that the king would ride by the river. He told his master to swim there and leave his old clothes on the bank. When the king came, the cat cried, "Help! The Lord of Carabas is in the river!" The king sent fine new clothes, and the young man looked like a real lord.
The king invited him into his royal coach. As they rode, the cat ran ahead. He told the farmers in the fields, "When the king asks, say this land belongs to the Lord of Carabas." Everyone was a little afraid of the cat in boots, so they did as he said.
At last the cat came to a great castle. It belonged to a giant, a magic ogre. "I hear you can change into any animal," said the clever cat. "Can you really become a lion?" At once the ogre turned into a huge lion. The cat was frightened, but he did not show it.
"That is easy for a big ogre," said the cat. "But surely you cannot become something tiny, like a little mouse." "Of course I can!" said the proud ogre, and he changed into a mouse. Quick as a flash, the cat caught the mouse and ate him.
When the king arrived, the cat said, "Welcome to the castle of the Lord of Carabas." The king was very impressed with the rich young lord. Soon the young man married the king's daughter, and the clever cat became a great lord who never had to catch mice again — unless he wanted to.
Tap any word in the story to see its meaning and add it to your vocabulary list.