`` Alas ! '' he said to himself , `` whoever has taken my ring has probably taken my dear wife also . What good will it do me to go back to my own country ? '' And he sailed about from island to island , and from shore to shore , believing that wherever he went everybody was laughing at him , and very soon his poverty was so great that he and his crew and the poor black cats had nothing to eat but herbs and roots . After wandering about a long time he reached an island inhabited by mice . The captain landed upon the shore and began to explore the country . There were mice everywhere , and nothing but mice . Some of the black cats had followed him , and , not having been fed for several days , they were fearfully hungry , and made terrible havoc among the mice . Then the queen of the mice held a council . `` These cats will eat every one of us , '' she said , `` if the captain of the ship does not shut the ferocious animals up . Let us send a deputation to him of the bravest among us . '' Several mice offered themselves for this mission and set out to find the young captain . `` Captain , '' said they , `` go away quickly from our island , or we shall perish , every mouse of us . '' `` Willingly , '' replied the young captain , `` upon one condition . That is that you shall first bring me back a bronze ring which some clever magician has stolen from me . If you do not do this I will land all my cats upon your island , and you shall be exterminated . '' The mice withdrew in great dismay . `` What is to be done ? '' said the Queen . `` How can we find this bronze ring ? ''
She XXXXX a new council , calling in mice from every quarter of the globe , but nobody knew where the bronze ring was .
Let believing bring fed held made replied sailed set went