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 held a new council , calling in mice from every quarter of the globe , but nobody knew where the bronze ring was . Suddenly three mice arrived from a very distant country . One was blind , the second lame , and the third had her ears cropped . `` Ho , ho , ho ! '' said the new-comers . `` We come from a far distant country . '' `` Do you know where the bronze ring is which the genii obey ? ''
`` Ho , ho , XXXXX !
Captain Queen days deputation first ho new-comers quarter second third