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 , ho ! we know ; an old sorcerer has taken possession of it , and now he keeps it in his pocket by day and in his mouth by night . '' `` Go and take it from him , and come back as soon as possible . '' So the three mice made themselves a boat and set sail for the magician 's country . When they reached the capital they landed and ran to the palace , leaving only the blind mouse on the shore to take care of the boat . Then they waited till it was night . The wicked old man lay down in bed and put the bronze ring into his mouth , and very soon he was asleep . `` Now , what shall we do ? '' said the two little animals to each other . The mouse with the cropped ears found a lamp full of oil and a bottle full of pepper . So she dipped her tail first in the oil and then in the pepper , and held it to the sorcerer 's nose . `` Atisha ! atisha ! '' sneezed the old man , but he did not wake , and the shock made the bronze ring jump out of his mouth .
Quick XXXXX thought the lame mouse snatched up the precious talisman and carried it off to the boat .
as by for in into of on till to with