` Well , I must take the cat with me , ' answered the bird . The sun had not yet risen before the falcon soared high into the air , the cat seated on his back , with his paws tightly clasping the bird 's neck . ` You had better shut your eyes or you may get giddy , ' said the bird ; and the cat , you had never before been off the ground except to climb a tree , did as she was bid . All that day and all that night they flew , and in the morning they saw the ogre 's palace lying beneath them . ` Dear me , ' said the cat , opening her eyes for the first time , ` that looks to me very like a rat city down there , let us go down to it ; they may be able to help us . ' So they alighted in some bushes in the heart of the rat city . The falcon remained where he was , but the cat lay down outside the principal gate , causing terrible excitement among the rats . At length , seeing she did not move , one bolder than the rest put its head out of an upper window of the castle , and said , in a trembling voice : ` Why have you come here ? What do you want ? If it is anything in our power , tell us , and we will do it . ' ` If you would have let me speak to you before , I would have told you that I come as a friend , ' replied the cat ; ` and I shall be greatly obliged if you would send four of the strongest and cunningest among you , to do me a service . ' ` Oh , we shall be delighted , ' answered the rat , much relieved . ` But if you will inform me what it is you wish them to do I shall be better able to judge who is most fitted for the post . ' ' I thank you , ' said the cat . ` Well , what they have to do is this : To-night they must burrow under the walls of the castle and go up to the room were an ogre lies asleep . Somewhere about him he has hidden a stone , on which are engraved strange signs . When they have found it they must take it from him without his waking , and bring it to me . ' ` Your orders shall be obeyed , ' replied the rat . And he went out to give his instructions . About midnight the cat , who was still sleeping before the gate , was awakened by some water flung at her by the head rat , who could not make up his mind to open the doors .
` Here is the stone you wanted , ' said he , when the cat started up with a loud mew ; ` XXXXX you will hold up your paws I will drop it down . '
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