"Aha, you are just what I have been looking for," he said happily, then told his servant to climb up and catch the little creature.
But as he approached the tree, a lion jumped up from beneath it, shook himself, and roared until the leaves on the trees trembled. "I will eat up anyone who tries to steal my singing, springing lark！" he cried.
The man said, "I did not know that the bird belongs to you. I will make amends for my wrong and ransom myself with a large sum of money. Just spare my life."
The lion said, "Nothing can save you unless you will promise to give me that which first meets you upon your arrival at home. If you will do that, I will grant you your life, and you shall have the bird for your daughter as well."
The man hesitated, saying, "That could be my youngest daughter. She loves me the most, and always runs to meet me when I return home."