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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and
+Herdsmen, by Alexander Chodsko
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and Herdsmen
+
+Author: Alexander Chodsko
+
+Illustrator: Emily J. Harding
+
+Translator: Emily J. Harding
+
+Release Date: May 22, 2008 [EBook #25555]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIRY TALES OF SLAV PEASANTS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+SLAV TALES
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration: _From "The Plentiful Tablecloth," p. 351._]
+
+
+
+
+Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and Herdsmen
+
+From the French of Alex. Chodsko
+
+Translated and Illustrated by Emily J. Harding
+
+
+London: George Allen
+156 Charing Cross Road
+
+1896
+
+
+Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.
+At the Ballantyne Press
+
+
+
+
+NOTE BY THE PUBLISHER
+
+
+Very few of the twenty fairy tales included in this volume have been
+presented before in an English dress; this will doubtless enhance
+their value in the eyes of the young folk, for whom, principally, they
+are intended. It is hoped that older readers will find some additional
+interest in tracing throughout the many evidences of kinship between
+these stories and those of more pronounced Eastern origin.
+
+The translation has been carefully revised by a well-known writer, who
+has interfered as little as possible with the original text, except in
+those instances where slight alterations were necessary.
+
+The illustrations speak for themselves, and are what might have been
+expected from the artist who designed those for the "Lullabies of Many
+Lands," issued last Christmas.
+
+_November 1895._
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+  THE ABODE OF THE GODS--
+      I. THE TWO BROTHERS
+     II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS
+    III. THE TWELVE MONTHS
+
+  THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSÉVÈDE
+
+  KOVLAD--
+      I. THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM
+     II. THE LOST CHILD
+
+  THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD
+
+  THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON
+
+  THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD
+
+  THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING,
+        AND THE SMITING CLUB
+
+  THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME
+
+  THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT
+
+  THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES
+
+  THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND
+
+  IMPERISHABLE
+
+  OHNIVAK
+
+  TEARS OF PEARLS
+
+  THE SLUGGARD
+
+  KINKACH MARTINKO
+
+  THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND,
+        THE SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+  FRONTISPIECE
+
+  THE ABODE OF THE GODS--
+      I. THE TWO BROTHERS.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+     II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+    III. THE TWELVE MONTHS.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSÉVÈDE.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  KOVLAD--
+      I. THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+     II. THE LOST CHILD.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING,
+        AND THE SMITING CLUB.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+  IMPERISHABLE.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Half-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  OHNIVAK.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  TEARS OF PEARLS.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE SLUGGARD.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  KINKACH MARTINKO.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND,
+        THE SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET.
+          _Heading_
+          _Half-page design_
+
+
+
+
+THE ABODE OF THE GODS
+
+    I. THE TWO BROTHERS
+   II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS
+  III. THE TWELVE MONTHS
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: The Two Brothers]
+
+Once upon a time there were two brothers whose father had left them
+but a small fortune. The eldest grew very rich, but at the same time
+cruel and wicked, whereas there was nowhere a more honest or kinder
+man than the younger. But he remained poor, and had many children, so
+that at times they could scarcely get bread to eat. At last, one day
+there was not even this in the house, so he went to his rich brother
+and asked him for a loaf of bread. Waste of time! His rich brother
+only called him beggar and vagabond, and slammed the door in his face.
+
+The poor fellow, after this brutal reception, did not know which way
+to turn. Hungry, scantily clad, shivering with cold, his legs could
+scarcely carry him along. He had not the heart to go home, with
+nothing for the children, so he went towards the mountain forest. But
+all he found there were some wild pears that had fallen to the ground.
+He had to content himself with eating these, though they set his teeth
+on edge. But what was he to do to warm himself, for the east wind with
+its chill blast pierced him through and through. "Where shall I go?"
+he said; "what will become of us in the cottage? There is neither food
+nor fire, and my brother has driven me from his door." It was just
+then he remembered having heard that the top of the mountain in front
+of him was made of crystal, and had a fire for ever burning upon it.
+"I will try and find it," he said, "and then I may be able to warm
+myself a little." So he went on climbing higher and higher till he
+reached the top, when he was startled to see twelve strange beings
+sitting round a huge fire. He stopped for a moment, but then said to
+himself, "What have I to lose? Why should I fear? God is with me.
+Courage!"
+
+So he advanced towards the fire, and bowing respectfully, said: "Good
+people, take pity on my distress. I am very poor, no one cares for me,
+I have not even a fire in my cottage; will you let me warm myself at
+yours?" They all looked kindly at him, and one of them said: "My son,
+come sit down with us and warm yourself."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+So he sat down, and felt warm directly he was near them. But he dared
+not speak while they were silent. What astonished him most was that
+they changed seats one after another, and in such a way that each one
+passed round the fire and came back to his own place. When he drew
+near the fire an old man with long white beard and bald head arose
+from the flames and spoke to him thus:
+
+"Man, waste not thy life here; return to thy cottage, work, and live
+honestly. Take as many embers as thou wilt, we have more than we
+need."
+
+And having said this he disappeared. Then the twelve filled a large
+sack with embers, and, putting it on the poor man's shoulders, advised
+him to hasten home.
+
+Humbly thanking them, he set off. As he went he wondered why the
+embers did not feel hot, and why they should weigh no more than a sack
+of paper. He was thankful that he should be able to have a fire, but
+imagine his astonishment when on arriving home he found the sack to
+contain as many gold pieces as there had been embers; he almost went
+out of his mind with joy at the possession of so much money. With all
+his heart he thanked those who had been so ready to help him in his
+need.
+
+He was now rich, and rejoiced to be able to provide for his family.
+Being curious to find out how many gold pieces there were, and not
+knowing how to count, he sent his wife to his rich brother for the
+loan of a quart measure.
+
+This time the brother was in a better temper, so he lent what was
+asked of him, but said mockingly, "What can such beggars as you have
+to measure?"
+
+The wife replied, "Our neighbour owes us some wheat; we want to be
+sure he returns us the right quantity."
+
+The rich brother was puzzled, and suspecting something he, unknown to
+his sister-in-law, put some grease inside the measure. The trick
+succeeded, for on getting it back he found a piece of gold sticking to
+it. Filled with astonishment, he could only suppose his brother had
+joined a band of robbers: so he hurried to his brother's cottage, and
+threatened to bring him before the Justice of the Peace if he did not
+confess where the gold came from. The poor man was troubled, and,
+dreading to offend his brother, told the story of his journey to the
+Crystal Mountain.
+
+Now the elder brother had plenty of money for himself, yet he was
+envious of the brother's good fortune, and became greatly displeased
+when he found that his brother won every one's esteem by the good use
+he made of his wealth. At last he determined to visit the Crystal
+Mountain himself.
+
+"I may meet with as good luck as my brother," said he to himself.
+
+Upon reaching the Crystal Mountain he found the twelve seated round
+the fire as before, and thus addressed them:
+
+"I beg of you, good people, to let me warm myself, for it is bitterly
+cold, and I am poor and homeless."
+
+But one of them replied, "My son, the hour of thy birth was
+favourable; thou art rich, but a miser; thou art wicked, for thou hast
+dared to lie to us. Well dost thou deserve thy punishment."
+
+Amazed and terrified he stood silent, not daring to speak. Meanwhile
+the twelve changed places one after another, each at last returning to
+his own seat. Then from the midst of the flames arose the
+white-bearded old man and spoke thus sternly to the rich man:
+
+"Woe unto the wilful! Thy brother is virtuous, therefore have I
+blessed him. As for thee, thou art wicked, and so shalt not escape our
+vengeance."
+
+At these words the twelve arose. The first seized the unfortunate man,
+struck him, and passed him on to the second; the second also struck
+him and passed him on to the third; and so did they all in their turn,
+until he was given up to the old man, who disappeared with him into
+the fire.
+
+Days, weeks, months went by, but the rich man never returned, and none
+knew what had become of him. I think, between you and me, the younger
+brother had his suspicions but he very wisely kept them to himself.
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+II
+
+TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS
+
+
+There was once a married pair who loved each other tenderly. The
+husband would not have given up his wife for all the riches in the
+world, while her first thought was how best to please him. So they
+were very happy, and lived like two grains in one ear of corn.
+
+One day while working in the fields, a great longing came over him to
+see her: so without waiting for the hour of sunset he ran home. Alas!
+she was not there. He looked high and low, he ran here, there, and
+everywhere, he wept, he called to her; in vain! his dear wife was not
+to be found.
+
+So heartbroken was he that he no longer cared to live. He could think
+of nothing but the loss of his dear wife and how to find her again. At
+last he determined to travel all over the world in search of her. So
+he began to walk straight on, trusting God to direct his steps. Sad
+and thoughtful, he wandered for many days, until he reached a cottage
+close by the shores of a large lake. Here he stopped, hoping to find
+out news. On entering the cottage he was met by a woman, who tried to
+prevent him entering.
+
+"What do you want here, unlucky wretch?" said she. "If my husband sees
+you, he will kill you instantly."
+
+"Who is your husband then?" asked the traveller.
+
+"What! you do not know him? My husband is the Water-King; everything
+under water obeys him. Depart quickly, for if he finds you here he
+will certainly devour you."
+
+"Perhaps after all he would take pity on me. But hide me somewhere,
+for I am worn and weary, and without shelter for the night."
+
+So the Water-Queen was persuaded, and hid him behind the stove. Almost
+immediately after the Water-King entered. He had barely crossed the
+threshold when he called out, "Wife, I smell human flesh; give it me
+quickly, for I am hungry." She dared not disobey him, and so she had
+to tell him of the traveller's hiding-place. The poor man became
+terribly frightened, and trembled in every limb, and began to stammer
+out excuses.
+
+"I assure you I have done no harm. I came here in search of news of my
+poor wife. Oh, do help me to find her; I cannot live without her."
+
+"Well," replied the Water-King, "as you love your wife so tenderly I
+will forgive you for coming here, but I cannot help you to find her,
+for I do not know where she is. Yet I remember seeing two ducks on the
+lake yesterday, perchance she is one of them. But I should advise you
+to ask my brother the Fire-King; he may be able to tell you more."
+
+Happy to have escaped so easily, he thanked the Water-King and set out
+to find the Fire-King. But the latter was unable to help him, and
+could only advise him to consult his other brother, the Air-King. But
+the Air-King, though he had travelled all over the earth, could only
+say he thought he had seen a woman at the foot of the Crystal
+Mountain.
+
+But the traveller was cheered at the news, and went to seek his wife
+at the foot of the Crystal Mountain, which was close to their cottage.
+On reaching it he began at once to climb the mountain by making his
+way up the bed of the torrent that came rushing down there. Several
+ducks that were in the pools near the waterfall called out, "My good
+man, don't go up there; you'll be killed."
+
+But he walked fearlessly on till he came to some thatched cottages, at
+the largest of which he stopped. Here a crowd of wizards and witches
+surrounded him, screaming at the top of their voices, "What are you
+looking for?"
+
+"My wife," said he.
+
+"She is here," they cried, "but you cannot take her away unless you
+recognise her among two hundred women all exactly like her."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"What! Not know my own wife? Why, here she is," said he, as he clasped
+her in his arms. And she, delighted to be with him again, kissed him
+fondly. Then she whispered:
+
+"Dearest, though you knew me to-day I doubt whether you will
+to-morrow, for there will be so many of us all alike. Now I will tell
+you what to do. At nightfall go to the top of the Crystal Mountain,
+where live the King of Time and his court. Ask him how you may know
+me. If you are good and honest he will help you; if not, he will
+devour you whole at one mouthful."
+
+"I will do what you advise, dear one," he replied, "but tell me, why
+did you leave me so suddenly? If you only knew what I have suffered! I
+have sought you all over the world."
+
+"I did not leave you willingly," said she. "A countryman asked me to
+come and look at the mountain torrent. When we got there he sprinkled
+some water over himself, and at once I saw wings growing out of his
+shoulders, and he soon changed his shape entirely into that of a
+drake; and I too became a duck at the same time, and whether I would
+or no I was obliged to follow him. Here I was allowed to resume my own
+form; and now there is but the one difficulty of being recognised by
+you."
+
+So they parted, she to join the other women, he to continue his way to
+the Crystal Mountain. At the top he found twelve strange beings
+sitting round a large fire: they were the attendants of the King of
+Time. He saluted them respectfully.
+
+"What dost thou want?" said they.
+
+"I have lost my dear wife. Can you tell me how to recognise her among
+two hundred other women all exactly alike?"
+
+"No," said they, "but perhaps our King can."
+
+Then arose from the midst of the flames an old man with bald head and
+long white beard, who, on hearing his request, replied: "Though all
+these women be exactly alike, thy wife will have a black thread in the
+shoe of her right foot."
+
+So saying he vanished, and the traveller, thanking the twelve,
+descended the mountain.
+
+Sure it is that without the black thread he would never have
+recognised her. And though the Magician tried to hide her, the spell
+was broken; and the two returned rejoicing to their home, where they
+lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+III
+
+THE TWELVE MONTHS
+
+
+There was once a widow who had two daughters, Helen, her own child by
+her dead husband, and Marouckla, his daughter by his first wife. She
+loved Helen, but hated the poor orphan, because she was far prettier
+than her own daughter. Marouckla did not think about her good looks,
+and could not understand why her stepmother should be angry at the
+sight of her. The hardest work fell to her share; she cleaned out the
+rooms, cooked, washed, sewed, spun, wove, brought in the hay, milked
+the cow, and all this without any help. Helen, meanwhile, did nothing
+but dress herself in her best clothes and go to one amusement after
+another. But Marouckla never complained; she bore the scoldings and
+bad temper of mother and sister with a smile on her lips, and the
+patience of a lamb. But this angelic behaviour did not soften them.
+They became even more tyrannical and grumpy, for Marouckla grew daily
+more beautiful, while Helen's ugliness increased. So the stepmother
+determined to get rid of Marouckla, for she knew that while she
+remained her own daughter would have no suitors. Hunger, every kind of
+privation, abuse, every means was used to make the girl's life
+miserable. The most wicked of men could not have been more mercilessly
+cruel than these two vixens. But in spite of it all Marouckla grew
+ever sweeter and more charming.
+
+One day in the middle of winter Helen wanted some wood-violets.
+
+"Listen," cried she to Marouckla; "you must go up the mountain and
+find me some violets, I want some to put in my gown; they must be
+fresh and sweet-scented--do you hear?"
+
+"But, my dear sister, who ever heard of violets blooming in the snow?"
+said the poor orphan.
+
+"You wretched creature! Do you dare to disobey me?" said Helen. "Not
+another word; off with you. If you do not bring me some violets from
+the mountain forest, I will kill you."
+
+The stepmother also added her threats to those of Helen, and with
+vigorous blows they pushed Marouckla outside and shut the door upon
+her. The weeping girl made her way to the mountain. The snow lay deep,
+and there was no trace of any human being. Long she wandered hither
+and thither, and lost herself in the wood. She was hungry, and
+shivered with cold, and prayed to die. Suddenly she saw a light in the
+distance, and climbed towards it, till she reached the top of the
+mountain. Upon the highest peak burnt a large fire, surrounded by
+twelve blocks of stone, on which sat twelve strange beings. Of these
+the first three had white hair, three were not quite so old, three
+were young and handsome, and the rest still younger.
+
+There they all sate silently looking at the fire. They were the twelve
+months of the year. The great Setchène (January) was placed higher
+than the others; his hair and moustache were white as snow, and in his
+hand he held a wand. At first Marouckla was afraid, but after a while
+her courage returned, and drawing near she said:
+
+"Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? I am chilled by the
+winter cold."
+
+The great Setchène raised his head and answered:
+
+"What brings thee here, my daughter? What dost thou seek?"
+
+"I am looking for violets," replied the maiden.
+
+"This is not the season for violets; dost thou not see the snow
+everywhere?" said Setchène.
+
+"I know well, but my sister Helen and my stepmother have ordered me to
+bring them violets from your mountain: if I return without them they
+will kill me. I pray you, good shepherds, tell me where they may be
+found?"
+
+Here the great Setchène arose and went over to the youngest of the
+months, and placing his wand in his hand, said:
+
+"Brother Brezène (March), do thou take the highest place."
+
+Brezène obeyed, at the same time waving his wand over the fire.
+Immediately the flames rose towards the sky, the snow began to melt
+and the trees and shrubs to bud; the grass became green, and from
+between its blades peeped the pale primrose. It was Spring, and the
+meadows were blue with violets.
+
+"Gather them quickly, Marouckla," said Brezène.
+
+Joyfully she hastened to pick the flowers, and having soon a large
+bunch she thanked them and ran home. Helen and the stepmother were
+amazed at the sight of the flowers, the scent of which filled the
+house.
+
+"Where did you find them?" asked Helen.
+
+"Under the trees on the mountain slope," said Marouckla.
+
+Helen kept the flowers for herself and her mother; she did not even
+thank her step-sister for the trouble she had taken. The next day she
+desired Marouckla to fetch her strawberries.
+
+"Run," said she, "and fetch me strawberries from the mountain: they
+must be very sweet and ripe."
+
+"But who ever heard of strawberries ripening in the snow?" exclaimed
+Marouckla.
+
+"Hold your tongue, worm; don't answer me; if I don't have my
+strawberries I will kill you."
+
+Then the stepmother pushed her into the yard and bolted the door. The
+unhappy girl made her way towards the mountain and to the large fire
+round which sat the twelve months. The great Setchène occupied the
+highest place.
+
+"Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? The winter cold chills
+me," said she, drawing near.
+
+The great Setchène raised his head and asked:
+
+"Why comest thou here? What dost thou seek?"
+
+"I am looking for strawberries," said she.
+
+"We are in the midst of winter," replied Setchène; "strawberries do
+not grow in the snow."
+
+"I know," said the girl sadly, "but my sister and stepmother have
+ordered me to bring them strawberries; if I do not they will kill me.
+Pray, good shepherds, tell me where to find them."
+
+The great Setchène arose, crossed over to the month opposite him, and
+putting the wand into his hand, said:
+
+"Brother Tchervène (June), do thou take the highest place."
+
+Tchervène obeyed, and as he waved his wand over the fire the flames
+leapt towards the sky. Instantly the snow melted, the earth was
+covered with verdure, trees were clothed with leaves, birds began to
+sing, and various flowers blossomed in the forest. It was summer.
+Under the bushes masses of star-shaped flowers changed into ripening
+strawberries. Before Marouckla had time to cross herself they covered
+the glade, making it look like a sea of blood.
+
+"Gather them quickly, Marouckla," said Tchervène.
+
+Joyfully she thanked the months, and having filled her apron ran
+happily home. Helen and her mother wondered at seeing the
+strawberries, which filled the house with their delicious fragrance.
+
+"Wherever did you find them?" asked Helen crossly.
+
+"Right up among the mountains; those from under the beech trees are
+not bad."
+
+Helen gave a few to her mother and ate the rest herself; not one did
+she offer to her step-sister. Being tired of strawberries, on the
+third day she took a fancy for some fresh red apples.
+
+"Run, Marouckla," said she, "and fetch me fresh red apples from the
+mountain."
+
+"Apples in winter, sister? why, the trees have neither leaves nor
+fruit."
+
+"Idle slut, go this minute," said Helen; "unless you bring back apples
+we will kill you."
+
+As before, the stepmother seized her roughly and turned her out of the
+house. The poor girl went weeping up the mountain, across the deep
+snow upon which lay no human footprint, and on towards the fire round
+which were the twelve months. Motionless sat they, and on the highest
+stone was the great Setchène.
+
+"Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? The winter cold chills
+me," said she, drawing near.
+
+The great Setchène raised his head.
+
+"Why com'st thou here? What dost thou seek?" asked he.
+
+"I am come to look for red apples," replied Marouckla.
+
+"But this is winter, and not the season for red apples," observed the
+great Setchène.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"I know," answered the girl, "but my sister and stepmother sent me to
+fetch red apples from the mountain; if I return without them they will
+kill me."
+
+Thereupon the great Setchène arose and went over to one of the elderly
+months, to whom he handed the wand, saying:
+
+"Brother Zaré (September), do thou take the highest place."
+
+Zaré moved to the highest stone and waved his wand over the fire.
+There was a flare of red flames, the snow disappeared, but the fading
+leaves which trembled on the trees were sent by a cold north-east wind
+in yellow masses to the glade. Only a few flowers of autumn were
+visible, such as the fleabane and red gillyflower, autumn colchicums
+in the ravine, and under the beeches bracken and tufts of northern
+heather. At first Marouckla looked in vain for red apples. Then she
+espied a tree which grew at a great height, and from the branches of
+this hung the bright red fruit. Zaré ordered her to gather some
+quickly. The girl was delighted and shook the tree. First one apple
+fell, then another.
+
+"That is enough," said Zaré, "hurry home."
+
+Thanking the months, she returned joyfully. Helen marvelled and the
+stepmother wondered at seeing the fruit.
+
+"Where did you gather them?" asked the step-sister.
+
+"There are more on the mountain top," answered Marouckla.
+
+"Then why did you not bring more?" said Helen angrily; "you must have
+eaten them on your way back, you wicked girl."
+
+"No, dear sister, I have not even tasted them," said Marouckla. "I
+shook the tree twice; one apple fell each time. I was not allowed to
+shake it again, but was told to return home."
+
+"May Perum smite you with his thunderbolt," said Helen, striking her.
+
+Marouckla prayed to die rather than suffer such ill-treatment. Weeping
+bitterly, she took refuge in the kitchen. Helen and her mother found
+the apples more delicious than any they had ever tasted, and when they
+had eaten both longed for more.
+
+"Listen, mother," said Helen. "Give me my cloak; I will fetch some
+more apples myself, or else that good-for-nothing wretch will eat them
+all on the way. I shall be able to find the mountain and the tree. The
+shepherds may cry 'Stop,' but I shall not leave go till I have shaken
+down all the apples."
+
+In spite of her mother's advice she put on her pelisse, covered her
+head with a warm hood, and took the road to the mountain. The mother
+stood and watched her till she was lost in the distance.
+
+Snow covered everything, not a human footprint was to be seen on its
+surface. Helen lost herself and wandered hither and thither. After a
+while she saw a light above her, and following in its direction
+reached the mountain top. There was the flaming fire, the twelve
+blocks of stone, and the twelve months. At first she was frightened
+and hesitated; then she came nearer and warmed her hands. She did not
+ask permission, nor did she speak one polite word.
+
+"What has brought thee here? What dost thou seek?" said the great
+Setchène severely.
+
+"I am not obliged to tell you, old greybeard; what business is it of
+yours?" she replied disdainfully, turning her back on the fire and
+going towards the forest.
+
+The great Setchène frowned, and waved his wand over his head.
+Instantly the sky became covered with clouds, the fire went down, snow
+fell in large flakes, an icy wind howled round the mountain. Amid the
+fury of the storm Helen added curses against her step-sister. The
+pelisse failed to warm her benumbed limbs. The mother kept on waiting
+for her; she looked from the window, she watched from the doorstep,
+but her daughter came not. The hours passed slowly, but Helen did not
+return.
+
+"Can it be that the apples have charmed her from her home?" thought
+the mother. Then she clad herself in hood and pelisse and went in
+search of her daughter. Snow fell in huge masses; it covered all
+things, it lay untouched by human footsteps. For long she wandered
+hither and thither; the icy north-east wind whistled in the mountain,
+but no voice answered her cries.
+
+Day after day Marouckla worked and prayed, and waited; but neither
+stepmother nor sister returned, they had been frozen to death on the
+mountain. The inheritance of a small house, a field, and a cow fell to
+Marouckla. In course of time an honest farmer came to share them with
+her, and their lives were happy and peaceful.
+
+
+
+
+THE SUN OR THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSÉVÈDE
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSÉVÈDE
+
+
+Can this be a true story? It is said that once there was a king who
+was exceedingly fond of hunting the wild beasts in his forests. One
+day he followed a stag so far and so long that he lost his way. Alone
+and overtaken by night, he was glad to find himself near a small
+thatched cottage in which lived a charcoal-burner.
+
+"Will you kindly show me the way to the high-road? You shall be
+handsomely rewarded."
+
+"I would willingly," said the charcoal-burner, "but God is going to
+send my wife a little child, and I cannot leave her alone. Will you
+pass the night under our roof? There is a truss of sweet hay in the
+loft where you may rest, and to-morrow morning I will be your guide."
+
+The king accepted the invitation and went to bed in the loft. Shortly
+after a son was born to the charcoal-burner's wife. But the king could
+not sleep. At midnight he heard noises in the house, and looking
+through a crack in the flooring he saw the charcoal-burner asleep, his
+wife almost in a faint, and by the side of the newly-born babe three
+old women dressed in white, each holding a lighted taper in her hand,
+and all talking together. Now these were the three Soudiché or Fates,
+you must know.
+
+The first said, "On this boy I bestow the gift of confronting great
+dangers."
+
+The second said, "I bestow the power of happily escaping all these
+dangers, and of living to a good old age."
+
+The third said, "I bestow upon him for wife the princess born at the
+selfsame hour as he, and daughter of the very king sleeping above in
+the loft."
+
+At these words the lights went out and silence reigned around.
+
+Now the king was greatly troubled, and wondered exceedingly; he felt
+as if he had received a sword-thrust in the chest. He lay awake all
+night thinking how to prevent the words of the Fates from coming true.
+
+With the first glimmer of morning light the baby began to cry. The
+charcoal-burner, on going over to it, found that his wife was dead.
+
+"Poor little orphan," he said sadly, "what will become of thee without
+a mother's care?"
+
+"Confide this child to me," said the king, "I will look after it. He
+shall be well provided for. You shall be given a sum of money large
+enough to keep you without having to burn charcoal."
+
+The poor man gladly agreed, and the king went away promising to send
+some one for the child. The queen and courtiers thought it would be an
+agreeable surprise for the king to hear that a charming little
+princess had been born on the night he was away. But instead of being
+pleased he frowned, and calling one of his servants, said to him, "Go
+to the charcoal-burner's cottage in the forest, and give the man this
+purse in exchange for a new-born infant. On your way back drown the
+child. See well that he is drowned, for if he should in any way
+escape, you yourself shall suffer in his place."
+
+The servant was given the child in a basket, and on reaching the
+centre of a narrow bridge that stretched across a wide and deep river,
+he threw both basket and baby into the water.
+
+"A prosperous journey to you, Mr. Son-in-Law," said the king, on
+hearing the servant's story: for he fully believed the child was
+drowned. But it was far from being the case; the little one was
+floating happily along in its basket cradle, and slumbering as sweetly
+as if his mother had sung him to sleep. Now it happened that a
+fisherman, who was mending his nets before his cottage door, saw the
+basket floating down the river. He jumped at once into his boat,
+picked it up, and ran to tell his wife the good news.
+
+"Look," said he, "you have always longed for a son; here is a
+beautiful little boy the river has sent us."
+
+The woman was delighted, and took the infant and loved it as her own
+child. They named him _Plavacek_ (the floater), because he had come to
+them floating on the water.
+
+The river flowed on. Years passed away. The little baby grew into a
+handsome youth; in all the villages round there were none to compare
+with him. Now it happened that one summer day the king was riding
+unattended. And the heat being very great he reined in his horse
+before the fisherman's door to ask for a drink of water. Plavacek
+brought the water. The king looked at him attentively, then turning to
+the fisherman, said, "That is a good-looking lad; is he your son?"
+
+"He is and he isn't," replied the fisherman. "I found him, when he was
+quite a tiny baby, floating down the stream in a basket. So we adopted
+him and brought him up as our own son."
+
+The king turned as pale as death, for he guessed that he was the same
+child he had ordered to be drowned. Then recovering himself he got
+down from his horse and said: "I want a trusty messenger to take a
+letter to the palace, could you send him with it?"
+
+"With pleasure! Your majesty may be sure of its safe delivery."
+
+Thereupon the king wrote to the queen as follows--
+
+    "The man who brings you this letter is the most dangerous of all
+    my enemies. Have his head cut off at once; no delay, no pity, he
+    must be executed before my return. Such is my will and
+    pleasure."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+This he carefully folded and sealed with the royal seal.
+
+Plavacek took the letter and set off immediately. But the forest
+through which he had to pass was so large, and the trees so thick,
+that he missed the path and was overtaken by the darkness before the
+journey was nearly over. In the midst of his trouble he met an old
+woman who said, "Where are you going, Plavacek? Where are you going?"
+
+"I am the bearer of a letter from the king to the queen, but have
+missed the path to the palace. Could you, good mother, put me on the
+right road?"
+
+"Impossible to-day, my child; it is getting dark, and you would not
+have time to get there. Stay with me to-night. You will not be with
+strangers, for I am your godmother."
+
+Plavacek agreed. Thereupon they entered a pretty little cottage that
+seemed suddenly to sink into the earth. Now while he slept the old
+woman changed his letter for another, which ran thus:--
+
+    "Immediately upon the receipt of this letter introduce the
+    bearer to the princess our daughter. I have chosen this young
+    man for my son-in-law, and it is my wish they should be married
+    before my return to the palace. Such is my pleasure."
+
+The letter was duly delivered, and when the queen had read it, she
+ordered everything to be prepared for the wedding. Both she and her
+daughter greatly enjoyed Plavacek's society, and nothing disturbed the
+happiness of the newly married pair.
+
+Within a few days the king returned, and on hearing what had taken
+place was very angry with the queen.
+
+"But you expressly bade me have the wedding before your return. Come,
+read your letter again, here it is," said she.
+
+He closely examined the letter; the paper, handwriting, seal--all were
+undoubtedly his. He then called his son-in-law, and questioned him
+about his journey. Plavacek hid nothing: he told how he had lost his
+way, and how he had passed the night in a cottage in the forest.
+
+"What was the old woman like?" asked the king.
+
+From Plavacek's description the king knew it was the very same who,
+twenty years before, had foretold the marriage of the princess with
+the charcoal-burner's son. After some moments' thought the king said,
+"What is done is done. But you will not become my son-in-law so
+easily. No, i' faith! As a wedding present you must bring me three
+golden hairs from the head of Dède-Vsévède."
+
+In this way he thought to get rid of his son-in-law, whose very
+presence was distasteful to him. The young fellow took leave of his
+wife and set off. "I know not which way to go," said he to himself,
+"but my godmother the witch will surely help me."
+
+But he found the way easily enough. He walked on and on and on for a
+long time over mountain, valley, and river, until he reached the
+shores of the Black Sea. There he found a boat and boatman.
+
+"May God bless you, old boatman," said he.
+
+"And you, too, my young traveller. Where are you going?"
+
+"To Dède-Vsévède's castle for three of his golden hairs."
+
+"Ah, then you are very welcome. For a long weary while I have been
+waiting for such a messenger as you. I have been ferrying passengers
+across for these twenty years, and not one of them has done anything
+to help me. If you will promise to ask Dède-Vsévède when I shall be
+released from my toil I will row you across."
+
+Plavacek promised, and was rowed to the opposite bank. He continued
+his journey on foot until he came in sight of a large town half in
+ruins, near which was passing a funeral procession. The king of that
+country was following his father's coffin, and with the tears running
+down his cheeks.
+
+"May God comfort you in your distress," said Plavacek.
+
+"Thank you, good traveller. Where are you going?"
+
+"To the house of Dède-Vsévède in quest of three of his golden hairs."
+
+"To the house of Dède-Vsévède? indeed! What a pity you did not come
+sooner, we have long been expecting such a messenger as you. Come and
+see me by and bye."
+
+When Plavacek presented himself at court the king said to him:
+
+"We understand you are on your way to the house of Dède-Vsévède? Now
+we have an apple-tree here that bears the fruit of everlasting youth.
+One of these apples eaten by a man, even though he be dying, will cure
+him and make him young again. For the last twenty years neither fruit
+nor flower has been found on this tree. Will you ask Dède-Vsévède the
+cause of it?"
+
+"That I will, with pleasure."
+
+Then Plavacek continued his journey, and as he went he came to a large
+and beautiful city where all was sad and silent. Near the gate was an
+old man who leant on a stick and walked with difficulty.
+
+"May God bless you, good old man."
+
+"And you, too, my handsome young traveller. Where are you going?"
+
+"To Dède-Vsévède's palace in search of three of his golden hairs."
+
+"Ah, you are the very messenger I have so long waited for. Allow me to
+take you to my master the king."
+
+On their arrival at the palace, the king said, "I hear you are an
+ambassador to Dède-Vsévède. We have here a well, the water of which
+renews itself. So wonderful are its effects that invalids are
+immediately cured on drinking it, while a few drops sprinkled on a
+corpse will bring it to life again. For the past twenty years this
+well has remained dry: if you will ask old Dède-Vsévède how the flow
+of water may be restored I will reward you royally."
+
+Plavacek promised to do so, and was dismissed with good wishes. He
+then travelled through deep dark forests, in the midst of which might
+be seen a large meadow; out of it grew lovely flowers, and in the
+centre stood a castle built of gold. It was the home of Dède-Vsévède.
+So brilliant with light was it that it seemed to be built of fire.
+When he entered there was no one there but an old woman spinning.
+
+"Greeting, Plavacek, I am well pleased to see you."
+
+She was his godmother, who had given him shelter in her cottage when
+he was the bearer of the king's letter.
+
+"Tell me what brings you here from such a distance," she went on.
+
+"The king would not have me for his son-in-law, unless I first got him
+three golden hairs from the head of Dède-Vsévède. So he sent me here
+to fetch them."
+
+The Fate laughed. "Dède-Vsévède indeed! Why, I am his mother, it is
+the shining sun himself. He is a child at morning time, a grown man at
+midday, a decrepit old man, looking as if he had lived a hundred
+years, at eventide. But I will see that you have the three hairs from
+his head; I am not your godmother for nothing. All the same you must
+not remain here. My son is a good lad, but when he comes home he is
+hungry, and would very probably order you to be roasted for his
+supper. Now I will turn this empty bucket upside down, and you shall
+hide underneath it."
+
+Plavacek begged the Fate to obtain from Dède-Vsévède the answers to
+the three questions he had been asked.
+
+"I will do so certainly, but you must listen to what he says."
+
+Suddenly a blast of wind howled round the palace, and the Sun entered
+by a western window. He was an old man with golden hair.
+
+"I smell human flesh," cried he, "I am sure of it. Mother, you have
+some one here."
+
+"Star of day," she replied, "whom could I have here that you would not
+see sooner than I? The fact is that in your daily journeys the scent
+of human flesh is always with you, so when you come home at evening it
+clings to you still."
+
+The old man said nothing, and sat down to supper. When he had finished
+he laid his golden head on the Fate's lap and went to sleep. Then she
+pulled out a hair and threw it on the ground. It fell with a metallic
+sound like the vibration of a guitar string.
+
+"What do you want, mother?" asked he.
+
+"Nothing, my son; I was sleeping, and had a strange dream."
+
+"What was it, mother?"
+
+"I thought I was in a place where there was a well, and the well was
+fed from a spring, the water of which cured all diseases. Even the
+dying were restored to health on drinking that water, and the dead who
+were sprinkled with it came to life again. For the last twenty years
+the well has run dry. What must be done to restore the flow of water?"
+
+"That is very simple. A frog has lodged itself in the opening of the
+spring, this prevents the flow of water. Kill the frog, and the water
+will return to the well."
+
+He slept again, and the old woman pulled out another golden hair, and
+threw it on the ground.
+
+"Mother, what do you want?"
+
+"Nothing, my son, nothing; I was dreaming. In my dream I saw a large
+town, the name of which I have forgotten. And there grew an apple-tree
+the fruit of which had the power to make the old young again. A single
+apple eaten by an old man would restore to him the vigour and
+freshness of youth. For twenty years this tree has not borne fruit.
+What can be done to make it fruitful?"
+
+"The means are not difficult. A snake hidden among the roots destroys
+the sap. Kill the snake, transplant the tree, and the fruit will grow
+as before."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+He again fell asleep, and the old woman pulled out another golden
+hair.
+
+"Now look here, mother, why will you not let me sleep?" said the old
+man, really vexed; and he would have got up.
+
+"Lie down, my darling son, do not disturb yourself. I am sorry I awoke
+you, but I have had a very strange dream. It seemed that I saw a
+boatman on the shores of the Black Sea, and he complained that he had
+been toiling at the ferry for twenty years without any one having come
+to take his place. For how much longer must this poor old man continue
+to row?"
+
+"He is a silly fellow. He has but to place his oars in the hands of
+the first comer and jump ashore. Whoever receives the oars will
+replace him as ferryman. But leave me in peace now, mother, and do not
+wake me again. I have to rise very early, and must first dry the eyes
+of a princess. The poor thing spends all night weeping for her husband
+who has been sent by the king to get three of my golden hairs."
+
+Next morning the wind whistled round Dède-Vsévède's palace, and
+instead of an old man, a beautiful child with golden hair awoke on the
+old woman's lap. It was the glorious sun. He bade her good-bye, and
+flew out of the eastern window. The old woman turned up the bucket and
+said to Plavacek, "Look, here are the three golden hairs. You now know
+the answers to your questions. May God direct you and send you a
+prosperous journey. You will not see me again, for you will have no
+further need of me."
+
+He thanked her gratefully and left her. On arriving at the town with
+the dried-up well, he was questioned by the king as to what news he
+had brought.
+
+"Have the well carefully cleaned out," said he, "kill the frog that
+obstructs the spring, and the wonderful water will flow again."
+
+The king did as he was advised, and rejoiced to see the water return.
+He gave Plavacek twelve swan-white horses, and as much gold and silver
+as they could carry.
+
+On reaching the second town and being asked by the king what news he
+had brought, he replied, "Excellent; one could not wish for better.
+Dig up your apple-tree, kill the snake that lies among the roots,
+transplant the tree, and it will produce apples like those of former
+times."
+
+And all turned out as he had said, for no sooner was the tree
+replanted than it was covered with blossoms that gave it the
+appearance of a sea of roses. The delighted king gave him twelve
+raven-black horses, laden with as much wealth as they could carry. He
+then journeyed to the shores of the Black Sea. There the boatman
+questioned him as to what news he had brought respecting his release.
+Plavacek first crossed with his twenty-four horses to the opposite
+bank, and then replied that the boatman might gain his freedom by
+placing the oars in the hands of the first traveller who wished to be
+ferried over.
+
+Plavacek's royal father-in-law could not believe his eyes when he saw
+Dède-Vsévède's three golden hairs. As for the princess, his young
+wife, she wept tears, but of joy, not sadness, to see her dear one
+again, and she said to him, "How did you get such splendid horses and
+so much wealth, dear husband?"
+
+And he answered her, "All this represents the price paid for the
+weariness of spirit I have felt; it is the ready money for hardships
+endured and services given. Thus, I showed one king how to regain
+possession of the Apples of Youth: to another I told the secret of
+reopening the spring of water that gives health and life."
+
+"Apples of Youth! Water of Life!" interrupted the king. "I will
+certainly go and find these treasures for myself. Ah, what joy! having
+eaten of these apples I shall become young again; having drunk of the
+Water of Immortality, I shall live for ever."
+
+And he started off in search of these treasures. But he has not yet
+returned from his search.
+
+
+
+
+KOVLAD
+
+    I. THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM
+   II. THE LOST CHILD
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+I
+
+THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM
+
+
+Once upon a time, and a long long time ago it was, there lived a widow
+who had a very pretty daughter. The mother, good honest woman, was
+quite content with her station in life. But with the daughter it was
+otherwise; she, like a spoilt beauty, looked contemptuously upon her
+many admirers, her mind was full of proud and ambitious thoughts, and
+the more lovers she had, the prouder she became.
+
+One beautiful moonlight night the mother awoke, and being unable to
+sleep, began to pray God for the happiness of her only child, though
+she often made her mother's life miserable. The fond woman looked
+lovingly at the beautiful daughter sleeping by her side, and she
+wondered, as she saw her smile, what happy dream had visited her. Then
+she finished her prayer, and laying her head on the girl's pillow,
+fell asleep. Next day she said, "Come, darling child, tell me what you
+were dreaming about last night, you looked so happy smiling in your
+sleep."
+
+"Oh yes, mother, I remember. I had a very beautiful dream. I thought a
+rich nobleman came to our house, in a splendid carriage of brass, and
+gave me a ring set with stones, that sparkled like the stars of
+heaven. When I entered the church with him, it was full of people, and
+they all thought me divine and adorable, like the Blessed Virgin."
+
+"Ah! my child, what sin! May God keep you from such dreams."
+
+But the daughter ran away singing, and busied herself about the house.
+The same day a handsome young farmer drove into the village in his
+cart and begged them to come and share his country bread. He was a
+kind fellow, and the mother liked him much. But the daughter refused
+his invitation, and insulted him into the bargain.
+
+"Even if you had driven in a carriage of brass," she said, "and had
+offered me a ring set with stones shining as the stars in heaven, I
+would never have married you--you, a mere peasant!"
+
+The young farmer was terribly upset at her words, and with a prayer
+for her soul, returned home a saddened man. But her mother scolded and
+reproached her.
+
+The next night the woman again awoke, and taking her rosary prayed
+with still greater fervour, that God would bless her child. This time
+the girl laughed as she slept.
+
+"What can the poor child be dreaming about?" she said to herself: and
+sighing she prayed for her again. Then she laid her head upon her
+pillow and tried in vain to sleep. In the morning, when her daughter
+was dressing, she said: "Well, my dear, you were dreaming again last
+night, and laughing like a maniac."
+
+"Was I? Listen, I dreamt a nobleman came for me in a silver carriage,
+and gave me a golden diadem. When I entered the church with him, the
+people admired and worshipped me more than the Blessed Virgin."
+
+"Ay me, what a terrible dream! what a wicked dream! Pray God not to
+lead you into temptation."
+
+Then she scolded her daughter severely and went out, slamming the door
+after her. That same day a carriage drove into the village, and some
+gentlemen invited mother and daughter to share the bread of the lord
+of the manor. The mother considered such an offer a great honour, but
+the daughter refused it and replied to the gentlemen scornfully: "Even
+if you had come to fetch me in a carriage of solid silver and had
+presented me with a golden diadem, I would never have consented to be
+the wife of your lord."
+
+The gentlemen turned away in disgust and returned home; the mother
+rebuked her severely for so much pride.
+
+"Miserable, foolish girl!" she cried, "pride is a breath from hell. It
+is your duty to be humble, honest, and sweet-tempered."
+
+The daughter replied by a laugh.
+
+The third night she slept soundly, but the poor woman at her side
+could not close her eyes. Tormented with dark forebodings, she feared
+some misfortune was about to happen, and counted her beads, praying
+fervently. All at once the young sleeper began to sneer and laugh.
+
+"Merciful God! ah me!" cried the poor woman, "what are these dreams
+that worry her poor brain!"
+
+In the morning she said, "What made you sneer so frightfully last
+night? You must have had bad dreams again, my poor child."
+
+"Now, mother, you look as if you were going to preach again."
+
+"No, no; but I want to know what you were dreaming about."
+
+"Well, I dreamt some one drove up in a golden carriage and asked me to
+marry him, and he brought me a mantle of cloth of pure gold. When we
+came into church, the crowd pressed forward to kneel before me."
+
+The mother wrung her hands piteously, and the girl left the room to
+avoid hearing her lamentations. That same day three carriages entered
+the yard, one of brass, one of silver, and one of gold. The first was
+drawn by two, the second by three, the third by four magnificent
+horses. Gentlemen wearing scarlet gloves and green mantles got out of
+the brass and silver carriages, while from the golden carriage
+alighted a prince who, as the sun shone on him, looked as if he were
+dressed in gold. They all made their way to the widow and asked for
+her daughter's hand.
+
+"I fear we are not worthy of so much honour," replied the widow
+meekly, but when the daughter's eyes fell upon her suitor she
+recognised in him the lover of her dreams, and withdrew to weave an
+aigrette of many-coloured feathers. In exchange for this aigrette
+which she offered her bridegroom, he placed upon her finger a ring set
+with stones that shone like the stars in heaven, and over her
+shoulders a mantle of cloth of gold. The young bride, beside herself
+with joy, retired to complete her toilette. Meanwhile the anxious
+mother, a prey to the blackest forebodings, said to her son-in-law,
+"My daughter has consented to share your bread, tell me of what sort
+of flour it is made?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"In our house we have bread of brass, of silver, and of gold; my wife
+will be free to choose."
+
+Such a reply astonished her more than ever, and made her still more
+unhappy. The daughter asked no questions, was in fact content to know
+nothing, not even what her mother suffered. She looked magnificent in
+her bridal attire and golden mantle, but she left her home with the
+prince without saying good-bye either to her mother or to her youthful
+companions. Neither did she ask her mother's blessing, though the
+latter wept and prayed for her safety.
+
+After the marriage ceremony they mounted the golden carriage and set
+off, followed by the attendants of silver and brass. The procession
+moved slowly along the road without stopping until it reached the foot
+of a high rock. Here, instead of a carriage entrance, was a large
+cavern which led out into a steep slope down which the horses went
+lower and lower. The giant _Zémo-tras_ (he who makes the earthquakes)
+closed the opening with a huge stone. They made their way in darkness
+for some time, the terrified bride being reassured by her husband.
+
+"Fear nothing," said he, "in a little while it will be clear and
+beautiful."
+
+Grotesque dwarfs, carrying lighted torches, appeared on all sides,
+saluted and welcomed their King Kovlad as they illumined the road for
+him and his attendants. Then for the first time the girl knew she had
+married Kovlad, but this mattered little to her. On coming out from
+these gloomy passages into the open they found themselves surrounded
+by large forests and mountains, mountains that seemed to touch the
+sky. And, strange to relate, all the trees of whatsoever kind, and
+even the mountains that seemed to touch the sky, were of solid lead.
+When they had crossed these marvellous mountains the giant Zémo-tras
+closed all the openings in the road they had passed. They then drove
+out upon vast and beautiful plains, in the centre of which was a
+golden palace covered with precious stones. The bride was weary with
+looking at so many wonders, and gladly sat down to the feast prepared
+by the dwarfs. Meats of many kinds were served, roast and boiled, but
+lo! they were of metal--brass, silver, and gold. Every one ate
+heartily and enjoyed the food, but the young wife, with tears in her
+eyes, begged for a piece of bread.
+
+"Certainly, madam, with pleasure," answered Kovlad. But she could not
+eat the bread which was brought, for it was of brass. Then the king
+sent for a piece of silver bread, still she could not eat it; and
+again for a slice of golden bread, that too she was unable to bite.
+The servants did all they could to get something to their mistress's
+taste, but she found it impossible to eat anything.
+
+"I should be most happy to gratify you," said Kovlad "but we have no
+other kind of food."
+
+Then she realised for the first time in whose power she had placed
+herself, and she began to weep bitterly and wish she had taken her
+mother's advice.
+
+"It is of no use to weep and regret," said Kovlad, "you must have
+known the kind of bread you would have to break here; your wish has
+been fulfilled."
+
+And so it was, for nothing can recall the past. The wretched girl was
+obliged henceforth to live underground with her husband Kovlad, the
+God of Metals, in his golden palace. And this because she had set her
+heart upon nothing but the possession of gold, and had never wished
+for anything better.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+II
+
+THE LOST CHILD
+
+
+Long long ago there lived a very rich nobleman. But though he was so
+rich he was not happy, for he had no children to whom he could leave
+his wealth. He was, besides, no longer young. Every day he and his
+wife went to church to pray for a son. At last, after long waiting,
+God sent them what they desired. Now the evening before its arrival
+the father dreamed that its chance of living would depend upon one
+condition, namely, that its feet never touched the earth until it was
+twelve years old. Great care was taken that this should be avoided,
+and when the little stranger came, only trustworthy nurses were
+employed to look after him. As the years passed on the child was
+diligently guarded, sometimes he was carried in his nurses' arms,
+sometimes rocked in his golden cradle, but his feet never touched the
+ground.
+
+Now when the end of the time drew near the father began preparations
+for a magnificent feast which should be given to celebrate his son's
+release. One day while these were in progress a frightful noise,
+followed by most unearthly yells, shook the castle. The nurse dropped
+the child in her terror and ran to the window: that instant the noises
+ceased. On turning to take up the boy, imagine her dismay when she
+found him no longer there, and remembered that she had disobeyed her
+master's orders.
+
+Hearing her screams and lamentations, all the servants of the castle
+ran to her. The father soon followed, asking, "What is the matter?
+What has happened? Where is my child?" The nurse, trembling and
+weeping, told of the disappearance of his son, his only child. No
+words can tell the anguish of the father's heart. He sent servants in
+every direction to hunt for his boy, he gave orders, he begged and
+prayed, he threw away money right and left, he promised everything if
+only his son might be restored to him. Search was made without loss of
+time, but no trace of him could be discovered; he had vanished as
+completely as if he had never existed.
+
+Many years later the unhappy nobleman learnt that in one of the most
+beautiful rooms of the castle, footsteps, as of some one walking up
+and down, and dismal groans, were heard every midnight. Anxious to
+follow the matter up, for he thought it might in some way concern his
+lost son, he made known that a reward of three hundred gold pieces
+would be given to any one who would watch for one whole night in the
+haunted room. Many were willing, but had not the courage to stay till
+the end; for at midnight, when the dismal groans were heard, they
+would run away rather than risk their lives for three hundred gold
+pieces. The poor father was in despair, and knew not how to discover
+the truth of this dark mystery.
+
+Now close to the castle dwelt a widow, a miller by trade, who had
+three daughters. They were very poor, and hardly earned enough for
+their daily needs. When they heard of the midnight noises in the
+castle and the promised reward, the eldest daughter said, "As we are
+so very poor we have nothing to lose; surely we might try to earn
+these three hundred gold pieces by remaining in the room one night. I
+should like to try, mother, if you will let me."
+
+The mother shrugged her shoulders, she hardly knew what to say; but
+when she thought of their poverty and the difficulty they had to earn
+a living she gave permission for her eldest daughter to remain one
+night in the haunted room. Then the daughter went to ask the
+nobleman's consent.
+
+"Have you really the courage to watch for a whole night in a room
+haunted by ghosts? Are you sure you are not afraid, my good girl?"
+
+"I am willing to try this very night," she replied. "I would only ask
+you to give me some food to cook for my supper, for I am very hungry."
+
+Orders were given that she should be supplied with everything she
+wanted, and indeed enough food was given her, not for one supper only,
+but for three. With the food, some dry firewood and a candle, she
+entered the room. Like a good housewife, she first lit the fire and
+put on her saucepans, then she laid the table and made the bed. This
+filled up the early part of the evening. The time passed so quickly
+that she was surprised to hear the clock strike twelve, while at the
+last stroke, footsteps, as of some one walking, shook the room, and
+dismal groans filled the air. The frightened girl ran from one corner
+to the other, but could not see any one. But the footsteps and the
+groans did not cease. Suddenly a young man approached her and asked,
+"For whom is this food cooked?"
+
+"For myself," she said.
+
+The gentle face of the stranger saddened, and after a short silence he
+asked again, "And this table, for whom is it laid?"
+
+"For myself," she replied.
+
+The brow of the young man clouded over, and the beautiful blue eyes
+filled with tears as he asked once more, "And this bed, for whom have
+you made it?"
+
+"For myself," replied she in the same selfish and indifferent tone.
+
+Tears fell from his eyes as he waved his arms and vanished.
+
+Next morning she told the nobleman all that had happened, but without
+mentioning the painful impression her answers had made upon the
+stranger. The three hundred golden crowns were paid, and the father
+was thankful to have at last heard something that might possibly lead
+to the discovery of his son.
+
+On the following day the second daughter, having been told by her
+sister what to do and how to answer the stranger, went to the castle
+to offer her services. The nobleman willingly agreed, and orders were
+given that she should be provided with everything she might want.
+Without loss of time she entered the room, lit the fire, put on the
+saucepans, spread a white cloth upon the table, made the bed, and
+awaited the hour of midnight. When the young stranger appeared and
+asked, "For whom is this food prepared? for whom is the table laid?
+for whom is the bed made?" she answered as her sister had bidden her,
+"For me, for myself only."
+
+As on the night before, he burst into tears, waved his arms, and
+suddenly disappeared.
+
+Next morning she told the nobleman all that had happened except the
+sad impression her answers had made upon the stranger. The three
+hundred gold pieces were given her, and she went home.
+
+On the third day the youngest daughter wanted to try her fortune.
+
+"Sisters," said she, "as you have succeeded in earning three hundred
+gold crowns each, and so helping our dear mother, I too should like to
+do my part and remain a night in the haunted room."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now the widow loved her youngest daughter more dearly than the others,
+and dreaded to expose her to any danger; but as the elder ones had
+been successful, she allowed her to take her chance. So with the
+instructions from her sisters as to what she should do and say, and
+with the nobleman's consent and abundant provisions, she entered the
+haunted room. Having lit the fire, put on the saucepans, laid the
+table and made the bed, she awaited with hope and fear the hour of
+midnight.
+
+As twelve o'clock struck, the room was shaken by the footsteps of some
+one who walked up and down, and the air was filled with cries and
+groans. The girl looked everywhere, but no living being could she see.
+Suddenly there stood before her a young man who asked in a sweet
+voice, "For whom have you prepared this food?"
+
+Now her sisters had told her how to answer and how to act, but when
+she looked into the sad eyes of the stranger she resolved to treat him
+more kindly.
+
+"Well, you do not answer me; for whom is the food prepared?" he asked
+again impatiently, as she made no reply. Somewhat confused, she said,
+"I prepared it for myself, but you too are welcome to it."
+
+At these words his brow grew more serene.
+
+"And this table, for whom is it spread?"
+
+"For myself, unless you will honour me by being my guest."
+
+A bright smile illumined his face.
+
+"And this bed, for whom have you made it?"
+
+"For myself, but if you have need of rest it is for you."
+
+He clapped his hands for joy and replied, "Ah, that's right; I accept
+the invitation with pleasure, and all that you have been so kind as to
+offer me. But wait, I pray you wait for me; I must first thank my kind
+friends for the care they have taken of me."
+
+A fresh warm breath of spring filled the air, while at the same moment
+a deep precipice opened in the middle of the floor. He descended
+lightly, and she, anxious to see what would happen, followed him,
+holding on to his mantle. Thus they both reached the bottom of the
+precipice. Down there a new world opened itself before her eyes. To
+the right flowed a river of liquid gold, to the left rose high
+mountains of solid gold, in the centre lay a large meadow covered with
+millions of flowers. The stranger went on, the girl followed
+unnoticed. And as he went he saluted the field flowers as old friends,
+caressing them and leaving them with regret. Then they came to a
+forest where the trees were of gold. Many birds of different kinds
+began to sing, and flying round the young stranger perched familiarly
+on his head and shoulders. He spoke to and petted each one. While thus
+engaged, the girl broke off a branch from one of the golden trees and
+hid it in remembrance of this strange land.
+
+Leaving the forest of gold, they reached a wood where all the trees
+were of silver. Their arrival was greeted by an immense number of
+animals of various kinds. These crowded together and pushed one
+against another to get close to their friend. He spoke to each one and
+stroked and petted them. Meanwhile the girl broke off a branch of
+silver from one of the trees, saying to herself, "These will serve me
+as tokens of this wonderful land, for my sisters would not believe me
+if I only told them of it."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the young stranger had taken leave of all his friends he returned
+by the paths he had come, and the girl followed without being seen.
+Arrived at the foot of the precipice, he began to ascend, she coming
+silently after, holding on to his mantle. Up they went higher and
+higher, until they reached the room in the castle. The floor closed up
+without trace of the opening. The girl returned to her place by the
+fire, where she was standing when the young man approached.
+
+"All my farewells have been spoken," said he, "now we can have
+supper."
+
+She hastened to place upon the table the food so hurriedly prepared,
+and sitting side by side they supped together. When they had made a
+good meal he said, "Now it is time to rest."
+
+He lay down on the carefully-made bed, and the girl placed by his side
+the gold and silver branches she had picked in the Mineral Land. In a
+few moments he was sleeping peacefully.
+
+Next day the sun was already high in the sky, and yet the girl had not
+come to give an account of herself. The nobleman became impatient; he
+waited and waited, becoming more and more uneasy. At last he
+determined to go and see for himself what had happened. Picture to
+yourself his surprise and joy, when on entering the haunted chamber he
+saw his long-lost son sleeping on the bed, while beside him sat the
+widow's beautiful daughter. At that moment the son awoke. The father,
+overwhelmed with joy, summoned the attendants of the castle to rejoice
+with him in his new-found happiness.
+
+Then the young man saw the two branches of metal, and said with
+astonishment, "What do I see? Did you then follow me down there? Know
+that by this act you have broken the spell and released me from the
+enchantment. These two branches will make two palaces for our future
+dwelling."
+
+Thereupon he took the branches and threw them out of the window.
+Immediately there were seen two magnificent palaces, one of gold, the
+other of silver. And there they lived happily as man and wife, the
+nobleman's son and the miller's daughter. And if not dead they live
+there still.
+
+
+
+
+THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD
+
+
+There was once a king so wise and clever that he understood the
+language of all animals. You shall hear how he gained this power.
+
+One day an old woman came to the palace and said, "I wish to speak to
+his majesty, for I have something of great importance to tell him."
+When admitted to his presence she presented him with a curious fish,
+saying, "Have it cooked for yourself, and when you have eaten it you
+will understand all that is said by the birds of the air, the animals
+that walk the earth, and the fishes that live under the waters."
+
+The king was delighted to know that which every one else was ignorant
+of, so he rewarded the old woman generously, and told a servant to
+cook the fish very carefully.
+
+"But take care," said the monarch, "that you do not taste it yourself,
+for if you do you will be killed."
+
+George, the servant, was astonished at such a threat, and wondered why
+his master was so anxious that no one else should eat any of the fish.
+Then examining it curiously he said, "Never in all my life have I seen
+such an odd-looking fish; it seems more like a reptile. Now where
+would be the harm if I did take some? Every cook tastes of the dishes
+he prepares."
+
+When it was fried he tasted a small piece, and while taking some of
+the sauce heard a buzzing in the air and a voice speaking in his ear.
+
+"Let us taste a crumb: let us taste a little," it said.
+
+He looked round to see where the words came from, but there were only
+a few flies buzzing about in the kitchen. At the same moment some one
+out in the yard said in a harsh jerky voice, "Where are we going to
+settle? Where?"
+
+And another answered, "In the miller's barley-field; ho! for the
+miller's field of barley."
+
+When George looked towards where this strange talk came he saw a
+gander flying at the head of a flock of geese.
+
+"How lucky," thought he; "now I know why my master set so much value
+on this fish and wished to eat it all himself."
+
+George had now no doubt that by tasting the fish he had learnt the
+language of animals, so after having taken a little more he served the
+king with the remainder as if nothing had happened.
+
+When his majesty had dined he ordered George to saddle two horses and
+accompany him for a ride. They were soon off, the master in front, the
+servant behind.
+
+While crossing a meadow George's horse began to prance and caper,
+neighing out these words, "I say, brother, I feel so light and in such
+good spirits to-day that in one single bound I could leap over those
+mountains yonder."
+
+"I could do the same," answered the king's horse, "but I carry a
+feeble old man on my back; he would fall like a log and break his
+skull."
+
+"What does that matter to you? So much the better if he should break
+his head, for then, instead of being ridden by an old man you would
+probably be mounted by a young one."
+
+The servant laughed a good deal upon hearing this conversation between
+the horses, but he took care to do so on the quiet, lest the king
+should hear him. At that moment his majesty turned round, and, seeing
+a smile on the man's face, asked the cause of it.
+
+"Oh nothing, your majesty, only some nonsense that came into my head."
+
+The king said nothing, and asked no more questions, but he was
+suspicious, and distrusted both servant and horses; so he hastened
+back to the palace.
+
+When there he said to George, "Give me some wine, but mind you only
+pour out enough to fill the glass, for if you put in one drop too
+much, so that it overflows, I shall certainly order my executioner to
+cut off your head."
+
+While he was speaking two birds flew near the window, one chasing the
+other, who carried three golden hairs in his beak.
+
+"Give them me," said one, "you know they are mine."
+
+"Not at all, I picked them up myself."
+
+"No matter, I saw them fall while the Maid with Locks of Gold was
+combing out her hair. At least, give me two, then you can keep the
+third for yourself."
+
+"No, not a single one."
+
+Thereupon one of the birds succeeded in seizing the hairs from the
+other bird's beak, but in the struggle he let one fall, and it made a
+sound as if a piece of metal had struck the ground. As for George, he
+was completely taken off his guard, and the wine overflowed the glass.
+
+The king was furious, and feeling convinced that his servant had
+disobeyed him and had learnt the language of animals, he said, "You
+scoundrel, you deserve death for having failed to do my bidding,
+nevertheless, I will show you mercy upon one condition, that you bring
+me the Maid with the Golden Locks, for I intend to marry her."
+
+Alas, what was to be done? Poor fellow, he was willing to do anything
+to save his life, even run the risk of losing it on a long journey. He
+therefore promised to search for the Maid with the Golden Locks: but
+he knew not where or how to find her.
+
+When he had saddled and mounted his horse he allowed it to go its own
+way, and it carried him to the outskirts of a dark forest, where some
+shepherds had left a bush burning. The sparks of fire from the bush
+endangered the lives of a large number of ants which had built their
+nest close by, and the poor little things were hurrying away in all
+directions, carrying their small white eggs with them.
+
+"Help us in our distress, good George," they cried in a plaintive
+voice; "do not leave us to perish, together with our children whom we
+carry in these eggs."
+
+George immediately dismounted, cut down the bush, and put out the
+fire.
+
+"Thank you, brave man: and remember, when you are in trouble you have
+only to call upon us, and we will help you in our turn." The young
+fellow went on his way far into the forest until he came to a very
+tall fir tree. At the top of the tree was a raven's nest, while at the
+foot, on the ground, lay two young ones who were calling out to their
+parents and saying, "Alas, father and mother, where have you gone? You
+have flown away, and we have to seek our food, weak and helpless as we
+are. Our wings are as yet without feathers, how then shall we be able
+to get anything to eat? Good George," said they, turning to the young
+man, "do not leave us to starve."
+
+Without stopping to think, the young man dismounted, and with his
+sword slew his horse to provide food for the young birds. They thanked
+him heartily, and said, "If ever you should be in distress, call to us
+and we will help you at once."
+
+After this George was obliged to travel on foot, and he walked on for
+a long time, ever getting further and further into the forest. On
+reaching the end of it, he saw stretching before him an immense sea
+that seemed to mingle with the horizon. Close by stood two men
+disputing the possession of a large fish with golden scales that had
+fallen into their net.
+
+"The net belongs to me," said one, "therefore the fish must be mine."
+
+"Your net would not have been of the slightest use, for it would have
+been lost in the sea, had I not come with my boat just in the nick of
+time."
+
+"Well, you shall have the next haul I make."
+
+"And suppose you should catch nothing? No; give me this one and keep
+the next haul for yourself."
+
+"I am going to put an end to your quarrel," said George, addressing
+them. "Sell me the fish: I will pay you well, and you can divide the
+money between you."
+
+Thereupon he put into their hands all the money the king had given him
+for the journey, without keeping a single coin for himself. The
+fishermen rejoiced at the good fortune which had befallen them, but
+George put the fish back into the water. The fish, thankful for this
+unexpected freedom, dived and disappeared, but returning to the
+surface, said, "Whenever you may need my help you have but to call me,
+I shall not fail to show my gratitude."
+
+"Where are you going?" asked the fisherman.
+
+"I am in search of a wife for my old master; she is known as the Maid
+with the Golden Locks: but I am at a loss where to find her."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"If that be all, we can easily give you information," answered they.
+"She is Princess Zlato Vlaska, and daughter of the king whose crystal
+palace is built on that island yonder. The golden light from the
+princess's hair is reflected on sea and sky every morning when she
+combs it. If you would like to go to the island we will take you there
+for nothing, in return for the clever and generous way by which you
+made us stop quarrelling. But beware of one thing: when in the palace
+do not make a mistake as to which is the princess, for there are
+twelve of them, but only Zlato Vlaska has hair of gold."
+
+When George reached the island he lost no time in making his way to
+the palace, and demanded from the king the hand of his daughter,
+Princess Zlato Vlaska, in marriage to the king his master.
+
+"I will grant the request with pleasure," said his majesty, "but only
+on one condition, namely, that you perform certain tasks which I will
+set you. These will be three in number, and must be done in three
+days, just as I order you. For the present you had better rest and
+refresh yourself after your journey."
+
+On the next day the king said, "My daughter, the Maid with the Golden
+Hair, had a string of fine pearls, and the thread having broken, the
+pearls were scattered far and wide among the long grass of this field.
+Go and pick up every one of the pearls, for they must all be found."
+
+George went into the meadow, which was of great length and stretched
+away far out of sight. He went down on his knees and hunted between
+the tufts of grass and bramble from morning until noon, but not a
+single pearl could he find.
+
+"Ah, if I only had my good little ants here," he cried, "they would be
+able to help me."
+
+"Here we are, young man, at your service," answered the ants, suddenly
+appearing. Then they all ran round him, crying out, "What is the
+matter? What do you want?"
+
+"I have to find all the pearls lost in this field, and cannot see a
+single one: can you help me?"
+
+"Wait a little, we will soon get them for you."
+
+He had not to wait very long, for they brought him a heap of pearls,
+and all he had to do was to thread them on the string. Just as he was
+about to make a knot he saw a lame ant coming slowly towards him, for
+one of her feet had been burned in the bush fire.
+
+"Wait a moment, George," she called out; "do not tie the knot before
+threading this last pearl I am bringing you."
+
+When George took his pearls to the king, his majesty first counted
+them to make sure they were all there, and then said, "You have done
+very well in this test, to-morrow I will give you another."
+
+Early next morning the king summoned George to him and said, "My
+daughter, the Princess with the Golden Hair, dropped her gold ring
+into the sea while bathing. You must find the jewel and bring it me
+to-day."
+
+The young fellow walked thoughtfully up and down the beach. The water
+was pure and transparent, but he could not see beyond a certain
+distance into its depths, and therefore could not tell where the ring
+was lying beneath the water.
+
+"Ah, my golden fishling, why are you not here now? You would surely be
+able to help me," he said to himself, speaking aloud.
+
+"Here I am," answered the fish's voice from the sea, "what can I do
+for you?"
+
+"I have to find a gold ring which has been dropped in the sea, but as
+I cannot see to the bottom there is no use looking."
+
+The fish said, "Fortunately I have just met a pike, wearing a gold
+ring on his fin. Just wait a moment, will you?"
+
+In a very short time he reappeared with the pike and the ring. The
+pike willingly gave up the jewel.
+
+The king thanked George for his cleverness, and then told him the
+third task. "If you really wish me to give the hand of my daughter
+with the golden hair to the monarch who has sent you here, you must
+bring me two things that I want above everything: the Water of Death
+and the Water of Life."
+
+George had not the least idea where to find these waters, so he
+determined to trust to chance and "follow his nose," as the saying is.
+He went first in one direction and then in another, until he reached a
+dark forest.
+
+"Ah, if my little ravens were but here, perhaps they would help me,"
+he said aloud.
+
+Suddenly there was heard a rushing noise, as of wings overhead, and
+then down came the ravens calling "Krâk, krâk, here we are, ready and
+willing to help you. What are you looking for?"
+
+"I want some of the Water of Death and the Water of Life: it is
+impossible for me to find them, for I don't know where to look."
+
+"Krâk, krâk, we know very well where to find some. Wait a moment."
+
+Off they went immediately, but soon returned, each with a small gourd
+in his beak. One gourd contained the Water of Life, the other the
+Water of Death.
+
+George was delighted with his success, and went back on his way to the
+palace. When nearly out of the forest, he saw a spider's web hanging
+between two fir trees, while in the centre was a large spider
+devouring a fly he had just killed. George sprinkled a few drops of
+the Water of Death on the spider; it immediately left the fly, which
+rolled to the ground like a ripe cherry, but on being touched with the
+Water of Life she began to move, and stretching out first one limb and
+then another, gradually freed herself from the spider's web. Then she
+spread her wings and took flight, having first buzzed these words in
+the ears of her deliverer: "George, you have assured your own
+happiness by restoring mine, for without my help you would never have
+succeeded in recognising the Princess with the Golden Hair when you
+choose her to-morrow from among her twelve sisters."
+
+And the fly was right, for though the king, on finding that George had
+accomplished the third task, agreed to give him his daughter Zlato
+Vlaska, he yet added that he would have to find her himself.
+
+He then led him to a large room and bade him choose from among the
+twelve charming girls who sat at a round table. Each wore a kind of
+linen head-dress that completely hid the upper part of the head, and
+in such a way that the keenest eye could not discover the colour of
+the hair.
+
+"Here are my daughters," said the king, "but only one among them has
+golden hair. If you find her you may take her with you; but if you
+make a mistake she will remain with us, and you will have to return
+empty-handed."
+
+George felt much embarrassed, not knowing what course to take.
+
+"Buzz, Buzz, come walk round these young girls, and I will tell you
+which is yours."
+
+Thus spoke the fly whose life George had saved.
+
+Thus reassured he walked boldly round, pointing at them one after the
+other and saying, "This one has not the golden hair, nor this one
+either, nor this...."
+
+Suddenly, having been told by the fly, he cried, "Here we are: this is
+Zlato Vlaska, even she herself. I take her for my own, she whom I have
+won, and for whom I have paid the price with many cares. You will not
+refuse her me this time."
+
+"Indeed, you have guessed aright," replied the king.
+
+The princess rose from her seat, and letting fall her head-dress,
+exposed to full view all the splendour of her wonderful hair, which
+seemed like a waterfall of golden rays, and covered her from head to
+foot. The glorious light that shone from it dazzled the young man's
+eyes, and he immediately fell in love with her.
+
+The king provided his daughter with gifts worthy of a queen, and she
+left her father's palace in a manner befitting a royal bride. The
+journey back was accomplished without any mishaps.
+
+On their arrival the old king was delighted at the sight of Zlato
+Vlaska, and danced with joy. Splendid and costly preparations were
+made for the wedding. His majesty then said to George, "You robbed me
+of the secret of animal language. For this I intended to have your
+head cut off and your body thrown to birds of prey. But as you have
+served me so faithfully and won the princess for my bride I will
+lessen the punishment--that is, although you will be executed, yet you
+shall be buried with all the honours worthy of a superior officer."
+
+So the sentence was carried out, cruelly and unjustly. After the
+execution the Princess with the Golden Hair begged the king to make
+her a present of George's body, and the monarch was so much in love
+that he could not refuse his intended bride anything.
+
+Zlato Vlaska with her own hands replaced the head on the body, and
+sprinkled it with the Water of Death. Immediately the separated parts
+became one again. Upon this she poured the Water of Life, and George
+returned to life, fresh as a young roebuck, his face radiant with
+health and youth.
+
+"Ah me! How well I have slept," said he, rubbing his eyes.
+
+"Yes; no one could have slept better," answered the princess, smiling,
+"but without me you would have slept through eternity."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the old king saw George restored to life, and looking younger,
+handsomer, and more vigorous than ever, he too wanted to be made young
+again. He therefore ordered his servants to cut off his head and
+sprinkle it with the Life-Giving Water. They cut it off, but he did
+not come to life again, although they sprinkled his body with all the
+water that was left. Perhaps they made some mistake in using the wrong
+water, for the head and body were joined, but life itself never
+returned, there being no Water of Life left for that purpose. No one
+knew where to get any, and none understood the language of animals.
+
+So, to make a long story short, George was proclaimed king, and the
+Princess with Hair of Gold, who really loved him, became his queen.
+
+
+
+
+THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON
+
+
+There were once two young people who loved each other dearly. The
+young man was called Jean, the girl, Annette. In her sweetness she was
+like unto a dove, in her strength and bravery she resembled an eagle.
+
+Her father was a rich farmer, and owned a large estate, but Jean's
+father was only a poor mountain shepherd. Annette did not in the least
+mind her lover being poor, for he was rich in goodness: nor did she
+think her father would object to their marrying.
+
+One day Jean put on his best clothes, and went to ask the farmer for
+his daughter's hand. The farmer listened without interrupting him, and
+then replied, "If you would marry Annette, go and ask of the Sun why
+he does not warm the night as well as the day. Then inquire of the
+Moon why she does not shine by day as well as by night. When you
+return with these answers you shall not only have my daughter but all
+my wealth."
+
+These conditions in no way daunted Jean, who placed his hat on the
+side of his head, and taking a loving farewell of Annette, set out in
+search of the Sun. On reaching a small town at the close of day, he
+looked about for a place wherein to pass the night. Some kind people
+offered him shelter and invited him to sup with them, inquiring as to
+the object of his journey. When they heard that he was on his way to
+visit the Sun and Moon, the master of the house begged him to ask the
+Sun why the finest pear-tree they had in the town had, for several
+years, ceased to bear fruit, for it used to produce the most delicious
+pears in the world.
+
+Jean willingly promised to make this inquiry, and the next day
+continued his journey.
+
+He walked on and on, over mountain and moor, through valley and dense
+forest, until he came to a land where there was no drinking water. The
+inhabitants, when they heard the object of Jean's journey, begged him
+to ask the Sun and Moon why a well, that was the chief water supply of
+the district, no longer gave good water. Jean promised to do so, and
+resumed his journey.
+
+After long and weary wanderings he reached the Sun's abode, and found
+him about to start on his travels.
+
+"O Sun," said he, "stop one moment, do not depart without first
+answering a few questions."
+
+"Be quick then and speak, for I have to go all round the world
+to-day."
+
+"Pray tell me why you do not warm or light the earth by night as well
+as day?"
+
+"For this simple reason, that if I did, the world and everything upon
+it would be very soon burnt up."
+
+Jean then put his questions concerning the pear-tree and the well. But
+the Sun replied that his sister, the Moon, would be able to answer him
+on those points.
+
+Hardly had the Sun finished speaking before he was obliged to hurry
+off, and Jean travelled far and fast to meet the Moon. On coming up to
+her he said, "Would you kindly stop one moment? there are a few
+questions I should like to ask you."
+
+"Very well, be quick, for the earth is waiting for me," answered she,
+and stood still at once.
+
+"Tell me, dear Moon, why you do not light the world by day as well as
+by night? And why you never warm it?"
+
+"Because if I lit up the world by day as well as by night the plants
+would produce neither fruit nor flower. And though I do not warm the
+earth, I supply it with dew, which makes it fertile and fruitful."
+
+She was then about to continue her course, but Jean, begging her to
+stop one moment longer, questioned her about the pear-tree which had
+ceased to bear fruit.
+
+And she answered him thus: "While the king's eldest daughter remained
+unmarried the tree bore fruit every year. After her wedding she had a
+little child who died and was buried under this tree. Since then there
+has been neither fruit nor flower on its branches: if the child be
+given Christian burial the tree will produce blossom and fruit as in
+the past."
+
+The Moon was just moving off when Jean begged her to stop and answer
+one more question, which was, why the inhabitants of a certain land
+were unable to obtain from their well the clear and wholesome water it
+had formerly poured forth.
+
+She replied: "Under the mouth of the well, just where the water should
+flow, lies an enormous toad which poisons it continually: the brim of
+the well must be broken and the toad killed, then the water will be as
+pure and wholesome as formerly."
+
+The Moon then resumed her journey, for Jean had no more questions to
+ask her.
+
+He joyfully went back to claim his Annette, but forgot not to stop on
+coming to the land where they were short of water. The inhabitants ran
+out to meet him, anxious to know what he had found out.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Jean led them to the well and there explained the instructions he had
+received from the Moon, at the same time showing them what to do. Sure
+enough, right underneath the brim of the well they found a horrible
+toad which poisoned everything. When they had killed it, the water
+immediately became pure and transparent, and sweet to the taste as
+before.
+
+All the people brought Jean presents, and thus laden with riches he
+again set out. On arriving at the town where grew the unfruitful
+pear-tree, he was warmly welcomed by the prince, who at once asked if
+he had forgotten to question the stars about the tree.
+
+"I never forget a promise once made," replied Jean, "but I doubt
+whether it will be agreeable to your majesty to know the cause of the
+evil."
+
+He then related all the Moon had said, and when his directions had
+been carried out they were rewarded by seeing the tree blossom
+immediately. Jean was loaded with rich gifts, and the king presented
+him with a most valuable horse, by means of which he reached home very
+quickly.
+
+Little Annette was wild with joy on hearing of her lover's safe
+return, for she had wept and suffered much during his absence. But her
+father's feelings were very different; he wished never to see Jean
+again, and had, indeed, sent him in search of the Sun with the hope
+that he might be burnt up by the heat. True it is that "Man proposes
+and God disposes." Our young shepherd returned, not only safe and
+sound, but with more knowledge than any of his evil-wishers. For he
+had learnt why the Sun neither lights nor warms the earth by night as
+in the day; also why the Moon does not give warmth, and only lights up
+during the night. Besides all this he had brought with him riches
+which far exceeded those of his father-in-law, and a steed full of
+fire and vigour.
+
+So Annette's father could find no fault, and the wedding was
+celebrated with joy and feasting. Large quantities of roasted crane
+were eaten, and glasses overflowing with mead were emptied. So
+beautiful, too, was the music, that for long, long after it was heard
+to echo among the mountains, and even now its sweet sounds are heard
+at times by travellers among those regions.
+
+
+
+
+THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE DWARF.]
+
+THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD
+
+
+In a far distant land there reigned a king, and he had an only
+daughter who was so very beautiful that no one in the whole kingdom
+could be compared to her. She was known as Princess Pietnotka, and the
+fame of her beauty spread far and wide. There were many princes among
+her suitors, but her choice fell upon Prince Dobrotek. She obtained
+her father's consent to their marriage, and then, attended by a
+numerous suite, set off with her lover for the church, having first,
+as was the custom, received her royal parent's blessing. Most of the
+princes who had been unsuccessful in their wooing of Pietnotka
+returned disappointed to their own kingdoms: but one of them, a dwarf
+only seven inches high, with an enormous hump on his back and a beard
+seven feet long, who was a powerful prince and magician, was so
+enraged that he determined to have his revenge. So he changed himself
+into a whirlwind and lay in wait to receive the princess. When the
+wedding procession was about to enter the church the air was suddenly
+filled with a blinding cloud of dust, and Pietnotka was borne up high
+as the highest clouds, and then right down to an underground palace.
+There the dwarf, for it was he who had worked this spell, disappeared,
+leaving her in a lifeless condition.
+
+When she opened her eyes she found herself in such a magnificent
+apartment that she imagined some king must have run away with her. She
+got up and began to walk about, when lo! as if by some unseen hand the
+table was laden with gold and silver dishes, filled with cakes of
+every kind. They looked so tempting, that in spite of her grief she
+could not resist tasting, and she continued to eat until she was more
+than satisfied. She returned to the sofa and lay down to rest, but
+being unable to sleep, she looked first at the door, and then at the
+lamp burning on the table, then at the door again, and then back to
+the lamp. Suddenly the door opened of itself, giving entrance to four
+negroes fully armed, and bearing a golden throne, upon which was
+seated the Dwarf with the Long Beard. He came close up to the sofa and
+attempted to kiss the princess, but she struck him such a blow in the
+face that a thousand stars swam before his eyes, and a thousand bells
+rang in his ears; upon which he gave such a shout, that the palace
+walls trembled. Yet his love for her was so great that he did his best
+not to show his anger, and turned away as if to leave her. But his
+feet became entangled in his long beard, and he fell down, dropping a
+cap he was carrying in his hand. Now this cap had the power of making
+its wearer invisible. The negroes hastened up to their master, and
+placing him on his throne bore him out.
+
+Directly the princess found herself alone she jumped off the sofa,
+locked the door, and picking up the cap ran to a mirror to try it on
+and see how it suited her. Imagine her amazement when looking in the
+glass she saw--nothing at all! She took off the cap, and behold, she
+was there again as large as life. She soon found out what sort of cap
+it was, and rejoicing in the possession of such a marvel, put it on
+her head again and began to walk about the room. Soon the door was
+burst violently open, and the dwarf entered with his beard tied up.
+But he found neither the princess nor the cap, and so came to the
+conclusion that she had taken it. In a great rage he began to search
+high and low; he looked under all the furniture, behind the curtains,
+and even beneath the carpets, but it was all in vain. Meanwhile the
+princess, still invisible, had left the palace and run into the
+garden, which was very large and beautiful. There she lived at her
+ease, eating the delicious fruit, drinking water from the fountain,
+and enjoying the helpless fury of the dwarf, who sought her
+untiringly. Sometimes she would throw the fruit-stones in his face, or
+take off the cap and show herself for an instant: then she would put
+it on again, and laugh merrily at his rage.
+
+One day, while playing this game, the cap caught in the branches of a
+gooseberry bush. The dwarf seeing this at once ran up, seized the
+princess in one hand and the cap in the other, and was about to carry
+both off when the sound of a war-trumpet was heard.
+
+The dwarf trembled with rage and muttered a thousand curses. He
+breathed on the princess to send her to sleep, covered her with the
+invisible cap, and seizing a double-bladed sword, rose up in the air
+as high as the clouds, so that he might fall upon his assailant and
+kill him at one stroke. We shall now see with whom he had to deal.
+
+After the hurricane had upset the wedding procession and carried off
+the princess, there arose a great tumult among those at court. The
+king, the princess's attendants, and Prince Dobrotek sought her in
+every direction, calling her by name, and making inquiries of every
+one they met. At last, the king in despair declared that if Prince
+Dobrotek did not bring back his daughter, he would destroy his kingdom
+and have him killed. And to the other princes present he promised that
+whosoever among them should bring Pietnotka back to him should have
+her for his wife and receive half of the kingdom. Whereupon they all
+mounted their horses without loss of time and dispersed in every
+direction.
+
+Prince Dobrotek, overpowered with grief and dismay, travelled three
+days without eating, drinking, or sleeping. On the evening of the
+third day he was quite worn-out with fatigue, and stopping his horse
+in a field, got down to rest for a short time. Suddenly he heard
+cries, as of something in pain, and looking round saw an enormous owl
+tearing a hare with its claws. The prince laid hold of the first hard
+thing that came to his hand; he imagined it to be a stone, but it was
+really a skull, and aiming it at the owl, killed the bird with the
+first blow. The rescued hare ran up to him and gratefully licked his
+hands, after which it ran away: but the human skull spoke to him and
+said, "Prince Dobrotek, accept my grateful thanks for the good turn
+you have done me. I belonged to an unhappy man who took his own life,
+and for this crime of suicide I have been condemned to roll in the mud
+until I was the means of saving the life of one of God's creatures. I
+have been kicked about for seven hundred and seventy years, crumbling
+miserably on the earth, and without exciting the compassion of a
+single individual. You have been the means of setting me free by
+making use of me to save the life of that poor hare. In return for
+this kindness I will teach you how to call to your aid a most
+marvellous horse, who during my life belonged to me. He will be able
+to help you in a thousand ways, and when in need of him you have only
+to walk out on the moorland without once looking behind you, and to
+say:
+
+  'Dappled Horse with Mane of Gold,
+  Horse of Wonder! Come to me.
+  Walk not the earth, for I am told
+  You fly like birds o'er land and sea.'
+
+Finish your work of mercy by burying me here, so that I may be at rest
+until the day of judgment. Then depart in peace and be of good cheer."
+
+The prince dug a hole at the foot of a tree, and reverently buried the
+skull, repeating over it the prayers for the dead. Just as he finished
+he saw a small blue flame come out of the skull and fly towards
+heaven: it was the soul of the dead man on its way to the angels.
+
+The prince made the sign of the cross and resumed his journey. When he
+had gone some way along the moorland he stopped, and without looking
+back tried the effect of the magic words, saying:
+
+  "Dappled Horse with Mane of Gold,
+  Horse of Wonder! Come to me.
+  Walk not the earth, for I am told
+  You fly like birds o'er land and sea."
+
+Then amid flash of lightning and roll of thunder appeared the horse. A
+horse, do I say? Why, he was a miracle of wonder. He was light as air,
+with dappled coat and golden mane. Flames came from his nostrils and
+sparks from his eyes. Volumes of steam rolled from his mouth and
+clouds of smoke issued from his ears. He stopped before the prince,
+and said in a human voice, "What are your orders, Prince Dobrotek?"
+
+"I am in great trouble," answered the prince, "and shall be glad if
+you can help me." Then he told all that had happened.
+
+And the horse said, "Enter in at my left ear, and come out at my
+right."
+
+The prince obeyed, and came out at the right ear clad in a suit of
+splendid armour. His gilded cuirass, his steel helmet inlaid with
+gold, and his sword and club made of him a complete warrior. Still
+more, he felt himself endowed with superhuman strength and bravery.
+When he stamped his foot and shouted the earth trembled and gave forth
+a sound like thunder, the very leaves fell from the trees.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"What must we do? Where are we to go?" he asked.
+
+The horse replied, "Your bride, Princess Pietnotka, has been carried
+off by the Dwarf with the Long Beard, whose hump weighs two hundred
+and eighty pounds. This powerful magician must be defeated, but he
+lives a long way from here, and nothing can touch or wound him except
+the sharp smiting sword that belongs to his own brother, a monster
+with the head and eyes of a basilisk. We must first attack the
+brother."
+
+Prince Dobrotek leaped on to the dappled horse, which was covered with
+golden trappings, and they set off immediately, clearing mountains,
+penetrating forests, crossing rivers; and so light was the steed's
+step that he galloped over the grass without bending a single blade,
+and along sandy roads without raising a grain of dust. At last they
+reached a vast plain, strewn with human bones. They stopped in front
+of a huge moving mountain, and the horse said:
+
+"Prince, this moving mountain that you see before you is the head of
+the Monster with Basilisk Eyes, and the bones that whiten the ground
+are the skeletons of his victims, so beware of the eyes that deal
+death. The heat of the midday sun has made the giant sleep, and the
+sword with the never-failing blade lies there before him. Bend down
+and lie along my neck until we are near enough, then seize the sword
+and you have nothing more to fear. For, without the sword, not only
+will the monster be unable to harm you, but he himself will be
+completely at your mercy."
+
+The horse then noiselessly approached the huge creature, upon which
+the prince bent down, and quickly picked up the sword. Then, raising
+himself on his steed's back, he gave a "Hurrah!" loud enough to wake
+the dead. The giant lifted his head, yawned, and turned his
+bloodthirsty eyes upon the prince; but seeing the sword in his hand he
+became quiet, and said, "Knight, is it weariness of life that brings
+you here?"
+
+"Boast not," replied the prince, "you are in my power. Your glance has
+already lost its magic charm, and you will soon have to die by this
+sword. But first tell me who you are."
+
+"It is true, prince, I am in your hands, but be generous, I deserve
+your pity. I am a knight of the race of giants, and if it were not for
+the wickedness of my brother I should have lived in peace. He is the
+horrible dwarf with the great hump and the beard seven feet long. He
+was jealous of my fine figure, and tried to do me an injury. You must
+know that all his strength, which is extraordinary, lies in his beard,
+and it can only be cut off by the sword you hold in your hand. One day
+he came to me and said, 'Dear brother, I pray you help me to discover
+the sharp smiting sword that has been hidden in the earth by a
+magician. He is our enemy, and he alone can destroy us both.' Fool
+that I was, I believed him, and by means of a large oak tree, raked up
+the mountain and found the sword. Then we disputed as to which of us
+should have it, and at last my brother suggested that we should cease
+quarrelling and decide by lot. 'Let us each put an ear to the ground,
+and the sword shall belong to him who first hears the bells of yonder
+church,' said he. I placed my ear to the ground at once, and my
+brother treacherously cut off my head with the sword. My body, left
+unburied, became a great mountain, which is now overgrown with
+forests. As for my head, it is full of a life and strength proof
+against all dangers, and has remained here ever since to frighten all
+who attempt to take away the sword. Now, prince, I beg of you, use the
+sword to cut off the beard of my wicked brother; kill him, and return
+here to put an end to me: I shall die happy if I die avenged."
+
+"That you shall be, and very soon, I promise you," replied his
+listener.
+
+The prince bade the Dappled Horse with Golden Mane carry him to the
+kingdom of the Dwarf with the Long Beard. They reached the garden gate
+at the very moment when the dwarf had caught sight of Princess
+Pietnotka and was running after her. The war-trumpet, challenging him
+to fight, had obliged him to leave her, which he did, having first put
+on her head the invisible cap.
+
+While the prince was awaiting the answer to his challenge he heard a
+great noise in the clouds, and looking up saw the dwarf preparing to
+aim at him from a great height. But he missed his aim and fell to the
+ground so heavily that his body was half buried in the earth. The
+prince seized him by the beard, which he at once cut off with the
+sharp smiting sword.
+
+Then he fastened the dwarf to the saddle, put the beard in his helmet,
+and entered the palace. When the servants saw that he had really got
+possession of the terrible beard, they opened all the doors to give
+him entrance. Without losing a moment he began his search for Princess
+Pietnotka. For a long time he was unsuccessful, and was almost in
+despair when he came across her accidentally, and, without knowing it,
+knocked off the invisible cap. He saw his lovely bride sound asleep,
+and being unable to wake her he put the cap in his pocket, took her in
+his arms, and, mounting his steed, set off to return to the Monster
+with the Basilisk Eyes. The giant swallowed the dwarf at one mouthful,
+and the prince cut the monster's head up into a thousand pieces, which
+he scattered all over the plain.
+
+He then resumed his journey, and on coming to the moorland the dappled
+horse stopped short and said, "Prince, here for the present we must
+take leave of each other. You are not far from home, your own horse
+awaits you; but before leaving, enter in at my right ear and come out
+at my left."
+
+The prince did so, and came out without his armour, and clad as when
+Pietnotka left him.
+
+The dappled horse vanished, and Dobrotek whistled to his own horse,
+who ran up, quite pleased to see him again. They immediately set off
+for the king's palace.
+
+But night came on before they reached the end of their journey.
+
+The prince laid the sleeping maiden on the grass, and, covering her up
+carefully to keep her warm, he himself fell fast asleep. By chance, a
+knight, one of her suitors, passed that way. Seeing Dobrotek asleep he
+drew his sword and stabbed him; then he lifted the princess on his
+horse and soon reached the king's palace, where he addressed
+Pietnotka's father in these words: "Here is your daughter, whom I now
+claim as my wife, for it is I who have restored her to you. She was
+carried off by a terrible sorcerer who fought with me three days and
+three nights. But I conquered him, and I have brought you the princess
+safely back."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The king was overjoyed at seeing her again, but finding that his
+tenderest efforts were powerless to awake her, he wanted to know the
+reason of it.
+
+"That I cannot tell you," replied the impostor; "you see her as I
+found her myself."
+
+Meanwhile, poor Prince Dobrotek, seriously wounded, was slowly
+recovering consciousness, but he felt so weak that he could hardly
+utter these words:
+
+  "Come, Magic Horse with Mane of Gold,
+  Come, Dappled Horse, O come to me.
+  Fly like the birds as you did of old,
+  As flashes of lightning o'er land and sea."
+
+Instantly a bright cloud appeared, and from the midst thereof stepped
+the magic horse. As he already knew all that had happened, he dashed
+off immediately to the Mountain of Eternal Life. Thence he drew the
+three kinds of water: the Water that gives Life, the Water that Cures,
+and the Water that Strengthens. Returning to the prince, he sprinkled
+him first with the Life-giving Water, and instantly the body, which
+had become cold, was warm again and the blood began to circulate. The
+Water that Cures healed the wound, and the Strength-giving Water had
+such an effect upon him that he opened his eyes and cried out, "Oh,
+how well I have slept."
+
+"You were already sleeping the eternal sleep," replied the dappled
+horse. "One of your rivals stabbed you mortally, and carried off
+Pietnotka, whom he pretends to have rescued. But do not worry
+yourself, she still sleeps, and none can arouse her but you, and this
+you must do by touching her with the dwarf's beard. Go now, and be
+happy."
+
+The brave steed disappeared in a whirlwind, and Prince Dobrotek
+proceeded on his way. On drawing near the capital he saw it surrounded
+by a large foreign army; part of it was already taken, and the
+inhabitants seemed to be begging for mercy. The prince put on his
+invisible cap, and began to strike right and left with the sharp
+smiting sword. With such fury did he attack the enemy that they fell
+dead on all sides, like felled trees. When he had thus destroyed the
+whole army he went, still invisible, into the palace, where he heard
+the king express the utmost astonishment that the enemy had retired
+without fighting.
+
+"Where then is the brave warrior who has saved us?" said his majesty
+aloud.
+
+Every one was silent, when Dobrotek took off his magic cap, and
+falling on his knees before the monarch, said: "It is I, my king and
+father, who have routed and destroyed the enemy. It is I who saved the
+princess, my bride. While on my way back with her I was treacherously
+killed by my rival, who has represented himself to you as her rescuer,
+but he has deceived you. Lead me to the princess, that I may awaken
+her."
+
+On hearing these words the impostor ran away as quickly as possible,
+and Dobrotek approached the sleeping maiden. He just touched her brow
+with the dwarf's beard, upon which she opened her eyes, smiled, and
+seemed to ask where she was.
+
+The king, overcome with joy, kissed her fondly, and the same evening
+she was married to the devoted Prince Dobrotek. The king himself led
+her to the altar, and to his son-in-law he gave half his kingdom. So
+splendid was the wedding banquet, that eye has never seen, nor ear
+ever heard of its equal.
+
+
+
+
+THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING, AND THE
+SMITING CLUB
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING, AND THE
+SMITING CLUB
+
+
+In a cottage near the high-road, and close to the shores of a large
+lake, there once lived a widow, poor and old. She was very very poor,
+but her mother's heart was rich in pride in her son, who was the joy
+of her life. He was a handsome lad with an honest soul. He earned his
+living by fishing in the lake, and succeeded so well that neither he
+nor his mother were ever in want of their daily bread. Every one
+called him "the fisherman."
+
+One evening at dusk he went down to the lake to throw in his nets, and
+standing on the shore with a new bucket in his hand, waited to put
+into it whatever fish it might please God to send him. In about a
+quarter of an hour or so he drew in his nets and took out two bream.
+These he threw into the bucket, and humming a merry song turned to go
+home. At that moment a traveller, poorly clad, with hair and beard
+white as the wings of a dove, spoke to him, saying, "Have pity on a
+feeble old man, obliged to lean on his stick, hungry and ragged. I beg
+you, in Heaven's name, to give me either money or bread. The sun will
+soon set, and I who have eaten nothing to-day shall have to pass the
+night fasting, with the bare earth for a bed."
+
+"My good old friend, I am sorry I have nothing about me to give you,
+but you see the black smoke curling up in the distance? That is our
+cottage, where my old mother is waiting for me to bring her some fish
+to cook for our supper. Now take these two bream to her, meanwhile I
+will return to the lake and throw in my nets again to see if I can
+catch something more. Thus, with God's help, we shall all three have
+enough for supper to-night and breakfast to-morrow morning."
+
+While speaking the fisherman handed the fish to the old man, when,
+marvel of marvels! he melted into the rays of the setting sun and
+vanished, both he and the fish.
+
+The fisherman, much astonished, rubbed his eyes and looked about on
+all sides. For a moment he felt afraid, but when he had crossed
+himself all terror left him and he went to draw in his nets by the
+light of the moon. And what do you think he found in them? It was
+neither a pike nor a trout, but a small fish with eyes of diamonds,
+fins of rainbow colour, and golden scales that shone and flashed like
+lightning.
+
+When he had spread his nets on the beach the fish began to talk to him
+in the language of men.
+
+"Do not kill me, young fisherman," it said, "but accept in exchange
+for my life this golden ring. Every time you put it on your finger
+repeat these words:
+
+  'I conjure thee, O ring, who gold can give,
+  In the name of the little fishling of gold,
+  For the good of man, that man may live,
+  And the honour of heaven, send, new or old,
+  Little or much, as may be my need,
+  Coins of the realm, let them fall like seed.'
+
+After uttering each of these words, a shower of gold pieces will
+fall."
+
+The fisherman gladly accepted the ring, and freeing the miraculous
+fish from the net he threw it back into the water. As it fell, it
+shone in the air like a shooting star and then disappeared beneath the
+waves.
+
+On his way back he said to himself, "My mother and I will go to bed
+hungry to-night, without our fried fish, but to-morrow, when I have
+made the golden coins gleam in our humble cottage, all sorts of good
+things will find their way there, and we shall live like lords."
+
+But things turned out very differently, for the first thing he saw on
+opening the door was the table covered with a white cloth, and upon it
+a china soup-tureen in which lay the two bream freshly cooked.
+
+"Where did you get those fish from, dear mother?"
+
+"I do not know myself," replied she, "for I have neither cleaned them
+nor cooked them. Our table spread itself, the fish placed themselves
+upon it, and although they have been there an hour they do not get
+cold; any one might think they had just been taken off the fire. Come,
+let us eat them."
+
+The widow and her son sat down, said grace, and after eating as much
+as they wanted went to bed.
+
+Next morning, at breakfast time, the fisherman made the sign of the
+cross, and then put on the gold ring, at the same time repeating the
+words the fish had taught him:
+
+  "I conjure thee, O ring, who gold can give,
+  In the name of the little fishling of gold,
+  For the good of man, that man may live,
+  And the honour of heaven, send, new or old,
+  Little or much, as may be my need,
+  Coins of the realm, let them fall like seed."
+
+When he had ceased speaking the room was filled with a blast of wind
+followed by flashes of lightning, then a hailstorm of gold pieces
+showered down and quite covered the table.
+
+The chink of the money aroused his mother, who sat up in bed perfectly
+amazed.
+
+"What is the meaning of this, my son? Am I awake or dreaming? or is it
+the work of the Evil One? Where did all that money come from?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Fear not, mother, I wear a cross that charms away evil spirits. I
+have my work, so that you shall never want, and I have your heart,
+where for me there will ever be love to sweeten the disappointments
+and troubles of life. This gold that you see will drive poverty far
+away, and enable us to help others. Take these pieces, lock them up
+safely, and use them when in need. As for me, kiss me, and wish me
+good luck on my journey."
+
+"What! Is it possible that you want to leave me already? Why? and
+whither are you going?"
+
+"I want to go, mother mine, to see the great city. When there, I mean
+to enrol myself in the national army. Thus the fisherman turned
+soldier will become the defender of his king, for the glory of his
+country and his mother."
+
+"Of a truth, my son, I have heard some talk about the king being in
+danger, and that our enemies are trying to take his crown from him.
+But why should you go? Stay at home rather, for alone and unnoticed
+among so many troops you will neither be able to help nor to hinder."
+
+"You are right, one man alone is a small thing, but by adding one
+grain to another the measure overflows. If all those who are capable
+of bearing arms will help the king, there is no doubt that he will
+soon overcome his enemies."
+
+"But a harmless fisherman like you! Of what use can you be in a
+battle?"
+
+"The fisherman has, doubtless, a peaceable disposition, and he never
+boasts of his strength. But when the right moment comes he knows how
+to handle a sword, and how to water the land with the enemy's blood.
+And the victorious king will, perhaps, reward me for my bravery by
+giving me some splendid castle, or a few acres of forest land, a suit
+of armour and a horse, or even the hand of his daughter in marriage."
+
+"If you feel like this," answered she, "go, and may God bless you. May
+He cover you, dear child, with His grace as with a buckler, so that
+neither guns nor sabres shall do you harm. May He take you under His
+protection, so that you may return safe and sound to be a comfort to
+me; and at the end of my days may I rejoice in your happiness, and
+live near you as long as God in His wisdom shall allow."
+
+Then she gave him her blessing and kissed him tenderly, making the
+sign of the cross in the direction he was about to take.
+
+So he departed, and after a few days' march reached the capital,
+thinking within himself how he might help the king most effectually.
+
+The town was surrounded by a countless host who threatened to utterly
+destroy it unless the king would agree to pay a very large ransom.
+
+The people crowded into the square, and stood before the palace gates
+listening to the herald's proclamation.
+
+"Hear the king's will," said the herald; "listen, all ye faithful
+subjects, to the words he speaks to you by my mouth. Here are our
+deadly enemies, who have scattered our troops, and have come to
+besiege the capital of our kingdom. If we do not send them, by
+daybreak to-morrow, twenty-four waggons, each drawn by six horses and
+loaded with gold, they threaten to take the town and destroy it by
+fire and sword, and to deliver our land to the soldiers. It is certain
+that we cannot hold out any longer, and our royal treasure-house does
+not contain one-half the amount demanded. Therefore, through me our
+sovereign announces, that whosoever among you shall succeed, either in
+defeating our foes, or in providing the money needed for the ransom,
+him will he appoint his heir to the crown, and to him will he give his
+only daughter in marriage, a princess of marvellous beauty. Further,
+he shall receive half the kingdom in his own right."
+
+When the fisherman heard these words he went to the king and said, "My
+sovereign and father, command that twenty-four waggons, each harnessed
+with twenty-four horses and provided with leathern bags, be brought
+into the courtyard; I will engage to fill them with gold, and that at
+once, before your eyes."
+
+Then he left the palace, and standing in the middle of the large
+square, recited the words the fish had taught him.
+
+These were followed by rumblings of thunder and flashes of lightning,
+and then by a perfect hurricane which sent down masses and showers of
+gold. In a few minutes the square was covered with a layer of gold so
+thick that, after loading the twenty-four waggons and filling a large
+half of the royal treasure-house, there was enough left to make
+handsome presents to all the king's officers and servants.
+
+Next day the enemy returned to their own country laden with the heavy
+ransom they had demanded.
+
+The king sent for the fisherman, and inviting him to partake of
+hydromel wine and sweetmeats, said, "You have to-day been the means of
+saving our capital from a great calamity, and shall, therefore,
+receive the reward which you have earned. My only daughter, a princess
+of great beauty, shall be your wife, and I will give you the half of
+my kingdom for a wedding present. I also appoint you my heir to the
+throne. But tell me, to whom am I indebted? What kingdom or land
+belongs to you? How is it that by a mere movement of the hand you were
+able to supply my enemies with such a quantity of gold?"
+
+And the fisherman, simple-hearted and straightforward as a child,
+ignorant of the deceptions practised in court, answered frankly,
+"Sire, I belong to no royal or princely family, I am a simple
+fisherman and your loyal subject. I procure my gold by means of this
+magic ring, and at any time I can have as much as I want."
+
+Then he told how his good fortune had come to him.
+
+The king made no answer, but it hurt his royal dignity to think that
+he owed his safety to one of his own peasants, and that he had
+promised to make him his son-in-law.
+
+That evening, after a luxurious supper, the fisherman, having taken a
+little more wine than usual, ventured to ask the king to present him
+to his bride. The king whispered a few words in the ear of the
+chamberlain of the court, and then went out.
+
+The chamberlain took the fisherman to the top of the castle tower, and
+there said to him, "According to the customs of the court you should,
+before being introduced to the princess, send her by my hands some
+valuable jewel as a wedding gift."
+
+"But I have nothing of value or beauty about me," replied he, "unless
+you offer the princess this golden ring, to which I owe all my good
+fortune, the princess herself, and the safety of her father."
+
+The chamberlain took the ring, and opening the window of the tower,
+asked, "Fisherman, do you see the moon in the heavens?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Very well, she shall be the witness of your betrothal. Now look down;
+do you see that precipice, and the deep river shining in its depths."
+
+"I do."
+
+"Very well, it shall be your bridal couch."
+
+So saying the chamberlain threw him into the deep abyss, shut the
+window, and ran to tell the king that there was no longer a suitor for
+the hand of his daughter.
+
+The fisherman, stunned by the force of his fall, reached the water
+quite senseless. When he came to himself and opened his eyes, he lay
+in a boat which at that moment was leaving the mouth of the river and
+entering the open sea.
+
+The very old man, to whom he had given the bream, was guiding the
+vessel with an oar.
+
+"My good old man, is it you? How did you manage to save me?" asked the
+astonished fisherman.
+
+"I came to your assistance," replied the old man, "because he who
+shows pity to others deserves their help when in need of it. But take
+the oar and row to whatever place you wish."
+
+And having thus spoken the mysterious old man disappeared. The
+fisherman crossed himself, and having looked round upon the royal
+palace sparkling with light he sighed deeply, and chanting the hymn
+"Under Thy Help," put out to sea.
+
+When the sun rose he saw some nets in the boat, and throwing them into
+the water caught some pike, which he sold in a town near the shore,
+and then continued his journey on foot.
+
+Two or three months later, when crossing some open country, he heard
+cries for help which came from a hill near the forest. There he saw
+two little demons pulling each other's hair. By the cut of their short
+waistcoats, by their tight pantaloons and three-cornered hats, he knew
+that they were inhabitants of the nether world, from which they must
+have escaped. He had no doubt about it, but being a good Christian he
+was not afraid, and accosted them boldly, saying, "Why do you
+ill-treat each other in this way? What is the meaning of it?"
+
+"It means, that for many a long year we have both been working hard to
+entice a silly fellow down below. He was first tempted by the desire
+to learn something of sorcery, and he ended by becoming an
+accomplished scoundrel. After giving him time to commit a great many
+crimes and thus forfeit his soul, we handed him over to safe keeping.
+Now we want to divide his property between us. He has left three
+things, which by every right belong to us. The first is a wonderful
+carpet. Whoever sits down upon it, and pronounces certain magic words,
+will be carried off at once, over forests and under clouds, never
+stopping until his destination is reached. The magic words are as
+follows:
+
+  'Carpet, that of thyself through space takes flight,
+  O travel, thou airy car, both day and night
+  Till my desired haven comes in sight.'
+
+The second piece of property is that club lying on the grass. After
+uttering some magic words, the club will immediately begin to hit so
+vigorously that a whole army may be crushed to pieces or dispersed.
+The words run thus:
+
+  'Club, thou marvellous club, who knows
+  How to strike and smite my foes,
+  By thine own strength and in God's name
+  O strike well home and strike again.'
+
+The third piece of property is a cap that renders its wearer
+invisible. Now, my good man, you see our difficulty: there are but two
+of us, and we are fighting to decide how these three lots may be
+divided into two equal parts."
+
+"I can help you," said the fisherman, "provided you will do as I tell
+you. Leave the three lots here just as they are--the carpet, the club,
+and the magic cap. I will roll a stone from the top of this hill to
+the bottom--whoever catches it first shall have two lots for his
+share. What do you say?"
+
+"Agreed!" cried the demons, racing after the stone that rolled and
+bounded on its way down.
+
+In the meantime the fisherman hastily put on the cap, seized the club,
+and sitting down on the carpet, repeated the magic formula without
+forgetting a single word.
+
+He was already high up in the air when the demons returned carrying
+the stone and calling out to him to come and reward the winner.
+
+"Come down and divide those things between us," they cried after him.
+
+The fisherman's only answer was the magic address to his club. This
+enchanted weapon then fell upon them and struck so hard that the
+country round echoed to the sound thereof. In the midst of screams and
+cries and clouds of dust they escaped at last, and the club, of its
+own accord, came back and placed itself at the fisherman's orders. He,
+in spite of the rapid motion, sat comfortably on the carpet with the
+cap under his arm and the club in his hand. Thus they flew over
+forests, under clouds, and so high that seen from the earth they
+looked like a tiny white cloud.
+
+Within two or three days they stopped at the king's capital. The
+fisherman, with his cap on, descended into the middle of the
+courtyard.
+
+The whole place was in confusion and trouble, for the commander of the
+foreign army, encouraged by having so easily received such a large sum
+of money, had returned to the attack and again held the town in siege,
+declaring that he would destroy every house and slay all the
+inhabitants, not sparing even the king himself, unless he agreed to
+give him his only daughter in marriage.
+
+The terrified citizens crowded to the palace and besought his majesty
+to do as they asked him, and so save them from such a fate. The king,
+standing on the balcony, addressed them thus: "Faithful and devoted
+people, listen to me. Nothing but a miracle can save us from this
+fearful calamity; yet it has happened that the most powerful
+assailants have been forced to ask mercy of the most feeble. I will
+never consent to the marriage of my only daughter with my most hated
+and cruel foe. Within a few moments my guards will be ready for
+combat, and I myself will lead them against the enemy. If there be any
+among you who can win the victory, to him will I give my only daughter
+in marriage, the half of my kingdom for her dowry, and the heirship to
+the throne."
+
+When he had finished speaking the fisherman ordered his club to fall
+on the foe, while the country round echoed and re-echoed to the blows
+by means of which it destroyed the besieging army. It was in vain that
+the brave commander shouted to his soldiers not to run away, for when
+he himself received three blows from the club he was obliged to make
+off as fast as possible.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the club had destroyed or driven away into the desert all the
+troops it came back to its master; he, still wearing the magic cap,
+and with his carpet folded up under his arm and his club in his hand,
+made his way to the king's apartment.
+
+In the palace shouts of joy had succeeded the cries of fear which had
+been heard but a short while ago. Every one was happy, and every one
+congratulated the king upon his victory, as sudden and complete as it
+was unexpected. But the monarch, turning to his warriors, addressed
+them thus: "Victory! Let us rather return thanks to God. He who has
+won for us the victory has but to present himself and receive the
+reward he so richly deserves, that is, my beautiful daughter in
+marriage, the half of my kingdom, and the right of succession to my
+throne. These are the gifts that await this victorious hero. Where is
+he?"
+
+They all stood silent and looked from one to the other. Then the
+fisherman, who had taken off his cap, appeared before the assembly and
+said, "Behold, it was I who destroyed your enemies, O king. This is
+the second time that I have been promised the hand of the princess in
+marriage, the half of the kingdom, and the right of succession to the
+throne."
+
+The king, struck dumb with amazement, looked inquiringly at his
+chamberlain, then recovering his presence of mind he shook hands with
+the fisherman.
+
+"Your good health, my friend. By what happy fortune do you return safe
+and sound to my court? The chamberlain told me that through your own
+carelessness you had fallen out of the tower window; in truth, we
+mourned you as dead."
+
+"I should not have fallen out of the window if I had not been thrown
+down by your chamberlain; there is the traitor. I only escaped death
+through God's help, and I have just come to the palace in my air-car."
+
+The king made a pretence of being angry with the guilty chamberlain,
+and ordered his guards to take him away to the donjon cell; then, with
+pretended friendship, he embraced the fisherman and led him to his own
+apartments. All the while he was thinking and thinking what he could
+do to get rid of him. The idea of having him, a mere peasant and one
+of his own subjects, for a son-in-law was most repugnant to him, and
+hurt his kingly pride. At last he said, "The chamberlain will most
+certainly be punished for his crime. As for you, who have twice been
+my saviour, you shall be my son-in-law. Now the customs observed at
+court demand that you should send your bride a wedding gift, a jewel,
+or some other trifle of value. When this has been observed I promise
+to give my blessing on the marriage, and may you both be happy and
+live long."
+
+"I have no jewel worthy of the princess's acceptance. I might have
+given her as much gold as she wished, but your chamberlain took my
+magic golden ring from me."
+
+"Before insisting upon its return something else might be done. I
+thoroughly appreciate the value of your marvellous flying carpet--why
+should not we both sit on it and make an excursion to the Valley of
+Diamonds? There we can obtain stones of the finest water, such as no
+one in the world has ever possessed. Afterwards we will return here
+with your wedding present for my daughter."
+
+The king then opened the window, and the fisherman, spreading out his
+carpet, repeated the magic words.
+
+Thus they took flight into the air, and after travelling one or two
+hours began to descend at their destination. It was a valley
+surrounded on all sides by rocks so steep and so difficult of access,
+that, except by God's special grace, no mortal man imprisoned there
+could possibly escape. The ground was strewn with diamonds of the
+finest quality. The king and fisherman found it easy to make a large
+collection, picking and choosing, gathering and arranging them upon
+the carpet. When they had put together all there was room for, the
+king sat down, and pointing to a large diamond shining at a little
+distance, said to the fisherman, "There is yet a more splendid one by
+the stream yonder; run, my son-in-law, and bring it here, it would be
+a pity to leave it."
+
+The man went for it, while the king, taking advantage of his absence
+to pronounce the magic words, seated himself on the carpet, which
+lifted itself up, and floating like an air-car above the forest and
+under the clouds, descended by one of the palace windows.
+
+His joy knew no bounds, for he now found himself not only free from
+his enemies and rid of the embarrassing presence of the fisherman, but
+also the possessor of the richest and most beautiful collection of
+diamonds in the world;--by his orders they were put away in the caves
+of the royal treasure-house, and with them the magic ring and the
+flying carpet.
+
+Meantime the fisherman had returned with the diamond, and had stood
+aghast to see the carpet vanishing away in the distance.
+
+Wounded at the ingratitude and indignant at the perversity of a prince
+for whom he had done so much, he burst into tears.
+
+And, indeed, he had good reason to weep. For he had but to look at the
+enormous height of the polished rocks to be convinced of the
+impossibility of climbing them. The vegetation, too, was so scanty
+that it could only provide him with food for a very short time. He saw
+but two courses open to him: either to die from starvation, or to be
+devoured by the monstrous serpents that crawled about in great
+numbers. Night was now coming on, and the poor fellow was obliged to
+plan some way of escaping the frightful reptiles which were leaving
+their hiding-places. At last he climbed up a tree, the highest he
+could find, and there, with his magic cap on and his club in his hand,
+passed the night without even closing his eyes.
+
+Next morning when the sun rose the serpents went back to their holes,
+and the fisherman got down from his tree feeling stiff with cold and
+very hungry. For some time he walked about the valley in search of
+food, turning over the diamonds now so useless to him. There he found
+a few worthless mushrooms, and with such poor food as berries and
+sorrel leaves, and the water of the valley stream for drink, he lived
+for some days.
+
+One night when he went to sleep it happened that his cap came off and
+fell to the ground, whereupon all the reptiles of the place
+immediately gathered round him. Aroused by their hisses, he awoke to
+find himself surrounded on all sides and almost in reach of their
+stings. He immediately seized his club, and had scarcely begun to
+repeat the magic formula before the weapon set to work to destroy the
+snakes, while the rocks resounded right and left with the blows. It
+was as if the monsters were being covered with boiling water, and the
+noise they made was like that produced by a flock of birds overtaken
+by a storm. They roared and hissed and twisted themselves into a
+thousand knots, gradually disappearing one by one. Then the club
+returned of its own accord to the fisherman's hands, while he returned
+thanks to God for having delivered him from such a horrible death. At
+that moment there appeared upon the top of a steep rock his friend,
+the old man. Overcome with joy at the sight of him, the fisherman
+called out, "Save me! come to me, my divine protector."
+
+The old man spread out his arms towards him, and having blessed him
+drew him up, saying, "Now you are free again, hasten to save your
+king, his daughter your bride, and their kingdom. After he had left
+you in the valley as food for serpents he was punished for his great
+crimes by the return of the enemy, who again laid siege to the
+capital. This happened at the very moment when he was surrounded by
+his guests, and was boasting of his possession of the air-car, the
+magic golden ring, and the rest of his evilly acquired riches.
+
+"His foes had consulted Yaga, a wicked sorceress; she advised them to
+obtain the help of Kostey the magician, who promised his aid in
+carrying off the princess. When he came he fell in love with the
+beautiful maiden at first sight, and determined to marry her himself.
+In order to bring this about he threw the king, the courtiers, and all
+the inhabitants of the land into a heavy sleep. Then he bore off the
+princess to his own palace, where she has been shut up and ill-treated
+because she refuses to have anything to do with him. His castle is
+situated at the very end of the world, to the west. There is nothing
+to hinder you from taking possession of your carpet and ring, they are
+hidden in the king's treasure-house. Then go with your cap and club
+and conquer Kostey, rescue the princess, and deliver the king and his
+subjects."
+
+The fisherman would have thrown himself at the old man's feet to pour
+out his gratitude, but he suddenly vanished. So he thanked God for all
+His mercies, put on his invisible cap, and taking his club, made his
+way towards the capital.
+
+At the end of three days he entered the royal city. All the
+inhabitants were sleeping the enchanted sleep, from which they were
+powerless to rouse themselves. The fisherman went straight to the
+royal treasure-house, took the magic ring and carpet, then seating
+himself upon the latter and repeating the magic words, away he went
+like a bird, over rustling forests and under clouds, floating across
+the blue sky.
+
+After some days of travel he alighted in Kostey's courtyard. Without a
+moment's delay he folded up his carpet, put the magic cap on his head,
+and with club in hand entered Kostey's room. There, to his
+astonishment, stood the magician himself, admiring the wondrous beauty
+of the princess. For she was perfectly beautiful; eye had never seen
+nor ear heard of such loveliness. With a low bow full of pride and an
+ironical smile he was saying to her: "Beauteous princess, you have
+sworn a most solemn oath to marry none but that man who can solve your
+six riddles. It is in vain that I strive to guess them. Now there are
+only two courses open to you: either to release yourself from your
+vow, putting the riddles aside and consenting to be my wife; or to
+persist in your vow and thus deliver yourself up to my anger, which
+you will bitterly regret. I give you three minutes to decide."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Upon hearing these threats the fisherman trembled with rage, and in a
+low voice whispered the magic words to his club.
+
+This good weapon did not wait for the order to be repeated, but with
+one bound came down full upon Kostey's forehead. Stunned for a moment
+by the violence of the blow, the terrible creature rolled upon the
+ground. Sparks like fireworks sprang from his eyes, and the noise as
+of a hundred mills seemed to go through his head. Any ordinary mortal
+would never have opened his eyes again, but Kostey was immortal.
+
+Getting on his feet he pulled himself together, and tried to find out
+who had thus attacked him. Then the club began to hit him again, and
+the sound thereof was like unto blows on an empty vault. It seemed to
+the magician as if showers of boiling water were being poured upon
+him. He twisted himself about in awful convulsions, and would have
+liked to bury himself in his palace walls and be turned to stone.
+
+At last, crippled with wounds, he began to hiss like a serpent, and
+springing forwards breathed upon the princess, filling the air with
+the poisonous blast.
+
+The maiden tottered and fell, as if dead. Kostey changed himself into
+a wreath of smoke, and floating out of the window, disappeared in a
+hurricane.
+
+The fisherman, still invisible, carried the princess into the
+courtyard of the castle, hoping that the fresh air might restore her
+to consciousness. He laid her upon the grass, his heart throbbing with
+hope and fear, and waited anxiously. Suddenly a raven and his
+nestlings, attracted by the sight of a dead body, and not being able
+to see the fisherman, came by croaking. The parent bird said to his
+young ones:
+
+  "Come, children, sharpen claws and beak, krâk, krâk,
+  For here's a feast not far to seek, krâk, krâk,
+  This young girl's corse so white and sleek, krâk, krâk."
+
+One small bird at once settled down on the princess, but the fisherman
+seized it and took off his cap, so that he could be seen.
+
+"Fisherman," said the father raven, "let go my dear birdling and I
+will give you anything you want."
+
+"Then bring me some of the Life-Giving Water."
+
+The raven flew away and returned in about an hour, carrying in his
+beak a tiny bottle of the water. Then he again begged to have his
+nestling back.
+
+"You shall have it as soon as I have proved that the water is of the
+right sort."
+
+So saying, he sprinkled the pale face of the princess. She sighed,
+opened her eyes, and blushing at the sight of a stranger, got up and
+said, "Where am I? Why, how soundly I have slept!"
+
+"Lovely princess, your sleep might have lasted for ever."
+
+Then he told her his story, how he had been thrown into the river,
+abandoned in the Valley of Diamonds, and so on, relating at full
+length all the marvellous events that had taken place.
+
+She listened attentively, then, thanking him for all he had done for
+her, placed her hand in his and said, "In the garden behind the palace
+is an apple-tree that bears golden fruit. A guzla that plays of its
+own accord hangs on its branches, and is guarded day and night by four
+negroes. Now the music from this guzla has the wonderful power of
+restoring health to invalids who listen to it, and happiness to those
+who are sad. That which is ugly becomes beautiful, and charms and
+enchantments of all kinds are broken and destroyed for ever."
+
+The fisherman put on his invisible cap and went into the garden in
+search of the negroes. Before going up to them he addressed the magic
+words to his golden ring, and after a short thunderstorm a shower of
+gold covered the ground. The negroes, greedy of wealth, threw
+themselves upon it, snatching from each other handfuls of the golden
+rain. While thus engaged the fisherman unhooked the guzla from the
+branches and hurried off into the courtyard with it. There he unfolded
+his carpet, and sitting down upon it with the princess at his side,
+flew high up into the air. He had not forgotten to bring with him the
+cap, the club, and the ring; the princess took care of the guzla.
+
+They floated across the blue sky, above the rustling forests and under
+the clouds, and in a few days arrived at the palace. There they
+descended, but the people still lay wrapped in the enchanted sleep,
+from which they seemed to have no power of awakening.
+
+The silence of the tomb reigned around. Some of the officers were
+sitting, others standing, all motionless and rigid, and each one in
+the position he occupied when last awake. The king held a goblet
+filled with wine, for he had been giving a toast. The chamberlain had
+his throat half filled with a lying tale, which there had been no time
+to finish. One had the end of a joke upon his lips, another a dainty
+morsel between his teeth, or a tale ready cooked upon his tongue.
+
+And it was the same in all the villages throughout the length and
+breadth of the land. All the inhabitants lay under the enchanted
+spell. The labourer held his whip in the air, for he had been about to
+strike his oxen. The harvesters with their sickles had stopped short
+in their work. The shepherds slept by their sheep in the middle of the
+road. The huntsman stood with the powder still alight on the pan of
+his gun. The birds, arrested in their flight, hung in mid-air. The
+animals in the woods were motionless. The water in the streams was
+still. Even the wind slept. Everywhere men had been overtaken in their
+occupations or amusements. It was a soundless land, without voice or
+movement; on all sides calm, death, sleep.
+
+The fisherman stood with the princess at his side in the
+banqueting-hall where slept the king and his guests. Taking the magic
+guzla from the maid, he pronounced these words:
+
+  "O guzla, play, and let thy sweetest harmonies resound
+  Through hall and cot, o'er hill and dale, and all the country round;
+  That by the power and beauty of thy heavenly tones and song
+  Awakened may these sleepers be who sleep too well, too long."
+
+When the first tones of music burst forth everything began to move and
+live again. The king finished proposing his toast. The chamberlain
+ended his tale. The guests continued to feast and enjoy themselves.
+The servants waited at their posts. In short, everything went on just
+as before, and as if nothing had happened to interrupt it.
+
+And it was just the same in all the country round. Everything suddenly
+awoke to life. The labourer finished ploughing his furrow. The
+haymakers built up the hay in ricks. The reapers cut down the golden
+grain. The hunter's gun went off and shot the duck. The trees rustled.
+The gardener went on with his work and his song. The rich, who thought
+only of enjoyment, entertained one another in luxury and splendour.
+
+Now when the king caught sight of his daughter leaning on the
+fisherman's arm he could hardly believe his own eyes, and it made him
+very angry. But the princess ran to him, and throwing herself in his
+arms, related all that he had accomplished. The monarch's heart was
+softened, and he felt ashamed. With tears in his eyes he drew the
+fisherman towards him, and before the assembled company thanked him
+for having the third time saved his life.
+
+"God has punished me for my ill-treatment of you," said he. "Yet He is
+generous and forgives; I will fulfil all your wishes."
+
+He then added that the wedding feast should be held that very day, and
+that his only daughter would be married to the fisherman.
+
+The princess was filled with gladness, and standing with her father's
+arms round her, said, "I cannot, however, break my word. When in
+Kostey's palace I made a vow to bestow my hand only on that man who
+should guess the six riddles I put to him. I am sure the heroic man,
+who has done so much, will not refuse to submit to this last trial for
+my sake."
+
+To this the fisherman bowed a willing assent.
+
+The first riddle was: "Without legs it walks. Without arms it strikes.
+Without life it moves continually."
+
+"A clock," he answered promptly, and to the great satisfaction of the
+princess, to whom this good beginning seemed to presage a happy
+ending.
+
+The second riddle ran thus: "Without being either bird, reptile,
+insect, or any animal whatsoever, it ensures the safety of the whole
+house."
+
+"A bolt," said her lover.
+
+"Good! Now this is the third: 'Who is that pedestrian who walks fully
+armed, seasons dishes, and in his sides has two darts? He swims across
+the water without the help of a boatman.'"
+
+"A lobster."
+
+The princess clapped her hands and begged him to guess the fourth.
+
+"It runs, it moves along on two sides, it has but one eye, an overcoat
+of polished steel, and a tail of thread."
+
+"A needle."
+
+"Well guessed. Now listen to the fifth: 'It walks without feet,
+beckons without hands, and moves without a body.'"
+
+"It must be a shadow."
+
+"Exactly," said she, well pleased. "Now you have succeeded so well
+with these five you will soon guess the sixth: 'It has four feet, but
+is not an animal. It is provided with feathers and down, but is no
+bird. It has a body, and gives warmth, but is not alive.'"
+
+"It is certainly a bed," exclaimed the fisherman.
+
+The princess gave him her hand. They both knelt at the king's feet and
+received his fatherly blessing, after which he with a large wedding
+party accompanied them to the church. At the same time messengers were
+sent to bring the fisherman's mother to the palace.
+
+The marvellous guzla played the sweetest music at the marriage feast,
+while the old king ate and drank and enjoyed himself, and danced like
+a madman. He treated his guests with so much kindness and generosity
+that to this very hour the happiness of those who were present is a
+thing to be talked about and envied.
+
+Now you see what it is to love virtue and pursue it with energy and
+courage. For by so doing a mere peasant, a poor simple fisherman,
+married the most lovely and enchanting princess in the whole world. He
+received, besides, half the kingdom on his wedding day, and the right
+of succession to the throne after the old king's death.
+
+
+
+
+THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME
+
+
+It was in those days when cats wore shoes, when frogs croaked in
+grandmothers' chairs, when donkeys clanked their spurs on the
+pavements like brave knights, and when hares chased dogs. So you see
+it must have been a very very long time ago.
+
+In those days the king of a certain country had a daughter, who was
+not only exceedingly beautiful but also remarkably clever. Many kings
+and princes travelled from far distant lands, each one with the hope
+of making her his wife. But she would have nothing to do with any one
+of them. Finally, it was proclaimed that she would marry that man who
+for three successive nights should keep such strict watch upon her
+that she could not escape unnoticed. Those who failed were to have
+their heads cut off.
+
+The news of this offer was noised about in all parts of the world. A
+great many kings and princes hastened to make the trial, taking their
+turn and keeping watch. But each one lost his life in the attempt, for
+they could not prevent, indeed they were not even able to see, the
+princess take her flight.
+
+Now it happened that Matthias, prince of a royal city, heard of what
+was going on and resolved to watch through the three nights. He was
+young, handsome as a deer, and brave as a falcon. His father did all
+he could to turn him from his purpose: he used entreaties, prayers,
+threats, in fact he forbade him to go, but in vain, nothing could
+prevent him. What could the poor father do? Worn-out with contention,
+he was at last obliged to consent. Matthias filled his purse with
+gold, girded a well-tried sword to his side, and quite alone started
+off to seek the fortune of the brave.
+
+Walking along next day, he met a man who seemed hardly able to drag
+one leg after the other.
+
+"Whither are you going?" asked Matthias.
+
+"I am travelling all over the world in search of happiness."
+
+"What is your profession?"
+
+"I have no profession, but I can do what no one else can. I am called
+_Broad_, because I have the power of swelling myself out to such a
+size that there is room for a whole regiment of soldiers inside me."
+
+So saying he puffed himself out till he formed a barricade from one
+side of the road to the other.
+
+"Bravo!" cried Matthias, delighted at this proof of his capacities.
+"By the way, would you mind coming with me? I, too, am travelling
+across the world in search of happiness."
+
+"If there is nothing bad in it I am quite willing," answered Broad.
+And they continued their journey together.
+
+A little further on they met a very slender man, frightfully thin, and
+tall and straight as a portico.
+
+"Whither are you going, good man?" asked Matthias, filled with
+curiosity at his strange appearance.
+
+"I am travelling about the world."
+
+"To what profession do you belong?"
+
+"To no profession, but I know something every one else is ignorant of.
+I am called _Tall_, and with good reason. For without leaving the
+earth I can stretch out and reach up to the clouds. When I walk I
+clear a mile at each step."
+
+Without more ado he lengthened himself out until his head was lost in
+the clouds, while he really cleared a mile at each step.
+
+"I like that, my fine fellow," said Matthias. "Come, would you not
+like to travel with us?"'
+
+"Why not?" replied he. "I'll come."
+
+So they proceeded on their way together. While passing through a
+forest they saw a man placing trunks of trees one upon another.
+
+"What are you trying to do there?" asked Matthias, addressing him.
+
+"I have _Eyes of Flame_," said he, "and I am building a pile here." So
+saying he fixed his flaming eyes upon the wood, and the whole was
+instantly set alight.
+
+"You are a very clever and powerful man," said Matthias, "would you
+like to join our party?"
+
+"All right, I am willing."
+
+So the four travelled along together. Matthias was overjoyed to have
+met with such gifted companions, and paid their expenses generously,
+without complaining of the enormous sum of money he had to spend on
+the amount of food Broad consumed.
+
+After some days they reached the princess's palace. Matthias had told
+them the object of his journey, and had promised each a large reward
+if he was successful. They gave him their word to work with a will at
+the task which every one up till then had failed to accomplish. The
+prince bought them each a handsome suit of clothes, and when they were
+all presentable sent them to tell the king, the princess's father,
+that he had come with his attendants to watch three nights in the
+lady's boudoir. But he took very good care not to say who he was, nor
+whence he had come.
+
+The king received them kindly, and after hearing their request said:
+"Reflect well before engaging yourselves in this, for if the princess
+should escape you will have to die."
+
+"We very much doubt her escaping from us," they replied, "but come
+what will, we intend to make the attempt and to begin at once."
+
+"My duty was to warn you," replied the monarch, smiling, "but if you
+still persist in your resolution I myself will take you to the lady's
+apartments."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Matthias was dazzled at the loveliness of the royal maiden, while she,
+on her side, received the brilliant and handsome young man most
+graciously, not trying to hide how much she liked his good looks and
+gentle manner. Hardly had the king retired when Broad lay down across
+the threshold; Tall and the Man with Eyes of Flame placed themselves
+near the window; while Matthias talked with the princess, and watched
+her every movement attentively.
+
+Suddenly she ceased to speak, then after a few moments said, "I feel
+as if a shower of poppies were falling on my eyelids."
+
+And she lay down on the couch, pretending to sleep.
+
+Matthias did not breathe a word. Seeing her asleep he sat down at a
+table near the sofa, leaned his elbows upon it, and rested his chin in
+the hollow of his hands. Gradually he felt drowsy and his eyes closed,
+as did those of his companions.
+
+Now this was the moment the princess was waiting for. Quickly changing
+herself into a dove, she flew towards the window. If it had not
+happened that one of her wings touched Tall's hair he would not have
+awakened, and he would certainly never have succeeded in catching her
+if it had not been for the Man with Eyes of Flame, for he, as soon as
+he knew which direction she had taken, sent such a glance after her,
+that is, a flame of fire, that in the twinkling of an eye her wings
+were burnt, and having been thus stopped, she was obliged to perch on
+the top of a tree. From thence Tall reached her easily, and placed her
+in Matthias' hands, where she became a princess again. Matthias had
+hardly awakened out of his sleep.
+
+Next morning and the morning after the king was greatly astonished to
+find his daughter sitting by the prince's side, but he was obliged to
+keep silent and accept facts as they were, at the same time
+entertaining his guests royally. At the approach of the third night he
+spoke with his daughter, and begged her to practise all the magic of
+which she was capable, and to act in such a way as to free him from
+the presence of intruders of whom he knew neither the rank nor the
+fortune.
+
+As for Matthias, he used every means in his power to bring about a
+happy ending to such a hitherto successful undertaking. Before
+entering the princess's apartments he took his comrades aside and
+said, "There is but one more stroke of luck, dear friends, and then we
+have succeeded. If we fail, do not forget that our four heads will
+roll on the scaffold."
+
+"Come along," replied the three; "never fear, we shall be able to keep
+good watch."
+
+When they came into the princess's room they hastened to take up their
+positions, and Matthias sat down facing the lady. He would have much
+preferred to remain with her without being obliged to keep watch all
+the time for fear of losing her for ever. Resolving not to sleep this
+time, he said to himself, "Now I will keep watch upon you, but when
+you are my wife I will rest."
+
+At midnight, when sleep was beginning to overpower her watchers, the
+princess kept silence, and, stretching herself on the couch, shut her
+beautiful eyes as if she were really asleep.
+
+Matthias, his elbows on the table, his chin in the palms of his hand,
+his eyes fixed upon her, admired her silently. But as sleep closes
+even the eyes of the eagle, so it shut those of the prince and his
+companions.
+
+The princess, who all this time had been watching them narrowly and
+only waiting for this moment, got up from her seat, and changing
+herself into a little fly, flew out of the window. Once free, she
+again changed herself into a fish, and falling into the palace well,
+plunged and hid herself in the depths of the water.
+
+She would certainly have made her escape if, as a fly, she had not
+just touched the tip of the nose of the Man with Eyes of Flame. He
+sneezed, and opened his eyes in time to notice the direction in which
+she had disappeared. Without losing an instant he gave the alarm, and
+all four ran into the courtyard. The well was very deep, but that did
+not matter. Tall soon stretched himself to the required depth, and
+searched in all the corners: but he was unable to find the little
+fish, and it seemed impossible that it could ever have been there.
+
+"Now then, get out of that, I will take your place," said Broad.
+
+And getting in at the top by the rim, he filled up all the inside of
+the well, stopping it so completely with his huge body that the water
+sprang out: but nothing was seen of the little fish.
+
+"Now it is my turn," said the Man with Eyes of Flame, "I warrant I'll
+dislodge this clever magician."
+
+When Broad had cleared the well of his enormous person the water
+returned to its place, but it soon began to boil from the heat of the
+eyes of flame. It boiled and boiled, till it boiled over the rim;
+then, as it went on boiling and rising ever higher and higher, a
+little fish was seen to throw itself out on the grass half cooked. As
+it touched the ground it again took the form of the princess.
+
+Matthias went to her and kissed her tenderly.
+
+"You have conquered, my master and husband," she said, "you have
+succeeded in preventing my escape. Henceforth I am yours, both by
+right of conquest and of my own free will."
+
+The young man's courtesy, strength, and gentleness, as well as his
+beauty, were very pleasing to the princess; but her father, the king,
+was not so ready to approve of her choice, and he resolved not to let
+her go with them. But this did not trouble Matthias, who determined to
+carry her off, aided by his three comrades. They soon all left the
+palace.
+
+The king was furious, and ordered his guards to follow them and bring
+them back under pain of death. Meanwhile Matthias, the princess, and
+the three comrades had already travelled a distance of some miles.
+When she heard the steps of the pursuers she begged the Man with Eyes
+of Flame to see who they were. Having turned to look, he told her that
+a large army of men on horseback were advancing at a gallop.
+
+"They are my father's guards," said she, "we shall have some
+difficulty in escaping them."
+
+Then, seeing the horsemen draw nearer she took the veil from her face,
+and throwing it behind her in the direction of the wind, said, "I
+command as many trees to spring up as there are threads in this veil."
+
+Instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, a high thick forest rose up
+between them. Before the soldiers had time to clear for themselves a
+pathway through this dense mass, Matthias and his party had been able
+to get far ahead, and even to take a little rest.
+
+"Look," said the princess, "and see if they are still coming after
+us."
+
+The Man with Eyes of Flame looked back, and replied that the king's
+guards were out of the forest and coming towards them with all speed.
+
+"They will not be able to reach us," cried she. And she let fall a
+tear from her eyes, saying as she did so, "Tear, become a river."
+
+At the same moment a wide river flowed between them and their
+pursuers, and before the latter had found means of crossing it,
+Matthias and his party were far on in front.
+
+"Man with Eyes of Flame," said the princess, "look behind and tell me
+how closely we are followed."
+
+"They are quite near to us again," he replied, "they are almost upon
+our heels."
+
+"Darkness, cover them," said she.
+
+At these words Tall drew himself up. He stretched and stretched and
+stretched until he reached the clouds, and there, with his hat he half
+covered the face of the sun. The side towards the soldiers was black
+as night, while Matthias and his party, lit up by the shining half,
+went a good way without hindrance.
+
+When they had travelled some distance, Tall uncovered the sun, and
+soon joined his companions by taking a mile at each step. They were
+already in sight of Matthias' home, when they noticed that the royal
+guards were again following them closely.
+
+"Now it is my turn," said Broad; "go on your way in safety, I will
+remain here. I shall be ready for them."
+
+He quietly awaited their arrival, standing motionless, with his large
+mouth open from ear to ear. The royal army, who were determined not to
+turn back without having taken the princess, advanced towards the town
+at a gallop. They had decided among themselves that if it resisted
+they would lay siege to it.
+
+Mistaking Broad's open mouth for one of the city gates, they all
+dashed through and disappeared.
+
+Broad closed his mouth, and having swallowed them, ran to rejoin his
+comrades in the palace of Matthias' father. He felt somewhat disturbed
+with a whole army inside him, and the earth groaned and trembled
+beneath him as he ran. He could hear the shouts of the people
+assembled round Matthias, as they rejoiced at his safe return.
+
+"Ah, here you are at last, brother Broad," cried Matthias, directly he
+caught sight of him. "But what have you done with the army? Where have
+you left it?"
+
+"The army is here, quite safe," answered he, patting his enormous
+person. "I shall be very pleased to return them as they are, for the
+morsel is not very easy to digest."
+
+"Come then, let them out of their prison," said Matthias, enjoying the
+joke, and at the same time calling all the inhabitants to assist at
+the entertainment.
+
+Broad, who looked upon it as a common occurrence, stood in the middle
+of the palace square, and putting his hands to his sides, began to
+cough. Then--it was really a sight worth seeing--at each cough
+horsemen and horses fell out of his mouth, one over the other,
+plunging, hopping, jumping, trying who could get out of the way the
+quickest. The last one had a little difficulty in getting free, for he
+somehow got into one of Broad's nostrils and was unable to move. It
+was only by giving a good sneeze that Broad could release him, the
+last of the royal cavaliers, and he lost no time in following his
+companions at the top of his speed.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+A few days later a splendid feast was given at the wedding of Prince
+Matthias and the princess. The king, her father, was also present.
+Tall had been sent to invite him. Owing to his knowledge of the road
+and the length of his limbs, he accomplished the journey so quickly
+that he was there before the royal horsemen had time to get back. It
+was well for them that it was so, for, had he not pleaded that their
+lives might be saved, their heads would certainly have been cut off
+for returning empty-handed.
+
+Everything was now arranged to everybody's satisfaction. The
+princess's father was delighted to know that his daughter was married
+to a rich and noble prince, and Matthias generously rewarded his brave
+travelling companions, who remained with him to the end of their days.
+
+
+
+
+THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL OR THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT
+
+
+There was once a king who had an only son, called Prince Slugobyl. Now
+this young prince loved nothing better than travelling; so fond of it
+was he that when he was twenty years old he gave his father no rest
+until he allowed him to go on a long journey, in short, to travel all
+over the world. Thus he hoped to see many beautiful and strange
+things, to meet with marvellous adventures, to gain happiness,
+knowledge, and wisdom, and to return a better man in every way than
+when he left. Fearing his youth and want of experience might lead him
+astray, his father sent with him a valued and faithful servant. When
+all was ready, Slugobyl bade the king adieu and set off to visit the
+land of his dreams.
+
+As he was jogging along, allowing his horse to go at its own pace, he
+saw a beautiful white swan pursued by an eagle about to pounce down
+upon it. Seizing his crossbow, he took such good aim that the eagle
+fell dead at his feet. The rescued swan stopped in its flight, and
+turning round said to him, "Valiant Prince Slugobyl, it is not a mere
+swan who thanks you for your most timely help, but the daughter of the
+Invisible Knight, who, to escape the pursuit of the giant Kostey, has
+changed herself into a swan. My father will gladly be of service to
+you in return for this kindness to me. When in need of his help, you
+only have to say three times, 'Invisible Knight, come to me.'"
+
+Having thus spoken the swan flew away. The prince looked after her for
+a long time, and then continued his journey. He travelled on and on
+and on, over high mountains, through dark forests, across barren
+deserts, and so to the middle of a vast plain where every green thing
+had been burnt up by the rays of the sun. Not a single tree, not even
+a bush or a plant of any kind was to be seen. No bird was heard to
+sing, no insect to hum, no breath of air to stir the stillness of this
+land of desolation. Having ridden for some hours, the prince began to
+suffer terribly from thirst; so, sending his servant in one direction,
+he himself went in another, in search of some well or spring. They
+soon found a well full of cool fresh water, but unluckily without
+either rope or bucket to draw it up. After a few moments' thought the
+prince said to his servant, "Take the leathern strap used for
+tethering our horses, put it round your body, and I will then let you
+down into the well; I cannot endure this thirst any longer."
+
+"Your highness," answered the servant, "I am heavier than you, and you
+are not as strong as I, so you will not be able to pull me out of the
+water. If you, therefore, will go down first, I shall be able to pull
+you up when you have quenched your thirst."
+
+The prince took his advice, and fastening an end of the strap under
+his arms, was lowered into the well. When he had enjoyed a deep
+draught of the clear water and filled a bottle of the same for his
+servant, he gave the signal that he wished to be pulled up. But
+instead of obeying the servant said, "Listen, prince; from the day you
+were born up to the present moment you have never known anything but
+luxury, pleasure, and happiness, while I have suffered poverty and
+slaved all my life. Now we will change places, and you shall be my
+servant. If you refuse you had better make your peace with God, for I
+shall drown you."
+
+"Stop, faithful servant," cried the prince, "you will not be so wicked
+as to do that. What good will it do you? You will never be so happy as
+you have been with me, and you know what dreadful tortures are in
+store for murderers in the other world; their hands are plunged into
+boiling pitch, their shoulders bruised with blows from red-hot iron
+clubs, and their necks sawn with wooden saws."
+
+"You may cut and saw me as much as you like in the other world," said
+the servant, "but I shall drown you in this." And he began to let the
+strap slide through his fingers.
+
+"Very well," said the prince, "I agree to accept your terms. You shall
+be the prince and I will be your servant, I give you my word."
+
+"I have no faith in words that are carried away by the first wind that
+blows. Swear to confirm your promise in writing."
+
+"I swear."
+
+The servant then let down paper and pencil, and dictated
+the following:
+
+    "I hereby declare that I renounce my name and rights in
+    favour of the bearer of this writing, and that I acknowledge
+    him to be my prince, and that I am his servant. Written in
+    the well.
+                                        (Signed) PRINCE SLUGOBYL."
+
+The man having taken this document, which he was quite unable to read,
+drew out the prince, took off the clothes in which he was dressed, and
+made him wear those he himself had just taken off. Thus disguised they
+travelled for a week, and arriving at a large city, went straight to
+the king's palace. There the false prince dismissed his pretended
+servant to the stables, and presenting himself before the king,
+addressed him thus in a very haughty manner:
+
+"King, I am come to demand the hand of your wise and beautiful
+daughter, whose fame has reached my father's court. In exchange I
+offer our alliance, and in case of refusal, war."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Prayers and threats are equally out of place," answered the king;
+"nevertheless, prince, as proof of the esteem in which I hold the
+king, your father, I grant your request: but only on one condition,
+that you deliver us from a large army that now besets our town. Do
+this, and my daughter shall be yours."
+
+"Certainly," said the impostor, "I can soon get rid of them, however
+near they may be. I undertake by to-morrow morning to have freed the
+land entirely of them."
+
+In the evening he went to the stables, and calling his pretended
+servant, saluted him respectfully and said, "Listen, my dear friend, I
+want you to go immediately outside the town and destroy the besieging
+army that surrounds it. But do it in such a way that every one will
+believe that I have done it. In exchange for this favour I promise to
+return the writing in which you renounced your title of prince and
+engaged to serve me."
+
+The prince put on his armour, mounted his horse, and rode outside the
+city gates. There he stopped and called three times to the Invisible
+Knight.
+
+"Behold me, prince, at your service," said a voice close to him. "I
+will do anything you wish, for you saved my only daughter from the
+hands of the giant Kostey; I shall always be grateful."
+
+Slugobyl showed him the army he had to destroy before morning, and the
+Invisible Knight whistled and sang:
+
+  "Magu, Horse with Golden Mane,
+  I want your help yet once again,
+  Walk not the earth but fly through space
+  As lightnings flash or thunders race.
+  Swift as the arrow from the bow,
+  Come quick, yet so that none can know."
+
+At that instant a magnificent grey horse appeared out of a whirlwind
+of smoke, and from his head there hung a golden mane. Swift as the
+wind was he, flames of fire blazed forth from his nostrils, lightnings
+flashed from his eyes, and volumes of smoke came from his ears. The
+Invisible Knight leapt upon his back, saying to the prince, "Take my
+sword and destroy the left wing of the army, while I attack the right
+wing and the centre."
+
+The two heroes rushed forward and attacked the invaders with such fury
+that on all sides men fell like chopped wood or dried grass. A
+frightful massacre followed, but it was in vain that the enemy fled,
+for the two knights seemed to be everywhere. Within a short time only
+the dead and dying remained on the battle-field, and the two
+conquerors quietly returned to the town. On reaching the palace steps,
+the Invisible Knight melted into the morning mist, and the serving-man
+prince returned to the stables.
+
+That same night it happened that the king's daughter, not being able
+to sleep, had remained on her balcony and seen and heard all that had
+taken place. She had overheard the conversation between the impostor
+and the real prince, had seen the latter call to his assistance the
+Invisible Knight, and then doff his royal armour in favour of the
+false prince; she had seen and understood everything, but she
+determined to keep silence for a little longer.
+
+But when on the next day the king, her father, celebrated the victory
+of the false prince with great rejoicings, loaded him with honours and
+presents, and calling his daughter expressed a wish that she should
+marry him--the princess could be silent no longer. She walked up to
+the real prince, who was waiting at table with the other servants,
+took his arm, and leading him to the king, said:
+
+"Father, and all good people, this is the man who has saved our
+country from the enemy, and whom God has destined to be my husband. He
+to whom you pay these honours is but a vile impostor, who has robbed
+his master of name and rights. Last night I witnessed such deeds as
+eye has never seen nor ear heard, but which shall be told afterwards.
+Bid this traitor show the writing which proves the truth of what I
+say."
+
+When the false prince had delivered up the paper signed by the
+serving-man prince, it was found to contain the following words:
+
+    "The bearer of this document, the false and wicked servant
+    of the serving-man prince, shall receive the punishment his
+    sin deserves.
+                                        (Signed) PRINCE SLUGOBYL."
+
+"What? Is that the real meaning of that writing?" asked the traitor,
+who could not read.
+
+"Most assuredly," was the reply.
+
+Then he threw himself at the king's feet and begged for mercy. But he
+received his punishment, for he was tied to the tails of four wild
+horses and torn to pieces.
+
+Prince Slugobyl married the princess. It was a magnificent wedding. I
+myself was there, and drank of the mead and wine; but they only
+touched my beard, they did not enter my mouth.
+
+
+
+
+THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES
+
+
+In ancient days there lived a king and queen; the former was old but
+the latter young. Although they loved one another dearly they were
+very unhappy, for God had not given them any children. They fretted
+and grieved about this so deeply that the queen became ill with
+melancholy. The doctors advised her to travel. The king was obliged to
+remain at home, so she went without him, accompanied by twelve maids
+of honour, all beautiful and fresh as flowers in May. When they had
+travelled for some days, they reached a vast uninhabited plain which
+stretched so far away it seemed to touch the sky. After driving hither
+and thither for some time the driver was quite bewildered, and stopped
+before a large stone column. At its foot stood a warrior on horseback,
+clad in steel armour.
+
+"Brave knight, can you direct me to the high-road?" said the driver;
+"we are lost, and know not which way to go."
+
+"I will show you the way," said the warrior, "but only on one
+condition, that each of you gives me a kiss."
+
+The queen looked at the warrior in wrath, and ordered the coachman to
+drive on. The carriage continued moving nearly all day, but as if
+bewitched, for it always returned to the stone column. This time the
+queen addressed the warrior.
+
+"Knight," said she, "show us the road, and I will reward you richly."
+
+"I am the Master Spirit of the Steppes," answered he. "I demand
+payment for showing the way, and my payment is always in kisses."
+
+"Very well, my twelve maids of honour shall pay you."
+
+"Thirteen kisses are due to me; the first must be given by the lady
+who addresses me."
+
+The queen was very angry, and again the attempt was made to find their
+way. But the carriage, though during the whole time it moved in an
+opposite direction, still returned to the stone column. It was now
+dark, and they were obliged to think of finding shelter for the night,
+so the queen was obliged to give the warrior his strange payment.
+Getting out of her carriage she walked up to the knight, and looking
+modestly down allowed him to kiss her; her twelve maids of honour who
+followed did the same. A moment later stone column and horseman had
+vanished, and they found themselves on the high-road, while a perfumed
+cloud seemed to float over the steppes. The queen stepped into her
+carriage with her ladies, and so the journey was continued.
+
+But from that day the beautiful queen and her maids became thoughtful
+and sad; and, losing all pleasure in travel, went back to the capital.
+Yet the return home did not make the queen happy, for always before
+her eyes she saw the Horseman of the Steppes. This displeased the
+king, who became gloomy and ill-tempered.
+
+One day while the king was on his throne in the council chamber he
+suddenly heard the sweetest warblings, like unto those produced by a
+bird of paradise; these were answered by the songs of many
+nightingales. Wondering, he sent to find out what it was. The
+messenger returned saying that the queen and her twelve maids of
+honour had each been presented with a girl baby, and that the sweet
+warblings were but the crying of the children. The king was greatly
+astonished, and while he was engaged in deep thought about the matter
+the palace was suddenly lit up by lights of dazzling brightness. On
+inquiring into the cause he learnt that the little princess had opened
+her eyes, and that they shone with matchless brilliancy.
+
+At first the king could not speak, so amazed was he. He laughed and he
+cried, he sorrowed and he rejoiced, and in the midst of it all a
+deputation of ministers and senators was announced. When these were
+shown into his presence they fell on their knees, and striking the
+ground with their foreheads, said, "Sire, save your people and your
+royal person. The queen and her twelve maids of honour have been
+presented by the Spirit of the Steppes with thirteen girl babies. We
+beseech you to have these children killed, or we shall all be
+destroyed."
+
+The king, roused to anger, gave orders that all the babies should be
+thrown into the sea. The courtiers were already on their way to obey
+this cruel command when the queen entered, weeping, and pale as death.
+She threw herself at the king's feet and begged him to spare the lives
+of these helpless and innocent children, and instead to let them be
+placed on a desert island and there left in the hands of God.
+
+The king granted her wish. The baby princess was placed in a golden
+cradle, her little companions in copper cradles, and the thirteen were
+taken to a desert island and left quite alone. Every one at court
+thought that they had perished, and said one to another, "They will
+die from cold and hunger; they will be devoured by wild beasts, or
+birds of prey; they are sure to die; perchance they will be buried
+under dead leaves or covered with snow." But happily nothing of the
+kind happened, for God takes care of little children.
+
+The small princess grew bigger day by day. Every morning she was
+awakened by the rising sun, and bathed by the dew. Soft breezes
+refreshed her, and twisted into plaits her luxuriant hair. The trees
+sang her to sleep with their rustling lullabies, the stars watched
+over her at night. The swans clothed her in their soft raiment, and
+the bees fed her with their honey. The beauty of the little maiden
+increased with her growth. Her brow was calm and pure as the moon, her
+lips red as a rosebud, and so eloquent that her voice sounded like a
+shower of pearls. But wonderful beyond compare was the expressive
+beauty of her eyes, for if she looked at you kindly you seemed to
+float in a sea of joy, if angrily it made you numb with fear, and you
+were instantly changed into a block of ice. She was waited upon by her
+twelve companions, who were almost as charming as their mistress, to
+whom they were devotedly attached. Rumours of the loveliness of
+Princess Sudolisu spread far and wide. People came to see her from all
+parts of the world, so that it was soon no longer a desert island, but
+a thickly populated and magnificent city.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Many a prince came from afar and entered the lists as suitor for the
+hand of Sudolisu, but none succeeded in winning her love. Those who
+bore with good temper and resignation the disappointment of being
+refused returned home safe and sound, but woe to the unlucky wretch
+who rebelled against her will and attempted to use an armed force; his
+soldiers perished miserably, while he, frozen to the heart by her
+angry glance, was turned into a block of ice.
+
+Now it happened that the famous ogre, Kostey, who lived underground,
+was a great admirer of beauty. And he took it into his head to see
+what the creatures above ground were doing. By the help of his
+telescope he was able to observe all the kings and queens, princes and
+princesses, gentlemen and ladies, living on the earth. As he was
+looking his eye fell upon a beautiful island, where, bright as many
+stars, stood twelve maidens; while in their midst, upon a couch of
+swan's-down, slept a young princess lovely as the dawn of day.
+Sudolisu was dreaming of a young knight who rode a spirited horse; on
+his breast was a golden cuirass, and in his hand an invisible club.
+And in her dream she admired this knight, and loved him more than life
+itself. The wicked Kostey longed to have her for his own, and
+determined to carry her off. He reached the earth by striking it from
+underground three times with his forehead. The princess called her
+army together, and putting herself at its head, led her soldiers
+against him. But he merely breathed upon the soldiers and they fell
+down in an overpowering sleep. Then he stretched out his bony hands to
+take the princess, but she, throwing a glance full of anger and
+disdain at him, changed him into a block of ice. Then she shut herself
+up in her palace. Kostey did not remain frozen long; when the princess
+had departed he came to life again, and started off in pursuit of her.
+On reaching the town where she dwelt, he put all the inhabitants into
+a charmed sleep, and laid the same spell upon the twelve maids of
+honour. Fearing the power of her eyes, he dared not attack Sudolisu
+herself; so he surrounded her palace with an iron wall, and left it in
+charge of a monster dragon with twelve heads. Then he waited, in hope
+that the princess would give in.
+
+Days passed, weeks grew into months, and still Princess Sudolisu's
+kingdom looked like one large bedchamber. The people snored in the
+streets, the brave army lying in the fields slept soundly, hidden in
+the long grass under the shadow of nettle, wormwood, and thistle, rust
+and dust marring the brightness of their armour. Inside the palace
+everything was the same. The twelve maids of honour lay motionless.
+The princess alone kept watch, silent amid this reign of sleep. She
+walked up and down her narrow prison, sighing and weeping bitter
+tears, but no other sound broke the silence; only Kostey, avoiding her
+glance, still called through the doors and begged her to refuse him no
+longer. Then he promised she should be Queen of the Nether World, but
+she answered him not.
+
+Lonely and miserable, she thought of the prince of her dreams. She saw
+him in his golden armour, mounted on his spirited steed, looking at
+her with eyes full of love. So she imagined him day and night.
+
+Looking out of window one day, and seeing a cloud floating on the
+horizon, she cried:
+
+  "Floating Cloudlet soft and white,
+    Pilgrim of the sky,
+  I pray you for one moment, light
+    On me your pitying eye.
+  Where my love is can you tell?
+  Thinks he of me ill or well?"
+
+"I know not," answered the cloud, "ask the wind."
+
+Then she saw a tiny breeze playing among the field flowers, and called
+out:
+
+  "Gentle Breezelet, soul of air,
+    Look not lightly on my pain;
+  Kindly lift me from despair,
+    Help me freedom to regain.
+  Where my love is can you tell?
+  Thinks he of me ill or well?"
+
+"Ask that little star yonder," answered the breeze, "she knows more
+than I."
+
+Sudolisu raised her beautiful eyes to the twinkling stars and said:
+
+  "Shining Star, God's light on high,
+    Look down and prithee see;
+  Behold me weep and hear me sigh,
+    Then help and pity me.
+  Where my love is canst thou tell?
+  Thinks he of me ill or well?"
+
+"You will learn more from the moon," answered the star; "she lives
+nearer the earth than I, and sees everything that goes on there."
+
+The moon was just rising from her silver bed when Sudolisu called to
+her:
+
+  "Pearl of the Sky, thou radiant Moon,
+    Thy watch o'er the stars pray leave,
+  Throw thy soft glance o'er the earth ere I swoon,
+    O'ercome by my sorrows I weep and I grieve.
+  I pine for my friend, oh ease thou my heart,
+  And say, am I loved? In his thoughts have I part?"
+
+"Princess," replied the moon, "I know nothing of your friend. But wait
+a few hours, the sun will have then risen; he knows everything, and
+will surely be able to tell you."
+
+So the princess kept her eyes fixed upon that part of the sky where
+the sun first appears, chasing away the darkness like a flock of
+birds. When he came forth in all his glory she said:
+
+  "Soul of the World, thou deep fountain of life,
+    Eye of all-powerful God,
+  Visit my prison, dark scene of sad strife,
+    Raise up my soul from the sod,
+  With hope that my friend whom I pine for and love
+  May come to my rescue. Say, where does he rove?"
+
+"Sweet Sudolisu," answered the sun, "dry the tears that like pearls
+roll down your sad and lovely face. Let your troubled heart be at
+peace, for your friend the prince is now on his way to rescue you. He
+has recovered the magic ring from the Nether World, and many armies
+from those countries have assembled to follow him. He is now moving
+towards Kostey's palace, and intends to punish him. But all this will
+be of no avail, and Kostey will gain the victory, if the prince does
+not make use of other means which I am now on my way to provide him
+with. Farewell; be brave, he whom you love will come to your aid and
+save you from Kostey and his sorceries; happiness is in store for you
+both."
+
+The sun then rose upon a distant land where Prince Junak, mounted on a
+powerful steed and clad in golden armour, assembled his forces to
+fight against the giant Kostey. Thrice he had dreamt of the beautiful
+princess shut up in the Sleeping Palace, for the fame of her
+loveliness had reached him, and he loved without having seen.
+
+"Leave your army where it is," said the sun, "it will not be of the
+slightest use in fighting against Kostey, he is proof against all
+weapons. The only way to rescue the princess is to kill him, and there
+is but one who can tell you how to do it, and that is the witch, old
+Yaga. I will show you how to find the horse that will carry you
+straight to her. First take the road to the east, and walk on till you
+come to a wide plain: there, right in the middle of the plain, are
+three oaks, and in the centre of these, lying close to the ground, is
+an iron door with a copper handle. Behind the door is the horse, also
+an invisible club; both are necessary for the work you have to do. You
+will learn the rest afterwards. Farewell."
+
+This advice astonished the prince greatly; he hardly knew what to do.
+After deep reflection he crossed himself, took the magic ring from his
+finger and cast it into the sea. Instantly the army vanished like mist
+before the wind, and when not a trace of it was left he took the road
+to the east. After walking straight on for eight days he reached a
+large green plain, in the middle of which grew the three oaks, and in
+the centre of these, close to the ground, was the iron door with the
+copper handle. Opening the door, he found a winding staircase which
+led to a second door bound with iron, and shut by means of a huge
+padlock sixty pounds in weight. At this moment he heard the neighing
+of a horse, the sound being followed by the opening of eleven other
+iron doors. There he saw the war-horse which centuries ago had been
+bewitched by a magician. The prince whistled; the horse immediately
+bounded towards him, at the same time breaking the twelve iron chains
+that fastened him to the manger. He was a beautiful creature, strong,
+light, handsome, full of fire and grace; his eyes flashed lightnings,
+from his nostrils came flames of fire, his mane was like a cloud of
+gold, he was certainly a marvel of a horse.
+
+"Prince Junak," said the steed, "I have waited centuries for such a
+knight as you; here I am, ready to carry you and serve you faithfully.
+Mount upon my back, and take hold of the invisible club that hangs at
+the pommel of the saddle. You yourself will not need to use it; give
+it your orders, it will carry them out and do the fighting itself. Now
+we will start; may God look after us! Tell me where you wish to go,
+and you shall be there directly."
+
+The prince quickly told the horse his history, mounted, seized the
+club, and set off. The creature capered, galloped, flew, and swam in
+the air higher than the highest forests but lower than the clouds; he
+crossed mountains, rivers, and precipices; he barely touched the
+blades of grass in passing over them, and went so lightly along the
+roads that he did not raise one grain of dust.
+
+Towards sunset Junak found himself close to an immense forest, in the
+centre of which stood Yaga's house. All around were oaks and pines
+hundreds of years old, untouched by the axe of man. These enormous
+trees, lit up by the rays of the setting sun, seemed to look with
+astonishment at their strange guest. The silence was absolute; not a
+bird sang in the branches, not an insect hummed in the air, not a worm
+crawled upon the ground. The only sound was that made by the horse as
+he broke through the underwood. Then they came in sight of a small
+house supported by a cock's foot, round which it turned as on a
+movable pivot. Prince Junak cried:
+
+  "Turn round, little house, turn round,
+    I want to come inside;
+  Let thy back to the forest be found,
+    Thy door to me open wide."
+
+The little house turned round, and the prince entering saw old Yaga,
+who immediately cried out, "What, Prince Junak! How have you come
+here, where no one ever enters?"
+
+"You are a silly old witch, to worry me with questions instead of
+making me welcome," said the prince.
+
+At these words old Yaga jumped up and hastened to attend to his needs.
+She prepared food and drink, made him a soft bed where he could sleep
+comfortably, and then leaving the house passed the night out of doors.
+On her return in the morning the prince related all his adventures and
+confided his plans.
+
+"Prince Junak," said she, "you have undertaken a very difficult task,
+but your courage will enable you to accomplish it successfully. I will
+tell you how to kill Kostey, for without that you can do nothing. Now,
+in the very midst of the ocean lies the Island of Eternal Life. Upon
+this island is an oak tree, and at the foot of it, hidden in the
+earth, a coffer bound with iron. A hare is shut up in this coffer, and
+under her sits a grey duck whose body contains an egg. Within this egg
+is Kostey's life--if it be broken he dies. Good-bye, Prince Junak,
+start without loss of time. Your horse will carry you to the island."
+
+Junak mounted his horse, spoke a few words to him, and the brave
+creature fled through space with the swiftness of an arrow. Leaving
+the forest and its enormous trees behind, they soon reached the shores
+of the ocean. Fishermen's nets lay on the beach, and in one of them
+was a large sea fish who, struggling to free itself, spoke to the
+prince in a human voice.
+
+"Prince Junak," he said sadly, "free me from my prison; I assure you
+you will lose nothing by doing me this service."
+
+Junak did what was required of him, and threw the fish back into the
+water. It plunged and disappeared, but he paid little attention to it,
+so occupied was he with his own thoughts. In the far distance could be
+seen the rocks of the Island of Eternal Life, but there seemed no way
+of reaching it. Leaning on his club he thought and thought, and ever
+as he thought he grew sadder and sadder.
+
+"What is the matter, Prince Junak? Has anything vexed you?" asked his
+horse.
+
+"How can I help grieving when, while in sight of the island, I can go
+no further? How can we cross the sea?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Get on my back, prince, I will be your bridge; only take care to hold
+on tight."
+
+The prince held firmly to its mane, and the horse leapt into the sea.
+At first they were plunged right beneath the waves, but rising again
+to the surface swam easily across. The sun was about to set when the
+prince dismounted on the Island of Eternal Life. He first took off his
+horse's harness, and leaving him to browse on the green grass, hurried
+to the top of a distant hill, whence he could see a large oak. Without
+losing a moment he hastened towards it, seized the tree with both
+hands, pulled at it with all his might, and after the most violent
+efforts tore it up by the roots from the place it had filled for
+centuries. The tree groaned and fell, and the hole in which it had
+been planted appeared like an immense case. Right at the bottom of
+this case was a coffer bound with iron. The prince took it up, broke
+the lock by striking it with a stone, opened it and seized the hare
+that was trying to make its escape. The grey duck that had lain
+underneath flew off towards the sea: the prince fired, struck the
+bird, the latter dropped its egg into the sea, and both were swallowed
+by the waves. Junak gave a cry of despair and rushed to the beach. At
+first he could see nothing. After a few minutes there was a slight
+movement of the waves, while upon the surface swam the fish whose life
+he had saved. It came towards him, right on to the sand, and dropping
+the lost egg at his feet, said: "You see, prince, I have not forgotten
+your kindness, and now I have found it in my power to be of service to
+you."
+
+Having thus spoken it disappeared in the water. The prince took the
+egg, mounted his horse, and crossing the sea with his heart full of
+hope, journeyed towards the island where Princess Sudolisu kept watch
+over her sleeping subjects in the Enchanted Palace. The latter was
+surrounded by a wall, and guarded by the Dragon with Twelve Heads. Now
+these heads went to sleep in turn, six at a time, so it was impossible
+to take him unawares or to kill him, for that could be done only by
+his own blows.
+
+On reaching the palace gates Junak sent his invisible club forward to
+clear the way, whereupon it threw itself upon the dragon, and began to
+beat all the heads unmercifully. The blows came so thick and fast that
+the body was soon crushed to pieces. Still the dragon lived and beat
+the air with its claws. Then it opened its twelve jaws from which
+darted pointed tongues, but it could not lay hold of the invisible
+club. At last, tormented on all sides and filled with rage, it buried
+its sharp claws in its own body and died. The prince then entered the
+palace gates, and having put his faithful horse in the stables and
+armed himself with his invisible club, made his way for the tower in
+which the princess was shut up. On seeing him she cried out, "Prince,
+I rejoiced to see your victory over the dragon. There is yet a more
+terrible foe to conquer, and he is my jailor, the cruel Kostey. Beware
+of him, for if he should kill you, I shall throw myself out of window
+into the precipice beneath."
+
+"Be comforted, my princess: for in this egg I hold the life or death
+of Kostey."
+
+Then turning to the invisible club, he said, "Press forward, my
+invisible club; strike your best, and rid the earth of this wicked
+giant."
+
+The club began by breaking down the iron doors, and thus reached
+Kostey. The giant was soon so crippled with blows that his teeth were
+smashed, lightnings flashed from his eyes, and he rolled round and
+round like a pin-cushion. Had he been a man he must have died under
+such treatment. But he was no man, this master of sorcery. So he
+managed to get on his feet and look for his tormentor. The blows from
+the club rained hard upon him all the time, and with such effect that
+his groans could be heard all over the island. On approaching the
+window he saw Prince Junak.
+
+"Ah, wretch!" cried the ogre, "it is you, is it, who torments me in
+this way!" and he prepared to blow upon him with his poisonous breath.
+But the prince instantly crushed the egg between his hands, the shell
+broke, the white and yellow mingled and flowed to the ground, and
+Kostey died.
+
+As the sorcerer breathed his last, the enchantments vanished and the
+sleeping islanders awoke. The army, once more afoot, advanced with
+beating drums to the palace, and everything fell into its accustomed
+place. As soon as Princess Sudolisu was freed from her prison she held
+out her white hand to her deliverer, and thanking him in the most
+touching words, led him to the throne and placed him at her side. The
+twelve maids of honour having chosen young and brave warriors, ranged
+themselves with their lovers round the queen. Then the doors were
+thrown open, and the priests in their robes entered, bearing a golden
+tray of wedding rings. Thereupon the marriage ceremony was gone
+through, and the lovers united in God's name.
+
+After the wedding there were feasting and music and dancing, as is
+usual on such occasions, and they all enjoyed themselves. It makes one
+glad to think how happy they were, and what a glorious time they had
+after their misfortunes.
+
+
+
+
+THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND
+
+
+There once lived a king and queen who had an only daughter. And the
+beauty of this princess surpassed everything seen or heard of. Her
+forehead was brilliant as the moon, her lips like the rose, her
+complexion had the delicacy of the lily, and her breath the sweetness
+of jessamine. Her hair was golden, and in her voice and glance there
+was something so enchanting that none could help listening to her or
+looking at her.
+
+The princess lived for seventeen years in her own rooms, rejoicing the
+heart of her parents, teachers, and servants. No one else ever saw
+her, for the sons of the king and all other princes were forbidden to
+enter her rooms. She never went anywhere, never looked upon the
+outside world, and never breathed the outer air, but she was perfectly
+happy.
+
+When she was eighteen it happened, either by chance or by the will of
+fate, that she heard the cry of the cuckoo. This sound made her
+strangely uneasy; her golden head drooped, and covering her eyes with
+her hands, she fell into thought so deep as not to hear her mother
+enter. The queen looked at her anxiously, and after comforting her
+went to tell the king about it.
+
+For many years past the sons of kings and neighbouring princes had,
+either personally or by their ambassadors, presented themselves at
+court to ask the king for the hand of his daughter in marriage. But he
+had always bidden them wait until another time. Now, after a long
+consultation with the queen, he sent messengers to foreign courts and
+elsewhere to proclaim that the princess, in accordance with the wishes
+of her parents, was about to choose a husband, and that the man of her
+choice would also have the right of succession to the throne.
+
+When the princess heard of this decision her joy was very great, and
+for days she would dream about it. Then she looked out into the garden
+through the golden lattice of her window, and longed with an
+irresistible longing to walk in the open air upon the smooth lawn.
+With great difficulty she at last persuaded her governesses to allow
+her to do so, they agreeing on condition that she should keep with
+them. So the crystal doors were thrown open, the oaken gates that shut
+in the orchard turned on their hinges, and the princess found herself
+on the green grass. She ran about, picking the sweet-scented flowers
+and chasing the many-coloured butterflies. But she could not have been
+a very prudent maiden, for she wandered away from her governesses,
+with her face uncovered.
+
+Just at that moment a raging hurricane, such as had never been seen or
+heard before, passed by and fell upon the garden. It roared and
+whistled round and round, then seizing the princess carried her far
+away. The terrified governesses wrung their hands, and were for a time
+speechless with grief. At last they rushed into the palace, and
+throwing themselves on their knees before the king and queen, told
+them with sobs and tears what had happened. They were overwhelmed with
+sorrow and knew not what to do.
+
+By this time quite a crowd of princes had arrived at the palace, and
+seeing the king in such bitter grief, inquired the reason of it.
+
+"Sorrow has touched my white hairs," said the king. "The hurricane has
+carried off my dearly beloved child, the sweet Princess with the
+Golden Hair, and I know not where it has taken her. Whoever finds this
+out, and brings her back to me, shall have her for his wife, and with
+her half my kingdom for a wedding present, and the remainder of my
+wealth and titles after my death."
+
+After hearing these words, princes and knights mounted their horses
+and set off to search throughout the world for the beautiful Princess
+with the Golden Hair, who had been carried away by Vikher.
+
+Now among the seekers were two brothers, sons of a king, and they
+travelled together through many countries asking for news of the
+princess, but no one knew anything about her. But they continued their
+search, and at the end of two years arrived in a country that lies in
+the centre of the earth, and has summer and winter at the same time.
+
+The princes determined to find out whether this was the place where
+the hurricane had hidden the Princess with the Golden Hair. So they
+began to ascend one of the mountains on foot, leaving their horses
+behind them to feed on the grass. On reaching the top, they came in
+sight of a silver palace supported on a cock's foot, while at one of
+the windows the sun's rays shone upon a head of golden hair; surely it
+could only belong to the princess. Suddenly the north wind blew so
+violently, and the cold became so intense, that the leaves of the
+trees withered and the breath froze. The two princes tried to keep
+their footing, and battled manfully against the storm, but they were
+overcome by its fierceness and fell together, frozen to death.
+
+Their broken-hearted parents waited for them in vain. Masses were
+said, charities distributed, and prayers sent up to God to pity them
+in their sorrow.
+
+One day when the queen, the mother of the princes, was giving a poor
+old man some money she said to him, "My good old friend, pray God to
+guard our sons and soon bring them back in good health."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Ah, noble lady," answered he, "that prayer would be useless.
+Everlasting rest is all one may ask for the dead, but in return for
+the love you have shown and the money you have given the poor and
+needy, I am charged with this message--that God has taken pity on your
+sorrow, and that ere long you will be the mother of a son, the like of
+whom has never yet been seen."
+
+The old man, having spoken thus, vanished.
+
+The queen, whose tears were falling, felt a strange joy enter her
+heart and a feeling of happiness steal over her, as she went to the
+king and repeated the old man's words. And so it came to pass, for a
+week or two later God sent her a son, and he was in no way like an
+ordinary child. His eyes resembled those of a falcon, and his eyebrows
+the sable's fur. His right hand was of pure gold, and his manner and
+appearance were so full of an indescribable majesty, that he was
+looked upon by every one with a feeling of awe.
+
+His growth, too, was not like that of other children. When but three
+days old, he stepped out of his swaddling-clothes and left his cradle.
+And he was so strong that when his parents entered the room he ran
+towards them, crying out, "Good morning, dear parents, why are you so
+sad? Are you not happy at the sight of me?"
+
+"We are indeed happy, dear child, and we thank God for having sent us
+you in our great grief. But we cannot forget your two brothers; they
+were so handsome and brave, and worthy of a great destiny. And our
+sadness is increased when we remember that, instead of resting in
+their own country in the tomb of their forefathers, they sleep in an
+unknown land, perhaps without burial. Alas! it is three years since we
+had news of them."
+
+At these words the child's tears fell, and he embraced his parents and
+said, "Weep no more, dear parents, you shall soon be comforted: for
+before next spring I shall be a strong young man, and will look for my
+brothers all over the world. And I will bring them back to you, if not
+alive, yet dead: ay, though I have to seek them in the very centre of
+the earth."
+
+At these words and at that which followed the king and queen were
+amazed. For the strange child, guided as it were by an invisible hand,
+rushed into the garden, and in spite of the cold, for it was not yet
+daylight, bathed in the early dew. When the sun had risen he threw
+himself down near a little wood on the fine sand, rubbed and rolled
+himself in it, and returned home, no longer a child but a youth.
+
+It was pleasant to the king to see his son thrive in this way, and
+indeed the young prince was the handsomest in the whole land. He grew
+from hour to hour. At the end of a month he could wield a sword, in
+two months he rode on horseback, in three months he had grown a
+beautiful moustache of pure gold. Then he put on a helmet, and
+presenting himself before the king and queen, said: "My much honoured
+parents, your son asks your blessing. I am no longer a child, and now
+go to seek my brothers. In order to find them I will, if necessary, go
+to the furthest ends of the world."
+
+"Ah, do not venture. Stay rather with us, dear son, you are still too
+young to be exposed to the risks of such an undertaking."
+
+"Adventures have no terrors for me," replied the young hero, "I trust
+in God. Why should I for a moment hesitate to face these dangers?
+Whatever Destiny has in store for us will happen, whatever we may do
+to try to prevent it."
+
+So they agreed to let him go. Weeping they bade him farewell, blessing
+him and the road he was to travel.
+
+A pleasant tale is soon told, but events do not pass so quickly.
+
+The young prince crossed deep rivers and climbed high mountains, till
+he came to a dark forest. In the distance he saw a cottage supported
+on a cock's foot, and standing in the midst of a field full of
+poppies. As he made his ways towards it he was suddenly seized by an
+overpowering longing to sleep, but he urged on his horse, and breaking
+off the poppy heads as he galloped through the field, came up close to
+the house. Then he called out:
+
+  "Little cot, turn around, on thy foot turn thou free;
+  To the forest set thy back, let thy door be wide to me."
+
+The cottage turned round with a great creaking noise, the door facing
+the prince. He entered, and found an old woman with thin white hair
+and a face covered with wrinkles, truly frightful to look upon. She
+was sitting at a table, her head resting on her hands, her eyes fixed
+on the ceiling, lost in deep thought. Near her were two beautiful
+girls, their complexions like lilies and roses, and in every way sweet
+to the eye.
+
+"Ah, how do you do, Prince with Moustache of Gold, Hero with the
+Golden Fist?" said old Yaga; "what has brought you here?"
+
+Having told her the object of his journey, she replied, "Your elder
+brothers perished on the mountain that touches the clouds, while in
+search of the Princess with the Golden Hair, who was carried off by
+Vikher, the hurricane."
+
+"And how is this thief Vikher to be got at?" asked the prince.
+
+"Ah, my dear child, he would swallow you like a fly. It is now a
+hundred years since I went outside this cottage, for fear Vikher
+should seize me and carry me off to his palace near the sky."
+
+"I am not afraid of his carrying me off, I am not handsome enough for
+that; and he will not swallow me either, for my golden hand can smash
+anything."
+
+"Then if you are not afraid, my dove, I will help you to the best of
+my power. But give me your word of honour that you will bring me some
+of the Water of Youth, for it restores even to the most aged the
+beauty and freshness of youth."
+
+"I give you my word of honour that I will bring you some."
+
+"This then is what you must do. I will give you a pin-cushion for a
+guide; this you throw in front of you, and follow whithersoever it
+goes. It will lead you to the mountain that touches the clouds, and
+which is guarded in Vikher's absence by his father and mother, the
+northern blast and the south wind. On no account lose sight of the
+pin-cushion. If attacked by the father, the northern blast, and
+suddenly seized with cold, then put on this heat-giving hood: if
+overpowered by burning heat of the south wind, then drink from this
+cooling flagon. Thus by means of the pin-cushion, the hood, and the
+flagon, you will reach the top of the mountain where the Princess with
+the Golden Hair is imprisoned. Deal with Vikher as you will, only
+remember to bring me some of the Water of Youth."
+
+Our young hero took the heat-giving hood, the cooling flagon, and the
+pin-cushion, and, after bidding farewell to old Yaga and her two
+pretty daughters, mounted his steed and rode off, following the
+pin-cushion, which rolled before him at a great rate.
+
+Now a beautiful story is soon told, but the events of which it
+consists do not in real life take place so rapidly.
+
+When the prince had travelled through two kingdoms, he came to a land
+in which lay a very beautiful valley that stretched into the far
+distance, and above it towered the mountain that touches the sky. The
+summit was so high above the earth you might almost fancy it reached
+the moon.
+
+The prince dismounted, left his horse to graze, and having crossed
+himself began to follow the pin-cushion up steep and rocky paths. When
+he had got half-way there the north wind began to blow, and the cold
+was so intense that the wood of the trees split up and the breath
+froze: he felt chilled to the heart. But he quickly put on the
+heat-giving hood, and cried:
+
+  "O Heat-Giving Hood, see I fly now to thee,
+    Lend me quickly thine aid;
+  O hasten to warm ere the cold has killed me,
+    With thee I'm not afraid."
+
+The northern blast blew with redoubled fury, but to no purpose. For
+the prince was so hot that he streamed with perspiration, and indeed
+was obliged to unbutton his coat and fan himself.
+
+Here the pin-cushion stopped upon a small snow-covered mound. The
+prince cleared away the snow, beneath which lay the frozen bodies of
+two young men, and he knew them to be those of his lost brothers.
+Having knelt beside them and prayed he turned to follow the
+pin-cushion, which had already started, and was rolling ever higher
+and higher. On reaching the top of the mountain he saw a silver palace
+supported on a cock's foot, and at one of the windows, shining in the
+sun's rays, a head of golden hair which could belong to no one but the
+princess. Suddenly a hot wind began to blow from the south, and the
+heat became so intense that leaves withered and dropped from the
+trees, the grass dried up, and large cracks appeared in several places
+of the earth's surface. Thirst, heat, and weariness began to tell upon
+the young prince, so he took the cooling flagon from his pocket and
+cried:
+
+  "Flagon, bring me quick relief
+    From this parching heat;
+  In thy draught I have belief,
+    Coolness it will mete."
+
+After drinking deeply he felt stronger than ever, and so continued to
+ascend. Not only was he relieved from the great heat, but was even
+obliged to button up his coat to keep himself warm.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The pin-cushion still led the way, ever climbing higher and higher,
+while the prince followed close behind. After crossing the region of
+clouds they came to the topmost peak of the mountain. Here the prince
+came close to the palace, which can only be likened to a dream of
+perfect beauty. It was supported on a cock's foot, and was built
+entirely of silver, except for its steel gates and roof of solid gold.
+Before the entrance was a deep precipice over which none but the birds
+could pass. As the prince gazed upon the splendid building the
+princess leaned out of one of the windows, and seeing him light shone
+from her sparkling eyes, her lovely hair floated in the wind, and the
+scent of her sweet breath filled the air. The prince sprang forward
+and cried out:
+
+  "Silver Palace, oh turn, on thy foot turn thou free,
+  To the steep rocks thy back, but thy doors wide to me."
+
+At these words it revolved creaking, the doorway facing the prince. As
+he entered it returned to its original position. The prince went
+through the palace till he came to a room bright as the sun itself,
+and the walls, floor, and ceiling of which consisted of mirrors. He
+was filled with wonder, for instead of one princess he saw twelve, all
+equally beautiful, with the same graceful movements and golden hair.
+But eleven were only reflections of the one real princess. She gave a
+cry of joy on seeing him, and running to meet him, said: "Ah, noble
+sir, you look like a delivering angel. Surely you bring me good news.
+From what family, city, or country have you come? Perhaps my dear
+father and mother sent you in search of me?"
+
+"No one has sent me, I have come of my own free will to rescue you and
+restore you to your parents."
+
+When he had told her all that had passed she said, "Your devotion,
+prince, is very great; may God bless your attempt. But Vikher the
+hurricane is unconquerable, so, if life be dear to you, fly. Leave
+this place before his return, which I expect every minute; he will
+kill you with one glance of his eyes."
+
+"If I should not succeed in saving you, sweet princess, life can be no
+longer dear to me. But I am full of hope, and I beg you first to give
+me some of the Strength-Giving Water from the Heroic Well, for this is
+drunk by the hurricane."
+
+The princess drew a bucketful of water, which the young man emptied at
+one draught and then asked for another. This astonished her somewhat,
+but she gave it him, and when he had drunk it he said, "Allow me,
+princess, to sit down for a moment to take breath."
+
+She gave him an iron chair, but directly he sat down it broke into a
+thousand pieces. She then brought him the chair used by Vikher
+himself, but although it was made of the strongest steel, it bent and
+creaked beneath the prince's weight.
+
+"Now you see," said he, "that I have grown heavier than your
+unconquerable hurricane: so take courage, with God's help and your
+good wishes I shall overcome him. In the meantime tell me how you pass
+your time here."
+
+"Alas! in bitter tears and sad reflections. My only consolation is
+that I have been able to keep my persecutor at a distance, for he
+vainly implores me to marry him. Two years have now passed away, and
+yet none of his efforts to win my consent have been successful. Last
+time he went away he told me that if on his return he had not guessed
+the riddles I set him (the correct explanation of these being the
+condition I have made for his marrying me), he would set them aside,
+and marry me in spite of my objections."
+
+"Ah, then I am just in time. I will be the priest on that occasion,
+and give him Death for a bride."
+
+At that moment a horrible whistling was heard.
+
+"Be on your guard, prince," cried she, "here comes the hurricane."
+
+The palace spun rapidly round, fearful sounds filled the building,
+thousands of ravens and birds of ill omen croaked loudly and flapped
+their wings, and all the doors opened with a tremendous noise.
+
+Vikher, mounted on his winged horse that breathed fire, leapt into the
+mirrored room, then stopped amazed at the sight before him. He was
+indeed the hurricane, with the body of a giant and the head of a
+dragon, and as he gazed his horse pranced and beat his wings.
+
+"What is your business here, stranger?" he shouted: and the sound of
+his voice was like unto a lion's roar.
+
+"I am your enemy, and I want your blood," replied the prince calmly.
+
+"Your boldness amuses me. At the same time, if you do not depart at
+once I will take you in my left hand and crush every bone in your body
+with my right."
+
+"Try, if you dare, woman-stealer," he answered.
+
+Vikher roared, breathing fire in his rage, and with his mouth wide
+open threw himself upon the prince, intending to swallow him. But the
+latter stepped lightly aside, and putting his golden hand down his
+enemy's throat, seized him by the tongue and dashed him against the
+wall with such force that the monster bounded against it like a ball,
+and died within a few moments, shedding torrents of blood.
+
+The prince then drew from different springs the water that _restores_,
+that _revives_, and that _makes young_, and taking the unconscious
+girl in his arms he led the winged horse to the door and said:
+
+  "Silver Palace, oh turn, on thy foot turn thou free,
+  To the steep rocks thy back, the courtyard may I see."
+
+Whereupon the palace creaked round on the cock's foot, and the door
+opened on the courtyard. Mounting the horse he placed the princess
+before him, for she had by this time recovered from her swoon, and
+cried:
+
+  "Fiery Horse with strength of wing,
+    I am now your lord;
+  Do my will in everything,
+    Be your law my word.
+  Where I point there you must go
+  At once, at once. The way you know."
+
+And he pointed to the place where his brothers lay frozen in death.
+The horse rose, pranced, beat the air with his wings, then, lifting
+himself high in the air, came down gently where the two princes were
+lying. The Prince with the Golden Hand sprinkled their bodies with the
+Life-Restoring Water, and instantly the pallor of death disappeared,
+leaving in its place the natural colour. He then sprinkled them with
+the Water that Revives, after which they opened their eyes, got up,
+and looking round said, "How well we have slept: but what has
+happened? And how is it we see the lovely princess we sought in the
+society of a young man, a perfect stranger to us?"
+
+The Prince with the Golden Hand explained everything, embraced his
+brothers tenderly, and taking them with him on his horse, showed the
+latter that he wished to go in the direction of Yaga's cottage. The
+horse rose up, pranced, lifted himself in the air, then, beating his
+wings far above the highest forests, descended close by the cottage.
+The prince said:
+
+  "Little cot, turn around, on thy foot turn thou free,
+  To the forest thy back, but thy door wide to me."
+
+The cottage began to creak without delay, and turned round with the
+floor facing the travellers. Old Yaga was on the look-out, and came to
+meet them. As soon as she got the Water of Youth she sprinkled herself
+with it, and instantly everything about her that was old and ugly
+became young and charming. So pleased was she to be young again that
+she kissed the prince's hands and said, "Ask of me anything you like,
+I will refuse you nothing."
+
+At that moment her two beautiful young daughters happened to look out
+of the window, upon which the two elder princes, who were admiring
+them, said, "Will you give us your daughters for wives?"
+
+"That I will, with pleasure," said she, and beckoned them to her. Then
+curtseying to her future sons-in-law, she laughed merrily and
+vanished. They placed their brides before them on the same horse,
+while the Prince with the Golden Hand, pointing to where he wished to
+go, said:
+
+  "Fiery Horse with strength of wing,
+    I am now your lord;
+  Do my will in everything,
+    Be your law my word.
+  Where I point there you must go
+  At once, at once. The way you know."
+
+The horse rose up, pranced, flapped his wings, and flew far above the
+forest. An hour or two later he descended before the palace of the
+Golden-Haired Princess's parents. When the king and queen saw their
+only daughter who had so long been lost to them, they ran to meet her
+with exclamations of joy and kissed her gratefully and lovingly, at
+the same time thanking the prince who had restored her to them. And
+when they heard the story of his adventures they said: "You, Prince
+with the Golden Hand, shall receive our beloved daughter in marriage,
+with the half of our kingdom, and the right of succession to the
+remainder after us. Let us, too, add to the joy of this day by
+celebrating the weddings of your two brothers."
+
+The Princess with the Golden Hair kissed her father lovingly and said,
+"My much honoured and noble sire and lord, the prince my bridegroom
+knows of the vow I made when carried off by the hurricane, that I
+would only give my hand to him who could answer aright my six enigmas:
+it would be impossible for the Princess with the Golden Hair to break
+her word."
+
+The king was silent, but the prince said, "Speak, sweet princess, I am
+listening."
+
+"This is my first riddle: 'Two of my extremities form a sharp point,
+the two others a ring, in my centre is a screw.'"
+
+"A pair of scissors," answered he.
+
+"Well guessed. This is the second: 'I make the round of the table on
+only one foot, but if I am wounded the evil is beyond repair.'"
+
+"A glass of wine."
+
+"Right. This is the third: 'I have no tongue, and yet I answer
+faithfully; I am not seen, yet every one hears me.'"
+
+"An echo."
+
+"True. This is the fourth: 'Fire cannot light me; brush cannot sweep
+me; no painter can paint me; no hiding-place secure me.'"
+
+"Sunshine."
+
+"The very thing. This is the fifth: 'I existed before the creation of
+Adam. I am always changing in succession the two colours of my dress.
+Thousands of years have gone by, but I have remained unaltered both in
+colour and form.'"
+
+"It must be time, including day and night."
+
+"You have succeeded in guessing the five most difficult, the last is
+the easiest of all. 'By day a ring, by night a serpent; he who guesses
+this shall be my bridegroom.'"
+
+"It is a girdle."
+
+"Now they are all guessed," said she, and gave her hand to the young
+prince.
+
+They knelt before the king and queen to receive their blessing. The
+three weddings were celebrated that same evening, and a messenger
+mounted the winged horse to carry the good news to the parents of the
+young princes and to bring them back as guests. Meanwhile a
+magnificent feast was prepared, and invitations were sent to all their
+friends and acquaintances. And from that evening until the next
+morning they ceased not to feast and drink and dance. I too was a
+guest, and feasted with the rest; but though I ate and drank, the wine
+only ran down my beard, and my throat remained dry.
+
+
+
+
+IMPERISHABLE
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Imperishable.]
+
+
+Once upon a time, ever so many years ago, there lived a little old man
+and a little old woman. Very old indeed were they, for they had lived
+nearly a hundred years. But they took neither joy nor pleasure in
+anything, and this because they had no children. They were now about
+to keep the seventy-fifth anniversary of their wedding day, known as
+the Diamond Wedding, but no guests were invited to share their simple
+feast.
+
+As they sat side by side they went over in memory the years of their
+long life, and as they did so they felt sure that it was to punish
+them for their sins that God had denied them the sweet happiness of
+having children about them, and as they thought their tears fell fast.
+At that moment some one knocked.
+
+"Who is there?" cried the old woman, and ran to open the door. There
+stood a little old man leaning on a stick, and white as a dove.
+
+"What do you want?" asked the old woman.
+
+"Charity," answered he.
+
+The good old woman was kind-hearted, and she cut her last loaf in two,
+giving one half to the beggar, who said, "I see you have been weeping,
+good wife, and I know the reason of your tears; but cheer up, by God's
+grace you shall be comforted. Though poor and childless to-day,
+to-morrow you shall have family and fortune."
+
+When the old woman heard this she was overjoyed, and fetching her
+husband they both went to the door to invite the old man in. But he
+was gone, and though they searched for him in every direction they
+found nothing but his stick lying on the ground. For it was not a poor
+old beggar, but an angel of God who had knocked. Our good friends did
+not know this, so they picked up the stick and hurried off to find the
+old man, with the purpose of returning it. But it seemed as if the
+stick, like its master, were endowed with some marvellous power, for
+whenever the old man or the old woman tried to pick it up it slipped
+out of their hands and rolled along the ground. Thus they followed it
+into a forest, and at the foot of a shrub which stood close by a
+stream it disappeared. They hunted all round the shrub thinking to
+find the stick there, but instead of the stick they came upon a bird's
+nest containing twelve eggs, and from the shape of the shells it
+seemed as if the young ones were ready to come forth.
+
+"Pick up the eggs," said the old man, "they will make us an omelette
+for our wedding feast."
+
+The old woman grumbled a little, but she took the nest and carried it
+home in the skirt of her gown. Fancy their astonishment when at the
+end of twelve hours there came out, not unfledged birdlings, but
+twelve pretty little boys. Then the shells broke into tiny fragments
+which were changed into as many gold pieces. Thus, as had been
+foretold, the old man and his wife found both family and fortune.
+
+Now these twelve boys were most extraordinary children. Directly they
+came out of the shells they seemed to be at least three months old,
+such a noise did they make, crying and kicking about. The youngest of
+all was a very big baby with black eyes, red cheeks, and curly hair,
+and so lively and active that the old woman could hardly keep him in
+his cradle at all. In twelve hours' time the children seemed to be a
+year old, and could walk about and eat anything.
+
+Then the old woman made up her mind that they should be baptized, and
+thereupon sent her husband to fetch priest and organist without delay;
+and the diamond wedding was celebrated at the same time as the
+christening. For a short time their joy was clouded over by the
+disappearance of the youngest boy, who was also the best-looking, and
+his parents' favourite. They had begun to weep and mourn for him as if
+he were lost, when suddenly he was seen to come from out of the
+sleeves of the priest's cassock, and was heard to speak these words:
+"Never fear, dear parents, your beloved son will not perish."
+
+The old woman kissed him fondly and handed him to his godfather, who
+presented him to the priest. So they had named him _Niezguinek_, that
+is, _Imperishable_. The twelve boys went on growing at the rate of six
+weeks every hour, and at the end of two years were fine strong young
+men. Niezguinek, especially, was of extraordinary size and strength.
+The good old people lived happily and peacefully at home while their
+sons worked in the fields. On one occasion the latter went ploughing;
+and while the eleven eldest used the ordinary plough and team of oxen,
+Niezguinek made his own plough, and it had twelve ploughshares and
+twelve handles, and to it were harnessed twelve team of the strongest
+working oxen. The others laughed at him, but he did not mind, and
+turned up as much ground as his eleven brothers together.
+
+Another time when they went haymaking and his brothers used the
+ordinary scythes, he carried one with twelve blades, and managed it so
+cleverly, in spite of the jests of his companions, that he cut as much
+grass as all of them together. And again, when they went to turn over
+the hay, Niezguinek used a rake with twelve teeth, and so cleared
+twelve plots of ground with every stroke. His haycock, too, was as
+large as a hill in comparison with those of his brothers. Now, the day
+after the making of the haycocks the old man and his wife happened to
+be in the fields, and they noticed that one haycock had disappeared;
+so thinking wild horses had made off with it, they advised their sons
+to take turns in watching the place.
+
+The eldest took his turn first, but after having watched all night
+fell asleep towards morning, when he awoke to find another haycock
+missing. The second son was not more fortunate in preventing the
+disappearance of the hay, while the others succeeded no better; in
+fact, of all the twelve haycocks, there only remained the largest,
+Niezguinek's, and even that had been meddled with.
+
+When it was the youngest's turn to watch, he went to the village
+blacksmith and got him to make an iron club weighing two hundred and
+sixty pounds; so heavy was it that the blacksmith and his assistants
+could hardly turn it on the anvil. In order to test it, Niezguinek
+whirled it round his head and threw it up in the air, and when it had
+nearly reached the ground he caught it on his knee, upon which it was
+smashed to atoms. He then ordered another weighing four hundred and
+eighty pounds, and this the blacksmith and his men could not even
+move. Niezguinek had helped them to make it, and when finished he
+tested it in the same manner as the first. Finding it did not break he
+kept it, and had in addition a noose plaited with twelve strong ropes.
+Towards nightfall he went to the field, crouched down behind his
+haycock, crossed himself, and waited to see what would happen. At
+midnight there was a tremendous noise which seemed to come from the
+east, while in that direction appeared a bright light. Then a white
+mare, with twelve colts as white as herself, trotted up to the haycock
+and began to eat it. Niezguinek came out of his hiding-place, and
+throwing the noose over the mare's neck, jumped on her back and struck
+her with his heavy club. The terrified creature gave the signal to the
+colts to escape, but she herself, hindered by the noose, out of
+breath, and wounded by the club, could not follow, but sank down on
+the earth saying, "Do not choke me, Niezguinek."
+
+He marvelled to hear her speak human language, and loosened the noose.
+When she had taken breath she said, "Knight, if you give me my liberty
+you shall never repent it. My husband, the Dappled Horse with Golden
+Mane, will cruelly revenge himself upon you when he knows I am your
+prisoner; his strength and swiftness are so great you could not escape
+him. In exchange for my freedom I will give you my twelve colts, who
+will serve you and your brothers faithfully."
+
+On hearing their mother neigh the colts returned and stood with bent
+heads before the young man, who released the mare, and led them home.
+The brothers were delighted to see Niezguinek return with twelve
+beautiful white horses, and each took the one that pleased his fancy
+most, while the thinnest and weakest-looking was left for the
+youngest.
+
+The old couple were happy in the thought that their son was brave as
+well as strong. One day it occurred to the old woman that she would
+like to see them all married, and to have the house merry with her
+daughters-in-law and their children. So she called upon her gossips
+and friends to talk the matter over, and finally persuaded her husband
+to be of the same opinion. He called his sons around him and addressed
+them thus: "Listen to me, my sons: in a certain country lives a
+celebrated witch known as old Yaga. She is lame, and travels about in
+an oaken trough. She supports herself on iron crutches, and when she
+goes abroad carefully removes all traces of her steps with a broom.
+This old witch has twelve beautiful daughters who have large dowries;
+do your best to win them for your wives. Do not return without
+bringing them with you."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Both parents blessed their sons, who, mounting their horses, were soon
+out of sight. All but Niezguinek, who, left alone, went to the stable
+and began to shed tears.
+
+"Why do you weep?" asked his horse.
+
+"Don't you think I have good reason?" replied he. "Here I have to go a
+long long way in search of a wife, and you, my friend, are so thin and
+weak that were I to depend upon your strength I should never be able
+to join my brothers."
+
+"Do not despair, Niezguinek," said the horse, "not only will you
+overtake your brothers, but you will leave them far behind. I am the
+son of the Dappled Horse with the Golden Mane, and if you will do
+exactly as I tell you I shall be given the same power as he. You must
+kill me and bury me under a layer of earth and manure, then sow some
+wheat over me, and when the corn is ripe it must be gathered and some
+of it placed near my body."
+
+Niezguinek threw his arms round his horse's neck and kissed him
+fondly, then led him into a yard and killed him with one blow of his
+club. The horse staggered a moment and then fell dead. His master
+covered him with a layer of manure and earth, upon which he sowed
+wheat, as had been directed. It was immediately watered by a gentle
+rain, and warmed by the heat of the sun's rays. The corn took root and
+ripened so quickly that on the twelfth day Niezguinek set to work to
+cut, thresh, and winnow it. So abundant was it that he was able to
+give eleven measures to his parents, and keeping one for himself,
+spread it before his horse's bones. In a very short time the horse
+moved his head, sniffed the air, and began to devour the wheat. As
+soon as it was finished he sprang up, and was so full of life that he
+wanted to jump over the fence in one bound: but Niezguinek held him by
+the mane, and getting lightly on his back, said: "Halt there, my
+spirited steed, I do not want others to have the benefit of all the
+trouble I have had with you. Carry me to old Yaga's house."
+
+He was of a truth a most magnificent horse, big and strong, with eyes
+that flashed like lightning. He leapt up into the air as high as the
+clouds, and the next moment descended in the middle of a field, saying
+to his master: "As we have first to see old Yaga, from whom we are
+still a great way off, we can stop here for a short time: take food
+and rest, I will do the same. Your brothers will be obliged to pass
+us, for we are a good way in front of them. When they come you can go
+on together to visit the old witch: remember, though it is difficult
+to get into her house, it is much more difficult still to get out. But
+if you would be perfectly safe, take from under my saddle a brush, a
+scarf, and a handkerchief. They will be of use in helping you to
+escape; for when you unroll the scarf, a river will flow between you
+and your enemy; if you shake the brush it will become a thick forest;
+and by waving the handkerchief it will be changed into a lake. After
+you have been received into Yaga's house, and your brothers have
+stabled their horses and gone to bed, I will tell you how to act."
+
+For twelve days Niezguinek and his horse rested and gained strength,
+and at the end of the time the eleven brothers came up. They wondered
+greatly to see the youngest, and said, "Where on earth did you come
+from? And whose horse is that?"
+
+"I have come from home. The horse is the same I chose at first. We
+have been waiting here twelve days; let us go on together now."
+
+Within a short time they came to a house surrounded by a high oaken
+paling, at the gate of which they knocked. Old Yaga peeped out through
+a chink in the fence and cried, "Who are you? What do you want?"
+
+"We are twelve brothers come to ask the twelve daughters of Yaga in
+marriage. If she is willing to be our mother-in-law, let her open the
+door."
+
+The door was opened and Yaga appeared. She was a frightful-looking
+creature, old as the hills; and being one of those monsters who feed
+on human flesh, the unfortunate wretches who once entered her house
+never came out again. She had a lame leg, and because of this she
+leaned on a great iron crutch, and when she went out removed all
+traces of her steps with a broom.
+
+She received the young travellers very graciously, shut the gate of
+the courtyard behind them, and led them into the house. Niezguinek's
+brothers dismounted, and taking their horses to the stables, tied them
+up to rings made of silver; the youngest fastened his to a copper
+ring. The old witch served her guests with a good supper, and gave
+them wine and hydromel to drink. Then she made up twelve beds on the
+right side of the room for the travellers, and on the left side twelve
+beds for her daughters.
+
+All were soon asleep except Niezguinek. He had been warned beforehand
+by his horse of the danger that threatened them, and now he got up
+quietly and changed the positions of the twenty-four beds, so that the
+brothers lay to the left side of the room, and Yaga's daughters to the
+right. At midnight, old Yaga cried out in a hoarse voice, "Guzla,
+play. Sword, strike."
+
+Then were heard strains of sweet music, to which the old woman beat
+time from her oaken trough. At the same moment a slender sword
+descended into the room, and passing over to the beds on the right,
+cut off the heads of the girls one by one: after which it danced about
+and flashed in the darkness.
+
+When the dawn broke the guzla ceased playing, the sword disappeared,
+and silence reigned. Then Niezguinek softly aroused his brothers, and
+they all went out without making any noise. Each mounted his horse,
+and when they had broken open the yard gate they made their escape at
+full speed. Old Yaga, thinking she heard footsteps, got up and ran
+into the room where her daughters lay dead. At the dreadful sight she
+gnashed her teeth, barked like a dog, tore out her hair by handfuls,
+and seating herself in her trough as in a car, set off after the
+fugitives. She had nearly reached them, and was already stretching out
+her hand to seize them, when Niezguinek unrolled his magic scarf, and
+instantly a deep river flowed between her and the horsemen. Not being
+able to cross it she stopped on the banks, and howling savagely began
+to drink it up.
+
+"Before you have swallowed all that river you will burst, you wicked
+old witch," cried Niezguinek. Then he rejoined his brothers.
+
+But the old woman drank all the water, crossed the bed of the river in
+her trough, and soon came near the young people. Niezguinek shook his
+handkerchief, and a lake immediately spread out between them. So she
+was again obliged to stop, and shrieking with rage began to drink up
+the water.
+
+"Before you have drunk that lake dry you will have burst yourself,"
+said Niezguinek, and rode after his brothers.
+
+The old vixen drank up part of the water, and turning the remainder
+into a thick fog, hastened along in her trough. She was once more
+close upon the young men when Niezguinek, without a moment's delay,
+seized his brush, and as he waved it in the air a thick forest rose
+between them. For a time the witch was at a loss to know what to do.
+On one side she saw Niezguinek and his brothers rapidly disappearing,
+while she stood on the other hindered by the branches and torn by the
+thorns of the thick bushes, unable either to advance or retreat.
+Foaming with rage, with fire flashing from her eyes, she struck right
+and left with her crutches, crashing trees on all sides, but before
+she could clear a way those she was in pursuit of had got more than a
+hundred miles ahead.
+
+So she was forced to give up, and grinding her teeth, howling, and
+tearing out her hair, she threw after the fugitives such flaming
+glances from her eyes that she set the forest on fire, and taking the
+road home was soon lost to sight.
+
+The travellers, seeing the flames, guessed what had happened, and
+thanked God for having preserved them from such great dangers. They
+continued their journey, and by eventide arrived at the top of a steep
+hill. There they saw a town besieged by foreign troops, who had
+already destroyed the outer part, and only awaited daylight to take it
+by storm.
+
+The twelve brothers kept out of sight behind the enemy; and when they
+had rested and turned out their horses to graze all went to sleep
+except Niezguinek, who kept watch without closing an eye. When
+everything was perfectly still he got up, and calling his horse, said,
+"Listen; yonder in that tent sleeps the king of this besieging army,
+and he dreams of the victory he hopes for on the morrow: how could we
+send all the soldiers to sleep and get possession of his person?"
+
+The horse replied, "You will find some dried leaves of the herb of
+Sleep in the pocket of the saddle. Mount upon my back and hover round
+the camp, spreading fragments of the plant. That will cause all the
+soldiers to fall into a sound sleep, after which you can carry out
+your plans."
+
+Niezguinek mounted his horse, pronouncing these magic words:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, let us go;
+  Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,
+    Haste to the camp of the foe."
+
+The horse glanced upwards as if he saw some one beckoning to him from
+the clouds, then rose rapidly as a bird on the wing and hovered over
+the camp. Niezguinek took handfuls of the herb of Sleep from the
+saddle-pockets and sprinkled it all about. Upon which all in the camp,
+including the sentinels, fell at once into a heavy sleep. Niezguinek
+alighted, entered the tent, and carried off the sleeping king without
+any difficulty. He then returned to his brothers, unharnessed his
+horse and lay down to rest, placing the royal prisoner near him. His
+majesty slept on as if nothing unusual had taken place.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At daybreak the soldiers of the besieging army awoke, and not being
+able to find their king, were seized with such a panic of terror that
+they retreated in great disorder. The ruler of the besieged city would
+not at first believe that the enemy had really disappeared, and indeed
+went himself to see if it was true: of a truth there remained nothing
+of the enemy's camp but a few deserted tents whitening on the plain.
+At that moment Niezguinek came up with his brothers, and said, "Sire,
+the enemy has fled, and we were unable to detain them, but here is
+their king whom we have made prisoner, and whom I deliver up to you."
+
+The ruler replied, "I see, indeed, that you are a brave man among
+brave men, and I will reward you. This royal prisoner is worth a large
+ransom to me; so speak,--what would you like me to do for you?"
+
+"I should wish, sire, that my brothers and I might enter the service
+of your majesty."
+
+"I am quite willing," answered the king. Then, having placed his
+prisoner in charge of his guards, he made Niezguinek general, and
+placed him at the head of a division of his army; the eleven brothers
+were given the rank of officers.
+
+When Niezguinek appeared in uniform, and with sabre in hand mounted
+his splendid charger, he looked so handsome and conducted the
+manoeuvres so well that he surpassed all the other chiefs in the
+country, thus causing much jealousy, even among his own brothers, for
+they were vexed that the youngest should outshine them, and so
+determined to ruin him.
+
+In order to accomplish this they imitated his handwriting, and placed
+such a note before the king's door while Niezguinek was engaged
+elsewhere. When the king went out he found the letter, and calling
+Niezguinek to him, said, "I should very much like to have the phonic
+guzla you mention in your letter."
+
+"But, sire, I have not written anything about a guzla," said he.
+
+"Read the note then. Is it not in your handwriting?"
+
+Niezguinek read:
+
+    "In a certain country, within the house of old Yaga, is a
+    marvellous guzla: if the king wish I will fetch it for him.
+
+                                            "(Signed) NIEZGUINEK."
+
+"It is true," said he, "that this writing resembles mine, but it is a
+forgery, for I never wrote it."
+
+"Never mind," said the king, "as you were able to take my enemy
+prisoner you will certainly be able to succeed in getting old Yaga's
+guzla: go then, and do not return without it, or you will be
+executed."
+
+Niezguinek bowed and went out. He went straight to the stable, where
+he found his charger looking very sad and thin, his head drooping
+before the trough, the hay untouched.
+
+"What is the matter with you, my good steed? What grieves you?"
+
+"I grieve for us both, for I foresee a long and perilous journey."
+
+"You are right, old fellow, but we have to go. And what is more, we
+have to take away and bring here old Yaga's guzla; and how shall we do
+it, seeing that she knows us?"
+
+"We shall certainly succeed if you do as I tell you."
+
+Then the horse gave him certain instructions, and when Niezguinek had
+led him out of the stable and mounted he said:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, do not wait on the road;
+  Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,
+    Haste to the wicked old Yaga's abode."
+
+The horse arose in the air as if he heard some one calling to him from
+the clouds, and flitting rapidly along passed over several kingdoms
+within a few hours, thus reaching old Yaga's dwelling before midnight.
+Niezguinek threw the leaves of Sleep in at the window, and by means of
+another wonderful herb caused all the doors of the house to open. On
+entering he found old Yaga fast asleep, with her trough and iron
+crutches beside her, while above her head hung the magic sword and
+guzla.
+
+While the old witch lay snoring with all her might, Niezguinek took
+the guzla and leapt on his horse, crying:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, while I sing,
+  Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,
+    Haste to the court of my king."
+
+Just as if the horse had seen something in the clouds, he rose swift
+as an arrow, and flew through the air, above the fogs. The same day
+about noon he neighed before his own manger in the royal stable, and
+Niezguinek went in to the king and presented him with the guzla. On
+pronouncing the two words, "Guzla, play," strains of music so gay and
+inspiriting were heard that all the courtiers began dancing with one
+another. The sick who listened were cured of their diseases, those who
+were in trouble and grief forgot their sorrows, and all living
+creatures were thrilled with a gladness such as they had never felt
+before. The king was beside himself with joy; he loaded Niezguinek
+with honours and presents, and, in order to have him always at court,
+raised him to a higher rank in the army. In this new post he had many
+under him, and he showed much exactitude in drill and other matters,
+punishing somewhat severely when necessary. He made, too, no
+difference in the treatment of his brothers, which angered them
+greatly, and caused them to be still more jealous and to plot against
+him. So they again imitated his handwriting and composed another
+letter, which they left at the king's door. When his majesty had read
+it he called Niezguinek to him and said, "I should much like to have
+the marvellous sword you speak of in your letter."
+
+"Sire, I have not written anything about a sword," said Niezguinek.
+
+"Well, read it for yourself." And he read:
+
+    "In a certain country within the house of old Yaga is a
+    sword that strikes of its own accord: if the king would like
+    to have it, I will engage to bring it him.
+
+                                            "(Signed) NIEZGUINEK."
+
+"Certainly," said Niezguinek, "this writing resembles mine, but I
+never wrote those words."
+
+"Never mind, as you succeeded in bringing me the guzla you will find
+no difficulty in obtaining the sword. Start without delay, and do not
+return without it at your peril."
+
+Niezguinek bowed and went to the stable, where he found his horse
+looking very thin and miserable, with his head drooping.
+
+"What is the matter, my horse? Do you want anything?"
+
+"I am unhappy because I foresee a long and dangerous journey."
+
+"You are right, for we are ordered to return to Yaga's house for the
+sword: but how can we get hold of it? doubtless she guards it as the
+apple of her eye."
+
+The horse answered, "Do as I tell you and all will be right." And he
+gave him certain instructions. Niezguinek came out of the stable,
+saddled his friend, and mounting him said:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white;
+    Horse of my heart, do not wait on the road;
+  Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,
+    Haste to the wicked old witch's abode."
+
+The horse rose immediately as if he had been beckoned to by some one
+in the clouds, and passing swiftly through the air, crossed rivers and
+mountains, till at midnight he stopped before old Yaga's house.
+
+Since the disappearance of the guzla the sword had been placed on
+guard before the house, and whoever came near it was cut to pieces.
+
+Niezguinek traced a circle with holy chalk, and placing himself on
+horseback in the centre of it, said:
+
+  "Sword who of thyself can smite,
+    I come to brave thy ire;
+  Peace or war upon this site
+    Of thee I do require.
+  If thou canst conquer, thine my life;
+  Should I beat thee, then ends this strife."
+
+The sword clinked, leapt into the air, and fell to the ground divided
+into a thousand other swords, which ranged themselves in battle array
+and began to attack Niezguinek. But in vain; they were powerless to
+touch him; for on reaching the chalk-traced circle they broke like
+wisps of straw. Then the sword-in-chief, seeing how useless it was to
+go on trying to wound him, submitted itself to Niezguinek and promised
+him obedience. Taking the magic weapon in his hand, he mounted his
+horse and said:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, while I sing,
+  Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,
+    Back to the court of my king."
+
+The horse started with renewed courage, and by noon was eating his hay
+in the royal stables. Niezguinek went in to the king and presented him
+with the sword. While he was rejoicing over it one of his servants
+rushed in quite out of breath and said, "Sire, your enemies who
+attacked us last year, and whose king is your prisoner, surround our
+town. Being unable to redeem their sovereign, they have come with an
+immense army, and threaten to destroy us if their king is not released
+without ransom."
+
+The king armed himself with the magic sword, and going outside the
+city walls, said to it, as he pointed to the enemy's camp, "Magic
+Sword, smite the foe."
+
+Immediately the sword clinked, leapt flashing in the air, and fell in
+a thousand blades that threw themselves on the camp. One regiment was
+destroyed during the first attack, another was defeated in the same
+way, while the rest of the terrified soldiers fled and completely
+disappeared. Then the king said, "Sword, return to me."
+
+The thousand swords again became one, and so it returned to its
+master's hand.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The victorious king came home filled with joy. He called Niezguinek to
+him, loaded him with gifts, and assuring him of his favour, made him
+the highest general of his forces. In carrying out the duties of this
+new post Niezguinek was often obliged to punish his brothers, who
+became more and more enraged against him, and took counsel together
+how they might bring about his downfall.
+
+One day the king found a letter by his door, and after reading it he
+called Niezguinek to him and said, "I should very much like to see
+Princess Sudolisu, whom you wish to bring me."
+
+"Sire, I do not know the lady, and have never spoken to her."
+
+"Here, look at your letter."
+
+Niezguinek read:
+
+    "Beyond the nine kingdoms, far beyond the ocean, within a
+    silver vessel with golden masts lives Princess Sudolisu. If
+    the king wishes it, I will seek her for him.
+
+                                             (Signed) NIEZGUINEK."
+
+"It is true the writing is like unto mine; nevertheless, I neither
+composed the letter nor wrote it."
+
+"No matter," answered the king. "You will be able to get this
+princess, as you did the guzla and the sword: if not, I will have you
+killed."
+
+Niezguinek bowed and went out. He entered the stable where stood his
+horse looking very weak and sad, with his head bent down.
+
+"What is the matter, dear horse? Are you in want of anything?"
+
+"I am sorrowful," answered the horse, "because I foresee a long and
+difficult journey."
+
+"You are right, for we have to go beyond the nine kingdoms, and far
+beyond the ocean, to find Princess Sudolisu. Can you tell me what to
+do?"
+
+"I will do my best, and if it is God's will we shall succeed. Bring
+your club of four hundred and eighty pounds weight, and let us be
+off."
+
+Niezguinek saddled his horse, took his club, and mounting said:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, do not lag on the road;
+  Rise in the air, through the clouds take thy flight,
+    Haste to Princess Sudolisu's abode."
+
+Then the horse looked up as if there were something he wanted in the
+clouds, and with a spring flew through the air, swift as an arrow; and
+so by the second day they had passed over ten kingdoms, and finding
+themselves beyond the ocean, halted on the shore. Here the horse said
+to Niezguinek, "Do you see that silver ship with golden masts that
+rides on the waves yonder? That beautiful vessel is the home of
+Princess Sudolisu, youngest daughter of old Yaga. For after the witch
+had lost the guzla and magic sword she feared to lose her daughter
+too: so she shut her up in that vessel, and having thrown the key
+thereof into the ocean, sat herself in her oaken trough, where with
+the help of the iron crutches she rows round and round the silver
+ship, warding off tempests, and keeping at a distance all other ships
+that would approach it.
+
+"The first thing to be done is to get the diamond key that opens the
+ship. In order to procure this you must kill me, and then throw into
+the water one end of my entrails, by which bait you will trap the King
+of the Lobsters. Do not set him free until he has promised to get you
+the key, for it is this key that draws the vessel to you of its own
+accord."
+
+"Ah, my beloved steed," cried Niezguinek, "how can I kill you when I
+love you as my own brother, and when my fate depends upon you
+entirely?"
+
+"Do as I tell you; you can bring me to life again, as you did before."
+
+Niezguinek caressed his horse, kissed him and wept over him; then,
+raising his mighty club, struck him full on the forehead. The poor
+creature staggered and fell down dead. Niezguinek cut him open, and
+putting an end of his entrails in the water, he kept hold of it and
+hid himself in the water-rushes. Soon there came a crowd of crawfish,
+and amongst them a gigantic lobster as large as a year-old calf.
+Niezguinek seized him and threw him on the beach. The lobster said, "I
+am king of all the crawfish tribe. Let me go, and I will give you
+great riches for my ransom."
+
+"I do not want your riches," answered Niezguinek, "but in exchange for
+your freedom give me the diamond key which belongs to the silver ship
+with the golden masts, for in that vessel dwells Princess Sudolisu."
+
+The King of the Crawfish whistled, upon which myriads of his subjects
+appeared. He spoke to them in their own language, and dismissed one,
+who soon returned with the magic diamond key in his claws.
+
+Niezguinek loosed the King of the Crawfish; and hiding himself inside
+his horse's body as he had been instructed, lay in wait. At that
+moment an old raven, followed by all his nestlings, happened to pass,
+and attracted by the horse's carcase, he called to his young ones to
+come and feast with him. Niezguinek seized the smallest of the birds
+and held it firmly.
+
+"Let my birdling go," said the old raven, "I will give you in return
+anything you like to ask."
+
+"Fetch me then three kinds of water, the Life-giving, the Curing, and
+the Strengthening."
+
+The old raven started off, and while awaiting his return Niezguinek,
+who still held the ravenling, questioned him as to where he had come
+from and what he had seen on his travels, and in this way heard news
+of his brothers.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the father bird returned, carrying with him the bottles filled
+with the marvellous waters, he wanted to have his nestling back.
+
+"One moment more," said Niezguinek, "I want to be sure that they are
+of the right sort."
+
+Then he replaced the entrails in the body of his horse and sprinkled
+him first with the Life-giving, then with the Curing, and finally with
+the Strengthening Water; after which his beloved steed leapt to his
+feet full of strength and cried, "Ah! how very soundly I have slept."
+
+Niezguinek released the young raven and said to his horse, "For sure,
+you would have slept to all eternity, and have never seen the sun
+again, if I had not revived you as you taught me."
+
+While speaking he saw the marvellous ship sparkling white in the sun.
+She was made entirely of pure silver, with golden masts. The rigging
+was of silk, the sails of velvet, and the whole was enclosed in a
+casing of inpenetrable steel network. Niezguinek sprang down to the
+water's edge armed with his club, and rubbing his forehead with the
+diamond key, said:
+
+  "Riding on the ocean waves a magic ship I see;
+  Stop and change thy course, O ship, here I hold the key.
+  Obey the signal known to thee,
+  And come at once direct to me."
+
+The vessel turned right round and came at full speed towards land, and
+right on to the bank, where it remained motionless.
+
+Niezguinek smashed in the steel network with his club; and opening the
+doors with the diamond key, there found Princess Sudolisu. He made her
+unconscious with the herb Sleep, and lifting her before him on his
+horse, said:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, while I sing,
+  Swift as an arrow through space take thy flight
+    Straight to the court of my king."
+
+Then the horse, as if he saw some strange thing in the clouds, lifted
+himself in the air and began to fly through space so rapidly that in
+about two hours he had crossed rivers, mountains, and forests, and had
+reached his journey's end.
+
+Although Niezguinek had fallen violently in love with the princess
+himself, he took her straight to the royal palace and introduced her
+to the king.
+
+Now she was so exquisitely beautiful that the monarch was quite
+dazzled by looking at her, and being thus carried away by his
+admiration, he put his arm round her as if to caress her: but she
+rebuked him severely.
+
+"What have I done to offend you, princess? Why do you treat me so
+harshly?"
+
+"Because in spite of your rank you are ill-bred. You neither ask my
+name nor that of my parents, and you think to take possession of me as
+if I were but a dog or a falcon. You must understand that he who would
+be my husband must have triple youth, that of heart, soul, and body."
+
+"Charming princess, if I could become young again we would be married
+directly."
+
+She replied, "But I have the means of making you so, and by help of
+this sword in my hand. For with it I will pierce you to the heart,
+then cut up your body into small pieces, wash them carefully, and join
+them together again. And if I breathe upon them you will return to
+life young and handsome, just as if you were only twenty years of
+age."
+
+"Oh indeed! I should like to know who would submit to that; first make
+trial of Sir Niezguinek here."
+
+The princess looked at him, whereupon he bowed and said, "Lovely
+princess, I willingly submit, although I am young enough without it.
+In any case life without you would be valueless."
+
+Then the princess took a step towards him and killed him with her
+sword. She cut him up in pieces and washed these in pure water, after
+which she joined them together again and breathed upon them. Instantly
+Niezguinek sprang up full of life and health, and looked so handsome
+and bright that the old king, who was dreadfully jealous, exclaimed,
+"Make me, too, young again, princess; do not lose a moment."
+
+The princess pierced him to the heart with her sword, cut him up into
+little pieces, and, opening the window, threw them out, at the same
+time calling the king's dogs, who quickly ate them up. Then she turned
+to Niezguinek and said, "Proclaim yourself king, and I will be your
+queen."
+
+He followed her advice, and within a short time they were married; his
+brothers, whom he had pardoned, and his parents having been invited to
+the wedding. On their way back from the church the magic sword
+suddenly clinked, and, flashing in the air, divided itself into a
+thousand swords that placed themselves on guard as sentinels all round
+the palace. The guzla, too, began to play so sweetly and gaily that
+every living thing began to dance for joy.
+
+The festival was magnificent. I myself was there, and drank freely of
+wine and mead; and although not a drop went into my mouth, my chin was
+quite wet.
+
+
+
+
+OHNIVAK
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: OHNIVAK]
+
+
+A certain king had a beautiful garden which contained a number of very
+rare trees, but the most rare of all was an apple tree. It stood in
+the middle of the garden, and produced one golden apple every day. In
+the morning the blossom unfolded, during the day you might watch the
+fruit grow, and before nightfall the apple was fully ripe. The next
+day the same thing occurred--indeed, it happened regularly every
+twenty-four hours. Nevertheless, no ripe fruit ever remained on the
+tree on the following day; the apple disappeared, no one knew how or
+when, and this deeply grieved the king.
+
+At last he could bear it no longer, and calling his eldest son to him,
+said: "My child, I wish you to keep watch in the garden to-night, and
+see if you can find out what becomes of my golden apples. I will
+reward you with the choice of all my treasures; if you should be lucky
+enough to get hold of the thief, and bring him to me, I would gladly
+give you half my kingdom."
+
+The young prince girded his trusty sword to his side, and with his
+crossbow on his shoulder and a good stock of well-tempered arrows,
+went into the garden to mount guard. And as he sat under the apple
+tree a great drowsiness came over him which he could not resist; his
+arms dropped, his eyes closed, and stretching himself on the grass he
+slept as soundly as if he had been in his own bed at home, nor did he
+awake until day dawn, and then he saw that the apple had disappeared.
+
+When questioned by his father, he said that no thieves had come, but
+that the apple had vanished all the same. The king shook his head, for
+he did not believe a word of it. Then, turning to his second son, he
+bade him keep watch, and promised him a handsome reward if he should
+catch the thief.
+
+So the second son armed himself with everything necessary and went
+into the garden. But he succeeded no better than his brother, for he
+could not resist the desire to sleep, and when he awoke the apple was
+no longer there.
+
+When his father asked him how it disappeared, he replied, "No one took
+it, it vanished of itself."
+
+"Now, my dearest one, take your turn," said the king to his youngest
+son; "although you are young, and have less experience than your
+brothers, let us see if you cannot succeed where they have failed. If
+you are willing, go, and may God help you."
+
+Towards evening, when it began to be dusk, the youngest son went into
+the garden to keep watch. He took with him a sword and crossbow, a few
+well-tempered arrows, and a hedgehog's skin as a sort of apron, for he
+thought that while sitting under the tree, if he spread the skin over
+his knees, the pricking of the bristles on his hands might keep him
+awake. And so it did, for by this means he was able to resist the
+drowsiness that came over him.
+
+At midnight Ohnivak, the bird of fire, flew down and alighted upon the
+tree, and was just going off with the apple when the prince fixed an
+arrow to his bow, and letting it fly, struck the bird under the wing.
+Although wounded, it flew away, dropping one of its feathers upon the
+ground. That night for the first time the apple remained untouched
+upon the tree.
+
+"Have you caught the thief?" asked the king next day.
+
+"Not altogether, but no doubt we shall have him in time. I have a bit
+of his trappings." And he gave the king the feather, and told him all
+that had taken place.
+
+The king was charmed with the feather; so lovely and bright was it
+that it illumined all the galleries of the palace, and they needed no
+other light.
+
+The courtiers told the king that the feather could only belong to
+Ohnivak, the bird of fire, and that it was worth all the rest of the
+royal treasures put together.
+
+From that time Ohnivak came no more to the garden, and the apples
+remained untouched. Yet the king could think of nothing else but how
+to possess this marvellous bird. At last, beginning to despair of ever
+seeing it, he was filled with melancholy, and would remain for hours
+in deep thought; thus he became really ill, and every day continued to
+grow worse.
+
+One day he summoned his three sons before him and said, "My dear
+children, you see the sad state I am in. If I could but hear the bird
+Ohnivak sing just once I should be cured of this disease of the heart;
+otherwise it will be my death. Whichever of you shall succeed in
+catching Ohnivak alive and inducing him to sing to me, to him I will
+give half of my kingdom and the heirship to the throne."
+
+Having taken leave of their father the brothers set off. They
+travelled together until they came to a part of the forest where the
+road branched off in three directions.
+
+"Which turning shall we take?" asked the eldest.
+
+The second brother answered, "We are three, and three roads lie before
+us; let us each choose one, thus we shall treble our chances of
+finding the bird, for we shall seek it in three different countries."
+
+"That is a good idea, but how shall each one decide which way to
+choose?"
+
+The youngest brother said, "I will leave the choice to you two, and
+will take whichever road you leave me."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+So each took the road that chance decided for him, agreeing that when
+their mission was over they would return to the point of departure. In
+order to recognise the place again each one planted the branch of a
+tree at the cross roads, and they believed that he whose branch should
+take root and grow into a big tree would be successful in the quest.
+
+When each one had planted his branch at the chosen road they started
+off. The eldest rode on, and never stopped until he reached the top of
+a high mountain; there he dismounted, and let his horse graze while he
+ate his breakfast. Suddenly a red fox came up, and speaking in the
+language of men, said: "Pray, my handsome prince, give me a little of
+what you are eating; I am very hungry."
+
+For answer the prince let fly an arrow from his crossbow, but it is
+impossible to say whether he hit the fox for it vanished and did not
+appear again.
+
+The second brother, without meeting with any adventure, reached a
+wide-stretching moor, where he stopped for his meal. The red fox
+appeared to him and begged for food; but he also refused food to the
+famished fox, and shot at him. The creature disappeared as before.
+
+The youngest travelled on till he came to the banks of a river.
+Feeling tired and hungry, he got down from his horse and began his
+breakfast; while he was eating, up came the red fox.
+
+"Please, young sir," said the fox, "give me a morsel to satisfy my
+hunger."
+
+The prince threw him a piece of meat, and spoke kindly to him.
+
+"Come near, do not be afraid, my red fox; I see you are more hungry
+than I, but there is enough for us both."
+
+And he divided all his provisions into two equal parts, one for
+himself, and one for the poor red fox.
+
+When the latter had eaten to his heart's content, he said: "You have
+fed me well, in return I will serve you well; mount your horse and
+follow me. If you do everything I tell you, the Bird of Fire shall be
+yours."
+
+Then he set off at a run before the horseman, clearing the road for
+him with his bushy tail. By means of this marvellous broom, mountains
+were cut down, ravines filled up, and rivers bridged over.
+
+The young prince followed at a gallop, without the slightest wish to
+stop, until they came to a castle built of copper.
+
+"The Bird of Fire is in this castle," said the fox; "you must enter
+exactly at midday, for then the guards will be asleep, and you will
+pass unnoticed. Above all, beware of stopping anywhere. In the first
+apartment you will find twelve birds black as night, in golden cages;
+in the second, twelve golden birds in wooden cages; in the third,
+Ohnivak, the bird of fire, roosting on his perch. Near him are two
+cages, one of wood and the other of gold; be sure you put him in the
+wooden cage--you would be sorry for it if he were put into the golden
+one."
+
+The prince entered the castle, and found everything just as the fox
+had told him. Having passed through the two rooms he came to the
+third, and there saw the fire-bird on his perch, apparently asleep. It
+was indeed a beautiful creature, so beautiful that the prince's heart
+beat high with joy. He handled him without difficulty, and put him
+into the wooden cage, thinking at the same time to himself that it
+could hardly be right for so lovely a bird to be in such an ugly cage,
+a golden cage could be the only right place for him. So he took him
+out of the wooden cage and placed him in the golden one. Hardly had he
+shut the door when the bird opened his eyes and gave a piercing
+scream; so shrill was it that it awoke the other birds, who began to
+sing as loud as they could, and gave the alarm to the guards at the
+palace door. These rushed in, seized the prince, and dragged him
+before the king. The latter was very angry, and said: "Infamous thief,
+who are you to have dared to force an entrance, and pass through my
+sentinels, to steal my bird Ohnivak?"
+
+"I am not a thief," answered the young prince indignantly, "I have
+come to reclaim a thief whom you protect. I am the son of a king, and
+in my father's gardens is an apple tree that bears golden fruit. It
+blossoms at morning-time, while during the day the flower develops
+into an apple that grows and ripens after sunset. Now in the night
+your bird robbed us of our golden apples, and though I watched and
+wounded him I could not catch him. My father is dying with grief
+because of this, and the only remedy that can save and restore him to
+health, is that he may listen to the fire-bird's song. This is why I
+beg your majesty to give him me."
+
+"You may have him," said the king, "but on one condition, that you
+bring me Zlato-Nrivak, the horse with the golden mane."
+
+So the prince had to go away empty-handed.
+
+"Why did you not do as I told you? Why must you go and take the golden
+cage?" said the fox, in despair at the failure of the expedition.
+
+"I admit it was my own fault," said the prince, "but do not punish me
+by being angry. I want your advice: tell me how I am to get
+Zlato-Nrivak?"
+
+"I know how it can be done," answered the red fox, "and I will help
+you once more. Get on your horse, follow me, and do as I tell you."
+
+The fox ran on in front, clearing the road with his bushy tail. The
+prince followed at a gallop, until they came to a castle built
+entirely of silver.
+
+"In that castle lives the Horse with the Golden Mane," said the fox.
+"You will have to go exactly at midday, when the sentinels are asleep;
+thus you will get past safe and sound. But mind, do not stop anywhere.
+You must pass through three stables. In the first are twelve black
+horses with golden bridles; in the second, twelve white horses with
+black bridles; in the third stands Zlato-Nrivak in front of his
+manger, while near him are two bridles, one of gold, the other of
+black leather. Whatever you do, beware of using the first, for you
+will surely repent it."
+
+The prince waited until the appointed time and then entered the
+castle, finding everything exactly as the fox had said. In the third
+stable stood Zlato-Nrivak, eating fire that flared up out of his
+silver trough.
+
+The Horse with the Golden Mane was so beautiful that the prince could
+not take his eyes off him. Quickly unhooking the black leather bridle,
+he put it over the horse's head. The animal made no resistance, but
+was gentle and quiet as a lamb. Then the prince looked covetously at
+the golden bridle sparkling with gems, and said to himself, "It is a
+shame that such a splendid creature should be guided by these ugly
+black reins while there is a bridle here far more suited to him, and
+that is indeed his by right." So, forgetting his late experience and
+the warnings of the red fox, he tore off the black bridle and put in
+its place that of gold set with precious stones. No sooner did the
+horse feel the change than he began to neigh and caper about, while
+all the other horses answered with a perfect storm of neighings. The
+sentinels, aroused by the noise, ran in, and seizing the prince, led
+him before the king.
+
+"Insolent thief," cried the enraged monarch, "how is it that you have
+escaped the vigilance of the guards and have dared to lay hands upon
+my horse with the golden mane? It is really disgraceful."
+
+"True, I am nothing better," replied the prince proudly, "but I was
+forced to do it against my will." And he related all his misadventures
+at the copper castle, adding that it was impossible to obtain the
+fire-bird except in exchange for Zlato-Nrivak, and that he hoped his
+majesty would make him a present of the horse.
+
+"Most willingly," answered the king, "but on one condition, that you
+bring me the Maiden with the Golden Locks: she lives in the golden
+castle on the shores of the Black Sea."
+
+The fox was waiting in the forest the prince's return, and when he saw
+him come back without the horse he was very angry indeed.
+
+"Did I not warn you," said he, "to be content with the black leather
+bridle? It is really a loss of time to try and help such an ungrateful
+fellow, for it seems impossible to make you hear reason."
+
+"Don't be cross," said the prince, "I confess that I am in fault; I
+ought to have obeyed your orders. But have a little more patience with
+me and help me out of this difficulty."
+
+"Very well; but this will certainly be the last time. If you do just
+as you are told we may yet repair all that has been spoilt by your
+imprudence. Mount your horse and follow--off!"
+
+The fox ran on in front, clearing the road with his bushy tail, until
+they reached the shores of the Black Sea.
+
+"That palace yonder," said the fox, "is the residence of the Queen of
+the Ocean Kingdom. She has three daughters; it is the youngest who has
+the golden hair, and is called Zlato-Vlaska. Now you must first go to
+the queen and ask her to give you one of her daughters in marriage. If
+she takes kindly to your proposal she will bid you choose, and mind
+you take that princess who is the most plainly dressed."
+
+The queen received him most graciously, and when he explained the
+object of his visit she led him into a room where the three daughters
+were spinning.
+
+They were so much alike that no one could possibly distinguish one
+from the other, and they were all so marvellously lovely that when the
+young prince looked upon them he dared hardly breathe. Their hair was
+carefully covered by a veil through which one could not distinguish
+the colour of it, but their dresses were different. The first wore a
+gown and veil embroidered with gold, and used a golden distaff; the
+second had on a gown embroidered with silver and held a distaff of the
+same metal; the third wore a gown and veil of dazzling whiteness, and
+her distaff was made of wood.
+
+The mother bade the prince choose, whereupon he pointed to the maiden
+clothed in white, saying, "Give me this one to wife."
+
+"Ah," said the queen, "some one has been letting you into the secret:
+but wait a little, we shall meet again to-morrow."
+
+All that night the prince lay awake, wondering how he should manage
+not to make a mistake on the morrow. At dawn he was already at the
+palace gates, which he had hardly entered when the princess clothed in
+white chanced to pass: it was Zlato-Vlaska, and she had come to meet
+him.
+
+"If it is your wish to choose me again to-day," she said, "observe
+carefully, and take the maiden around whose head buzzes a small fly."
+
+In the afternoon the queen took the prince into a room where her three
+daughters sat, and said: "If among these princesses you recognise the
+one you chose yesterday she shall be yours; if not, you must die."
+
+The young girls stood side by side, dressed alike in costly robes, and
+all had golden hair. The prince was puzzled, and their beauty and
+splendour dazzled him. For some time he could hardly see distinctly;
+then, all of a sudden, a small fly buzzed over the head of one of the
+princesses.
+
+"This is the maiden who belongs to me," cried he, "and whom I chose
+yesterday."
+
+The queen, astonished that he should have guessed correctly, said,
+"Quite right, but I cannot let you have her until you have submitted
+to another trial, which shall be explained to you to-morrow."
+
+On the morrow she pointed out to him a large fish-pond which lay in
+the forest, and giving him a small golden sieve, said: "If with this
+sieve you can, before sunset, empty that fish-pond yonder, I will give
+you my daughter with the golden hair, but if you fail you will lose
+your life."
+
+The prince took the sieve, and, going down to the pond, plunged it in
+to try his luck; but no sooner had he lifted it up than all the water
+ran out through the holes--not a drop was left behind. Not knowing
+what to do, he sat down on the bank with the sieve in his hand,
+wondering in what possible way the difficulty might be overcome.
+
+"Why are you so sad?" asked the maiden in white, as she came towards
+him.
+
+"Because I fear you will never be mine," sighed he; "your mother has
+given me an impossible task."
+
+"Come, cheer up, away with fear; it will all be right in the end."
+
+Thereupon she took the sieve and threw it into the fishpond. Instantly
+the water turned to foam on the surface, and a thick vapour rose up,
+which fell in a fog so dense that nothing could be seen through it.
+Then the prince heard footsteps, and turning round saw his horse
+coming towards him, with his bridle down and the red fox at his side.
+
+"Mount quickly," said the horse, "there is not a moment to lose; lift
+the maiden in front of you."
+
+The faithful steed flew like an arrow, and sped rapidly along over the
+road that had been recently cleared by the bushy tail of the red fox.
+But this time, instead of leading, the red fox followed, his tail
+working marvels as he went: it destroyed the bridges, reopened the
+ravines, raised high mountains, and in fact put back everything as it
+used to be.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The prince felt very happy as he rode along, holding the Princess with
+the Golden Hair, but it saddened him much to think he would have to
+give up all thought of marrying her himself, and that within a few
+short hours he must leave her with the king of the silver palace: the
+nearer he came to it, the more wretched he grew. The red fox, who
+noticed this, said: "It appears to me that you do not want to exchange
+the lovely Zlato-Vlaska for the Horse with the Golden Mane: is it not
+so? Well, I have helped you so far, I will see what I can do for you
+now."
+
+And having thus spoken he turned a somersault over the stump of a
+fallen tree which lay in the forest: while, to the prince's amazement,
+he was immediately transformed into a young girl exactly resembling
+the Princess with the Golden Hair.
+
+"Now, leave your real bride in the forest," said the transformed fox,
+"and take me with you to offer to the king of the silver palace in
+exchange for his horse Zlato-Nrivak. Mount the horse, return here, and
+escape with the maid you love; I will manage the rest."
+
+The king of the silver castle received the maiden without the least
+suspicion, and handed over in exchange the Horse with the Golden Mane,
+over whose back lay the bejewelled bridle. The prince left at once.
+
+At the palace all were busy preparing the wedding feast, for the
+marriage was to take place immediately, and everything was to be of
+the most costly description. Invitations had been out to all the
+grandees of the land.
+
+Towards the end of the feast, when every one had drunk his fill of
+wine and pleasure, the king asked his guests their opinions on the
+charms of his bride.
+
+"She is most beautiful," said one, "in fact, it would be impossible
+for her to be more lovely; only, it seems to me that her eyes are
+somewhat like those of a fox."
+
+The words were hardly out of his mouth when the royal bride vanished,
+while in her place sat a red fox, who with one vigorous bound sprang
+through the door and disappeared to rejoin the prince, who had
+hastened on in front. With sweeping strokes of his bushy tail he
+overthrew bridges, reopened precipices, and heaped up mountains; but
+it was very hard work for the poor thing, and he did not come up with
+the runaways until they had almost reached the copper castle. Here
+they all had a rest, while the red fox turned a somersault and
+transformed himself into a horse resembling the one with the golden
+mane. Then the prince entered the copper castle and exchanged the
+transformed fox for the fire-bird Ohnivak, the king having no
+suspicions whatever. The red fox, having thus deceived the monarch,
+reassumed his own shape and hurried after the departing prince, whom
+he did not overtake until they had reached the banks of the river
+where they had first become acquainted.
+
+"Now here you are, prince," said the red fox, "in possession of
+Ohnivak, of the lovely Zlato-Vlaska, and of the Horse with the Golden
+Mane. Henceforth you can manage without my help, so return to your
+father's house in peace and joy; but, take warning, do not stop
+anywhere on the way, for if you do some misfortune will overtake you."
+
+With these words the red fox vanished, while the prince continued his
+journey unhindered. In his hand he held the golden cage that contained
+the fire-bird, and at his side the lovely Zlato-Vlaska rode the Horse
+with the Golden Mane; truly, he was the happiest of men.
+
+When he reached the cross roads where he had parted from his brothers,
+he hastened to look for the branches they had planted. His alone had
+become a spreading tree, theirs were both withered. Delighted with
+this proof of divine favour, he felt a strong desire to rest for a
+while under the shadow of his own tree; he therefore dismounted, and
+assisting the princess to do the same, fastened their horses to one of
+the branches and hung up the cage containing Ohnivak on another:
+within a few moments they were all sound asleep.
+
+Meanwhile the two elder brothers arrived at the same place by
+different roads, and both with empty hands. There they found their two
+branches withered, that of their brother having grown into a splendid
+tree. Under the shade of the latter he lay sleeping; by his side was
+the Maid with the Golden Locks; the horse, Zlato-Nrivak, was fastened
+to a tree, and the fire-bird roosted in his golden cage.
+
+The hearts of the two brothers were filled with envious and wicked
+thoughts, and they whispered thus to one another, "Just think what
+will become of us--the youngest will receive half of the kingdom
+during our father's life and succeed to the throne at his death; why
+not cut his throat at once? One of us will take the Maid with the
+Golden Locks, the other can carry the bird to our father and keep the
+Horse with the Golden Mane; as for the kingdom, we will divide it
+between us."
+
+After this debate they killed their youngest brother and cut up his
+body into small pieces, while they threatened to treat Zlato-Vlaska in
+the same way if she attempted to disobey them.
+
+On reaching home they sent the Horse with the Golden Mane to the
+marble stables, the cage containing Ohnivak was placed in the room
+where their father lay sick, and the princess was allowed a beautiful
+suite of apartments and maids of honour to attend her.
+
+When the king, who was much weakened by suffering, had looked at the
+bird, he asked after his youngest son. To which the brothers replied:
+"We have not seen or heard anything of him, it is very likely that he
+has been killed."
+
+The poor old man was much affected--it seemed, indeed, as if his last
+hour had come. The fire-bird moped and refused to sing; the Horse with
+the Golden Mane stood with his head bent down before his manger, and
+would eat no food; while Princess Zlato-Vlaska remained as silent as
+if she had been born dumb, her beautiful hair was neglected and
+uncombed, and she wept--her tears fell fast.
+
+Now as the red fox chanced to pass through the forest he came upon the
+mangled body of the youngest brother, and he at once set to work to
+put the scattered pieces together, but was unable to restore them to
+life. At that moment a raven, accompanied by two young ones, came
+hovering overhead. The fox crouched behind a bramble bush; and when
+one of the young birds alighted upon the body to feed, he seized it
+and made a pretence of strangling it. Upon which the parent bird, full
+of anxious love and fear, perched upon a branch close by and croaked
+as if to say, "Let my poor little nestling go. I have done you no
+harm, neither have I worried you; let him free, and I will take the
+first opportunity of returning your kindness."
+
+"Just so," replied the red fox, "for I am greatly in need of some
+kindness. Now if you will fetch me some of the Water of Death, and
+some of the Water of Life, from the Red Sea, I will let your nestling
+go safe and sound."
+
+The old raven promised to fetch the water, and went off at once.
+
+Within three days he returned, carrying in his beak two small bottles,
+one full of the Water of Death, the other of the Water of Life. When
+the red fox received them he wished first to try their effect upon
+some living creature, so he cut the small raven up, and joining the
+pieces together, watered them with the Water of Death. Instantly they
+became a living bird, without mark or join anywhere. This he sprinkled
+with the Water of Life, upon which the young raven spread its wings
+and flew off to its family.
+
+The red fox then performed the same operation on the body of the young
+prince, and with the same happy result, for he rose again perfect in
+form, and having about him no wound scars. On coming to life again,
+all he said was, "Dear me! What a pleasant sleep I have had."
+
+"I believe you," replied the red fox, "you would have gone on sleeping
+for ever if I had not awakened you. And what a foolish young man you
+are: did I not particularly order you not to stop anywhere, but to go
+straight back to your father's house?"
+
+He then related all that his brothers had done, and having obtained a
+peasant's dress for him, led him to the outskirts of the forest, close
+to the royal palace, where he left him.
+
+The young prince then entered the palace grounds, unrecognised by the
+servants, and on representing that he was in need of employment, was
+appointed stable-boy to the royal stables. Some little time after he
+heard the grooms lamenting that the Horse with the Golden Mane would
+eat no food.
+
+"What a pity it is," said they, "that this splendid steed should
+starve to death; he droops his head and will take nothing."
+
+"Give him," said the disguised prince, "some pea-straw; I bet you
+anything he will eat that."
+
+"But do you really think so? Why, our rough draught horses would
+refuse such coarse food."
+
+The prince's only answer was to fetch a bundle of pea-straw, which he
+put into Zlato-Nrivak's marble trough: then, passing his hand gently
+over his neck and mane, he said to him, "Grieve no more, my horse with
+the golden mane."
+
+The beautiful creature recognised his master's voice, and neighing
+with joy, greedily devoured the pea-straw.
+
+The news was noised about from one end of the palace to the other, and
+the sick king summoned the boy to his presence.
+
+"I hear you have made Zlato-Nrivak eat," said his majesty; "do you
+think you could make my fire-bird sing? Go and examine him closely: he
+is very sad, he droops his wings, and will neither eat nor drink. Ah
+me! if he dies I shall certainly die too."
+
+"Your majesty may rest assured, the bird will not die. Let him have
+some husks of barley to eat, then he will soon be all right and begin
+to sing."
+
+The king ordered them to be brought, and the disguised prince put a
+handful into Ohnivak's cage, saying, "Cheer up, my fire-bird."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+As soon as Ohnivak heard his master's voice he shook himself, and made
+his feathers shine with more than their usual brightness. Then he
+began to dance about his cage, and pecking up the husks, sang so
+exquisitely that the king immediately felt better, and it was as if a
+great weight had been lifted off his heart. The fire-bird again burst
+into song, and this so affected the king that he sat up quite well,
+and embraced the disguised prince out of very gratitude.
+
+"Now," said he, "teach me how to restore to health this beautiful
+maiden with the golden hair whom my sons brought back with them; for
+she will not speak a word, her beautiful hair remains uncared for, and
+her tears fall night and day."
+
+"If your majesty will allow me to speak a few words to her, it may be
+the means of making her bright and happy."
+
+The king himself led the way to her apartments, and the disguised
+prince, taking her hand, said: "Look up a moment, sweetheart; why
+these tears? And why grieve thus, dear bride?"
+
+The maiden knew him at once, and with a cry of joy threw herself into
+his arms. This astonished the king mightily, and he could not for the
+life of him think how a stable-boy dare address such a princess as his
+"dear bride."
+
+The prince then addressed the king thus: "And are you indeed the only
+one who does not know me? How is it, my father and sovereign, that you
+have not recognised your youngest son? I alone have succeeded in
+obtaining the Fire-Bird, the Horse with the Golden Mane, and the Maid
+with the Golden Hair."
+
+Thereupon he related all his adventures, and Zlato-Vlaska in her turn
+told how the wicked brothers had threatened to kill her if she
+betrayed them. As for these bad men, they shook from head to foot, and
+trembled like leaves in the wind. The indignant king ordered them to
+be executed then and there.
+
+Not very long after these events the youngest prince married the
+beautiful Zlato-Vlaska, and the king gave him half of his kingdom as a
+wedding present. When the old king died he reigned in his stead, and
+lived happily with the princess ever after.
+
+
+
+
+TEARS OF PEARLS
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+TEARS OF PEARLS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a very rich widow, with whom lived three
+children--a handsome stepson; his sister, who was marvellously
+beautiful; and her own daughter, passably good-looking.
+
+All three children lived under the same roof, but, as is often the
+case where there are step-parents, they were treated very differently.
+The lady's own daughter was bad-tempered, disobedient, vain, and of a
+tell-tale disposition: yet she was made much of, praised, and
+caressed. The step-children were treated very harshly: the boy,
+kind-hearted and obliging, was made to do all sorts of hard unpleasant
+work, was constantly scolded, and looked upon as a good-for-nothing.
+The step-daughter, who was not only exceedingly pretty but was as
+sweet as an angel, was found fault with on all occasions, and her life
+made utterly miserable.
+
+It is, after all, but natural to love one's own children better than
+those of others, but the feeling of love should be governed by the
+laws of fairness. Now this wicked woman was blind to the faults of the
+child she loved, and to the good qualities of her husband's children,
+whom she hated.
+
+When in a bad temper she was fond of boasting of the handsome fortune
+she intended securing for her own daughter, even though the
+step-children should be unprovided for. But, as the old proverb says,
+"Man proposes, but God disposes." We shall therefore see how things
+turned out.
+
+One Sunday morning, before going to church, the step-daughter went
+into the garden to pick some flowers for decorating the altar. She had
+only gathered a few roses when, looking up, she saw quite close to her
+three young men robed in dazzling white garments. They sat on a bench
+shaded by shrubs, while near them was an old man who asked her for
+alms.
+
+She felt rather nervous before the strangers, but when she saw the old
+man she took her last penny from her purse and gave it him. He thanked
+her, and raising his hand over the girl's head, said to the men: "This
+orphan girl is pious, patient under misfortune, and kind to the poor,
+with whom she shares the little she has. Tell me what you wish for
+her."
+
+The first said, "I wish that when she weeps her tears may be changed
+into so many pearls."
+
+"And I," replied the second, "that when she smiles sweet roses may
+fall from her lips."
+
+"My wish," said the third, "is that whenever she dips her hands into
+water there shall appear in it shining gold-fish."
+
+"All these gifts shall be hers," added the old man. And with these
+words they vanished.
+
+The maiden was filled with awe, and fell on her knees in prayer. Then
+her heart was filled with joy and peace, and she went back into the
+house. She had scarcely crossed the threshold when her stepmother came
+forward, and looking at her sternly, said, "Well, where have you
+been?"
+
+The poor child began to cry, when--marvel of marvels--instead of
+tears, pearls fell from her eyes.
+
+Notwithstanding her rage, the stepmother picked them up as quickly as
+possible, while the girl smiled as she watched her. And as she smiled
+roses fell from her lips, and her stepmother was beside herself with
+delight.
+
+The girl then went to put the flowers she had gathered in water; and
+as she dipped her fingers in it while arranging them, pretty little
+gold-fish appeared in the bowl.
+
+From that day these marvels were constantly occurring; the tears were
+changed into pearls, the smiles scattered roses, and the water, even
+if she dipped but the tips of her fingers in, was filled with
+gold-fish.
+
+The stepmother softened and became more gentle, while little by little
+she managed to draw from her step-child the secret of these gifts.
+
+So next Sunday morning she sent her own daughter into the garden to
+gather flowers, under pretence of their being for the altar. When she
+had picked a few, she raised her eyes and saw the three young men
+sitting on a low seat, while near them stood the little old man with
+white hair, begging for alms. She pretended to be shy before the young
+men, but at the beggar's request drew from her pocket a gold piece,
+and gave it him, evidently much against her will. He put it in his
+pocket, and turning to his companions, said: "This girl is the spoilt
+child of her mother; she is bad-tempered and naughty, while her heart
+is hardened against the poor. It is easy to understand why, for the
+first time in her life, she has been so generous to-day. Tell me what
+gifts you would wish me to bestow upon her."
+
+The first said, "May her tears be changed into lizards."
+
+"And her smile produce hideous toads," added the second.
+
+"And when her hands touch the water may it be filled with serpents,"
+said the third.
+
+"So let it be," cried the old man. And they all vanished.
+
+The poor girl was terrified, and went back to tell her mother what had
+happened. And it was even so; for if she smiled hideous toads fell
+from her mouth, her tears were changed into lizards, and the water in
+which she dipped but the tips of her fingers was filled with serpents.
+
+The stepmother was in despair, but she only loved her child the more,
+and hated the orphans with a yet more bitter hatred. Indeed, she
+worried them to such an extent that the boy determined to put up with
+it no longer, but to seek his fortune elsewhere. So he tied up his
+belongings in a handkerchief, took a loving farewell of his sister,
+commending her to God's care, and left his home. The great world lay
+before him, but which path to take he knew not. Turning to the
+cemetery where his parents lay side by side, he wept and prayed,
+kissed the earth that covered them three times, and set off on his
+travels.
+
+At that moment he felt something hard in the folds of his tunic, and
+pressing on his heart. Wondering what it could be, he put in his hand
+and drew thence a charming portrait of his dearly loved sister,
+surrounded with pearls, roses, and gold-fish. So great was his
+astonishment he could hardly believe his eyes. But he was very happy,
+and kissed the picture over and over again; then, with one more look
+at the cemetery, he made the sign of the cross and departed.
+
+Now a beautiful story is soon told, but the acts of which it is the
+sum pass more slowly.
+
+After many adventures of little importance he reached the capital of a
+kingdom by the sea, and there obtained the post of under-gardener at
+the royal palace, with good food and wages.
+
+In his prosperity he did not forget his unhappy sister, for he felt
+very uneasy about her. When he had a few moments to himself he would
+sit down in some retired spot and gaze upon her portrait with a sad
+heart and eyes filled with tears. For the picture was a faithful
+likeness of her, and he looked upon it as a gift from his parents.
+
+Now the king had noticed this habit of his, and one day while he sat
+by a stream looking at the picture he came quietly behind him, and
+glanced over his shoulder to see what he was so attentively regarding.
+
+"Give me that portrait," said the monarch.
+
+The boy handed it him. The king examined it closely, and admiring it
+greatly, said: "I have never seen such a beautiful face in all my
+life, never even dreamed of such loveliness. Come, tell me, is the
+original of the picture living?"
+
+The lad burst into tears, and told him it was the living image of his
+sister, who a short time since had received as a special mark of
+favour from God, that her tears should be changed into pearls, her
+smiles into roses, and the touch of her hands in water should produce
+beautiful gold-fish.
+
+The king commanded him to write to his stepmother at once and bid her
+send her lovely step-daughter to the chapel of the palace, where the
+king would be waiting to marry her. The letter also contained promises
+of special royal favours.
+
+The lad wrote the letter, which the king sent by a special messenger.
+
+Now a good story is soon told, but the deeds of which it is the sum
+are not performed so quickly.
+
+When the stepmother received the letter she determined to say nothing
+about it to her step-child, but she showed it to her own daughter, and
+talked the matter over with her. Then she went to learn the art of
+sorcery from a witch, and having found out all it was necessary to
+know, set off with both of the girls. On approaching the capital, the
+wicked woman pushed her step-child out of the carriage and repeated
+some magic words over her. After this she became very small and
+covered with feathers, then in a moment she was changed into a
+wild-duck. She began to quack, and made for the water, as ducks do,
+and swam to a far distance. The stepmother bade her farewell in the
+following words: "By the strength of my hate may my will be fulfilled.
+Swim about the banks in the form of a duck, and rejoice in thy
+liberty. During that time my daughter shall take thy form, shall marry
+the king, and shall enjoy the good fortune fate destined for thee."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At the conclusion of these words her own child became endowed with all
+the graces and beauty of her unfortunate step-sister. The two then
+continued their journey, arriving at the royal chapel at the appointed
+hour. The king received them with all honours, while the deceitful
+woman gave away her own daughter, whom the bridegroom believed to be
+the original of the beautiful picture. After the ceremony the mother
+went away loaded with presents. The king, as he looked at his young
+wife, could not understand why he did not feel for her the sympathy
+and admiration he had felt for the portrait she so much resembled. But
+it could not be altered now; what is done is done. So he admired her
+beauty and looked forward to the pleasure of seeing pearls fall from
+her eyes, roses from her lips, and gold-fish at the touch of her
+fingers.
+
+During the wedding feast the newly-made bride forgot herself and
+smiled at her husband; immediately a number of hideous toads escaped
+from her lips. The king, overcome with horror and disgust, rushed away
+from her, upon which she began to cry, but instead of pearls, lizards
+fell from her eyes. The majordomo ordered water to be brought for her
+to wash her hands, but no sooner had she dipped the tips of her
+fingers in the bowl than it was filled with serpents that hissed and
+twisted and threw themselves among the wedding guests. The panic was
+general, and a scene of great confusion followed. The guard was called
+in, and had the greatest trouble to clear the hall of the disgusting
+reptiles.
+
+The bridegroom had taken refuge in the garden, and when he saw the
+young man coming towards him, whom he thought had deceived him, his
+anger overcame him, and he struck the poor lad with so much force that
+he fell down dead.
+
+The queen ran forward sobbing, and taking the king by the hand, said:
+"What have you done? You have killed my innocent brother. It is
+neither my fault, nor was it his, that since the wedding I have by
+some enchantment lost the marvellous power I possessed before. This
+evil will pass away in time, but time can never restore to me my dear
+brother, my own mother's son."
+
+"Forgive me, dear wife; in a moment of irritation I thought he had
+deceived me, and I wanted to punish him, but did not mean to kill. I
+regret it deeply, but it cannot be helped now. Forgive me my fault as
+I forgive yours, with all my heart."
+
+"You have my forgiveness, but I beg you to see that your wife's
+brother has an honourable burial."
+
+Her wishes were carried out, and the orphan lad, who had passed as her
+brother, was laid in a handsome coffin. The chapel was hung with
+black, and at night a guard was placed both inside and out.
+
+Towards midnight the church doors silently opened, and while the
+guards were overcome by sleep a pretty little duck entered unnoticed.
+She stopped in the middle of the aisle, shook herself, and pulled out
+her feathers one by one. Then it took the form of the beautiful
+step-daughter, for it was she. She went up to her brother's coffin and
+stood gazing at him, and as she looked she wept sorrowfully. Then she
+put on her feathers again and went out a duck. When the guards awoke
+they were astonished to find a quantity of fine pearls in the coffin.
+Next day they told the king that the doors had opened of themselves
+towards midnight, that they had been overcome by sleep, and that on
+awakening they had found a large number of pearls in the coffin, but
+knew not how they got there. The king was very much surprised,
+especially at the appearance of the pearls, that ought to have been
+produced by his wife's tears. On the second night he doubled the
+guard, and impressed upon them the necessity for watchfulness.
+
+At midnight the doors again opened silently as before, the soldiers
+went to sleep, and the same little duck entered, and, taking out her
+feathers, appeared as a lovely maiden. She could not help smiling as
+she looked upon the sleeping soldiers, the number of which had been
+doubled on her account; and as she smiled a number of roses fell from
+her lips. As she drew near her brother her tears fell in torrents,
+leaving a profusion of fine pearls. After some time she put on her
+feathers and went out a duck. When the guards awoke they took the
+roses and the pearls to the king. He was still more surprised to see
+roses with the pearls, for these roses should have fallen from his
+wife's lips. He again increased the number of the guard, and
+threatened them with the most severe punishment if they failed to
+watch all night. They did their best to obey, but in vain; they could
+only sleep. When they awoke they found, not only roses and pearls, but
+little gold-fish swimming in the holy water.
+
+The amazed king could only conclude that their sleep was caused by
+magic. On the fourth night he not only increased the number of
+soldiers, but, unknown to every one, hid himself behind the altar,
+where he hung a mirror, through which he could see everything that
+passed without being seen.
+
+At midnight the doors opened. The soldiers, under the influence of
+sleep, had let fall their arms and lay on the ground. The king kept
+his eyes fixed on the mirror, through which he saw a little wild-duck
+enter. It looked timidly round on all sides, then, reassured at the
+sight of the sleeping guards, advanced to the centre of the nave and
+took off its feathers, thus appearing as a young maiden of exquisite
+beauty.
+
+The king, overwhelmed with joy and admiration, had a presentiment that
+this was his true bride. So when she drew near the coffin he crept
+noiselessly out of his hiding-place, and with a lighted taper set fire
+to the feathers. They flared up immediately, and with such a bright
+light that the soldiers were aroused. The girl ran towards the
+monarch, wringing her hands and weeping tears of pearl.
+
+"What have you done?" cried she. "How can I now escape my stepmother's
+vengeance? For it is by her magic that I have been changed into a
+wild-duck."
+
+When the king had heard all, he ordered some of his soldiers to seize
+the wife he had married and to take her right out of the country. He
+sent others to take the wicked stepmother prisoner, and to burn her as
+a witch. Both commands were instantly carried out. Meanwhile the girl
+drew from the folds of her gown three small bottles, filled with three
+different kinds of water, which she had brought from the sea.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The first possessed the virtue of restoring life. This she sprinkled
+over her brother, whereupon the chill and rigidity of death
+disappeared, the colour came to his face, and warm red blood flowed
+from his wound. Upon the wound she poured water from the second
+bottle, and it was immediately healed. When she had made use of the
+third kind of water he opened his eyes, looked at her with
+astonishment, and threw himself joyfully into her arms.
+
+The king, enraptured at this sight, conducted the two back to the
+palace.
+
+So instead of a funeral there was a wedding, to which a large number
+of guests were immediately invited. Thus the orphan maid was married
+to the king, while her brother became one of his majesty's nobles. And
+the magnificence of the wedding feast was greater than anything seen
+or heard of.
+
+
+
+
+THE SLUGGARD
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE SLUGGARD
+
+
+On the banks of a certain river, where there was always good fishing,
+lived an old man and his three sons. The two eldest were sharp-witted,
+active young men, already married; the youngest was stupid and idle,
+and a bachelor. When the father was dying, he called his children to
+him and told them how he had left his property. The house was for his
+two married sons, with a sum of three hundred florins each. After his
+death he was buried with great pomp, and after the funeral there was a
+splendid feast. All these honours were supposed to be for the benefit
+of the man's soul.
+
+When the elder brothers took possession of their inheritance, they
+said to the youngest: "Listen, brother; let us take charge of your
+share of the money, for we intend going out into the world as
+merchants, and when we have made a great deal of money we will buy you
+a hat, a sash, and a pair of red boots. You will be better at home;
+and mind you do as your sisters-in-law tell you."
+
+For a long time this silly fellow had been wanting a cap, a sash, and
+a pair of red boots, so he was easily persuaded to give up all his
+money.
+
+The brothers set out on their travels, and crossed the sea in search
+of fortune. The "fool" of the family remained at home; and, as he was
+an out-and-out sluggard, he would lie whole days at a time on the warm
+stove without doing a stroke of work, and only obeying his
+sisters-in-law with the greatest reluctance. He liked fried onions,
+potato soup, and cider, better than anything else in the world.
+
+One day his sisters-in-law asked him to fetch them some water.
+
+It was winter, and a hard frost; moreover, the sluggard did not feel
+at all inclined to go out. So he said, "Go yourselves, I prefer to
+stay here by the fire."
+
+"Stupid boy, go at once. We will have some onions, potato soup, and
+cider ready for you when you come back. If you refuse to do what we
+ask you we shall tell our husbands, and then there will be neither
+cap, sash, nor red boots for you."
+
+At these words the sluggard thought he had better go. So he rolled off
+the stove, took a hatchet and a couple of pails, and went down to the
+river. On the surface of the water, where the ice had been broken, was
+a large pike. The sluggard seized him by the fins and pulled him out.
+
+"If you will let me go," said the pike, "I promise to give you
+everything you wish for."
+
+"Well then, I should like all my desires to be fulfilled the moment I
+utter them."
+
+"You shall have everything you want the moment you pronounce these
+words:
+
+  'At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  May such and such things happen, as I like.'"
+
+"Just wait one moment while I try the effect," said the
+sluggard, and began at once to say:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  Bring onions, cider, soup, just as I like."
+
+That very moment his favourite dishes were before him. Having eaten a
+large quantity, he said, "Very good, very good indeed; but will it
+always be the same?"
+
+"Always," replied the pike.
+
+The sluggard put the pike back into the river, and turning towards his
+buckets, said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  Walk home yourselves, my pails--that I should like."
+
+The pails, and the strong rod to which they were fastened, immediately
+set off and walked solemnly along, the sluggard following them with
+his hands in his pockets. When they reached the house he put them in
+their places, and again stretched himself out to enjoy the warmth of
+the stove. Presently the sisters-in-law said, "Come and chop some wood
+for us."
+
+"Bother! do it yourselves."
+
+"It is not fit work for women. Besides, if you don't do it the stove
+will be cold, and then you will be the chief sufferer. Moreover, pay
+attention to what we say, for if you do not obey us, there will be no
+red boots, nor any other pretty things."
+
+The sluggard then just sat up and said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  Let what my sisters want be done--that's what I like."
+
+Instantly the hatchet came out from behind a stool and chopped up a
+large heap of wood, put a part of it on the stove, and retired to its
+corner. All this time the sluggard was eating and drinking at his
+ease.
+
+Another day some wood had to be brought from the forest. Our sluggard
+now thought he would like to show off before the villagers, so he
+pulled a sledge out of the shed, loaded it with onions and soup, after
+which he pronounced the magic words.
+
+The sledge started off, and passing through the village at a rattling
+pace, ran over several people, and frightened the women and children.
+
+When the forest was reached, our friend looked on while the blocks of
+wood and faggots cut, tied, and laid themselves on the sledge, after
+which they set off home again. But when they got to the middle of the
+village the men, who had been hurt and frightened in the morning,
+seized hold of the sluggard and pulled him off the sledge, dragging
+him along by the hair to give him a sound thrashing.
+
+At first he thought it was only a joke, but when the blows hurt his
+shoulders, he said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  Come, faggots, haste, and my assailants strike."
+
+In a moment all the blocks of wood and faggots jumped off the sledge
+and began to hit right and left, and they hit so well that the men
+were glad to get out of the way as best they could.
+
+The sluggard laughed at them till his sides ached; then he remounted
+his sledge, and was soon lying on the stove again.
+
+From that day he became famous, and his doings were talked about all
+through the country.
+
+At last even the king heard of him, and, his curiosity being aroused,
+he sent some of his soldiers to fetch him.
+
+"Now then, booby," said the soldier, "come down off that stove and
+follow me to the king's palace."
+
+"Why should I? There is as much cider, onions, and soup as I want at
+home."
+
+The man, indignant at his want of respect, struck him.
+
+Upon which the sluggard said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  May this man get a taste of what a broom is like."
+
+A large broom, and not particularly clean, immediately hopped up, and
+first dipping itself in a pail of water, beat the soldier so
+mercilessly that he was obliged to escape through the window, whence
+he returned to the king. His majesty, amazed at the sluggard's
+refusal, sent another messenger. This man was 'cuter than his comrade,
+and first made inquiries as to the sluggard's tastes. Then he went up
+to him and said, "Good-day, my friend; will you come with me to see
+the king? He wishes to present you with a cap, a waistband, and a pair
+of red boots."
+
+"With the greatest pleasure; you go on, I will soon overtake you."
+
+Then he ate as much as he could of his favourite dishes and went to
+sleep on the stove. He slept so long that at last his sisters-in-law
+woke him up and told him he would be late if he did not at once go to
+see the king. The lazy fellow said nothing but these words:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  This stove to carry me before the king I'd like."
+
+At the very same instant the stove moved from its place and carried
+him right up to the palace door. The king was filled with amazement,
+and running out, followed by the whole court, asked the sluggard what
+he would like to have.
+
+"I have merely come to fetch the hat, waistband, and red boots you
+promised me."
+
+Just then the charming princess Gapiomila came to find out what was
+going on. Directly the sluggard saw her, he thought her so enchanting
+that he whispered to himself:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  That this princess so fair may love me, I should like."
+
+Then he ordered his stove to take him back home, and when there he
+continued to eat onions and soup and to drink cider.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Meanwhile the princess had fallen in love with him, and begged her
+father to send for him again. As the sluggard would not consent, the
+king had him bound when asleep, and thus brought to the palace. Then
+he summoned a celebrated magician, who at his orders shut the princess
+and sluggard up in a crystal cask, to which was fastened a balloon
+well filled with gas, and sent it up in the air among the clouds. The
+princess wept bitterly, but the fool sat still and said he felt very
+comfortable. At last she persuaded him to exert his powers, so he
+said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  This cask of crystal earth at once must strike
+  Upon the friendly island I should like."
+
+The crystal cask immediately descended, and opened upon a hospitable
+island where travellers could have all they wanted by simply wishing
+for it. The princess and her companion walked about, eating when
+hungry, and drinking when athirst. The sluggard was very happy and
+contented, but the lady begged him to wish for a palace. Instantly the
+palace made its appearance. It was built of white marble, with crystal
+windows, roof of yellow amber, and golden furniture. She was delighted
+with it. Next day she wanted a good road made, along which she could
+go to see her father. Immediately there stretched before them a
+fairy-like bridge made of crystal, having golden balustrades set with
+diamonds, and leading right up to the king's palace. The sluggard was
+just about to accompany the princess when he began to think of his own
+appearance, and to feel ashamed that such an awkward, stupid fellow as
+he should walk by the side of such a lovely and graceful creature. So
+he said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  To be both handsome, wise, and clever I should like."
+
+Suddenly he became as handsome, wise, and clever as it was possible to
+be. Then he got into a gorgeous carriage with Gapiomila, and they
+drove across the bridge that led to the king's palace.
+
+There they were received with every mark of joy and affection. The
+king gave them his blessing, and they were married the same evening.
+An immense number of guests were invited to the wedding feast; I, too,
+was there, and drank freely of wine and hydromel. And this is the
+story I have done my best to tell you as faithfully as possible.
+
+
+
+
+KINKACH MARTINKO
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+KINKACH MARTINKO
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a poor woman who had an only daughter,
+named Helen, a very lazy girl. One day when she had refused to do a
+single thing, her mother took her down to the banks of a stream and
+began to strike her fingers with a flat stone, just as you do in
+beating linen to wash it.
+
+The girl cried a good deal. A prince, Lord of the Red Castle, happened
+at that moment to pass by, and inquired as to the cause of such
+treatment, for it horrified him that a mother should so ill-use her
+child.
+
+"Why should I not punish her?" answered the woman. "The idle girl can
+do nothing but spin hemp into gold thread."
+
+"Really?" cried he. "Does she really know how to spin gold thread out
+of hemp? If that be so, sell her to me."
+
+"Willingly; how much will you give me for her?"
+
+"Half a measure of gold."
+
+"Take her," said the mother; and she gave him her daughter as soon as
+the money was paid.
+
+The prince placed the girl behind him on the saddle, put spurs to his
+horse, and took her home.
+
+On reaching the Red Castle, the prince led Helen into a room filled
+from floor to ceiling with hemp, and having supplied her with distaff
+and spinning-wheel, said, "When you have spun all this hemp into gold
+thread I will make you my wife."
+
+Then he went out, locking the door after him.
+
+On finding herself a prisoner, the poor girl wept as if her heart
+would break. Suddenly she saw a very odd-looking little man seated on
+the window-sill. He wore a red cap, and his boots were made of some
+strange sort of material.
+
+"Why do you weep so?" he asked.
+
+"I cannot help it," she replied, "I am but a miserable slave. I have
+been ordered to spin all this hemp into gold thread, but it is
+impossible, I can never do it, and I know not what will become of me."
+
+"I will do it for you in three days, on condition that at the end of
+that time you guess my right name, and tell me what the boots I am
+wearing now are made of."
+
+Without for one moment reflecting as to whether she would be able to
+guess aright she consented. The uncanny little man burst out laughing,
+and taking her distaff set to work at once.
+
+All day as the distaff moved the hemp grew visibly less, while the
+skein of gold thread became larger and larger.
+
+The little man spun all the time, and, without stopping an instant,
+explained to Helen how to make thread of pure gold. As night drew on
+he tied up the skein, saying to the girl, "Well, do you know my name
+yet? Can you tell me what my boots are made of?"
+
+Helen replied that she could not, upon which he grinned and
+disappeared through the window. She then sat and looked at the sky,
+and thought, and thought, and thought, and lost herself in
+conjecturing as to what the little man's name might be, and in trying
+to guess what was the stuff his boots were made of. Were they of
+leather? or perhaps plaited rushes? or straw? or cast iron? No, they
+did not look like anything of that sort. And as to his name--that was
+a still more difficult problem to solve.
+
+"What shall I call him?" said she to herself--"John? Or Henry? Who
+knows? perhaps it is Paul or Joseph."
+
+These thoughts so filled her mind that she forgot to eat her dinner.
+Her meditations were interrupted by cries and groans from outside,
+where she saw an old man with white hair sitting under the castle
+wall.
+
+"Miserable old man that I am," cried he; "I die of hunger and thirst,
+but no one pities my sufferings."
+
+Helen hastened to give him her dinner, and told him to come next day,
+which he promised to do.
+
+After again thinking for some time what answers she should give the
+little old man, she fell asleep on the hemp.
+
+The little old man did not fail to make his appearance the first thing
+next morning, and remained all day spinning the gold thread. The work
+progressed before their eyes, and it was only when evening came that
+he repeated his questions. Not receiving a satisfactory answer, he
+vanished in a fit of mocking laughter. Helen sat down by the window to
+think; but think as she might, no answer to these puzzling questions
+occurred to her.
+
+While thus wondering the hungry old man again came by, and she gave
+him her dinner. She was heart-sick and her eyes were full of tears,
+for she thought she would never guess the spinner's name, nor of what
+stuff his boots were made, unless perhaps God would help her.
+
+"Why are you so sad?" asked the old man when he had eaten and drunk;
+"tell me the cause of your grief, dear lady."
+
+For a long time she would not tell him, thinking it would be useless;
+but at last, yielding to his entreaties, she gave a full account of
+the conditions under which the gold thread was made, explaining that
+unless she could answer the little old man's questions satisfactorily
+she feared some great misfortune would befall her. The old man
+listened attentively, then, nodding his head, he said:
+
+"In coming through the forest to-day I passed close to a large pile of
+burning wood, round which were placed nine iron pots. A little man in
+a red cap was running round and jumping over them, singing these
+words:
+
+  "My sweet friend, fair Helen, at the Red Castle near,
+    Two days and two nights seeks my name to divine.
+  She'll never find out, so the third night 'tis clear
+    My sweet friend, fair Helen, can't fail to be mine.
+  Hurrah! for my name is KINKACH MARTINKO,
+  Hurrah! for my boots are of doggies' skin O!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Now that is exactly what you want to know, my dear girl; so do not
+forget, and you are saved."
+
+And with these words the old man vanished.
+
+Helen was greatly astonished, but she took care to fix in her memory
+all that the good fellow had told her, and then went to sleep, feeling
+that she could face to-morrow without fear.
+
+On the third day, very early in the morning, the little old man
+appeared and set busily to work, for he knew that all the hemp must be
+spun before sunset, and that then he should be able to claim his
+rights. When evening came all the hemp was gone, and the room shone
+with the brightness of the golden thread.
+
+As soon as his work was done, the queer little old man with the red
+cap drew himself up with a great deal of assurance, and with his hands
+in his pockets strutted up and down before Helen, ordering her to tell
+him his right name and to say of what stuff the boots were made: but
+he felt certain that she would not be able to answer aright.
+
+"Your name is KINKACH MARTINKO, and your boots are made of dogskin,"
+she replied without the slightest hesitation.
+
+At these words he spun round on the floor like a bobbin, tore out his
+hair and beat his breast with rage, roaring so that the very walls
+trembled.
+
+"It is lucky for you that you have guessed. If you had not, I should
+have torn you to pieces on this very spot:" so saying he rushed out of
+the window like a whirlwind.
+
+Helen felt deeply grateful towards the old man who had told her the
+answers, and hoped to be able to thank him in person. But he never
+appeared again.
+
+The Prince of the Red Castle was very pleased with her for having
+accomplished her task so punctually and perfectly, and he married her
+as he had promised.
+
+Helen was truly thankful to have escaped the dangers that had
+threatened her, and her happiness as a princess was greater than she
+had dared hope. She had, too, such a good stock of gold thread that
+she never had occasion to spin any more all her life long.
+
+
+
+
+THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND, THE SASH
+THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND, THE SASH
+THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET
+
+
+Now it once happened that one of the king's herdsmen had three sons.
+Two of these lads were supposed to be very sharp-witted, while the
+youngest was thought to be very stupid indeed. The elder sons helped
+their father to look after the flocks and herds, while the fool, so
+they called him, was good for nothing but sleeping and amusing
+himself.
+
+He would pass whole days and nights slumbering peacefully on the
+stove, only getting off when forced to by others, or when he was too
+warm and wished to lie on the other side, or when, hungry and thirsty,
+he wanted food and drink.
+
+His father had no love for him, and called him a ne'er-do-well. His
+brothers often tormented him by dragging him off the stove, and taking
+away his food--indeed, he would many a time have gone hungry if his
+mother had not been good to him and fed him on the quiet. She caressed
+him fondly, for why should he suffer, thought she, if he does happen
+to have been born a fool? Besides, who can understand the ways of God?
+It sometimes happens that the wisest men are not happy, while the
+foolish, when harmless and gentle, lead contented lives.
+
+One day, on their return from the fields, the fool's two brothers
+dragged him off the stove, and taking him into the yard, where they
+gave him a sound thrashing, they turned him out of the house, saying,
+"Go, fool, and lose no time, for you shall have neither food nor
+lodging until you bring us a basket of mushrooms from the wood."
+
+The poor lad was so taken by surprise he hardly understood what his
+brothers wanted him to do. After pondering for a while he made his way
+towards a small oak forest, where everything seemed to have a strange
+and marvellous appearance, so strange that he did not recognise the
+place. As he walked he came to a small dead tree-stump, on the top of
+which he placed his cap, saying, "Every tree here raises its head to
+the skies and wears a good cap of leaves, but you, my poor friend, are
+bare-headed; you will die of cold. You must be among your brothers, as
+I am among mine--a born fool. Take then my cap." And, throwing his
+arms round the dead stump, he wept and embraced it tenderly. At that
+moment an oak which stood near began to walk towards him as if it were
+alive. The poor fellow was frightened, and about to run away, but the
+oak spake like a human being and said, "Do not fly; stop a moment and
+listen to me. This withered tree is my son, and up to this time no one
+has grieved for his dead youth but me. You have now watered him with
+your tears, and in return for your sympathy you shall henceforward
+have anything you ask of me, on pronouncing these words:
+
+  "'O Oak Tree so green, and with acorns of gold,
+    Your friendship to prove I will try;
+  In Heaven's good name now to beg I'll make bold,
+    My needs, then, oh kindly supply.'"
+
+At the same moment a shower of golden acorns fell. The fool filled his
+pockets, thanked the oak, and bowing to her returned home.
+
+"Well, stupid, where are the mushrooms?" cried one of his brothers.
+
+"I have some mushrooms off the oak in my pockets."
+
+"Eat them yourself then, for you will get nothing else, you
+good-for-nothing. What have you done with your cap?"
+
+"I put it on a poor stump of a tree that stood by the wayside, for its
+head was uncovered, and I was afraid it might freeze."
+
+He then scrambled on to the top of the stove, and as he lay down some
+of the golden acorns fell out of his pocket. So bright were they, they
+shone like sunbeams in the room. In spite of the fool's entreaties the
+brothers picked them up and gave them to their father, who hastened to
+present them to the king, telling him that his idiot son had gathered
+them in the wood. The king immediately sent a detachment of his guards
+to the forest to find the oak which bore golden acorns. But their
+efforts were fruitless, for, though they hunted in every nook and
+corner of the forest, they found not a single oak that bore acorns of
+gold.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At first the king was very angry, but when he grew calmer he sent for
+his herdsman and said to him, "Tell your son, the fool, that he must
+bring me, by this evening, a cask filled to the brim with these
+precious golden acorns. If he obeys my commands you shall never lack
+bread and salt, and you may rest assured that my royal favour will not
+fail you in time of need."
+
+The herdsman gave his youngest son the king's message.
+
+"The king, I see," he replied, "is fond of a good bargain; he does not
+ask, he commands--and insists upon a fool fetching him acorns of solid
+gold in return for promises made of air. No, I shall not go."
+
+And neither prayers nor threats were of the slightest avail to make
+him change his mind. At last his brothers pulled him forcibly off the
+stove, put his coat on him and a new cap, and dragged him into the
+yard, where they gave him a good beating and drove him away, saying,
+"Now, you stupid, lose no time; be off, and be quick. If you return
+without the golden acorns you shall have neither supper nor bed."
+
+What was the poor fellow to do? For a long time he wept, then crossing
+himself he went in the direction of the forest. He soon reached the
+dead stump, upon which his cap still rested, and going up to the
+mother oak, said to her:
+
+  "O Oak Tree so green, and with acorns of gold,
+    In my helplessness I to thee cry;
+  In Heaven's great name now to beg I make bold,
+    My pressing needs pray satisfy."
+
+The oak moved, and shook its branches: but instead of golden acorns, a
+tablecloth fell into the fool's hands. And the tree said, "Keep this
+cloth always in your possession, and for your own use. When you want a
+benefit by it, you need only say:
+
+  "'O Tablecloth, who for the poor,
+    The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,
+  May he who begs from door to door
+    Feed off you without stint or fear.'"
+
+When it had uttered these words the oak ceased to speak, and the fool,
+thanking her, bowed, and turned towards home. On his way he wondered
+to himself how he should tell his brothers, and what they would say,
+but above all he thought how his good mother would rejoice to see the
+feast-giving tablecloth. When he had walked about half the distance he
+met an old beggar who said to him, "See what a sick and ragged old man
+I am: for the love of God give me a little money or some bread."
+
+The fool spread his tablecloth on the grass, and inviting the beggar
+to sit down, said:
+
+  "O Tablecloth, who for the poor,
+    The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,
+  May he who begs from door to door
+    Feed off you without stint or fear."
+
+Then a whistling was heard in the air, and overhead something shone
+brightly. At the same instant a table, spread as for a royal banquet,
+appeared before them. Upon it were many different kinds of food,
+flasks of mead, and glasses of the choicest wine. The plate was of
+gold and silver.
+
+The fool and the beggar man crossed themselves and began to feast.
+When they had finished the whistling was again heard, and everything
+vanished. The fool folded up his tablecloth and went on his way. But
+the old man said, "If you will give me your tablecloth you shall have
+this wand in exchange. When you say certain words to it, it will set
+upon the person or persons pointed out, and give them such a
+thrashing, that to get rid of it they will give you anything they
+possess."
+
+The fool thought of his brothers and exchanged the tablecloth for the
+wand, after which they both went on their respective ways.
+
+Suddenly the fool remembered that the oak had ordered him to keep the
+tablecloth for his own use, and that by parting with it he had lost
+the power of giving his mother an agreeable surprise. So he said to
+the wand:
+
+  "Thou self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,
+      Run quick and bring
+  My feast-providing tablecloth back to my hand,
+      Thy praise I'll sing."
+
+The wand went off like an arrow after the old man, quickly overtook
+him, and throwing itself upon him began to beat him dreadfully, crying
+out in a loud voice:
+
+  "For others' goods you seem to have a liking,
+  Stop, thief, or sure your back I'll keep on striking."
+
+The poor beggar tried to run away, but it was of no use, for the wand
+followed him, striking all the time and repeating the same words over
+and over again. So in spite of his anxiety to keep the tablecloth he
+was forced to throw it away and flee.
+
+The wand brought the cloth back to the fool, who again went on his way
+towards home, thinking of the surprise in store for his mother and
+brothers. He had not gone very far when a traveller, carrying an empty
+wallet, accosted him, saying, "For the love of God, give me a small
+coin or a morsel of food, for my bag is empty and I am very hungry. I
+have, too, a long journey before me."
+
+The fool again spread his tablecloth on the grass and said:
+
+  "O Tablecloth, who for the poor,
+    The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,
+  May he who begs from door to door
+    Feed off you without stint or fear."
+
+A whistling was heard in the air, something shone brightly overhead,
+and a table, spread as for a royal feast, placed itself before them.
+It was laid with a numerous variety of dishes, hydromel and costly
+wines. The fool and his guest sat down, crossed themselves, and ate to
+their hearts' content. When they had finished whistling was again
+heard, and everything vanished. The fool folded the cloth up
+carefully, and was about to continue his journey when the traveller
+said, "Will you exchange your tablecloth for my waistband? When you
+say to it certain words it will turn into a deep lake, upon which you
+may float at will. The words run thus:
+
+  "'O marvellous, wonderful, lake-forming Band,
+    For my safety, and not for my fun,
+  Bear me in a boat on thy waves far from land,
+    So that I from my foes need not run.'"
+
+The fool thought his father would find it very convenient always to
+have water at hand for the king's flocks, so he gave his tablecloth in
+exchange for the belt, which he wound round his loins, and taking the
+wand in his hand, they went off in opposite directions. After a little
+while the fool began to reflect on what the oak had told him about
+keeping the tablecloth for his own use, and he remembered, too, that
+he was depriving himself of the power of giving his mother a pleasant
+surprise. Thereupon he said the magic words to his wand:
+
+  "Thou self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,
+      Run quick and bring
+  My feast-providing tablecloth back to my hand,
+      Thy praise I'll sing."
+
+The wand at once started in pursuit of the poor traveller, whom it
+began to beat, at the same time crying out:
+
+  "For others' goods you seem to have a liking,
+  Stop, thief, or sure your back I'll keep on striking."
+
+The man was scared out of his wits, and tried to escape the wand's
+blows, but it was of no use, so he was forced to throw the tablecloth
+away and run at the top of his speed. The wand brought the tablecloth
+back to his master. The latter hid it under his coat, rearranged the
+waistband, and taking the faithful wand in his hand, again went
+towards home. As he walked he rejoiced to think of the pleasure he
+should have in exercising the wand on his wicked brothers, of his
+father's satisfaction when, by the help of the waistband, he could
+always have water for the king's flocks, even in the driest weather,
+and of his mother's joy on witnessing the wonders of the feast-giving
+tablecloth. These pleasant thoughts were interrupted by a soldier,
+lame, clothed in rags, and covered with wounds. He had once been a
+famous warrior.
+
+"I am pursued by misfortunes," said he to the fool. "I was once a
+brave soldier, and fought valiantly in my youth. Now I am lamed for
+life, and on this lonely road have found no one to give me a morsel of
+food. Have pity on me and give me a little bread."
+
+The fool sat down on the grass, and spreading out his tablecloth,
+said:
+
+  "O Tablecloth, who for the poor,
+    The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,
+  May he who begs from door to door
+    Feed off you without stint or fear."
+
+A whistling was heard in the air, something bright shone overhead, and
+then before them stood a table, spread as for a royal feast, loaded
+with dainty dishes, mead, and costly wines. When they had eaten and
+drunk as much as they wanted the whistling was again heard, and then
+everything vanished.
+
+The fool was folding up his tablecloth, when the soldier said:
+
+"Will you give me your tablecloth in exchange for this six-horned
+helmet? It will fire itself off and instantly destroy the object
+pointed out. You have but to turn it round on your head and repeat
+these words:
+
+  "'O Magic Helmet, never thou
+    Dost want for powder nor shot;
+  Allay my fears and fire now
+    Just where I point. Fail not.'
+
+You will see that it fires off immediately: and even if your enemy
+were a mile away he would fall."
+
+The fool was delighted with the idea, and thought how useful such a
+hat would be in any sudden danger; it would even serve him to defend
+his country, the king, or himself. So he handed the tablecloth to the
+soldier, put the helmet on his head, took his wand in his hand, and
+again set his face towards home.
+
+When he had gone some distance, and the soldier was almost out of
+sight, he began to think of what the oak had said about not parting
+with the tablecloth, and of how his dear mother could not now enjoy
+the pleasant surprise he had been dreaming about. So he said to the
+wand:
+
+  "Thou self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,
+      Run quick, and bring
+  My feast-providing tablecloth back to my hand,
+      Thy praise I'll sing."
+
+The wand dashed after the soldier, and having reached him began to
+beat him, crying out:
+
+  "For others' goods you seem to have a liking,
+  Stop, thief, or sure your back I'll keep on striking."
+
+
+The soldier was still a powerful man, and in spite of his wound turned
+right about face, intending to give blow for blow. But the wand was
+too much for him, and he soon found resistance useless. So, overcome
+by pain rather than fear, he threw away the tablecloth and took to his
+heels.
+
+The faithful wand brought the tablecloth back to his master, who, glad
+to have it again, once more turned towards home.
+
+He soon left the forest, crossed the fields, and came in sight of his
+father's house. At a little distance therefrom his brothers met him,
+and said crossly, "Well, stupid, where are the golden acorns?"
+
+The fool looked at them and laughed in their faces. Then he said to
+his wand:
+
+  "O self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand
+      Strike with thy usual fire
+  My ever-scolding, teasing, worrying brother band,
+      For they have roused my ire."
+
+The wand needed no second bidding, and darting out of his hand began
+to thrash the brothers soundly, crying out like a reasoning creature:
+
+  "Your brother has often your blows felt, alack!
+  Now taste it yourselves; hope you like it, whack, whack."
+
+The brothers were overpowered, and felt all the while as if boiling
+water were being poured over their heads. Yelling with pain they began
+to run at full speed, and soon disappeared with clouds of dust flying
+round them.
+
+The wand then came back to the fool's hand. He went into the house,
+climbed on the stove, and told his mother all that had happened. Then
+he cried:
+
+  "O Tablecloth, who for the poor,
+    The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,
+  Let us within our cottage door
+    Feed off you without stint or fear."
+
+A whistling was heard in the air, something bright shone overhead, and
+then a table, laid as for a royal banquet, was placed before them,
+covered with dainty meats, glasses, and bottles of mead and wine. The
+whole service was of gold and silver. As the fool and his mother were
+about to begin the feast the herdsman entered. He stopped, dumb with
+amazement, but when invited to partake, began to eat and drink with
+great enjoyment.
+
+At the end of the meal the whistling was again heard, and everything
+vanished completely.
+
+The herdsman set off in hot haste to the court, to tell the king of
+this new marvel. Thereupon his majesty sent one of his heroes in
+search of the fool, whom he found stretched on the stove.
+
+"If you value your life, listen, and obey the king's orders," said the
+paladin. "He commands you to send him by me your tablecloth, then you
+shall have your share of his royal favour. But if not you will always
+remain a poor fool, and will, moreover, be treated as a refractory
+prisoner. We teach them how to behave; you understand?"
+
+"Oh yes, I understand." And then he pronounced the magic words:
+
+  "O self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,
+      Go, soundly thrash that man--
+  The most deceiving, dangerous wretch in all the land,
+      So hurt him all you can."
+
+The wand sprang from the fool's hand with the speed of lightning and
+struck the paladin three times in the face. He immediately fled, but
+the wand was after him, hitting him all the time, and crying out:
+
+  "Mere promises are children's play,
+  So do not throw your breath away,
+  But think of something true to say,
+  You rogue, when next you come our way."
+
+Defeated and filled with consternation, the paladin returned to the
+king and told him about the wand, and how badly he had been beaten.
+When the king heard that the fool possessed a wand that struck of
+itself, he wanted it so much that for a time he forgot all about the
+tablecloth, and sent some of his soldiers with orders to bring him
+back the wand.
+
+When they entered the cottage, the fool, as usual, was lying on the
+stove.
+
+"Deliver up the wand to us instantly," said they; "the king is willing
+to pay any price you ask, but if you refuse he will take it from you
+by force."
+
+Instead of replying the fool unwound the waistband, saying to it as he
+did so:
+
+  "O marvellous, wonderful, lake-forming Band,
+    For my safety, and not for my fun,
+  Bear me in a boat on thy waves far from land,
+    So that I from my foes need not run."
+
+There was a shimmering in the air, while at the same moment everything
+around them disappeared, and a beautiful lake, long, wide, and deep,
+was seen, surrounded by green fields. Fish with golden scales and eyes
+of pearls played in the clear water. In the centre, in a small silver
+skiff, rowed a man, whom the soldiers recognised as the fool.
+
+They remained some time looking at this miracle, and then ran off to
+tell the king. Now when the king heard thereof he was so anxious to
+possess the lake, or rather the waistband that produced the lake, that
+he sent a whole battalion of soldiers to take the fool prisoner.
+
+This time they managed to get hold of him while he was asleep, but as
+they were about to tie his hands he turned his hat round and said:
+
+  "O Magic Helmet, never thou
+    Dost want for powder nor shot,
+  Allay my fears and fire now
+    Just where I point. Fail not."
+
+Instantly a hundred bullets whistled through the air, amid clouds of
+smoke and loud reports. Many of the soldiers fell dead, others took
+refuge in the wood, whence they returned to the king to give an
+account of what had taken place.
+
+Whereupon the king flew into a violent rage, furious that he had as
+yet failed to take the fool. But his wish to possess the feast-giving
+tablecloth, the magic wand, the lake-forming sash, and above all the
+helmet with twenty-four horns, was stronger than ever.
+
+Having reflected for some days on the best ways and means to attain
+his object, he resolved to try the effect of kindness, and sent for
+the fool's mother.
+
+"Tell your son, the fool," said his majesty to the woman, "that my
+charming daughter and I send greeting, and that we shall consider it
+an honour if he will come here and show us the marvellous things he
+possesses. Should he feel inclined to make me a present of them, I
+will give him half my kingdom and will make him my heir. You may also
+say that the princess, my daughter, will choose him for her husband."
+
+The good woman hastened home to her son, whom she advised to accept
+the king's invitation and show him his treasures. The fool wound the
+waistband round his loins, put the helmet on his head, hid the
+tablecloth in his breast, took his magic wand in his hand, and started
+off to go to the court.
+
+The king was not there on his arrival, but he was received by the
+paladin, who saluted him courteously. Music played, and the troops did
+him military honours--in fact, he was treated far better than he had
+expected. On being presented to the king he took off his helmet, and
+bowing low, said: "O king, I am come to lay at the foot of your throne
+my tablecloth, waistband, wand, and helmet. In return for these gifts
+I beg that your favour may be shown to the most humble of your
+subjects."
+
+"Tell me then, fool, what price you want for these goods?"
+
+"Not money, sire, a fool of my sort cares very little about money. Has
+not the king promised my mother that he will give me in exchange the
+half of his kingdom, and the hand of his daughter in marriage? These
+are the gifts I claim."
+
+After these words the paladin was filled with envy at the good fortune
+of the fool, and made a sign for the guards to enter. The soldiers
+seized the poor fellow, dragged him out into the courtyard, and they
+killed him treacherously to the sound of drums and trumpets, after
+which they covered him over with earth.
+
+Now it happened that when the soldiers stabbed him his blood spurted
+out, and some of the drops fell beneath the princess's window. The
+maiden wept bitterly at the sight, watering the blood-stained ground
+with her tears. And lo! marvellous to relate, an apple-tree grew out
+of the blood-sprinkled earth. And it grew so rapidly that its branches
+soon touched the windows of her rooms; by noon it was covered with
+blossom, while at eventide ripe red apples hung thereon. As the
+princess was admiring them she noticed that one of the apples
+trembled, and when she touched it, it fell into the bosom of her
+dress. This took her fancy, and she held it in her hand.
+
+Meanwhile the sun had set, night had fallen, and every one in the
+palace was asleep, except the guard, the paladin, and the princess.
+The guard, sword in hand, patrolled up and down, for it was his duty.
+The princess toyed with her pretty little apple, and could not sleep.
+The paladin, who had gone to bed, was aroused by a sound that made his
+blood run cold, for the avenging wand stood before him and began to
+beat him soundly. And although he rushed from the room trying to
+escape from it, it followed him, crying out:
+
+  "False paladin, you worthless man,
+    Do not so envious be;
+  Why act unjustly, when you can
+    Both just and honest be?
+  For others' goods why have you such a liking?
+  You rogue, you thief, be sure I'll keep on striking."
+
+The unhappy man wept and cried for mercy, but the wand still continued
+to strike.
+
+The princess was distressed on hearing these cries of distress, and
+she watered her much-cherished apple with her tears. And, strange to
+tell, the apple grew and changed its shape. Thus continuing to change,
+it suddenly turned into a handsome young man, even the very same who
+had been killed that morning.
+
+"Lovely princess, I salute you," said the fool. "The cunning of the
+paladin caused my death, but with your tears you have restored me to
+life. Your father promised to give you to me: are you willing?"
+
+"If such be the king's wish, I consent," replied she, as she gave him
+her hand with a tender look.
+
+As he spoke the door opened, admitting the helmet, which placed itself
+upon his head; the sash, which wound itself round his waist; the
+tablecloth, which hid itself in one of his pockets; and the avenging
+wand, which placed itself in his hand. Then came the king, all out of
+breath, and wondering what the noise was about. He was amazed to see
+the fool alive again, and even more so that he should be with the
+princess.
+
+The young fellow, fearing the king's wrath, cried out:
+
+  "O marvellous, wonderful, lake-forming Band,
+    For my safety, and not for my fun,
+  Bear us in a boat on thy waves far from land,
+    So that we from our foes need not run."
+
+There was a shimmering in the air, and then everything disappeared,
+while on the lawn before the palace stretched a wide deep lake, in the
+crystal water of which swam little fish with eyes of pearl and scales
+of gold. Far away rowed the princess and the fool in a silver skiff.
+The king stood on the shores of the lake and signed to them to return.
+When they had landed they knelt at his feet and avowed their mutual
+love. Upon which his majesty bestowed his blessing, the lake
+disappeared, and they again found themselves in the princess's
+apartments.
+
+The king called a special meeting of his council, at which he
+explained how things had turned out--that he had made the fool his
+heir, and betrothed him to his daughter, and had put the paladin in
+prison.
+
+The fool gave the king his magic treasures, and told him what words to
+say in each case.
+
+Next day all their wishes were fulfilled. The fool of the family was
+married to the princess, and at the same time received half the
+kingdom, with the promise of succession to the throne. And the wedding
+feast, to which all the rich and noble of the land were invited,
+exceeded in its magnificence and splendour any other festival ever
+seen or heard of.
+
+
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+_Printed by_ BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
+_Edinburgh and London_
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and
+Herdsmen, by Alexander Chodsko
+
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+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and
+Herdsmen, by Alexander Chodsko
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and Herdsmen
+
+Author: Alexander Chodsko
+
+Illustrator: Emily J. Harding
+
+Translator: Emily J. Harding
+
+Release Date: May 22, 2008 [EBook #25555]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIRY TALES OF SLAV PEASANTS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div id="frontmatter">
+	<p class="half-title"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="pagei" title="i">&nbsp;</a>SLAV TALES</p>
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="pageii" title="ii">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/pub_device.png"><img src="images/pub_device-th.png" width="152" height="154" title="George Allen Publisher, London, Ruskin House." alt="Publisher's Device" /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="pageiii" title="iii">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<div class="image" id="frontispiece"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="pageiv" title="iv">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/frontis.png"><img src="images/frontis-th.png" width="291" height="490" title="Frontispiece" alt="A woman sits holding an apple." /></a>
+		<p class="caption">From&#8220;The Plentiful Tablecloth,&#8221; <a href="#page351">p. 351</a>.</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<div id="title_page"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="pagev" title="v">&nbsp;</a>
+		<div id="fancy_title">
+			<h1 class="main_title"><span class="smaller">Fairy Tales of the</span><br />
+			Slav Peasants and
+			Herdsmen</h1> <p class="author">From the
+			French of Alex. Chodsko</p>
+			<p class="illustrator">Translated and Illustrated
+			by Emily J. Harding</p>
+		</div>
+
+		<p class="publisher">London: George Allen <br />
+		156 Charing Cross Road</p>
+		<p class="publish_date">1896</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<div id="printers_page"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="pagevi" title="vi">&nbsp;</a>
+		<p>Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson &amp; Co. <br />
+		At the Ballantyne Press</p>
+	</div>
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="note" class="section"><a class="pagenum" id="pagevii" title="vii">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2>NOTE BY THE PUBLISHER</h2>
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">Very</span> few of the twenty fairy tales included in this
+	volume have been presented before in an English
+	dress; this will doubtless enhance their value in the eyes
+	of the young folk, for whom, principally, they are intended.
+	It is hoped that older readers will find some additional
+	interest in tracing throughout the many evidences of kinship
+	between these stories and those of more pronounced
+	Eastern origin.</p>
+
+	<p>The translation has been carefully revised by a well-known
+	writer, who has interfered as little as possible with
+	the original text, except in those instances where slight
+	alterations were necessary.</p>
+
+	<p>The illustrations speak for themselves, and are what
+	might have been expected from the artist who designed
+	those for the &#8220;Lullabies of Many Lands,&#8221; issued last
+	Christmas.</p>
+
+
+	<p class="dateline">November 1895.</p>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="pageviii" title="viii">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+
+</div>
+
+
+<div id="contents" class="section"><a class="pagenum cheater" id="pageix" title="ix">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+	<ul>
+		<li><a href="#story_group_1" class="story_link">THE ABODE OF THE GODS&#8212;</a>        <span class="toc_page smaller">PAGE</span>
+			<ol>
+				<li><a href="#story_1" class="story_link">THE TWO BROTHERS</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page3">3</a></li>
+				<li><a href="#story_2" class="story_link">TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page10">10</a></li>
+				<li><a href="#story_3" class="story_link">THE TWELVE MONTHS</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page17">17</a></li>
+			</ol>
+		</li>
+		<li><a href="#story_4" class="story_link">THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSÉVÈDE</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page29">29</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_group_2" class="story_link">KOVLAD&#8212;</a>
+			<ol>
+				<li><a href="#story_5" class="story_link">THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page51">51</a></li>
+				<li><a href="#story_6" class="story_link">THE LOST CHILD</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page60">60</a></li>
+			</ol>
+		</li>
+		<li><a href="#story_7" class="story_link">THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page73">73</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_8" class="story_link">THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page93">93</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_9" class="story_link">THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page103">103</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_10" class="story_link">THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING, AND THE SMITING CLUB</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page121">121</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_11" class="story_link">THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page155">155</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_12" class="story_link">THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page173">173</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_13" class="story_link">THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page185">185</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_14" class="story_link">THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page207">207</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_15" class="story_link">IMPERISHABLE</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page231">231</a></li>
+		<li><a class="pagenum cheater" id="pagex" title="x">&nbsp;</a><a href="#story_16" class="story_link">OHNIVAK</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page265">265</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_17" class="story_link">TEARS OF PEARLS</a>        <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page293">293</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_18" class="story_link">THE SLUGGARD</a>        <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page311">311</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_19" class="story_link">KINKACH MARTINKO</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page323">323</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_20" class="story_link">THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND, THE SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page333">333</a></li>
+	</ul>
+</div>
+
+<div id="illustrations" class="section"><a class="pagenum cheater" id="pagexi" title="xi">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2>
+
+	<ul>
+		<li><a href="images/frontis.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Frontispiece</a>         <a href="#frontispiece" class="toc_page frontis_link" title="Go to page in text">To face Title</a></li>
+		<li>The Abode of the Gods&#8212;
+			<ol>
+				<li>The Two Brothers.                  <span class="toc_page smaller">PAGE</span>
+					<ul>
+						<li><a href="images/illo-01.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page3">3</a></li>
+						<li><a href="images/illo-02.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page5">5</a></li>
+					</ul>
+				</li>
+				<li>Time and the Kings of the Elements.
+					<ul>
+						<li><a href="images/illo-03.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page10">10</a></li>
+						<li><a href="images/illo-04.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>           <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page13">13</a></li>
+					</ul>
+				</li>
+				<li>The Twelve Months.
+					<ul>
+						<li><a href="images/illo-05.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page17">17</a></li>
+						<li><a href="images/illo-06.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>        <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page23">23</a></li>
+					</ul>
+				</li>
+			</ol>
+		</li>
+		<li>The Sun; or, the Three Golden Hairs of the Old Man Vsévède.
+		    <ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-07.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page31">31</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-08.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page35">35</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-09.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page43">43</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>Kovlad&#8212;
+			<ol>
+				<li>The Sovereign of the Mineral Kingdom.
+					<ul>
+						<li><a href="images/illo-10.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page51">51</a></li>
+						<li><a href="images/illo-11.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>        <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page55">55</a></li>
+					</ul>
+				</li>
+				<li>The Lost Child.
+				<ul>
+					<li><a href="images/illo-12.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page60">60</a></li>
+					<li><a href="images/illo-13.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>         <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page65">65</a></li>
+					<li><a href="images/illo-14.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page69">69</a></li>
+				</ul>
+			</li>
+			</ol>
+		</li>
+		<li><a class="pagenum cheater" id="pagexii" title="xii">&nbsp;</a>The Maid with Hair of Gold.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-15.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page75">75</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-16.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>        <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page81">81</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-17.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page89">89</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>The Journey to the Sun and the Moon.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-18.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page95">95</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-19.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>            <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page99">99</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>The Dwarf with the Long Beard.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-20.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page105">105</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-21.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page111">111</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-22.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page117">117</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>The Flying Carpet, the Invisible Cap, the Gold-giving Ring, and the Smiting Club.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-23.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>        <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page123">123</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-24.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>        <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page127">127</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-25.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page137">137</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-26.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page145">145</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>The Broad Man, the Tall Man, and the Man with Eyes of Flame.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-27.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page157">157</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-28.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page161">161</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-29.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page169">169</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>The History of Prince Slugobyl; or, the Invisible Knight.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-30.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page175">175</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-31.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>       <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page179">179</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>The Spirit of the Steppes.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-32.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>        <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page187">187</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-33.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>      <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page191">191</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-34.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page201">201</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li><a class="pagenum cheater" id="pagexiii" title="xiii">&nbsp;</a>The Prince with the Golden Hand.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-35.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page209">209</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-36.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>     <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page213">213</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-37.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page221">221</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>Imperishable.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-38.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page233">233</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-39.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>     <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page239">239</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-40.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page247">247</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-41.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Half-page design</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page255">255</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-42.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page259">259</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>Ohnivak.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-43.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page267">267</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-44.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page271">271</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-45.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page281">281</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-46.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page289">289</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>Tears of Pearls.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-47.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page295">295</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-48.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page301">301</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-49.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>          <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page307">307</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>The Sluggard.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-50.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page313">313</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-51.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page319">319</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>Kinkach Martinko.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-52.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page325">325</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-53.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Full-page design</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page329">329</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+		<li>The Story of the Plentiful Tablecloth, the Avenging Wand, the Sash that becomes a Lake, and the Terrible Helmet.
+			<ul>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-54.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Heading</a>   <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page335">335</a></li>
+				<li><a href="images/illo-55.png" class="illo_link" title="Open full-size image">Half-page design</a>    <a class="toc_page" title="Go to page in text" href="#page338">338</a></li>
+			</ul>
+		</li>
+	</ul>
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_group_1" class="story_group"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page1" title="1">&nbsp;</a>
+
+	<h2 class="story_group_title">THE ABODE OF THE GODS</h2>
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<ol class="story_group_list">
+		<li><a href="#story_1">THE TWO BROTHERS</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_2">TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_3">THE TWELVE MONTHS</a></li>
+	</ol>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page2" title="2">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<div id="story_1" class="story"><a class="pagenum" id="page3" title="3">&nbsp;</a>
+
+		<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="bg_title" style="background: url(images/illo-01.png) top left no-repeat;width:550px; margin:auto;">
+
+		<div id="sandbag-1" class="sb_left" style="width:550px;height:150px;"></div>
+		<div id="sandbag-2" class="sb_left" style="width:350px;height:650px;"></div>
+		<h3 class="story_title" style="clear:none;"><abbr class="story_number" title="one">I</abbr><br />
+			THE TWO BROTHERS</h3>
+		<p class="first_paragraph" ><span class="first_word">Once</span> upon a
+		time there
+		were two brothers
+		whose father had left
+		them but a small
+		fortune. The eldest
+		grew very rich, but at
+		the same time cruel and
+		wicked, whereas there
+		was nowhere a more
+		honest or kinder man
+		than the younger. But
+		he remained poor,
+		and had many children,
+		so that at times
+		they could scarcely
+		get bread to eat. At
+		last, one day there
+		was not even this
+		in the house, so he
+		went to his rich
+		brother and asked
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page4" title="4">&nbsp;</a>him for a loaf of bread. Waste of time! His rich brother
+		only called him beggar and vagabond, and slammed the door
+		in his face.</p>
+
+		<p>The poor fellow, after this brutal reception, did not know
+		which way to turn. Hungry, scantily clad, shivering with
+		cold, his legs could scarcely carry him along. He had not
+		the heart to go home, with nothing for the children, so he
+		went towards the mountain forest. But all he found there
+		were some wild pears that had fallen to the ground. He had
+		to content himself with eating these, though they set his
+		teeth on edge. But what was he to do to warm himself, for
+		the east wind with its chill blast pierced him through and
+		through. &#8220;Where shall I go?&#8221; he said; &#8220;what will become
+		of us in the cottage? There is neither food nor fire, and
+		my brother has driven me from his door.&#8221; It was just then
+		he remembered having heard that the top of the mountain in
+		front of him was made of crystal, and had a fire for ever
+		burning upon it. &#8220;I will try and find it,&#8221; he said, &#8220;and
+		then I may be able to warm myself a little.&#8221; So he went
+		on climbing higher and higher till he reached the top, when
+		he was startled to see twelve strange beings sitting round
+		a huge fire. He stopped for a moment, but then said to
+		himself, &#8220;What have I to lose? Why should I fear? God
+		is with me. Courage!&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>So he advanced towards the fire, and bowing respectfully,
+		said: &#8220;Good people, take pity on my distress. I am very
+		poor, no one cares for me, I have not even a fire in my
+		cottage; will you let me warm myself at yours?&#8221; They all
+		looked kindly at him, and one of them said: &#8220;My son,
+		come sit down with us and warm yourself.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+		<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page5" title="5">&nbsp;</a>
+			<a href="images/illo-02.png"><img src="images/illo-02-th.png" width="307" height="484" alt="A young man stoops while a crowd of people put a sack on his back." /></a>
+			<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page6" title="6">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+		</div>
+
+		<p><a class="pagenum" id="page7" title="7">&nbsp;</a>So he sat down, and felt warm directly he was near
+		them. But he dared not speak while they were silent.
+		What astonished him most was that they changed seats
+		one after another, and in such a way that each one passed
+		round the fire and came back to his own place. When
+		he drew near the fire an old man with long white beard
+		and bald head arose from the flames and spoke to him
+		thus:</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Man, waste not thy life here; return to thy cottage,
+		work, and live honestly. Take as many embers as thou
+		wilt, we have more than we need.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>And having said this he disappeared. Then the twelve
+		filled a large sack with embers, and, putting it on the poor
+		man&#8217;s shoulders, advised him to hasten home.</p>
+
+		<p>Humbly thanking them, he set off. As he went he
+		wondered why the embers did not feel hot, and why they
+		should weigh no more than a sack of paper. He was
+		thankful that he should be able to have a fire, but imagine
+		his astonishment when on arriving home he found the sack
+		to contain as many gold pieces as there had been embers;
+		he almost went out of his mind with joy at the possession
+		of so much money. With all his heart he thanked those
+		who had been so ready to help him in his need.</p>
+
+		<p>He was now rich, and rejoiced to be able to provide for
+		his family. Being curious to find out how many gold pieces
+		there were, and not knowing how to count, he sent his
+		wife to his rich brother for the loan of a quart measure.</p>
+
+		<p>This time the brother was in a better temper, so he
+		lent what was asked of him, but said mockingly, &#8220;What can
+		such beggars as you have to measure?&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p><a class="pagenum" id="page8" title="8">&nbsp;</a>The wife replied, &#8220;Our neighbour owes us some wheat;
+		we want to be sure he returns us the right quantity.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The rich brother was puzzled, and suspecting something
+		he, unknown to his sister-in-law, put some grease inside the
+		measure. The trick succeeded, for on getting it back he
+		found a piece of gold sticking to it. Filled with astonishment,
+		he could only suppose his brother had joined a band
+		of robbers: so he hurried to his brother&#8217;s cottage, and threatened
+		to bring him before the Justice of the Peace if he did
+		not confess where the gold came from. The poor man was
+		troubled, and, dreading to offend his brother, told the story
+		of his journey to the Crystal Mountain.</p>
+
+		<p>Now the elder brother had plenty of money for himself,
+		yet he was envious of the brother&#8217;s good fortune, and became
+		greatly displeased when he found that his brother
+		won every one&#8217;s esteem by the good use he made of his
+		wealth. At last he determined to visit the Crystal Mountain
+		himself.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I may meet with as good luck as my brother,&#8221; said he
+		to himself.</p>
+
+		<p>Upon reaching the Crystal Mountain he found the twelve
+		seated round the fire as before, and thus addressed them:</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I beg of you, good people, to let me warm myself, for
+		it is bitterly cold, and I am poor and homeless.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>But one of them replied, &#8220;My son, the hour of thy birth
+		was favourable; thou art rich, but a miser; thou art wicked,
+		for thou hast dared to lie to us. Well dost thou deserve thy
+		punishment.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Amazed and terrified he stood silent, not daring to speak.
+		Meanwhile the twelve changed places one after another, each
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page9" title="9">&nbsp;</a>at last returning to his own seat. Then from the midst
+		of the flames arose the white-bearded old man and spoke
+		thus sternly to the rich man:</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Woe unto the wilful! Thy brother is virtuous, therefore
+		have I blessed him. As for thee, thou art wicked, and so
+		shalt not escape our vengeance.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>At these words the twelve arose. The first seized the
+		unfortunate man, struck him, and passed him on to the
+		second; the second also struck him and passed him on to the
+		third; and so did they all in their turn, until he was given up
+		to the old man, who disappeared with him into the fire.</p>
+
+		<p>Days, weeks, months went by, but the rich man never
+		returned, and none knew what had become of him. I think,
+		between you and me, the younger brother had his suspicions
+		but he very wisely kept them to himself.</p>
+
+	</div>
+
+	<div id="story_2" class="story"><a class="pagenum" id="page10" title="10">&nbsp;</a>
+
+		<div class="image">
+			<a href="images/illo-03.png"><img src="images/illo-03-th.png" width="330" height="218" alt="A man is surrounded by a crowd of yelling people." /></a>
+		</div>
+
+		<h3 class="story_title"><abbr class="story_number" title="two">II</abbr><br />
+			TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS</h3>
+
+			<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+			<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">There</span> was once a married pair who loved each other
+			tenderly. The husband would not have given up his
+			wife for all the riches in the world, while her first thought
+			was how best to please him. So they were very happy, and
+			lived like two grains in one ear of corn.</p>
+
+			<p>One day while working in the fields, a great longing came
+			over him to see her: so without waiting for the hour of sunset
+			he ran home. Alas! she was not there. He looked high
+			and low, he ran here, there, and everywhere, he wept, he
+			called to her; in vain! his dear wife was not to be found.</p>
+
+			<p><a class="pagenum" id="page11" title="11">&nbsp;</a>So heartbroken was he that he no longer cared to live.
+			He could think of nothing but the loss of his dear wife and
+			how to find her again. At last he determined to travel all
+			over the world in search of her. So he began to walk straight
+			on, trusting God to direct his steps. Sad and thoughtful,
+			he wandered for many days, until he reached a cottage close
+			by the shores of a large lake. Here he stopped, hoping to
+			find out news. On entering the cottage he was met by a
+			woman, who tried to prevent him entering.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;What do you want here, unlucky wretch?&#8221; said she.
+			&#8220;If my husband sees you, he will kill you instantly.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;Who is your husband then?&#8221; asked the traveller.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;What! you do not know him? My husband is the
+			Water-King; everything under water obeys him. Depart
+			quickly, for if he finds you here he will certainly devour
+			you.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;Perhaps after all he would take pity on me. But hide me
+			somewhere, for I am worn and weary, and without shelter
+			for the night.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>So the Water-Queen was persuaded, and hid him behind
+			the stove. Almost immediately after the Water-King entered.
+			He had barely crossed the threshold when he called out,
+			&#8220;Wife, I smell human flesh; give it me quickly, for I am
+			hungry.&#8221; She dared not disobey him, and so she had to tell
+			him of the traveller&#8217;s hiding-place. The poor man became
+			terribly frightened, and trembled in every limb, and began to
+			stammer out excuses.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;I assure you I have done no harm. I came here in
+			search of news of my poor wife. Oh, do help me to find
+			her; I cannot live without her.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p><a class="pagenum" id="page12" title="12">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Well,&#8221; replied the Water-King, &#8220;as you love your
+			wife so tenderly I will forgive you for coming here, but
+			I cannot help you to find her, for I do not know where
+			she is. Yet I remember seeing two ducks on the lake
+			yesterday, perchance she is one of them. But I should
+			advise you to ask my brother the Fire-King; he may be
+			able to tell you more.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>Happy to have escaped so easily, he thanked the Water-King
+			and set out to find the Fire-King. But the latter
+			was unable to help him, and could only advise him to
+			consult his other brother, the Air-King. But the Air-King,
+			though he had travelled all over the earth, could only say
+			he thought he had seen a woman at the foot of the Crystal
+			Mountain.</p>
+
+			<p>But the traveller was cheered at the news, and went to
+			seek his wife at the foot of the Crystal Mountain, which was
+			close to their cottage. On reaching it he began at once to
+			climb the mountain by making his way up the bed of the
+			torrent that came rushing down there. Several ducks that
+			were in the pools near the waterfall called out, &#8220;My good
+			man, don&#8217;t go up there; you&#8217;ll be killed.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>But he walked fearlessly on till he came to some thatched
+			cottages, at the largest of which he stopped. Here a crowd
+			of wizards and witches surrounded him, screaming at the
+			top of their voices, &#8220;What are you looking for?&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;My wife,&#8221; said he.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;She is here,&#8221; they cried, &#8220;but you cannot take her away
+			unless you recognise her among two hundred women all
+			exactly like her.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page13" title="13">&nbsp;</a>
+				<a href="images/illo-04.png"><img src="images/illo-04-th.png" width="304" height="494" alt="A winged man with a cross-bow startles a young woman." /></a>
+				<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page14" title="14">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+			</div>
+
+			<p>&#8220;What! Not know my own wife? Why, here she is,&#8221;  <!-- Original location of pages 13 & 14 -->
+			<a class="pagenum" id="page15" title="15">&nbsp;</a>said he, as he clasped her in his arms. And she, delighted
+			to be with him again, kissed him fondly. Then she
+			whispered:</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;Dearest, though you knew me to-day I doubt whether
+			you will to-morrow, for there will be so many of us all alike.
+			Now I will tell you what to do. At nightfall go to the top
+			of the Crystal Mountain, where live the King of Time and
+			his court. Ask him how you may know me. If you are good
+			and honest he will help you; if not, he will devour you whole
+			at one mouthful.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;I will do what you advise, dear one,&#8221; he replied, &#8220;but
+			tell me, why did you leave me so suddenly? If you only
+			knew what I have suffered! I have sought you all over the
+			world.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;I did not leave you willingly,&#8221; said she. &#8220;A countryman
+			asked me to come and look at the mountain torrent.
+			When we got there he sprinkled some water over himself, and
+			at once I saw wings growing out of his shoulders, and he
+			soon changed his shape entirely into that of a drake; and I
+			too became a duck at the same time, and whether I would
+			or no I was obliged to follow him. Here I was allowed to
+			resume my own form; and now there is but the one difficulty
+			of being recognised by you.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>So they parted, she to join the other women, he to
+			continue his way to the Crystal Mountain. At the top he
+			found twelve strange beings sitting round a large fire: they
+			were the attendants of the King of Time. He saluted them
+			respectfully.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;What dost thou want?&#8221; said they.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;I have lost my dear wife. Can you tell me how to
+			<a class="pagenum" id="page16" title="16">&nbsp;</a>recognise her among two hundred other women all exactly
+			alike?&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;No,&#8221; said they, &#8220;but perhaps our King can.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>Then arose from the midst of the flames an old man with
+			bald head and long white beard, who, on hearing his request,
+			replied: &#8220;Though all these women be exactly alike, thy wife
+			will have a black thread in the shoe of her right foot.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>So saying he vanished, and the traveller, thanking the
+			twelve, descended the mountain.</p>
+
+			<p>Sure it is that without the black thread he would never
+			have recognised her. And though the Magician tried to
+			hide her, the spell was broken; and the two returned rejoicing
+			to their home, where they lived happily ever after.</p>
+
+	</div>
+
+	<div id="story_3" class="story"><a class="pagenum" id="page17" title="17">&nbsp;</a>
+
+		<div class="image">
+			<a href="images/illo-05.png"><img src="images/illo-05-th.png" width="302" height="346" alt="A portrait of a young woman." /></a>
+		</div>
+
+		<h3 class="story_title"><abbr class="story_number" title="three">III</abbr><br />
+			THE TWELVE MONTHS</h3>
+
+		<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+		<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">There</span> was once a widow who had two daughters, Helen,
+		her own child by her dead husband, and Marouckla,
+		his daughter by his first wife. She loved Helen, but hated
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page18" title="18">&nbsp;</a>the poor orphan, because she was far prettier than her own
+		daughter. Marouckla did not think about her good looks,
+		and could not understand why her stepmother should be
+		angry at the sight of her. The hardest work fell to her share;
+		she cleaned out the rooms, cooked, washed, sewed, spun,
+		wove, brought in the hay, milked the cow, and all this without
+		any help. Helen, meanwhile, did nothing but dress
+		herself in her best clothes and go to one amusement after
+		another. But Marouckla never complained; she bore the
+		scoldings and bad temper of mother and sister with a smile
+		on her lips, and the patience of a lamb. But this angelic
+		behaviour did not soften them. They became even more
+		tyrannical and grumpy, for Marouckla grew daily more
+		beautiful, while Helen&#8217;s ugliness increased. So the stepmother
+		determined to get rid of Marouckla, for she knew that
+		while she remained her own daughter would have no suitors.
+		Hunger, every kind of privation, abuse, every means was used
+		to make the girl&#8217;s life miserable. The most wicked of men
+		could not have been more mercilessly cruel than these two
+		vixens. But in spite of it all Marouckla grew ever sweeter
+		and more charming.</p>
+
+		<p>One day in the middle of winter Helen wanted some
+		wood-violets.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Listen,&#8221; cried she to Marouckla; &#8220;you must go up the
+		mountain and find me some violets, I want some to put in
+		my gown; they must be fresh and sweet-scented&#8212;do you
+		hear?&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;But, my dear sister, who ever heard of violets blooming
+		in the snow?&#8221; said the poor orphan.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;You wretched creature! Do you dare to disobey me?&#8221;
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page19" title="19">&nbsp;</a>said Helen. &#8220;Not another word; off with you. If you do
+		not bring me some violets from the mountain forest, I will
+		kill you.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The stepmother also added her threats to those of Helen,
+		and with vigorous blows they pushed Marouckla outside
+		and shut the door upon her. The weeping girl made her
+		way to the mountain. The snow lay deep, and there was no
+		trace of any human being. Long she wandered hither and
+		thither, and lost herself in the wood. She was hungry, and
+		shivered with cold, and prayed to die. Suddenly she saw a
+		light in the distance, and climbed towards it, till she reached
+		the top of the mountain. Upon the highest peak burnt a large
+		fire, surrounded by twelve blocks of stone, on which sat twelve
+		strange beings. Of these the first three had white hair, three
+		were not quite so old, three were young and handsome, and
+		the rest still younger.</p>
+
+		<p>There they all sate silently looking at the fire. They were
+		the twelve months of the year. The great Setchène (January)
+		was placed higher than the others; his hair and moustache
+		were white as snow, and in his hand he held a wand. At
+		first Marouckla was afraid, but after a while her courage
+		returned, and drawing near she said:</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? I am
+		chilled by the winter cold.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The great Setchène raised his head and answered:</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;What brings thee here, my daughter? What dost thou
+		seek?&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I am looking for violets,&#8221; replied the maiden.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;This is not the season for violets; dost thou not see
+		the snow everywhere?&#8221; said Setchène.</p>
+
+		<p><a class="pagenum" id="page20" title="20">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;I know well, but my sister Helen and my stepmother
+		have ordered me to bring them violets from your mountain:
+		if I return without them they will kill me. I pray you, good
+		shepherds, tell me where they may be found?&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Here the great Setchène arose and went over to the
+		youngest of the months, and placing his wand in his hand,
+		said:</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Brother Brezène (March), do thou take the highest
+		place.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Brezène obeyed, at the same time waving his wand over
+		the fire. Immediately the flames rose towards the sky, the
+		snow began to melt and the trees and shrubs to bud; the
+		grass became green, and from between its blades peeped the
+		pale primrose. It was Spring, and the meadows were blue
+		with violets.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Gather them quickly, Marouckla,&#8221; said Brezène.</p>
+
+		<p>Joyfully she hastened to pick the flowers, and having soon
+		a large bunch she thanked them and ran home. Helen and
+		the stepmother were amazed at the sight of the flowers, the
+		scent of which filled the house.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Where did you find them?&#8221; asked Helen.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Under the trees on the mountain slope,&#8221; said Marouckla.</p>
+
+		<p>Helen kept the flowers for herself and her mother; she
+		did not even thank her step-sister for the trouble she had
+		taken. The next day she desired Marouckla to fetch her
+		strawberries.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Run,&#8221; said she, &#8220;and fetch me strawberries from the
+		mountain: they must be very sweet and ripe.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;But who ever heard of strawberries ripening in the
+		snow?&#8221; exclaimed Marouckla.</p>
+
+		<p><a class="pagenum" id="page21" title="21">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Hold your tongue, worm; don&#8217;t answer me; if I don&#8217;t
+		have my strawberries I will kill you.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Then the stepmother pushed her into the yard and bolted
+		the door. The unhappy girl made her way towards the mountain
+		and to the large fire round which sat the twelve months.
+		The great Setchène occupied the highest place.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? The
+		winter cold chills me,&#8221; said she, drawing near.</p>
+
+		<p>The great Setchène raised his head and asked:</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Why comest thou here? What dost thou seek?&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I am looking for strawberries,&#8221; said she.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;We are in the midst of winter,&#8221; replied Setchène; &#8220;strawberries
+		do not grow in the snow.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I know,&#8221; said the girl sadly, &#8220;but my sister and stepmother
+		have ordered me to bring them strawberries; if I do
+		not they will kill me. Pray, good shepherds, tell me where
+		to find them.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The great Setchène arose, crossed over to the month
+		opposite him, and putting the wand into his hand, said:</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Brother Tchervène (June), do thou take the highest
+		place.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Tchervène obeyed, and as he waved his wand over the
+		fire the flames leapt towards the sky. Instantly the snow
+		melted, the earth was covered with verdure, trees were clothed
+		with leaves, birds began to sing, and various flowers blossomed
+		in the forest. It was summer. Under the bushes masses of
+		star-shaped flowers changed into ripening strawberries. Before
+		Marouckla had time to cross herself they covered the
+		glade, making it look like a sea of blood.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Gather them quickly, Marouckla,&#8221; said Tchervène.</p>
+
+		<p><a class="pagenum" id="page22" title="22">&nbsp;</a>Joyfully she thanked the months, and having filled her
+		apron ran happily home. Helen and her mother wondered
+		at seeing the strawberries, which filled the house with their
+		delicious fragrance.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Wherever did you find them?&#8221; asked Helen crossly.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Right up among the mountains; those from under the
+		beech trees are not bad.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Helen gave a few to her mother and ate the rest herself;
+		not one did she offer to her step-sister. Being tired of strawberries,
+		on the third day she took a fancy for some fresh red
+		apples.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Run, Marouckla,&#8221; said she, &#8220;and fetch me fresh red
+		apples from the mountain.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Apples in winter, sister? why, the trees have neither
+		leaves nor fruit.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Idle slut, go this minute,&#8221; said Helen; &#8220;unless you
+		bring back apples we will kill you.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>As before, the stepmother seized her roughly and turned
+		her out of the house. The poor girl went weeping up the
+		mountain, across the deep snow upon which lay no human
+		footprint, and on towards the fire round which were the twelve
+		months. Motionless sat they, and on the highest stone was
+		the great Setchène.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? The
+		winter cold chills me,&#8221; said she, drawing near.</p>
+
+		<p>The great Setchène raised his head.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Why com&#8217;st thou here? What dost thou seek?&#8221; asked he.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I am come to look for red apples,&#8221; replied Marouckla.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;But this is winter, and not the season for red apples,&#8221;
+		observed the great Setchène.</p>
+
+		<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page23" title="23">&nbsp;</a>
+			<a href="images/illo-06.png"><img src="images/illo-06-th.png" width="314" height="495" alt="A woman reaches for a bough of an apple tree while a shepherd looks on." /></a>
+			<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page24" title="24">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+		</div>
+
+		<p><a class="pagenum" id="page25" title="25">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;I know,&#8221; answered the girl, &#8220;but my sister and stepmother
+		sent me to fetch red apples from the mountain; if I
+		return without them they will kill me.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Thereupon the great Setchène arose and went over to one
+		of the elderly months, to whom he handed the wand, saying:</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Brother Zaré (September), do thou take the highest
+		place.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Zaré moved to the highest stone and waved his wand over
+		the fire. There was a flare of red flames, the snow disappeared,
+		but the fading leaves which trembled on the trees
+		were sent by a cold north-east wind in yellow masses to the
+		glade. Only a few flowers of autumn were visible, such as
+		the fleabane and red gillyflower, autumn colchicums in the
+		ravine, and under the beeches bracken and tufts of northern
+		heather. At first Marouckla looked in vain for red apples.
+		Then she espied a tree which grew at a great height, and
+		from the branches of this hung the bright red fruit. Zaré
+		ordered her to gather some quickly. The girl was delighted
+		and shook the tree. First one apple fell, then another.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;That is enough,&#8221; said Zaré, &#8220;hurry home.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Thanking the months, she returned joyfully. Helen marvelled
+		and the stepmother wondered at seeing the fruit.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Where did you gather them?&#8221; asked the step-sister.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;There are more on the mountain top,&#8221; answered Marouckla.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Then why did you not bring more?&#8221; said Helen angrily;
+		&#8220;you must have eaten them on your way back, you wicked
+		girl.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;No, dear sister, I have not even tasted them,&#8221; said
+		Marouckla. &#8220;I shook the tree twice; one apple fell each
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page26" title="26">&nbsp;</a>time. I was not allowed to shake it again, but was told to
+		return home.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;May Perum smite you with his thunderbolt,&#8221; said Helen,
+		striking her.</p>
+
+		<p>Marouckla prayed to die rather than suffer such ill-treatment.
+		Weeping bitterly, she took refuge in the kitchen. Helen
+		and her mother found the apples more delicious than any
+		they had ever tasted, and when they had eaten both longed
+		for more.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Listen, mother,&#8221; said Helen. &#8220;Give me my cloak; I will
+		fetch some more apples myself, or else that good-for-nothing
+		wretch will eat them all on the way. I shall be able to find
+		the mountain and the tree. The shepherds may cry &#8216;Stop,&#8217;
+		but I shall not leave go till I have shaken down all the
+		apples.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>In spite of her mother&#8217;s advice she put on her pelisse,
+		covered her head with a warm hood, and took the road to
+		the mountain. The mother stood and watched her till she
+		was lost in the distance.</p>
+
+		<p>Snow covered everything, not a human footprint was to
+		be seen on its surface. Helen lost herself and wandered
+		hither and thither. After a while she saw a light above
+		her, and following in its direction reached the mountain top.
+		There was the flaming fire, the twelve blocks of stone, and
+		the twelve months. At first she was frightened and hesitated;
+		then she came nearer and warmed her hands. She did not
+		ask permission, nor did she speak one polite word.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;What has brought thee here? What dost thou seek?&#8221;
+		said the great Setchène severely.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I am not obliged to tell you, old greybeard; what business
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page27" title="27">&nbsp;</a>is it of yours?&#8221; she replied disdainfully, turning her back on
+		the fire and going towards the forest.</p>
+
+		<p>The great Setchène frowned, and waved his wand over his
+		head. Instantly the sky became covered with clouds, the
+		fire went down, snow fell in large flakes, an icy wind howled
+		round the mountain. Amid the fury of the storm Helen
+		added curses against her step-sister. The pelisse failed to
+		warm her benumbed limbs. The mother kept on waiting
+		for her; she looked from the window, she watched from
+		the doorstep, but her daughter came not. The hours passed
+		slowly, but Helen did not return.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Can it be that the apples have charmed her from her
+		home?&#8221; thought the mother. Then she clad herself in hood
+		and pelisse and went in search of her daughter. Snow fell
+		in huge masses; it covered all things, it lay untouched by
+		human footsteps. For long she wandered hither and thither;
+		the icy north-east wind whistled in the mountain, but no
+		voice answered her cries.</p>
+
+		<p>Day after day Marouckla worked and prayed, and waited;
+		but neither stepmother nor sister returned, they had been
+		frozen to death on the mountain. The inheritance of a
+		small house, a field, and a cow fell to Marouckla. In course
+		of time an honest farmer came to share them with her, and
+		their lives were happy and peaceful.</p>
+
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page28" title="28">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	</div>
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_4" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page29" title="29">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE SUN <br />
+		<span class="stopword">OR</span><br />
+		THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSÉVÈDE</h2>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page30" title="30">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page31" title="31">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-07.png"><img src="images/illo-07-th.png" width="308" height="243" alt="A small naked boy with hair of flame." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS
+    OF THE OLD MAN VSÉVÈDE</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">Can</span> this be a true story? It is said that once there was
+	a king who was exceedingly fond of hunting the wild
+	beasts in his forests. One day he followed a stag so far and
+	so long that he lost his way. Alone and overtaken by night,
+	he was glad to find himself near a small thatched cottage in
+	which lived a charcoal-burner.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page32" title="32">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Will you kindly show me the way to the high-road?
+	You shall be handsomely rewarded.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I would willingly,&#8221; said the charcoal-burner, &#8220;but
+	God is going to send my wife a little child, and I cannot
+	leave her alone. Will you pass the night under our roof?
+	There is a truss of sweet hay in the loft where you may
+	rest, and to-morrow morning I will be your guide.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king accepted the invitation and went to bed in the
+	loft. Shortly after a son was born to the charcoal-burner&#8217;s
+	wife. But the king could not sleep. At midnight he heard
+	noises in the house, and looking through a crack in the flooring
+	he saw the charcoal-burner asleep, his wife almost in a faint,
+	and by the side of the newly-born babe three old women
+	dressed in white, each holding a lighted taper in her hand, and
+	all talking together. Now these were the three Soudiché or
+	Fates, you must know.</p>
+
+	<p>The first said, &#8220;On this boy I bestow the gift of confronting
+	great dangers.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The second said, &#8220;I bestow the power of happily escaping
+	all these dangers, and of living to a good old age.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The third said, &#8220;I bestow upon him for wife the princess
+	born at the selfsame hour as he, and daughter of the very
+	king sleeping above in the loft.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>At these words the lights went out and silence reigned
+	around.</p>
+
+	<p>Now the king was greatly troubled, and wondered exceedingly;
+	he felt as if he had received a sword-thrust in
+	the chest. He lay awake all night thinking how to prevent
+	the words of the Fates from coming true.</p>
+
+	<p>With the first glimmer of morning light the baby began
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page33" title="33">&nbsp;</a>to cry. The charcoal-burner, on going over to it, found that
+	his wife was dead.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Poor little orphan,&#8221; he said sadly, &#8220;what will become of
+	thee without a mother&#8217;s care?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Confide this child to me,&#8221; said the king, &#8220;I will look after
+	it. He shall be well provided for. You shall be given a sum
+	of money large enough to keep you without having to burn
+	charcoal.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The poor man gladly agreed, and the king went away
+	promising to send some one for the child. The queen and
+	courtiers thought it would be an agreeable surprise for the
+	king to hear that a charming little princess had been born
+	on the night he was away. But instead of being pleased he
+	frowned, and calling one of his servants, said to him, &#8220;Go
+	to the charcoal-burner&#8217;s cottage in the forest, and give the
+	man this purse in exchange for a new-born infant. On
+	your way back drown the child. See well that he is drowned,
+	for if he should in any way escape, you yourself shall suffer
+	in his place.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The servant was given the child in a basket, and on
+	reaching the centre of a narrow bridge that stretched across
+	a wide and deep river, he threw both basket and baby into
+	the water.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;A prosperous journey to you, Mr. Son-in-Law,&#8221; said the
+	king, on hearing the servant&#8217;s story: for he fully believed
+	the child was drowned. But it was far from being the case;
+	the little one was floating happily along in its basket cradle,
+	and slumbering as sweetly as if his mother had sung him
+	to sleep. Now it happened that a fisherman, who was mending
+	his nets before his cottage door, saw the basket floating
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page34" title="34">&nbsp;</a>down the river. He jumped at once into his boat, picked
+	it up, and ran to tell his wife the good news.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Look,&#8221; said he, &#8220;you have always longed for a son;
+	here is a beautiful little boy the river has sent us.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The woman was delighted, and took the infant and loved
+	it as her own child. They named him <em>Plavacek</em> (the floater),
+	because he had come to them floating on the water.</p>
+
+	<p>The river flowed on. Years passed away. The little
+	baby grew into a handsome youth; in all the villages round
+	there were none to compare with him. Now it happened
+	that one summer day the king was riding unattended. And
+	the heat being very great he reined in his horse before the
+	fisherman&#8217;s door to ask for a drink of water. Plavacek
+	brought the water. The king looked at him attentively, then
+	turning to the fisherman, said, &#8220;That is a good-looking lad;
+	is he your son?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;He is and he isn&#8217;t,&#8221; replied the fisherman. &#8220;I found
+	him, when he was quite a tiny baby, floating down the stream
+	in a basket. So we adopted him and brought him up as
+	our own son.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king turned as pale as death, for he guessed that he
+	was the same child he had ordered to be drowned. Then
+	recovering himself he got down from his horse and said: &#8220;I
+	want a trusty messenger to take a letter to the palace, could
+	you send him with it?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;With pleasure! Your majesty may be sure of its safe
+	delivery.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image">	<a class="pagenum disguise" id="page35" title="35">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-08.png"><img src="images/illo-08-th.png" width="314" height="476" alt="A man hands a baby to a woman." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page36" title="36">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Thereupon the king wrote to the queen as follows&#8212;</p>
+
+	<blockquote>
+		<p>&#8220;The man who brings you this letter is the most dangerous
+		of all my enemies. Have his head cut off at once;  <!-- Original location of page 35/36 -->
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page37" title="37">&nbsp;</a>no delay, no pity, he must be executed before my return.
+		Such is my will and pleasure.&#8221;</p>
+	</blockquote>
+
+	<p>This he carefully folded and sealed with the royal seal.</p>
+
+	<p>Plavacek took the letter and set off immediately. But
+	the forest through which he had to pass was so large, and
+	the trees so thick, that he missed the path and was overtaken
+	by the darkness before the journey was nearly over.
+	In the midst of his trouble he met an old woman who
+	said, &#8220;Where are you going, Plavacek? Where are you
+	going?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am the bearer of a letter from the king to the queen,
+	but have missed the path to the palace. Could you, good
+	mother, put me on the right road?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Impossible to-day, my child; it is getting dark, and you
+	would not have time to get there. Stay with me to-night.
+	You will not be with strangers, for I am your godmother.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Plavacek agreed. Thereupon they entered a pretty little
+	cottage that seemed suddenly to sink into the earth. Now
+	while he slept the old woman changed his letter for another,
+	which ran thus:&#8212;</p>
+
+	<blockquote>
+		<p>&#8220;Immediately upon the receipt of this letter introduce
+		the bearer to the princess our daughter. I have chosen this
+		young man for my son-in-law, and it is my wish they should
+		be married before my return to the palace. Such is my
+		pleasure.&#8221;</p>
+	</blockquote>
+
+	<p>The letter was duly delivered, and when the queen had
+	read it, she ordered everything to be prepared for the wedding.
+	Both she and her daughter greatly enjoyed Plavacek&#8217;s
+	society, and nothing disturbed the happiness of the newly
+	married pair.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page38" title="38">&nbsp;</a>Within a few days the king returned, and on hearing what
+	had taken place was very angry with the queen.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;But you expressly bade me have the wedding before
+	your return. Come, read your letter again, here it is,&#8221;
+	said she.</p>
+
+	<p>He closely examined the letter; the paper, handwriting,
+	seal&#8212;all were undoubtedly his. He then called his son-in-law,
+	and questioned him about his journey. Plavacek hid
+	nothing: he told how he had lost his way, and how he had
+	passed the night in a cottage in the forest.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What was the old woman like?&#8221; asked the king.</p>
+
+	<p>From Plavacek&#8217;s description the king knew it was the
+	very same who, twenty years before, had foretold the marriage
+	of the princess with the charcoal-burner&#8217;s son. After some
+	moments&#8217; thought the king said, &#8220;What is done is done.
+	But you will not become my son-in-law so easily. No, i&#8217; faith!
+	As a wedding present you must bring me three golden hairs
+	from the head of Dède-Vsévède.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>In this way he thought to get rid of his son-in-law, whose
+	very presence was distasteful to him. The young fellow took
+	leave of his wife and set off. &#8220;I know not which way to go,&#8221;
+	said he to himself, &#8220;but my godmother the witch will surely
+	help me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>But he found the way easily enough. He walked on and
+	on and on for a long time over mountain, valley, and river,
+	until he reached the shores of the Black Sea. There he
+	found a boat and boatman.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;May God bless you, old boatman,&#8221; said he.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;And you, too, my young traveller. Where are you
+	going?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page39" title="39">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;To Dède-Vsévède&#8217;s castle for three of his golden
+	hairs.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, then you are very welcome. For a long weary while
+	I have been waiting for such a messenger as you. I have
+	been ferrying passengers across for these twenty years, and
+	not one of them has done anything to help me. If you will
+	promise to ask Dède-Vsévède when I shall be released from
+	my toil I will row you across.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Plavacek promised, and was rowed to the opposite bank.
+	He continued his journey on foot until he came in sight of
+	a large town half in ruins, near which was passing a funeral
+	procession. The king of that country was following his father&#8217;s
+	coffin, and with the tears running down his cheeks.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;May God comfort you in your distress,&#8221; said Plavacek.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Thank you, good traveller. Where are you going?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;To the house of Dède-Vsévède in quest of three of his
+	golden hairs.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;To the house of Dède-Vsévède? indeed! What a pity
+	you did not come sooner, we have long been expecting such
+	a messenger as you. Come and see me by and bye.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When Plavacek presented himself at court the king said
+	to him:</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;We understand you are on your way to the house of
+	Dède-Vsévède? Now we have an apple-tree here that bears
+	the fruit of everlasting youth. One of these apples eaten by
+	a man, even though he be dying, will cure him and make
+	him young again. For the last twenty years neither fruit
+	nor flower has been found on this tree. Will you ask Dède-Vsévède
+	the cause of it?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;That I will, with pleasure.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page40" title="40">&nbsp;</a>Then Plavacek continued his journey, and as he went
+	he came to a large and beautiful city where all was sad and
+	silent. Near the gate was an old man who leant on a stick
+	and walked with difficulty.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;May God bless you, good old man.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;And you, too, my handsome young traveller. Where
+	are you going?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;To Dède-Vsévède&#8217;s palace in search of three of his
+	golden hairs.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, you are the very messenger I have so long waited
+	for. Allow me to take you to my master the king.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>On their arrival at the palace, the king said, &#8220;I hear you
+	are an ambassador to Dède-Vsévède. We have here a well,
+	the water of which renews itself. So wonderful are its effects
+	that invalids are immediately cured on drinking it, while a
+	few drops sprinkled on a corpse will bring it to life again.
+	For the past twenty years this well has remained dry: if
+	you will ask old Dède-Vsévède how the flow of water may
+	be restored I will reward you royally.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Plavacek promised to do so, and was dismissed with good
+	wishes. He then travelled through deep dark forests, in
+	the midst of which might be seen a large meadow; out of
+	it grew lovely flowers, and in the centre stood a castle built
+	of gold. It was the home of Dède-Vsévède. So brilliant
+	with light was it that it seemed to be built of fire. When
+	he entered there was no one there but an old woman
+	spinning.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Greeting, Plavacek, I am well pleased to see you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>She was his godmother, who had given him shelter in
+	her cottage when he was the bearer of the king&#8217;s letter.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page41" title="41">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Tell me what brings you here from such a distance,&#8221;
+	she went on.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;The king would not have me for his son-in-law, unless
+	I first got him three golden hairs from the head of Dède-Vsévède.
+	So he sent me here to fetch them.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The Fate laughed. &#8220;Dède-Vsévède indeed! Why, I am
+	his mother, it is the shining sun himself. He is a child at
+	morning time, a grown man at midday, a decrepit old man,
+	looking as if he had lived a hundred years, at eventide.
+	But I will see that you have the three hairs from his head;
+	I am not your godmother for nothing. All the same you
+	must not remain here. My son is a good lad, but when
+	he comes home he is hungry, and would very probably order
+	you to be roasted for his supper. Now I will turn this empty
+	bucket upside down, and you shall hide underneath it.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Plavacek begged the Fate to obtain from Dède-Vsévède
+	the answers to the three questions he had been asked.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I will do so certainly, but you must listen to what he
+	says.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Suddenly a blast of wind howled round the palace, and
+	the Sun entered by a western window. He was an old man
+	with golden hair.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I smell human flesh,&#8221; cried he, &#8220;I am sure of it.
+	Mother, you have some one here.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Star of day,&#8221; she replied, &#8220;whom could I have here that
+	you would not see sooner than I? The fact is that in your
+	daily journeys the scent of human flesh is always with you,
+	so when you come home at evening it clings to you still.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The old man said nothing, and sat down to supper.
+	When he had finished he laid his golden head on the Fate&#8217;s
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page42" title="42">&nbsp;</a>lap and went to sleep. Then she pulled out a hair and threw
+	it on the ground. It fell with a metallic sound like the
+	vibration of a guitar string.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What do you want, mother?&#8221; asked he.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Nothing, my son; I was sleeping, and had a strange
+	dream.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What was it, mother?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I thought I was in a place where there was a well, and
+	the well was fed from a spring, the water of which cured
+	all diseases. Even the dying were restored to health on
+	drinking that water, and the dead who were sprinkled with
+	it came to life again. For the last twenty years the well
+	has run dry. What must be done to restore the flow of
+	water?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;That is very simple. A frog has lodged itself in the
+	opening of the spring, this prevents the flow of water. Kill
+	the frog, and the water will return to the well.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He slept again, and the old woman pulled out another
+	golden hair, and threw it on the ground.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Mother, what do you want?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Nothing, my son, nothing; I was dreaming. In my
+	dream I saw a large town, the name of which I have forgotten.
+	And there grew an apple-tree the fruit of which
+	had the power to make the old young again. A single apple
+	eaten by an old man would restore to him the vigour and
+	freshness of youth. For twenty years this tree has not borne
+	fruit. What can be done to make it fruitful?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;The means are not difficult. A snake hidden among
+	the roots destroys the sap. Kill the snake, transplant the
+	tree, and the fruit will grow as before.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page43" title="43">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-09.png"><img src="images/illo-09-th.png" width="317" height="492" alt="An old woman sits in a chair; a man rests his head on her lap." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page44" title="44">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page45" title="45">&nbsp;</a>He again fell asleep, and the old woman pulled out another
+	golden hair.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Now look here, mother, why will you not let me sleep?&#8221;
+	said the old man, really vexed; and he would have got up.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Lie down, my darling son, do not disturb yourself. I
+	am sorry I awoke you, but I have had a very strange dream.
+	It seemed that I saw a boatman on the shores of the Black
+	Sea, and he complained that he had been toiling at the ferry
+	for twenty years without any one having come to take his
+	place. For how much longer must this poor old man continue
+	to row?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;He is a silly fellow. He has but to place his oars in
+	the hands of the first comer and jump ashore. Whoever
+	receives the oars will replace him as ferryman. But leave me
+	in peace now, mother, and do not wake me again. I have
+	to rise very early, and must first dry the eyes of a princess.
+	The poor thing spends all night weeping for her husband who
+	has been sent by the king to get three of my golden hairs.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Next morning the wind whistled round Dède-Vsévède&#8217;s
+	palace, and instead of an old man, a beautiful child with
+	golden hair awoke on the old woman&#8217;s lap. It was the
+	glorious sun. He bade her good-bye, and flew out of the
+	eastern window. The old woman turned up the bucket and
+	said to Plavacek, &#8220;Look, here are the three golden hairs.
+	You now know the answers to your questions. May God
+	direct you and send you a prosperous journey. You will
+	not see me again, for you will have no further need of me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He thanked her gratefully and left her. On arriving at
+	the town with the dried-up well, he was questioned by the
+	king as to what news he had brought.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page46" title="46">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Have the well carefully cleaned out,&#8221; said he, &#8220;kill the
+	frog that obstructs the spring, and the wonderful water will
+	flow again.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king did as he was advised, and rejoiced to see the
+	water return. He gave Plavacek twelve swan-white horses,
+	and as much gold and silver as they could carry.</p>
+
+	<p>On reaching the second town and being asked by the
+	king what news he had brought, he replied, &#8220;Excellent; one
+	could not wish for better. Dig up your apple-tree, kill the
+	snake that lies among the roots, transplant the tree, and it
+	will produce apples like those of former times.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And all turned out as he had said, for no sooner was the
+	tree replanted than it was covered with blossoms that gave
+	it the appearance of a sea of roses. The delighted king
+	gave him twelve raven-black horses, laden with as much wealth
+	as they could carry. He then journeyed to the shores of
+	the Black Sea. There the boatman questioned him as to
+	what news he had brought respecting his release. Plavacek
+	first crossed with his twenty-four horses to the opposite bank,
+	and then replied that the boatman might gain his freedom
+	by placing the oars in the hands of the first traveller who
+	wished to be ferried over.</p>
+
+	<p>Plavacek&#8217;s royal father-in-law could not believe his eyes
+	when he saw Dède-Vsévède&#8217;s three golden hairs. As for
+	the princess, his young wife, she wept tears, but of joy, not
+	sadness, to see her dear one again, and she said to him,
+	&#8220;How did you get such splendid horses and so much wealth,
+	dear husband?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And he answered her, &#8220;All this represents the price paid
+	for the weariness of spirit I have felt; it is the ready money
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page47" title="47">&nbsp;</a>for hardships endured and services given. Thus, I showed
+	one king how to regain possession of the Apples of Youth:
+	to another I told the secret of reopening the spring of water
+	that gives health and life.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Apples of Youth! Water of Life!&#8221; interrupted the king.
+	&#8220;I will certainly go and find these treasures for myself. Ah,
+	what joy! having eaten of these apples I shall become young
+	again; having drunk of the Water of Immortality, I shall live
+	for ever.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And he started off in search of these treasures. But he
+	has not yet returned from his search.</p>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page48" title="48">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_group_2" class="story_group"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page49" title="49">&nbsp;</a>
+
+	<h2 class="story_group_title">KOVLAD</h2>
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<ol class="story_group_list">
+		<li><a href="#story_5">THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM</a></li>
+		<li><a href="#story_6">THE LOST CHILD</a></li>
+	</ol>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page50" title="50">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<div id="story_5" class="story"><a class="pagenum" id="page51" title="51">&nbsp;</a>
+		<div class="image">
+			<a href="images/illo-10.png"><img src="images/illo-10-th.png" width="305" height="163" alt="Head and shoulders view of three men. One faces out, the other two face to either side." /></a>
+		</div>
+
+		<h3 class="story_title"><abbr class="story_number" title="one">I</abbr><br />
+			THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM</h3>
+
+		<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+		<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">Once</span> upon a time, and a long long time ago it was,
+		there lived a widow who had a very pretty daughter.
+		The mother, good honest woman, was quite content with her
+		station in life. But with the daughter it was otherwise; she,
+		like a spoilt beauty, looked contemptuously upon her many
+		admirers, her mind was full of proud and ambitious thoughts,
+		and the more lovers she had, the prouder she became.</p>
+
+		<p>One beautiful moonlight night the mother awoke, and
+		being unable to sleep, began to pray God for the happiness
+		of her only child, though she often made her mother&#8217;s life
+		miserable. The fond woman looked lovingly at the beautiful
+		daughter sleeping by her side, and she wondered, as she
+		saw her smile, what happy dream had visited her. Then
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page52" title="52">&nbsp;</a>she finished her prayer, and laying her head on the girl&#8217;s
+		pillow, fell asleep. Next day she said, &#8220;Come, darling child,
+		tell me what you were dreaming about last night, you looked
+		so happy smiling in your sleep.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Oh yes, mother, I remember. I had a very beautiful
+		dream. I thought a rich nobleman came to our house, in
+		a splendid carriage of brass, and gave me a ring set with
+		stones, that sparkled like the stars of heaven. When I entered
+		the church with him, it was full of people, and they all
+		thought me divine and adorable, like the Blessed Virgin.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Ah! my child, what sin! May God keep you from
+		such dreams.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>But the daughter ran away singing, and busied herself
+		about the house. The same day a handsome young farmer
+		drove into the village in his cart and begged them to come
+		and share his country bread. He was a kind fellow, and
+		the mother liked him much. But the daughter refused his
+		invitation, and insulted him into the bargain.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Even if you had driven in a carriage of brass,&#8221; she said,
+		&#8220;and had offered me a ring set with stones shining as the
+		stars in heaven, I would never have married you&#8212;you, a
+		mere peasant!&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The young farmer was terribly upset at her words, and
+		with a prayer for her soul, returned home a saddened man.
+		But her mother scolded and reproached her.</p>
+
+		<p>The next night the woman again awoke, and taking her
+		rosary prayed with still greater fervour, that God would bless
+		her child. This time the girl laughed as she slept.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;What can the poor child be dreaming about?&#8221; she
+		said to herself: and sighing she prayed for her again. Then
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page53" title="53">&nbsp;</a>she laid her head upon her pillow and tried in vain to sleep.
+		In the morning, when her daughter was dressing, she said:
+		&#8220;Well, my dear, you were dreaming again last night, and
+		laughing like a maniac.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Was I? Listen, I dreamt a nobleman came for me
+		in a silver carriage, and gave me a golden diadem. When
+		I entered the church with him, the people admired and
+		worshipped me more than the Blessed Virgin.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Ay me, what a terrible dream! what a wicked dream!
+		Pray God not to lead you into temptation.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Then she scolded her daughter severely and went out,
+		slamming the door after her. That same day a carriage drove
+		into the village, and some gentlemen invited mother and
+		daughter to share the bread of the lord of the manor. The
+		mother considered such an offer a great honour, but the
+		daughter refused it and replied to the gentlemen scornfully:
+		&#8220;Even if you had come to fetch me in a carriage of solid
+		silver and had presented me with a golden diadem, I would
+		never have consented to be the wife of your lord.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The gentlemen turned away in disgust and returned home;
+		the mother rebuked her severely for so much pride.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Miserable, foolish girl!&#8221; she cried, &#8220;pride is a breath
+		from hell. It is your duty to be humble, honest, and sweet-tempered.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The daughter replied by a laugh.</p>
+
+		<p>The third night she slept soundly, but the poor woman at
+		her side could not close her eyes. Tormented with dark forebodings,
+		she feared some misfortune was about to happen,
+		and counted her beads, praying fervently. All at once the
+		young sleeper began to sneer and laugh.</p>
+
+		<p><a class="pagenum" id="page54" title="54">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Merciful God! ah me!&#8221; cried the poor woman, &#8220;what
+		are these dreams that worry her poor brain!&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>In the morning she said, &#8220;What made you sneer so frightfully
+		last night? You must have had bad dreams again,
+		my poor child.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Now, mother, you look as if you were going to preach
+		again.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;No, no; but I want to know what you were dreaming
+		about.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Well, I dreamt some one drove up in a golden carriage
+		and asked me to marry him, and he brought me a mantle
+		of cloth of pure gold. When we came into church, the crowd
+		pressed forward to kneel before me.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The mother wrung her hands piteously, and the girl left
+		the room to avoid hearing her lamentations. That same
+		day three carriages entered the yard, one of brass, one of
+		silver, and one of gold. The first was drawn by two, the
+		second by three, the third by four magnificent horses. Gentlemen
+		wearing scarlet gloves and green mantles got out of
+		the brass and silver carriages, while from the golden carriage
+		alighted a prince who, as the sun shone on him, looked as
+		if he were dressed in gold. They all made their way to the
+		widow and asked for her daughter&#8217;s hand.</p>
+
+		<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page55" title="55">&nbsp;</a>
+			<a href="images/illo-11.png"><img src="images/illo-11-th.png" width="314" height="493" alt="A woman stands on a doorstep; another woman stands behind her." /></a>
+			<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page56" title="56">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+		</div>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I fear we are not worthy of so much honour,&#8221; replied
+		the widow meekly, but when the daughter&#8217;s eyes fell upon
+		her suitor she recognised in him the lover of her dreams, and
+		withdrew to weave an aigrette of many-coloured feathers.
+		In exchange for this aigrette which she offered her bridegroom,
+		he placed upon her finger a ring set with stones that shone
+		like the stars in heaven, and over her shoulders a mantle  <!-- Original position of pages 55 & 56 -->
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page57" title="57">&nbsp;</a>of cloth of gold. The young bride, beside herself with joy,
+		retired to complete her toilette. Meanwhile the anxious
+		mother, a prey to the blackest forebodings, said to her son-in-law,
+		&#8220;My daughter has consented to share your bread, tell
+		me of what sort of flour it is made?&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;In our house we have bread of brass, of silver, and of
+		gold; my wife will be free to choose.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Such a reply astonished her more than ever, and made
+		her still more unhappy. The daughter asked no questions,
+		was in fact content to know nothing, not even what her
+		mother suffered. She looked magnificent in her bridal
+		attire and golden mantle, but she left her home with the
+		prince without saying good-bye either to her mother or to
+		her youthful companions. Neither did she ask her mother&#8217;s
+		blessing, though the latter wept and prayed for her safety.</p>
+
+		<p>After the marriage ceremony they mounted the golden
+		carriage and set off, followed by the attendants of silver and
+		brass. The procession moved slowly along the road without
+		stopping until it reached the foot of a high rock. Here,
+		instead of a carriage entrance, was a large cavern which led
+		out into a steep slope down which the horses went lower and
+		lower. The giant <em>Zémo-tras</em> (he who makes the earthquakes)
+		closed the opening with a huge stone. They made their
+		way in darkness for some time, the terrified bride being
+		reassured by her husband.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Fear nothing,&#8221; said he, &#8220;in a little while it will be
+		clear and beautiful.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Grotesque dwarfs, carrying lighted torches, appeared on
+		all sides, saluted and welcomed their King Kovlad as they
+		illumined the road for him and his attendants. Then for
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page58" title="58">&nbsp;</a>the first time the girl knew she had married Kovlad, but this
+		mattered little to her. On coming out from these gloomy
+		passages into the open they found themselves surrounded
+		by large forests and mountains, mountains that seemed to
+		touch the sky. And, strange to relate, all the trees of whatsoever
+		kind, and even the mountains that seemed to touch
+		the sky, were of solid lead. When they had crossed these
+		marvellous mountains the giant Zémo-tras closed all the
+		openings in the road they had passed. They then drove
+		out upon vast and beautiful plains, in the centre of which
+		was a golden palace covered with precious stones. The
+		bride was weary with looking at so many wonders, and
+		gladly sat down to the feast prepared by the dwarfs. Meats
+		of many kinds were served, roast and boiled, but lo! they
+		were of metal&#8212;brass, silver, and gold. Every one ate heartily
+		and enjoyed the food, but the young wife, with tears in her
+		eyes, begged for a piece of bread.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Certainly, madam, with pleasure,&#8221; answered Kovlad.
+		But she could not eat the bread which was brought, for it was
+		of brass. Then the king sent for a piece of silver bread, still
+		she could not eat it; and again for a slice of golden bread,
+		that too she was unable to bite. The servants did all they
+		could to get something to their mistress&#8217;s taste, but she found
+		it impossible to eat anything.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I should be most happy to gratify you,&#8221; said Kovlad
+		&#8220;but we have no other kind of food.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>Then she realised for the first time in whose power she
+		had placed herself, and she began to weep bitterly and wish
+		she had taken her mother&#8217;s advice.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;It is of no use to weep and regret,&#8221; said Kovlad,
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page59" title="59">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;you must have known the kind of bread you would have
+		to break here; your wish has been fulfilled.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>And so it was, for nothing can recall the past. The
+		wretched girl was obliged henceforth to live underground
+		with her husband Kovlad, the God of Metals, in his golden
+		palace. And this because she had set her heart upon nothing
+		but the possession of gold, and had never wished for anything
+		better.</p>
+
+	</div>
+
+	<div id="story_6" class="story"><a class="pagenum" id="page60" title="60">&nbsp;</a>
+
+		<div class="image">
+			<a href="images/illo-12.png"><img src="images/illo-12-th.png" width="304" height="306" alt="A child holds a ball while a pair of hands with long fingernails reaches toward him." /></a>
+		</div>
+
+		<h3 class="story_title"><abbr class="story_number" title="two">II</abbr><br />
+			THE LOST CHILD</h3>
+
+			<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+			<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">Long</span> long ago there lived a very rich nobleman. But
+			though he was so rich he was not happy, for he had no
+			children to whom he could leave his wealth. He was, besides,
+			<a class="pagenum" id="page61" title="61">&nbsp;</a>no longer young. Every day he and his wife went to church
+			to pray for a son. At last, after long waiting, God sent them
+			what they desired. Now the evening before its arrival the
+			father dreamed that its chance of living would depend upon
+			one condition, namely, that its feet never touched the earth
+			until it was twelve years old. Great care was taken that this
+			should be avoided, and when the little stranger came, only
+			trustworthy nurses were employed to look after him. As
+			the years passed on the child was diligently guarded, sometimes
+			he was carried in his nurses&#8217; arms, sometimes rocked
+			in his golden cradle, but his feet never touched the ground.</p>
+
+			<p>Now when the end of the time drew near the father began
+			preparations for a magnificent feast which should be given
+			to celebrate his son&#8217;s release. One day while these were in
+			progress a frightful noise, followed by most unearthly yells,
+			shook the castle. The nurse dropped the child in her terror
+			and ran to the window: that instant the noises ceased. On
+			turning to take up the boy, imagine her dismay when she
+			found him no longer there, and remembered that she had
+			disobeyed her master&#8217;s orders.</p>
+
+			<p>Hearing her screams and lamentations, all the servants
+			of the castle ran to her. The father soon followed, asking,
+			&#8220;What is the matter? What has happened? Where is my
+			child?&#8221; The nurse, trembling and weeping, told of the disappearance
+			of his son, his only child. No words can tell
+			the anguish of the father&#8217;s heart. He sent servants in every
+			direction to hunt for his boy, he gave orders, he begged and
+			prayed, he threw away money right and left, he promised
+			everything if only his son might be restored to him. Search
+			was made without loss of time, but no trace of him could be
+			<a class="pagenum" id="page62" title="62">&nbsp;</a>discovered; he had vanished as completely as if he had never
+			existed.</p>
+
+			<p>Many years later the unhappy nobleman learnt that in one
+			of the most beautiful rooms of the castle, footsteps, as of
+			some one walking up and down, and dismal groans, were
+			heard every midnight. Anxious to follow the matter up,
+			for he thought it might in some way concern his lost son, he
+			made known that a reward of three hundred gold pieces would
+			be given to any one who would watch for one whole night
+			in the haunted room. Many were willing, but had not the
+			courage to stay till the end; for at midnight, when the dismal
+			groans were heard, they would run away rather than risk their
+			lives for three hundred gold pieces. The poor father was
+			in despair, and knew not how to discover the truth of this
+			dark mystery.</p>
+
+			<p>Now close to the castle dwelt a widow, a miller by trade,
+			who had three daughters. They were very poor, and hardly
+			earned enough for their daily needs. When they heard of
+			the midnight noises in the castle and the promised reward,
+			the eldest daughter said, &#8220;As we are so very poor we have
+			nothing to lose; surely we might try to earn these three hundred
+			gold pieces by remaining in the room one night. I
+			should like to try, mother, if you will let me.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>The mother shrugged her shoulders, she hardly knew
+			what to say; but when she thought of their poverty and
+			the difficulty they had to earn a living she gave permission
+			for her eldest daughter to remain one night in the
+			haunted room. Then the daughter went to ask the nobleman&#8217;s
+			consent.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;Have you really the courage to watch for a whole night
+			<a class="pagenum" id="page63" title="63">&nbsp;</a>in a room haunted by ghosts? Are you sure you are not
+			afraid, my good girl?&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;I am willing to try this very night,&#8221; she replied. &#8220;I
+			would only ask you to give me some food to cook for my
+			supper, for I am very hungry.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>Orders were given that she should be supplied with everything
+			she wanted, and indeed enough food was given her, not
+			for one supper only, but for three. With the food, some dry
+			firewood and a candle, she entered the room. Like a good
+			housewife, she first lit the fire and put on her saucepans, then
+			she laid the table and made the bed. This filled up the early
+			part of the evening. The time passed so quickly that she was
+			surprised to hear the clock strike twelve, while at the last
+			stroke, footsteps, as of some one walking, shook the room,
+			and dismal groans filled the air. The frightened girl ran from
+			one corner to the other, but could not see any one. But the
+			footsteps and the groans did not cease. Suddenly a young
+			man approached her and asked, &#8220;For whom is this food
+			cooked?&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;For myself,&#8221; she said.</p>
+
+			<p>The gentle face of the stranger saddened, and after a short
+			silence he asked again, &#8220;And this table, for whom is it laid?&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;For myself,&#8221; she replied.</p>
+
+			<p>The brow of the young man clouded over, and the beautiful
+			blue eyes filled with tears as he asked once more, &#8220;And
+			this bed, for whom have you made it?&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;For myself,&#8221; replied she in the same selfish and indifferent
+			tone.</p>
+
+			<p>Tears fell from his eyes as he waved his arms and
+			vanished.</p>
+
+			<p><a class="pagenum" id="page64" title="64">&nbsp;</a>Next morning she told the nobleman all that had
+			happened, but without mentioning the painful impression her
+			answers had made upon the stranger. The three hundred
+			golden crowns were paid, and the father was thankful to have
+			at last heard something that might possibly lead to the discovery
+			of his son.</p>
+
+			<p>On the following day the second daughter, having been
+			told by her sister what to do and how to answer the stranger,
+			went to the castle to offer her services. The nobleman willingly
+			agreed, and orders were given that she should be
+			provided with everything she might want. Without loss of
+			time she entered the room, lit the fire, put on the saucepans,
+			spread a white cloth upon the table, made the bed, and
+			awaited the hour of midnight. When the young stranger
+			appeared and asked, &#8220;For whom is this food prepared?
+			for whom is the table laid? for whom is the bed made?&#8221;
+			she answered as her sister had bidden her, &#8220;For me, for
+			myself only.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>As on the night before, he burst into tears, waved his
+			arms, and suddenly disappeared.</p>
+
+			<p>Next morning she told the nobleman all that had happened
+			except the sad impression her answers had made upon the
+			stranger. The three hundred gold pieces were given her, and
+			she went home.</p>
+
+			<p>On the third day the youngest daughter wanted to try her
+			fortune.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;Sisters,&#8221; said she, &#8220;as you have succeeded in earning
+			three hundred gold crowns each, and so helping our dear
+			mother, I too should like to do my part and remain a night
+			in the haunted room.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page65" title="65">&nbsp;</a>
+				<a href="images/illo-13.png"><img src="images/illo-13-th.png" width="337" height="492" alt="A young woman sits at a table while a young man points out a pitcher to her." /></a>
+				<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page66" title="66">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+			</div>
+
+			<p><a class="pagenum" id="page67" title="67">&nbsp;</a>Now the widow loved her youngest daughter more dearly
+			than the others, and dreaded to expose her to any danger;
+			but as the elder ones had been successful, she allowed her
+			to take her chance. So with the instructions from her sisters
+			as to what she should do and say, and with the nobleman&#8217;s
+			consent and abundant provisions, she entered the haunted
+			room. Having lit the fire, put on the saucepans, laid the
+			table and made the bed, she awaited with hope and fear the
+			hour of midnight.</p>
+
+			<p>As twelve o&#8217;clock struck, the room was shaken by the
+			footsteps of some one who walked up and down, and the air
+			was filled with cries and groans. The girl looked everywhere,
+			but no living being could she see. Suddenly there stood
+			before her a young man who asked in a sweet voice, &#8220;For
+			whom have you prepared this food?&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>Now her sisters had told her how to answer and how to
+			act, but when she looked into the sad eyes of the stranger
+			she resolved to treat him more kindly.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;Well, you do not answer me; for whom is the food
+			prepared?&#8221; he asked again impatiently, as she made no
+			reply. Somewhat confused, she said, &#8220;I prepared it for
+			myself, but you too are welcome to it.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>At these words his brow grew more serene.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;And this table, for whom is it spread?&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;For myself, unless you will honour me by being my
+			guest.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>A bright smile illumined his face.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;And this bed, for whom have you made it?&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;For myself, but if you have need of rest it is for you.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>He clapped his hands for joy and replied, &#8220;Ah, that&#8217;s
+			<a class="pagenum" id="page68" title="68">&nbsp;</a>right; I accept the invitation with pleasure, and all that you
+			have been so kind as to offer me. But wait, I pray you
+			wait for me; I must first thank my kind friends for the care
+			they have taken of me.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>A fresh warm breath of spring filled the air, while at the
+			same moment a deep precipice opened in the middle of
+			the floor. He descended lightly, and she, anxious to see
+			what would happen, followed him, holding on to his mantle.
+			Thus they both reached the bottom of the precipice. Down
+			there a new world opened itself before her eyes. To the
+			right flowed a river of liquid gold, to the left rose high
+			mountains of solid gold, in the centre lay a large meadow
+			covered with millions of flowers. The stranger went on,
+			the girl followed unnoticed. And as he went he saluted
+			the field flowers as old friends, caressing them and leaving
+			them with regret. Then they came to a forest where the
+			trees were of gold. Many birds of different kinds began to
+			sing, and flying round the young stranger perched familiarly
+			on his head and shoulders. He spoke to and petted each one.
+			While thus engaged, the girl broke off a branch from one of the
+			golden trees and hid it in remembrance of this strange land.</p>
+
+			<p>Leaving the forest of gold, they reached a wood where all
+			the trees were of silver. Their arrival was greeted by an
+			immense number of animals of various kinds. These crowded
+			together and pushed one against another to get close to their
+			friend. He spoke to each one and stroked and petted them.
+			Meanwhile the girl broke off a branch of silver from one of the
+			trees, saying to herself, &#8220;These will serve me as tokens of this
+			wonderful land, for my sisters would not believe me if I only
+			told them of it.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page69" title="69">&nbsp;</a>
+				<a href="images/illo-14.png"><img src="images/illo-14-th.png" width="319" height="497" alt="A young woman breaks a branch off of a tree." /></a>
+				<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page70" title="70">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+			</div>
+
+			<p><a class="pagenum" id="page71" title="71">&nbsp;</a>When the young stranger had taken leave of all his friends
+			he returned by the paths he had come, and the girl followed
+			without being seen. Arrived at the foot of the precipice, he
+			began to ascend, she coming silently after, holding on to his
+			mantle. Up they went higher and higher, until they reached
+			the room in the castle. The floor closed up without trace of
+			the opening. The girl returned to her place by the fire, where
+			she was standing when the young man approached.</p>
+
+			<p>&#8220;All my farewells have been spoken,&#8221; said he, &#8220;now we
+			can have supper.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>She hastened to place upon the table the food so hurriedly
+			prepared, and sitting side by side they supped together. When
+			they had made a good meal he said, &#8220;Now it is time to rest.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>He lay down on the carefully-made bed, and the girl
+			placed by his side the gold and silver branches she had
+			picked in the Mineral Land. In a few moments he was
+			sleeping peacefully.</p>
+
+			<p>Next day the sun was already high in the sky, and yet the
+			girl had not come to give an account of herself. The nobleman
+			became impatient; he waited and waited, becoming more
+			and more uneasy. At last he determined to go and see for
+			himself what had happened. Picture to yourself his surprise
+			and joy, when on entering the haunted chamber he saw his
+			long-lost son sleeping on the bed, while beside him sat the
+			widow&#8217;s beautiful daughter. At that moment the son awoke.
+			The father, overwhelmed with joy, summoned the attendants
+			of the castle to rejoice with him in his new-found happiness.</p>
+
+			<p>Then the young man saw the two branches of metal, and
+			said with astonishment, &#8220;What do I see? Did you then follow
+			me down there? Know that by this act you have broken
+			<a class="pagenum" id="page72" title="72">&nbsp;</a>the spell and released me from the enchantment. These two
+			branches will make two palaces for our future dwelling.&#8221;</p>
+
+			<p>Thereupon he took the branches and threw them out of
+			the window. Immediately there were seen two magnificent
+			palaces, one of gold, the other of silver. And there they lived
+			happily as man and wife, the nobleman&#8217;s son and the miller&#8217;s
+			daughter. And if not dead they live there still.</p>
+
+	</div>
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_7" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page73" title="73">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE MAID WITH
+	HAIR OF GOLD</h2>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page74" title="74">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page75" title="75">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-15.png"><img src="images/illo-15-th.png" width="336" height="371" alt="A woman combs her magnificent (reaching to the floor) hair." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">There</span> was once a king so wise and clever that he
+	understood the language of all animals. You shall hear
+	how he gained this power.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page76" title="76">&nbsp;</a>One day an old woman came to the palace and said, &#8220;I
+	wish to speak to his majesty, for I have something of great
+	importance to tell him.&#8221; When admitted to his presence she
+	presented him with a curious fish, saying, &#8220;Have it cooked for
+	yourself, and when you have eaten it you will understand all
+	that is said by the birds of the air, the animals that walk the
+	earth, and the fishes that live under the waters.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king was delighted to know that which every one else
+	was ignorant of, so he rewarded the old woman generously, and
+	told a servant to cook the fish very carefully.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;But take care,&#8221; said the monarch, &#8220;that you do not
+	taste it yourself, for if you do you will be killed.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>George, the servant, was astonished at such a threat, and
+	wondered why his master was so anxious that no one else
+	should eat any of the fish. Then examining it curiously he
+	said, &#8220;Never in all my life have I seen such an odd-looking
+	fish; it seems more like a reptile. Now where would be the
+	harm if I did take some? Every cook tastes of the dishes he
+	prepares.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When it was fried he tasted a small piece, and while taking
+	some of the sauce heard a buzzing in the air and a voice
+	speaking in his ear.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Let us taste a crumb: let us taste a little,&#8221; it said.</p>
+
+	<p>He looked round to see where the words came from,
+	but there were only a few flies buzzing about in the
+	kitchen. At the same moment some one out in the yard
+	said in a harsh jerky voice, &#8220;Where are we going to settle?
+	Where?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And another answered, &#8220;In the miller&#8217;s barley-field; ho!
+	for the miller&#8217;s field of barley.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page77" title="77">&nbsp;</a>When George looked towards where this strange talk came
+	he saw a gander flying at the head of a flock of geese.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;How lucky,&#8221; thought he; &#8220;now I know why my master
+	set so much value on this fish and wished to eat it all
+	himself.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>George had now no doubt that by tasting the fish he had
+	learnt the language of animals, so after having taken a little
+	more he served the king with the remainder as if nothing had
+	happened.</p>
+
+	<p>When his majesty had dined he ordered George to saddle
+	two horses and accompany him for a ride. They were soon
+	off, the master in front, the servant behind.</p>
+
+	<p>While crossing a meadow George&#8217;s horse began to prance
+	and caper, neighing out these words, &#8220;I say, brother, I feel so
+	light and in such good spirits to-day that in one single bound
+	I could leap over those mountains yonder.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I could do the same,&#8221; answered the king&#8217;s horse, &#8220;but
+	I carry a feeble old man on my back; he would fall like a log
+	and break his skull.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What does that matter to you? So much the better if
+	he should break his head, for then, instead of being ridden by
+	an old man you would probably be mounted by a young one.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The servant laughed a good deal upon hearing this conversation
+	between the horses, but he took care to do so on the
+	quiet, lest the king should hear him. At that moment his
+	majesty turned round, and, seeing a smile on the man&#8217;s face,
+	asked the cause of it.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Oh nothing, your majesty, only some nonsense that
+	came into my head.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king said nothing, and asked no more questions, but
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page78" title="78">&nbsp;</a>he was suspicious, and distrusted both servant and horses; so
+	he hastened back to the palace.</p>
+
+	<p>When there he said to George, &#8220;Give me some wine, but
+	mind you only pour out enough to fill the glass, for if you put
+	in one drop too much, so that it overflows, I shall certainly
+	order my executioner to cut off your head.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>While he was speaking two birds flew near the window, one
+	chasing the other, who carried three golden hairs in his beak.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Give them me,&#8221; said one, &#8220;you know they are mine.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Not at all, I picked them up myself.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;No matter, I saw them fall while the Maid with Locks of
+	Gold was combing out her hair. At least, give me two, then
+	you can keep the third for yourself.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;No, not a single one.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Thereupon one of the birds succeeded in seizing the hairs
+	from the other bird&#8217;s beak, but in the struggle he let one fall,
+	and it made a sound as if a piece of metal had struck the
+	ground. As for George, he was completely taken off his guard,
+	and the wine overflowed the glass.</p>
+
+	<p>The king was furious, and feeling convinced that his
+	servant had disobeyed him and had learnt the language of
+	animals, he said, &#8220;You scoundrel, you deserve death for
+	having failed to do my bidding, nevertheless, I will show
+	you mercy upon one condition, that you bring me the Maid
+	with the Golden Locks, for I intend to marry her.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Alas, what was to be done? Poor fellow, he was willing
+	to do anything to save his life, even run the risk of losing it
+	on a long journey. He therefore promised to search for
+	the Maid with the Golden Locks: but he knew not where or
+	how to find her.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page79" title="79">&nbsp;</a>When he had saddled and mounted his horse he allowed
+	it to go its own way, and it carried him to the outskirts of a
+	dark forest, where some shepherds had left a bush burning.
+	The sparks of fire from the bush endangered the lives of a
+	large number of ants which had built their nest close by, and
+	the poor little things were hurrying away in all directions,
+	carrying their small white eggs with them.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Help us in our distress, good George,&#8221; they cried in a
+	plaintive voice; &#8220;do not leave us to perish, together with our
+	children whom we carry in these eggs.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>George immediately dismounted, cut down the bush, and
+	put out the fire.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Thank you, brave man: and remember, when you are
+	in trouble you have only to call upon us, and we will help you
+	in our turn.&#8221; The young fellow went on his way far into
+	the forest until he came to a very tall fir tree. At the top of
+	the tree was a raven&#8217;s nest, while at the foot, on the ground,
+	lay two young ones who were calling out to their parents and
+	saying, &#8220;Alas, father and mother, where have you gone?
+	You have flown away, and we have to seek our food, weak
+	and helpless as we are. Our wings are as yet without feathers,
+	how then shall we be able to get anything to eat? Good
+	George,&#8221; said they, turning to the young man, &#8220;do not leave
+	us to starve.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Without stopping to think, the young man dismounted,
+	and with his sword slew his horse to provide food for the
+	young birds. They thanked him heartily, and said, &#8220;If ever
+	you should be in distress, call to us and we will help you at
+	once.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>After this George was obliged to travel on foot, and he
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page80" title="80">&nbsp;</a>walked on for a long time, ever getting further and further
+	into the forest. On reaching the end of it, he saw stretching
+	before him an immense sea that seemed to mingle with
+	the horizon. Close by stood two men disputing the possession
+	of a large fish with golden scales that had fallen into
+	their net.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;The net belongs to me,&#8221; said one, &#8220;therefore the fish
+	must be mine.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Your net would not have been of the slightest use, for
+	it would have been lost in the sea, had I not come with my
+	boat just in the nick of time.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Well, you shall have the next haul I make.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;And suppose you should catch nothing? No; give me
+	this one and keep the next haul for yourself.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am going to put an end to your quarrel,&#8221; said George,
+	addressing them. &#8220;Sell me the fish: I will pay you well, and
+	you can divide the money between you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Thereupon he put into their hands all the money the king
+	had given him for the journey, without keeping a single coin
+	for himself. The fishermen rejoiced at the good fortune which
+	had befallen them, but George put the fish back into the water.
+	The fish, thankful for this unexpected freedom, dived and disappeared,
+	but returning to the surface, said, &#8220;Whenever you
+	may need my help you have but to call me, I shall not fail to
+	show my gratitude.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Where are you going?&#8221; asked the fisherman.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am in search of a wife for my old master; she is known
+	as the Maid with the Golden Locks: but I am at a loss where
+	to find her.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page81" title="81">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-16.png"><img src="images/illo-16-th.png" width="312" height="490" alt="A man gives a fisherman a handful of money, while another man looks on." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page82" title="82">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>&#8220;If that be all, we can easily give you information,&#8221;  <!-- Original location of pages 81 & 82 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page83" title="83">&nbsp;</a>answered they. &#8220;She is Princess Zlato Vlaska, and daughter
+	of the king whose crystal palace is built on that island
+	yonder. The golden light from the princess&#8217;s hair is reflected
+	on sea and sky every morning when she combs it. If you
+	would like to go to the island we will take you there for
+	nothing, in return for the clever and generous way by which
+	you made us stop quarrelling. But beware of one thing:
+	when in the palace do not make a mistake as to which is the
+	princess, for there are twelve of them, but only Zlato Vlaska
+	has hair of gold.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When George reached the island he lost no time in making
+	his way to the palace, and demanded from the king the hand
+	of his daughter, Princess Zlato Vlaska, in marriage to the
+	king his master.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I will grant the request with pleasure,&#8221; said his majesty,
+	&#8220;but only on one condition, namely, that you perform certain
+	tasks which I will set you. These will be three in number,
+	and must be done in three days, just as I order you. For
+	the present you had better rest and refresh yourself after your
+	journey.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>On the next day the king said, &#8220;My daughter, the Maid
+	with the Golden Hair, had a string of fine pearls, and the
+	thread having broken, the pearls were scattered far and wide
+	among the long grass of this field. Go and pick up every one
+	of the pearls, for they must all be found.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>George went into the meadow, which was of great length
+	and stretched away far out of sight. He went down on his
+	knees and hunted between the tufts of grass and bramble
+	from morning until noon, but not a single pearl could he
+	find.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page84" title="84">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Ah, if I only had my good little ants here,&#8221; he cried,
+	&#8220;they would be able to help me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Here we are, young man, at your service,&#8221; answered the
+	ants, suddenly appearing. Then they all ran round him,
+	crying out, &#8220;What is the matter? What do you want?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I have to find all the pearls lost in this field, and cannot
+	see a single one: can you help me?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Wait a little, we will soon get them for you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He had not to wait very long, for they brought him a
+	heap of pearls, and all he had to do was to thread them
+	on the string. Just as he was about to make a knot he
+	saw a lame ant coming slowly towards him, for one of her
+	feet had been burned in the bush fire.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Wait a moment, George,&#8221; she called out; &#8220;do not tie
+	the knot before threading this last pearl I am bringing
+	you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When George took his pearls to the king, his majesty
+	first counted them to make sure they were all there, and
+	then said, &#8220;You have done very well in this test, to-morrow
+	I will give you another.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Early next morning the king summoned George to him
+	and said, &#8220;My daughter, the Princess with the Golden Hair,
+	dropped her gold ring into the sea while bathing. You must
+	find the jewel and bring it me to-day.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The young fellow walked thoughtfully up and down the
+	beach. The water was pure and transparent, but he could
+	not see beyond a certain distance into its depths, and therefore
+	could not tell where the ring was lying beneath the
+	water.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, my golden fishling, why are you not here now?
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page85" title="85">&nbsp;</a>You would surely be able to help me,&#8221; he said to himself,
+	speaking aloud.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Here I am,&#8221; answered the fish&#8217;s voice from the sea,
+	&#8220;what can I do for you?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I have to find a gold ring which has been dropped in
+	the sea, but as I cannot see to the bottom there is no use
+	looking.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The fish said, &#8220;Fortunately I have just met a pike, wearing
+	a gold ring on his fin. Just wait a moment, will you?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>In a very short time he reappeared with the pike and
+	the ring. The pike willingly gave up the jewel.</p>
+
+	<p>The king thanked George for his cleverness, and then
+	told him the third task. &#8220;If you really wish me to give
+	the hand of my daughter with the golden hair to the
+	monarch who has sent you here, you must bring me two
+	things that I want above everything: the Water of Death
+	and the Water of Life.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>George had not the least idea where to find these
+	waters, so he determined to trust to chance and &#8220;follow his
+	nose,&#8221; as the saying is. He went first in one direction and
+	then in another, until he reached a dark forest.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, if my little ravens were but here, perhaps they
+	would help me,&#8221; he said aloud.</p>
+
+	<p>Suddenly there was heard a rushing noise, as of wings
+	overhead, and then down came the ravens calling &#8220;Krâk,
+	krâk, here we are, ready and willing to help you. What are
+	you looking for?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I want some of the Water of Death and the Water of
+	Life: it is impossible for me to find them, for I don&#8217;t know
+	where to look.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page86" title="86">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Krâk, krâk, we know very well where to find some.
+	Wait a moment.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Off they went immediately, but soon returned, each with
+	a small gourd in his beak. One gourd contained the Water
+	of Life, the other the Water of Death.</p>
+
+	<p>George was delighted with his success, and went back on
+	his way to the palace. When nearly out of the forest, he saw
+	a spider&#8217;s web hanging between two fir trees, while in the
+	centre was a large spider devouring a fly he had just killed.
+	George sprinkled a few drops of the Water of Death on the
+	spider; it immediately left the fly, which rolled to the ground
+	like a ripe cherry, but on being touched with the Water of
+	Life she began to move, and stretching out first one limb and
+	then another, gradually freed herself from the spider&#8217;s web.
+	Then she spread her wings and took flight, having first buzzed
+	these words in the ears of her deliverer: &#8220;George, you have
+	assured your own happiness by restoring mine, for without
+	my help you would never have succeeded in recognising the
+	Princess with the Golden Hair when you choose her to-morrow
+	from among her twelve sisters.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And the fly was right, for though the king, on finding that
+	George had accomplished the third task, agreed to give him
+	his daughter Zlato Vlaska, he yet added that he would have to
+	find her himself.</p>
+
+	<p>He then led him to a large room and bade him choose
+	from among the twelve charming girls who sat at a round
+	table. Each wore a kind of linen head-dress that completely
+	hid the upper part of the head, and in such a way
+	that the keenest eye could not discover the colour of the
+	hair.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page87" title="87">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Here are my daughters,&#8221; said the king, &#8220;but only one
+	among them has golden hair. If you find her you may take
+	her with you; but if you make a mistake she will remain with
+	us, and you will have to return empty-handed.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>George felt much embarrassed, not knowing what course
+	to take.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Buzz, Buzz, come walk round these young girls, and I
+	will tell you which is yours.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Thus spoke the fly whose life George had saved.</p>
+
+	<p>Thus reassured he walked boldly round, pointing at them
+	one after the other and saying, &#8220;This one has not the golden
+	hair, nor this one either, nor this&#8230;.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Suddenly, having been told by the fly, he cried, &#8220;Here we
+	are: this is Zlato Vlaska, even she herself. I take her for my
+	own, she whom I have won, and for whom I have paid the
+	price with many cares. You will not refuse her me this time.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Indeed, you have guessed aright,&#8221; replied the king.</p>
+
+	<p>The princess rose from her seat, and letting fall her head-dress,
+	exposed to full view all the splendour of her wonderful
+	hair, which seemed like a waterfall of golden rays, and covered
+	her from head to foot. The glorious light that shone from it
+	dazzled the young man&#8217;s eyes, and he immediately fell in love
+	with her.</p>
+
+	<p>The king provided his daughter with gifts worthy of a
+	queen, and she left her father&#8217;s palace in a manner befitting a
+	royal bride. The journey back was accomplished without any
+	mishaps.</p>
+
+	<p>On their arrival the old king was delighted at the sight of
+	Zlato Vlaska, and danced with joy. Splendid and costly preparations
+	were made for the wedding. His majesty then said
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page88" title="88">&nbsp;</a>to George, &#8220;You robbed me of the secret of animal language.
+	For this I intended to have your head cut off and your body
+	thrown to birds of prey. But as you have served me so faithfully
+	and won the princess for my bride I will lessen the
+	punishment&#8212;that is, although you will be executed, yet you
+	shall be buried with all the honours worthy of a superior
+	officer.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>So the sentence was carried out, cruelly and unjustly.
+	After the execution the Princess with the Golden Hair begged
+	the king to make her a present of George&#8217;s body, and the
+	monarch was so much in love that he could not refuse his
+	intended bride anything.</p>
+
+	<p>Zlato Vlaska with her own hands replaced the head on
+	the body, and sprinkled it with the Water of Death. Immediately
+	the separated parts became one again. Upon this
+	she poured the Water of Life, and George returned to life,
+	fresh as a young roebuck, his face radiant with health and
+	youth.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah me! How well I have slept,&#8221; said he, rubbing his
+	eyes.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Yes; no one could have slept better,&#8221; answered the
+	princess, smiling, &#8220;but without me you would have slept
+	through eternity.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page89" title="89">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-17.png"><img src="images/illo-17-th.png" width="329" height="501" alt="A king and queen look a a youth who is sitting on the floor holding his head." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page90" title="90">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>When the old king saw George restored to life, and looking
+	younger, handsomer, and more vigorous than ever, he
+	too wanted to be made young again. He therefore ordered
+	his servants to cut off his head and sprinkle it with the Life-Giving
+	Water. They cut it off, but he did not come to life
+	again, although they sprinkled his body with all the water
+	that was left. Perhaps they made some mistake in using  <!-- Original location of pages 89 & 90 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page91" title="91">&nbsp;</a>the wrong water, for the head and body were joined, but life
+	itself never returned, there being no Water of Life left for
+	that purpose. No one knew where to get any, and none
+	understood the language of animals.</p>
+
+	<p>So, to make a long story short, George was proclaimed
+	king, and the Princess with Hair of Gold, who really loved
+	him, became his queen.</p>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page92" title="92">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_8" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page93" title="93">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE JOURNEY TO THE
+	SUN AND THE MOON</h2>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page94" title="94">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page95" title="95">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-18.png"><img src="images/illo-18-th.png" width="310" height="331" alt="The sun and moon talk to a person standing on a mountain." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">There</span> were once two young people who loved each
+	other dearly. The young man was called Jean, the
+	girl, Annette. In her sweetness she was like unto
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page96" title="96">&nbsp;</a>a dove, in her strength and bravery she resembled an
+	eagle.</p>
+
+	<p>Her father was a rich farmer, and owned a large estate,
+	but Jean&#8217;s father was only a poor mountain shepherd.
+	Annette did not in the least mind her lover being poor,
+	for he was rich in goodness: nor did she think her father
+	would object to their marrying.</p>
+
+	<p>One day Jean put on his best clothes, and went to ask
+	the farmer for his daughter&#8217;s hand. The farmer listened
+	without interrupting him, and then replied, &#8220;If you would
+	marry Annette, go and ask of the Sun why he does not warm
+	the night as well as the day. Then inquire of the Moon
+	why she does not shine by day as well as by night. When
+	you return with these answers you shall not only have my
+	daughter but all my wealth.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>These conditions in no way daunted Jean, who placed
+	his hat on the side of his head, and taking a loving farewell
+	of Annette, set out in search of the Sun. On reaching a
+	small town at the close of day, he looked about for a place
+	wherein to pass the night. Some kind people offered him
+	shelter and invited him to sup with them, inquiring as to
+	the object of his journey. When they heard that he was
+	on his way to visit the Sun and Moon, the master of the
+	house begged him to ask the Sun why the finest pear-tree
+	they had in the town had, for several years, ceased to bear
+	fruit, for it used to produce the most delicious pears in
+	the world.</p>
+
+	<p>Jean willingly promised to make this inquiry, and the
+	next day continued his journey.</p>
+
+	<p>He walked on and on, over mountain and moor, through
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page97" title="97">&nbsp;</a>valley and dense forest, until he came to a land where
+	there was no drinking water. The inhabitants, when they
+	heard the object of Jean&#8217;s journey, begged him to ask the
+	Sun and Moon why a well, that was the chief water supply
+	of the district, no longer gave good water. Jean promised
+	to do so, and resumed his journey.</p>
+
+	<p>After long and weary wanderings he reached the Sun&#8217;s
+	abode, and found him about to start on his travels.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;O Sun,&#8221; said he, &#8220;stop one moment, do not depart
+	without first answering a few questions.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Be quick then and speak, for I have to go all round
+	the world to-day.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Pray tell me why you do not warm or light the earth
+	by night as well as day?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;For this simple reason, that if I did, the world and
+	everything upon it would be very soon burnt up.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Jean then put his questions concerning the pear-tree and
+	the well. But the Sun replied that his sister, the Moon,
+	would be able to answer him on those points.</p>
+
+	<p>Hardly had the Sun finished speaking before he was
+	obliged to hurry off, and Jean travelled far and fast to meet
+	the Moon. On coming up to her he said, &#8220;Would you
+	kindly stop one moment? there are a few questions I should
+	like to ask you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Very well, be quick, for the earth is waiting for me,&#8221;
+	answered she, and stood still at once.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Tell me, dear Moon, why you do not light the world by
+	day as well as by night? And why you never warm it?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Because if I lit up the world by day as well as by night
+	the plants would produce neither fruit nor flower. And
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page98" title="98">&nbsp;</a>though I do not warm the earth, I supply it with dew, which
+	makes it fertile and fruitful.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>She was then about to continue her course, but Jean,
+	begging her to stop one moment longer, questioned her about
+	the pear-tree which had ceased to bear fruit.</p>
+
+	<p>And she answered him thus: &#8220;While the king&#8217;s eldest
+	daughter remained unmarried the tree bore fruit every year.
+	After her wedding she had a little child who died and was
+	buried under this tree. Since then there has been neither
+	fruit nor flower on its branches: if the child be given
+	Christian burial the tree will produce blossom and fruit as
+	in the past.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The Moon was just moving off when Jean begged her to
+	stop and answer one more question, which was, why the
+	inhabitants of a certain land were unable to obtain from their
+	well the clear and wholesome water it had formerly poured
+	forth.</p>
+
+	<p>She replied: &#8220;Under the mouth of the well, just where
+	the water should flow, lies an enormous toad which poisons
+	it continually: the brim of the well must be broken and
+	the toad killed, then the water will be as pure and wholesome
+	as formerly.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The Moon then resumed her journey, for Jean had no
+	more questions to ask her.</p>
+
+	<p>He joyfully went back to claim his Annette, but forgot
+	not to stop on coming to the land where they were short of
+	water. The inhabitants ran out to meet him, anxious to
+	know what he had found out.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page99" title="99">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-19.png"><img src="images/illo-19-th.png" width="312" height="491" alt="A woman brings a rolled-up cloth to a man laden with other goods, while a king and crowd look on." /></a>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page100" title="100">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p>Jean led them to the well and there explained the instructions
+	he had received from the Moon, at the same time <!-- Original location of pages 99 & 100 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page101" title="101">&nbsp;</a>showing them what to do. Sure enough, right underneath
+	the brim of the well they found a horrible toad which
+	poisoned everything. When they had killed it, the water
+	immediately became pure and transparent, and sweet to the
+	taste as before.</p>
+
+	<p>All the people brought Jean presents, and thus laden with
+	riches he again set out. On arriving at the town where grew
+	the unfruitful pear-tree, he was warmly welcomed by the
+	prince, who at once asked if he had forgotten to question
+	the stars about the tree.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I never forget a promise once made,&#8221; replied Jean, &#8220;but
+	I doubt whether it will be agreeable to your majesty to know
+	the cause of the evil.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He then related all the Moon had said, and when his
+	directions had been carried out they were rewarded by seeing
+	the tree blossom immediately. Jean was loaded with rich
+	gifts, and the king presented him with a most valuable horse,
+	by means of which he reached home very quickly.</p>
+
+	<p>Little Annette was wild with joy on hearing of her lover&#8217;s
+	safe return, for she had wept and suffered much during his
+	absence. But her father&#8217;s feelings were very different; he
+	wished never to see Jean again, and had, indeed, sent him
+	in search of the Sun with the hope that he might be burnt
+	up by the heat. True it is that &#8220;Man proposes and God
+	disposes.&#8221; Our young shepherd returned, not only safe
+	and sound, but with more knowledge than any of his evil-wishers.
+	For he had learnt why the Sun neither lights nor
+	warms the earth by night as in the day; also why the Moon
+	does not give warmth, and only lights up during the night.
+	Besides all this he had brought with him riches which far
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page102" title="102">&nbsp;</a>exceeded those of his father-in-law, and a steed full of fire
+	and vigour.</p>
+
+	<p>So Annette&#8217;s father could find no fault, and the wedding
+	was celebrated with joy and feasting. Large quantities of
+	roasted crane were eaten, and glasses overflowing with mead
+	were emptied. So beautiful, too, was the music, that for
+	long, long after it was heard to echo among the mountains,
+	and even now its sweet sounds are heard at times by travellers
+	among those regions.</p>
+
+	</div>
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_9" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page103" title="103">&nbsp;</a>
+
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE DWARF WITH
+	THE LONG BEARD</h2>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page104" title="104">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page105" title="105">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-20.png"><img src="images/illo-20-th.png" width="328" height="278" title="The Dwarf" alt="A hunchbacked dwarf in profle, with an extremely long beard swirling around him." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">In</span> a far distant land there reigned a king, and he had an
+	only daughter who was so very beautiful that no one in the
+	whole kingdom could be compared to her. She was known
+	as Princess Pietnotka, and the fame of her beauty spread
+	far and wide. There were many princes among her suitors,
+	but her choice fell upon Prince Dobrotek. She obtained
+	her father&#8217;s consent to their marriage, and then, attended by
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page106" title="106">&nbsp;</a>a numerous suite, set off with her lover for the church, having
+	first, as was the custom, received her royal parent&#8217;s blessing.
+	Most of the princes who had been unsuccessful in their wooing
+	of Pietnotka returned disappointed to their own kingdoms:
+	but one of them, a dwarf only seven inches high, with an
+	enormous hump on his back and a beard seven feet long,
+	who was a powerful prince and magician, was so enraged that
+	he determined to have his revenge. So he changed himself
+	into a whirlwind and lay in wait to receive the princess.
+	When the wedding procession was about to enter the church
+	the air was suddenly filled with a blinding cloud of dust, and
+	Pietnotka was borne up high as the highest clouds, and then
+	right down to an underground palace. There the dwarf, for
+	it was he who had worked this spell, disappeared, leaving her
+	in a lifeless condition.</p>
+
+	<p>When she opened her eyes she found herself in such a
+	magnificent apartment that she imagined some king must have
+	run away with her. She got up and began to walk about,
+	when lo! as if by some unseen hand the table was laden with
+	gold and silver dishes, filled with cakes of every kind. They
+	looked so tempting, that in spite of her grief she could not
+	resist tasting, and she continued to eat until she was more
+	than satisfied. She returned to the sofa and lay down to rest,
+	but being unable to sleep, she looked first at the door, and
+	then at the lamp burning on the table, then at the door again,
+	and then back to the lamp. Suddenly the door opened of itself,
+	giving entrance to four negroes fully armed, and bearing a
+	golden throne, upon which was seated the Dwarf with the
+	Long Beard. He came close up to the sofa and attempted to
+	kiss the princess, but she struck him such a blow in the face
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page107" title="107">&nbsp;</a>that a thousand stars swam before his eyes, and a thousand
+	bells rang in his ears; upon which he gave such a shout, that
+	the palace walls trembled. Yet his love for her was so great
+	that he did his best not to show his anger, and turned away
+	as if to leave her. But his feet became entangled in his long
+	beard, and he fell down, dropping a cap he was carrying in his
+	hand. Now this cap had the power of making its wearer
+	invisible. The negroes hastened up to their master, and
+	placing him on his throne bore him out.</p>
+
+	<p>Directly the princess found herself alone she jumped off
+	the sofa, locked the door, and picking up the cap ran to a
+	mirror to try it on and see how it suited her. Imagine her
+	amazement when looking in the glass she saw&#8212;nothing at all!
+	She took off the cap, and behold, she was there again as large
+	as life. She soon found out what sort of cap it was, and rejoicing
+	in the possession of such a marvel, put it on her head
+	again and began to walk about the room. Soon the door was
+	burst violently open, and the dwarf entered with his beard tied
+	up. But he found neither the princess nor the cap, and so
+	came to the conclusion that she had taken it. In a great
+	rage he began to search high and low; he looked under all the
+	furniture, behind the curtains, and even beneath the carpets,
+	but it was all in vain. Meanwhile the princess, still invisible,
+	had left the palace and run into the garden, which was very
+	large and beautiful. There she lived at her ease, eating the
+	delicious fruit, drinking water from the fountain, and enjoying
+	the helpless fury of the dwarf, who sought her untiringly.
+	Sometimes she would throw the fruit-stones in his face, or
+	take off the cap and show herself for an instant: then she
+	would put it on again, and laugh merrily at his rage.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page108" title="108">&nbsp;</a>One day, while playing this game, the cap caught in the
+	branches of a gooseberry bush. The dwarf seeing this at once
+	ran up, seized the princess in one hand and the cap in the
+	other, and was about to carry both off when the sound of a
+	war-trumpet was heard.</p>
+
+	<p>The dwarf trembled with rage and muttered a thousand
+	curses. He breathed on the princess to send her to sleep,
+	covered her with the invisible cap, and seizing a double-bladed
+	sword, rose up in the air as high as the clouds, so that he
+	might fall upon his assailant and kill him at one stroke. We
+	shall now see with whom he had to deal.</p>
+
+	<p>After the hurricane had upset the wedding procession and
+	carried off the princess, there arose a great tumult among
+	those at court. The king, the princess&#8217;s attendants, and
+	Prince Dobrotek sought her in every direction, calling her
+	by name, and making inquiries of every one they met. At
+	last, the king in despair declared that if Prince Dobrotek did
+	not bring back his daughter, he would destroy his kingdom
+	and have him killed. And to the other princes present he
+	promised that whosoever among them should bring Pietnotka
+	back to him should have her for his wife and receive half
+	of the kingdom. Whereupon they all mounted their horses
+	without loss of time and dispersed in every direction.</p>
+
+	<p>Prince Dobrotek, overpowered with grief and dismay, travelled
+	three days without eating, drinking, or sleeping. On
+	the evening of the third day he was quite worn-out with
+	fatigue, and stopping his horse in a field, got down to rest for
+	a short time. Suddenly he heard cries, as of something in
+	pain, and looking round saw an enormous owl tearing a hare
+	with its claws. The prince laid hold of the first hard thing
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page109" title="109">&nbsp;</a>that came to his hand; he imagined it to be a stone, but it
+	was really a skull, and aiming it at the owl, killed the bird
+	with the first blow. The rescued hare ran up to him and
+	gratefully licked his hands, after which it ran away: but the
+	human skull spoke to him and said, &#8220;Prince Dobrotek, accept
+	my grateful thanks for the good turn you have done me. I
+	belonged to an unhappy man who took his own life, and for
+	this crime of suicide I have been condemned to roll in the
+	mud until I was the means of saving the life of one of God&#8217;s
+	creatures. I have been kicked about for seven hundred and
+	seventy years, crumbling miserably on the earth, and without
+	exciting the compassion of a single individual. You have
+	been the means of setting me free by making use of me to
+	save the life of that poor hare. In return for this kindness
+	I will teach you how to call to your aid a most marvellous
+	horse, who during my life belonged to me. He will be able
+	to help you in a thousand ways, and when in need of him
+	you have only to walk out on the moorland without once
+	looking behind you, and to say:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+	<p>&#8216;Dappled Horse with Mane of Gold,</p>
+	<p>Horse of Wonder! Come to me.</p>
+	<p>Walk not the earth, for I am told</p>
+	<p>You fly like birds o&#8217;er land and sea.&#8217;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="continued_paragraph">Finish your work of mercy by burying me here, so that I
+	may be at rest until the day of judgment. Then depart in
+	peace and be of good cheer.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince dug a hole at the foot of a tree, and reverently
+	buried the skull, repeating over it the prayers for the dead.
+	Just as he finished he saw a small blue flame come out of
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page110" title="110">&nbsp;</a>the skull and fly towards heaven: it was the soul of the dead
+	man on its way to the angels.</p>
+
+	<p>The prince made the sign of the cross and resumed his
+	journey. When he had gone some way along the moorland
+	he stopped, and without looking back tried the effect of the
+	magic words, saying:</p>
+
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Dappled Horse with Mane of Gold,</p>
+		<p>Horse of Wonder! Come to me.</p>
+		<p>Walk not the earth, for I am told</p>
+		<p>You fly like birds o&#8217;er land and sea.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Then amid flash of lightning and roll of thunder appeared
+	the horse. A horse, do I say? Why, he was a miracle of
+	wonder. He was light as air, with dappled coat and golden
+	mane. Flames came from his nostrils and sparks from his
+	eyes. Volumes of steam rolled from his mouth and clouds
+	of smoke issued from his ears. He stopped before the prince,
+	and said in a human voice, &#8220;What are your orders, Prince
+	Dobrotek?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am in great trouble,&#8221; answered the prince, &#8220;and shall
+	be glad if you can help me.&#8221; Then he told all that had
+	happened.</p>
+
+	<p>And the horse said, &#8220;Enter in at my left ear, and come
+	out at my right.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince obeyed, and came out at the right ear clad in
+	a suit of splendid armour. His gilded cuirass, his steel helmet
+	inlaid with gold, and his sword and club made of him a
+	complete warrior. Still more, he felt himself endowed with
+	superhuman strength and bravery. When he stamped his
+	foot and shouted the earth trembled and gave forth a sound
+	like thunder, the very leaves fell from the trees.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page111" title="111">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-21.png"><img src="images/illo-21-th.png" width="329" height="495" alt="A man stands next to a winged horse with glowing eyes." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page112" title="112">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page113" title="113">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;What must we do? Where are we to go?&#8221; he asked.</p>
+
+	<p>The horse replied, &#8220;Your bride, Princess Pietnotka, has
+	been carried off by the Dwarf with the Long Beard, whose
+	hump weighs two hundred and eighty pounds. This powerful
+	magician must be defeated, but he lives a long way from here,
+	and nothing can touch or wound him except the sharp
+	smiting sword that belongs to his own brother, a monster
+	with the head and eyes of a basilisk. We must first attack
+	the brother.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Prince Dobrotek leaped on to the dappled horse, which
+	was covered with golden trappings, and they set off immediately,
+	clearing mountains, penetrating forests, crossing rivers;
+	and so light was the steed&#8217;s step that he galloped over
+	the grass without bending a single blade, and along sandy
+	roads without raising a grain of dust. At last they reached
+	a vast plain, strewn with human bones. They stopped in
+	front of a huge moving mountain, and the horse said:</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Prince, this moving mountain that you see before you
+	is the head of the Monster with Basilisk Eyes, and the bones
+	that whiten the ground are the skeletons of his victims, so
+	beware of the eyes that deal death. The heat of the midday
+	sun has made the giant sleep, and the sword with the never-failing
+	blade lies there before him. Bend down and lie along
+	my neck until we are near enough, then seize the sword and
+	you have nothing more to fear. For, without the sword, not
+	only will the monster be unable to harm you, but he himself
+	will be completely at your mercy.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The horse then noiselessly approached the huge creature,
+	upon which the prince bent down, and quickly picked up the
+	sword. Then, raising himself on his steed&#8217;s back, he gave a
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page114" title="114">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Hurrah!&#8221; loud enough to wake the dead. The giant lifted
+	his head, yawned, and turned his bloodthirsty eyes upon the
+	prince; but seeing the sword in his hand he became quiet,
+	and said, &#8220;Knight, is it weariness of life that brings you
+	here?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Boast not,&#8221; replied the prince, &#8220;you are in my power.
+	Your glance has already lost its magic charm, and you will
+	soon have to die by this sword. But first tell me who
+	you are.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It is true, prince, I am in your hands, but be generous,
+	I deserve your pity. I am a knight of the race of giants, and
+	if it were not for the wickedness of my brother I should have
+	lived in peace. He is the horrible dwarf with the great hump
+	and the beard seven feet long. He was jealous of my fine
+	figure, and tried to do me an injury. You must know that
+	all his strength, which is extraordinary, lies in his beard, and
+	it can only be cut off by the sword you hold in your hand.
+	One day he came to me and said, &#8216;Dear brother, I pray you
+	help me to discover the sharp smiting sword that has been
+	hidden in the earth by a magician. He is our enemy, and
+	he alone can destroy us both.&#8217; Fool that I was, I believed
+	him, and by means of a large oak tree, raked up the mountain
+	and found the sword. Then we disputed as to which of us
+	should have it, and at last my brother suggested that we
+	should cease quarrelling and decide by lot. &#8216;Let us each
+	put an ear to the ground, and the sword shall belong to him
+	who first hears the bells of yonder church,&#8217; said he. I placed
+	my ear to the ground at once, and my brother treacherously
+	cut off my head with the sword. My body, left unburied,
+	became a great mountain, which is now overgrown with
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page115" title="115">&nbsp;</a>forests. As for my head, it is full of a life and strength proof
+	against all dangers, and has remained here ever since to
+	frighten all who attempt to take away the sword. Now,
+	prince, I beg of you, use the sword to cut off the beard of my
+	wicked brother; kill him, and return here to put an end to
+	me: I shall die happy if I die avenged.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;That you shall be, and very soon, I promise you,&#8221;
+	replied his listener.</p>
+
+	<p>The prince bade the Dappled Horse with Golden Mane
+	carry him to the kingdom of the Dwarf with the Long Beard.
+	They reached the garden gate at the very moment when the
+	dwarf had caught sight of Princess Pietnotka and was running
+	after her. The war-trumpet, challenging him to fight, had
+	obliged him to leave her, which he did, having first put on
+	her head the invisible cap.</p>
+
+	<p>While the prince was awaiting the answer to his challenge
+	he heard a great noise in the clouds, and looking up saw the
+	dwarf preparing to aim at him from a great height. But he
+	missed his aim and fell to the ground so heavily that his
+	body was half buried in the earth. The prince seized him
+	by the beard, which he at once cut off with the sharp smiting
+	sword.</p>
+
+	<p>Then he fastened the dwarf to the saddle, put the beard
+	in his helmet, and entered the palace. When the servants
+	saw that he had really got possession of the terrible beard,
+	they opened all the doors to give him entrance. Without
+	losing a moment he began his search for Princess Pietnotka.
+	For a long time he was unsuccessful, and was almost in
+	despair when he came across her accidentally, and, without
+	knowing it, knocked off the invisible cap. He saw his lovely
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page116" title="116">&nbsp;</a>bride sound asleep, and being unable to wake her he put the
+	cap in his pocket, took her in his arms, and, mounting his
+	steed, set off to return to the Monster with the Basilisk
+	Eyes. The giant swallowed the dwarf at one mouthful, and
+	the prince cut the monster&#8217;s head up into a thousand pieces,
+	which he scattered all over the plain.</p>
+
+	<p>He then resumed his journey, and on coming to the moorland
+	the dappled horse stopped short and said, &#8220;Prince, here
+	for the present we must take leave of each other. You are
+	not far from home, your own horse awaits you; but before
+	leaving, enter in at my right ear and come out at my left.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince did so, and came out without his armour, and
+	clad as when Pietnotka left him.</p>
+
+	<p>The dappled horse vanished, and Dobrotek whistled to
+	his own horse, who ran up, quite pleased to see him again.
+	They immediately set off for the king&#8217;s palace.</p>
+
+	<p>But night came on before they reached the end of their
+	journey.</p>
+
+	<p>The prince laid the sleeping maiden on the grass, and,
+	covering her up carefully to keep her warm, he himself fell
+	fast asleep. By chance, a knight, one of her suitors, passed
+	that way. Seeing Dobrotek asleep he drew his sword and
+	stabbed him; then he lifted the princess on his horse and
+	soon reached the king&#8217;s palace, where he addressed Pietnotka&#8217;s
+	father in these words: &#8220;Here is your daughter, whom
+	I now claim as my wife, for it is I who have restored her to
+	you. She was carried off by a terrible sorcerer who fought
+	with me three days and three nights. But I conquered him,
+	and I have brought you the princess safely back.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page117" title="117">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-22.png"><img src="images/illo-22-th.png" width="331" height="494" alt="A princely man stands next to a sleeping princess." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page118" title="118">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The king was overjoyed at seeing her again, but finding  <!-- Original location of pages 117 & 118 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page119" title="119">&nbsp;</a>that his tenderest efforts were powerless to awake her, he
+	wanted to know the reason of it.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;That I cannot tell you,&#8221; replied the impostor; &#8220;you see
+	her as I found her myself.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Meanwhile, poor Prince Dobrotek, seriously wounded,
+	was slowly recovering consciousness, but he felt so weak that
+	he could hardly utter these words:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Come, Magic Horse with Mane of Gold,</p>
+		<p>Come, Dappled Horse, O come to me.</p>
+		<p>Fly like the birds as you did of old,</p>
+		<p>As flashes of lightning o&#8217;er land and sea.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Instantly a bright cloud appeared, and from the midst
+	thereof stepped the magic horse. As he already knew all
+	that had happened, he dashed off immediately to the Mountain
+	of Eternal Life. Thence he drew the three kinds of water:
+	the Water that gives Life, the Water that Cures, and the Water
+	that Strengthens. Returning to the prince, he sprinkled him
+	first with the Life-giving Water, and instantly the body, which
+	had become cold, was warm again and the blood began to
+	circulate. The Water that Cures healed the wound, and the
+	Strength-giving Water had such an effect upon him that he
+	opened his eyes and cried out, &#8220;Oh, how well I have slept.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You were already sleeping the eternal sleep,&#8221; replied the
+	dappled horse. &#8220;One of your rivals stabbed you mortally,
+	and carried off Pietnotka, whom he pretends to have rescued.
+	But do not worry yourself, she still sleeps, and none can
+	arouse her but you, and this you must do by touching her
+	with the dwarf&#8217;s beard. Go now, and be happy.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The brave steed disappeared in a whirlwind, and Prince
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page120" title="120">&nbsp;</a>Dobrotek proceeded on his way. On drawing near the capital
+	he saw it surrounded by a large foreign army; part of it was
+	already taken, and the inhabitants seemed to be begging for
+	mercy. The prince put on his invisible cap, and began to
+	strike right and left with the sharp smiting sword. With such
+	fury did he attack the enemy that they fell dead on all sides,
+	like felled trees. When he had thus destroyed the whole
+	army he went, still invisible, into the palace, where he heard
+	the king express the utmost astonishment that the enemy had
+	retired without fighting.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Where then is the brave warrior who has saved us?&#8221;
+	said his majesty aloud.</p>
+
+	<p>Every one was silent, when Dobrotek took off his magic
+	cap, and falling on his knees before the monarch, said: &#8220;It is
+	I, my king and father, who have routed and destroyed the
+	enemy. It is I who saved the princess, my bride. While
+	on my way back with her I was treacherously killed by my
+	rival, who has represented himself to you as her rescuer, but
+	he has deceived you. Lead me to the princess, that I may
+	awaken her.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>On hearing these words the impostor ran away as quickly
+	as possible, and Dobrotek approached the sleeping maiden.
+	He just touched her brow with the dwarf&#8217;s beard, upon
+	which she opened her eyes, smiled, and seemed to ask where
+	she was.</p>
+
+	<p>The king, overcome with joy, kissed her fondly, and the
+	same evening she was married to the devoted Prince Dobrotek.
+	The king himself led her to the altar, and to his son-in-law he
+	gave half his kingdom. So splendid was the wedding banquet,
+	that eye has never seen, nor ear ever heard of its equal.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_10" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page121" title="121">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE
+		CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING,
+		AND THE SMITING CLUB</h2>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page122" title="122">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page123" title="123">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-23.png"><img src="images/illo-23-th.png" width="306" height="254" alt="A man rides a flying carpet." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP,
+	THE GOLD-GIVING RING, AND THE SMITING
+	CLUB</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">In</span> a cottage near the high-road, and close to the shores of
+	a large lake, there once lived a widow, poor and old. She
+	was very very poor, but her mother&#8217;s heart was rich in pride
+	in her son, who was the joy of her life. He was a handsome
+	lad with an honest soul. He earned his living by fishing in
+	the lake, and succeeded so well that neither he nor his mother
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page124" title="124">&nbsp;</a>were ever in want of their daily bread. Every one called him
+	&#8220;the fisherman.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>One evening at dusk he went down to the lake to throw
+	in his nets, and standing on the shore with a new bucket in
+	his hand, waited to put into it whatever fish it might please
+	God to send him. In about a quarter of an hour or so he
+	drew in his nets and took out two bream. These he threw
+	into the bucket, and humming a merry song turned to go
+	home. At that moment a traveller, poorly clad, with hair
+	and beard white as the wings of a dove, spoke to him, saying,
+	&#8220;Have pity on a feeble old man, obliged to lean on his
+	stick, hungry and ragged. I beg you, in Heaven&#8217;s name, to
+	give me either money or bread. The sun will soon set, and
+	I who have eaten nothing to-day shall have to pass the night
+	fasting, with the bare earth for a bed.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;My good old friend, I am sorry I have nothing about
+	me to give you, but you see the black smoke curling up
+	in the distance? That is our cottage, where my old mother
+	is waiting for me to bring her some fish to cook for our
+	supper. Now take these two bream to her, meanwhile I will
+	return to the lake and throw in my nets again to see if I can
+	catch something more. Thus, with God&#8217;s help, we shall all
+	three have enough for supper to-night and breakfast to-morrow
+	morning.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>While speaking the fisherman handed the fish to the old
+	man, when, marvel of marvels! he melted into the rays of
+	the setting sun and vanished, both he and the fish.</p>
+
+	<p>The fisherman, much astonished, rubbed his eyes and
+	looked about on all sides. For a moment he felt afraid,
+	but when he had crossed himself all terror left him and he
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page125" title="125">&nbsp;</a>went to draw in his nets by the light of the moon. And what
+	do you think he found in them? It was neither a pike nor
+	a trout, but a small fish with eyes of diamonds, fins of rainbow
+	colour, and golden scales that shone and flashed like
+	lightning.</p>
+
+	<p>When he had spread his nets on the beach the fish began
+	to talk to him in the language of men.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Do not kill me, young fisherman,&#8221; it said, &#8220;but accept
+	in exchange for my life this golden ring. Every time you
+	put it on your finger repeat these words:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8216;I conjure thee, O ring, who gold can give,</p>
+		<p>In the name of the little fishling of gold,</p>
+		<p>For the good of man, that man may live,</p>
+		<p>And the honour of heaven, send, new or old,</p>
+		<p>Little or much, as may be my need,</p>
+		<p>Coins of the realm, let them fall like seed.&#8217;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="continued_paragraph">After uttering each of these words, a shower of gold pieces
+	will fall.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The fisherman gladly accepted the ring, and freeing the
+	miraculous fish from the net he threw it back into the water.
+	As it fell, it shone in the air like a shooting star and then
+	disappeared beneath the waves.</p>
+
+	<p>On his way back he said to himself, &#8220;My mother and I
+	will go to bed hungry to-night, without our fried fish, but to-morrow,
+	when I have made the golden coins gleam in our
+	humble cottage, all sorts of good things will find their way
+	there, and we shall live like lords.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>But things turned out very differently, for the first thing
+	he saw on opening the door was the table covered with a
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page126" title="126">&nbsp;</a>white cloth, and upon it a china soup-tureen in which lay the
+	two bream freshly cooked.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Where did you get those fish from, dear mother?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I do not know myself,&#8221; replied she, &#8220;for I have neither
+	cleaned them nor cooked them. Our table spread itself, the
+	fish placed themselves upon it, and although they have been
+	there an hour they do not get cold; any one might think they
+	had just been taken off the fire. Come, let us eat them.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The widow and her son sat down, said grace, and after
+	eating as much as they wanted went to bed.</p>
+
+	<p>Next morning, at breakfast time, the fisherman made the
+	sign of the cross, and then put on the gold ring, at the same
+	time repeating the words the fish had taught him:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;I conjure thee, O ring, who gold can give,</p>
+		<p>In the name of the little fishling of gold,</p>
+		<p>For the good of man, that man may live,</p>
+		<p>And the honour of heaven, send, new or old,</p>
+		<p>Little or much, as may be my need,</p>
+		<p>Coins of the realm, let them fall like seed.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>When he had ceased speaking the room was filled with a
+	blast of wind followed by flashes of lightning, then a hailstorm
+	of gold pieces showered down and quite covered the table.</p>
+
+	<p>The chink of the money aroused his mother, who sat up
+	in bed perfectly amazed.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What is the meaning of this, my son? Am I awake or
+	dreaming? or is it the work of the Evil One? Where did all
+	that money come from?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page127" title="127">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-24.png"><img src="images/illo-24-th.png" width="331" height="494" alt="A man sits at a table being showered with coins while an older woman looks on." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page128" title="128">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Fear not, mother, I wear a cross that charms away evil
+	spirits. I have my work, so that you shall never want, and I  <!-- Original location of pages 127 & 128 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page129" title="129">&nbsp;</a>have your heart, where for me there will ever be love to
+	sweeten the disappointments and troubles of life. This gold
+	that you see will drive poverty far away, and enable us to help
+	others. Take these pieces, lock them up safely, and use them
+	when in need. As for me, kiss me, and wish me good luck
+	on my journey.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What! Is it possible that you want to leave me already?
+	Why? and whither are you going?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I want to go, mother mine, to see the great city. When
+	there, I mean to enrol myself in the national army. Thus
+	the fisherman turned soldier will become the defender of his
+	king, for the glory of his country and his mother.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Of a truth, my son, I have heard some talk about the
+	king being in danger, and that our enemies are trying to take
+	his crown from him. But why should you go? Stay at home
+	rather, for alone and unnoticed among so many troops you
+	will neither be able to help nor to hinder.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You are right, one man alone is a small thing, but by
+	adding one grain to another the measure overflows. If all
+	those who are capable of bearing arms will help the king,
+	there is no doubt that he will soon overcome his enemies.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;But a harmless fisherman like you! Of what use can
+	you be in a battle?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;The fisherman has, doubtless, a peaceable disposition,
+	and he never boasts of his strength. But when the right
+	moment comes he knows how to handle a sword, and how
+	to water the land with the enemy&#8217;s blood. And the victorious
+	king will, perhaps, reward me for my bravery by giving me some
+	splendid castle, or a few acres of forest land, a suit of armour
+	and a horse, or even the hand of his daughter in marriage.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page130" title="130">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;If you feel like this,&#8221; answered she, &#8220;go, and may God
+	bless you. May He cover you, dear child, with His grace as
+	with a buckler, so that neither guns nor sabres shall do you
+	harm. May He take you under His protection, so that you
+	may return safe and sound to be a comfort to me; and at the
+	end of my days may I rejoice in your happiness, and live near
+	you as long as God in His wisdom shall allow.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then she gave him her blessing and kissed him tenderly,
+	making the sign of the cross in the direction he was about
+	to take.</p>
+
+	<p>So he departed, and after a few days&#8217; march reached the
+	capital, thinking within himself how he might help the king
+	most effectually.</p>
+
+	<p>The town was surrounded by a countless host who
+	threatened to utterly destroy it unless the king would agree
+	to pay a very large ransom.</p>
+
+	<p>The people crowded into the square, and stood before the
+	palace gates listening to the herald&#8217;s proclamation.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Hear the king&#8217;s will,&#8221; said the herald; &#8220;listen, all ye
+	faithful subjects, to the words he speaks to you by my mouth.
+	Here are our deadly enemies, who have scattered our troops,
+	and have come to besiege the capital of our kingdom. If
+	we do not send them, by daybreak to-morrow, twenty-four
+	waggons, each drawn by six horses and loaded with gold, they
+	threaten to take the town and destroy it by fire and sword,
+	and to deliver our land to the soldiers. It is certain that we
+	cannot hold out any longer, and our royal treasure-house
+	does not contain one-half the amount demanded. Therefore,
+	through me our sovereign announces, that whosoever among
+	you shall succeed, either in defeating our foes, or in providing
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page131" title="131">&nbsp;</a>the money needed for the ransom, him will he appoint his
+	heir to the crown, and to him will he give his only daughter
+	in marriage, a princess of marvellous beauty. Further, he
+	shall receive half the kingdom in his own right.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When the fisherman heard these words he went to the
+	king and said, &#8220;My sovereign and father, command that
+	twenty-four waggons, each harnessed with twenty-four horses
+	and provided with leathern bags, be brought into the courtyard;
+	I will engage to fill them with gold, and that at once,
+	before your eyes.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then he left the palace, and standing in the middle of the
+	large square, recited the words the fish had taught him.</p>
+
+	<p>These were followed by rumblings of thunder and flashes
+	of lightning, and then by a perfect hurricane which sent down
+	masses and showers of gold. In a few minutes the square
+	was covered with a layer of gold so thick that, after loading
+	the twenty-four waggons and filling a large half of the royal
+	treasure-house, there was enough left to make handsome
+	presents to all the king&#8217;s officers and servants.</p>
+
+	<p>Next day the enemy returned to their own country laden
+	with the heavy ransom they had demanded.</p>
+
+	<p>The king sent for the fisherman, and inviting him to partake
+	of hydromel wine and sweetmeats, said, &#8220;You have to-day
+	been the means of saving our capital from a great calamity,
+	and shall, therefore, receive the reward which you have earned.
+	My only daughter, a princess of great beauty, shall be your
+	wife, and I will give you the half of my kingdom for a wedding
+	present. I also appoint you my heir to the throne. But tell
+	me, to whom am I indebted? What kingdom or land belongs
+	to you? How is it that by a mere movement of the hand
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page132" title="132">&nbsp;</a>you were able to supply my enemies with such a quantity of
+	gold?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And the fisherman, simple-hearted and straightforward as a
+	child, ignorant of the deceptions practised in court, answered
+	frankly, &#8220;Sire, I belong to no royal or princely family, I am
+	a simple fisherman and your loyal subject. I procure my
+	gold by means of this magic ring, and at any time I can have
+	as much as I want.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then he told how his good fortune had come to him.</p>
+
+	<p>The king made no answer, but it hurt his royal dignity to
+	think that he owed his safety to one of his own peasants,
+	and that he had promised to make him his son-in-law.</p>
+
+	<p>That evening, after a luxurious supper, the fisherman,
+	having taken a little more wine than usual, ventured to ask
+	the king to present him to his bride. The king whispered a
+	few words in the ear of the chamberlain of the court, and then
+	went out.</p>
+
+	<p>The chamberlain took the fisherman to the top of the
+	castle tower, and there said to him, &#8220;According to the customs
+	of the court you should, before being introduced to the
+	princess, send her by my hands some valuable jewel as a
+	wedding gift.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;But I have nothing of value or beauty about me,&#8221; replied
+	he, &#8220;unless you offer the princess this golden ring, to which I
+	owe all my good fortune, the princess herself, and the safety
+	of her father.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The chamberlain took the ring, and opening the window
+	of the tower, asked, &#8220;Fisherman, do you see the moon in the
+	heavens?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I do.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page133" title="133">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Very well, she shall be the witness of your betrothal.
+	Now look down; do you see that precipice, and the deep
+	river shining in its depths.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I do.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Very well, it shall be your bridal couch.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>So saying the chamberlain threw him into the deep abyss,
+	shut the window, and ran to tell the king that there was no
+	longer a suitor for the hand of his daughter.</p>
+
+	<p>The fisherman, stunned by the force of his fall, reached
+	the water quite senseless. When he came to himself and
+	opened his eyes, he lay in a boat which at that moment was
+	leaving the mouth of the river and entering the open sea.</p>
+
+	<p>The very old man, to whom he had given the bream, was
+	guiding the vessel with an oar.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;My good old man, is it you? How did you manage to
+	save me?&#8221; asked the astonished fisherman.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I came to your assistance,&#8221; replied the old man, &#8220;because
+	he who shows pity to others deserves their help when in need
+	of it. But take the oar and row to whatever place you wish.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And having thus spoken the mysterious old man disappeared.
+	The fisherman crossed himself, and having looked
+	round upon the royal palace sparkling with light he sighed deeply,
+	and chanting the hymn &#8220;Under Thy Help,&#8221; put out to sea.</p>
+
+	<p>When the sun rose he saw some nets in the boat, and
+	throwing them into the water caught some pike, which he sold in
+	a town near the shore, and then continued his journey on foot.</p>
+
+	<p>Two or three months later, when crossing some open
+	country, he heard cries for help which came from a hill near
+	the forest. There he saw two little demons pulling each
+	other&#8217;s hair. By the cut of their short waistcoats, by their
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page134" title="134">&nbsp;</a>tight pantaloons and three-cornered hats, he knew that they
+	were inhabitants of the nether world, from which they must
+	have escaped. He had no doubt about it, but being a good
+	Christian he was not afraid, and accosted them boldly, saying,
+	&#8220;Why do you ill-treat each other in this way? What is the
+	meaning of it?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It means, that for many a long year we have both been
+	working hard to entice a silly fellow down below. He was
+	first tempted by the desire to learn something of sorcery, and
+	he ended by becoming an accomplished scoundrel. After
+	giving him time to commit a great many crimes and thus
+	forfeit his soul, we handed him over to safe keeping. Now we
+	want to divide his property between us. He has left three
+	things, which by every right belong to us. The first is a
+	wonderful carpet. Whoever sits down upon it, and pronounces
+	certain magic words, will be carried off at once, over
+	forests and under clouds, never stopping until his destination
+	is reached. The magic words are as follows:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8216;Carpet, that of thyself through space takes flight,</p>
+		<p>O travel, thou airy car, both day and night</p>
+		<p>Till my desired haven comes in sight.&#8217;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="continued_paragraph">The second piece of property is that club lying on the grass.
+	After uttering some magic words, the club will immediately
+	begin to hit so vigorously that a whole army may be crushed
+	to pieces or dispersed. The words run thus:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8216;Club, thou marvellous club, who knows</p>
+		<p>How to strike and smite my foes,</p>
+		<p>By thine own strength and in God&#8217;s name</p>
+		<p>O strike well home and strike again.&#8217;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="continued_paragraph"><a class="pagenum" id="page135" title="135">&nbsp;</a>The third piece of property is a cap that renders its wearer
+	invisible. Now, my good man, you see our difficulty: there
+	are but two of us, and we are fighting to decide how these
+	three lots may be divided into two equal parts.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I can help you,&#8221; said the fisherman, &#8220;provided you will
+	do as I tell you. Leave the three lots here just as they are&#8212;the
+	carpet, the club, and the magic cap. I will roll a stone
+	from the top of this hill to the bottom&#8212;whoever catches it
+	first shall have two lots for his share. What do you say?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Agreed!&#8221; cried the demons, racing after the stone that
+	rolled and bounded on its way down.</p>
+
+	<p>In the meantime the fisherman hastily put on the cap,
+	seized the club, and sitting down on the carpet, repeated the
+	magic formula without forgetting a single word.</p>
+
+	<p>He was already high up in the air when the demons returned
+	carrying the stone and calling out to him to come
+	and reward the winner.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Come down and divide those things between us,&#8221; they
+	cried after him.</p>
+
+	<p>The fisherman&#8217;s only answer was the magic address to
+	his club. This enchanted weapon then fell upon them and
+	struck so hard that the country round echoed to the sound
+	thereof. In the midst of screams and cries and clouds of
+	dust they escaped at last, and the club, of its own accord,
+	came back and placed itself at the fisherman&#8217;s orders. He,
+	in spite of the rapid motion, sat comfortably on the carpet
+	with the cap under his arm and the club in his hand. Thus
+	they flew over forests, under clouds, and so high that seen
+	from the earth they looked like a tiny white cloud.</p>
+
+	<p>Within two or three days they stopped at the king&#8217;s
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page136" title="136">&nbsp;</a>capital. The fisherman, with his cap on, descended into
+	the middle of the courtyard.</p>
+
+	<p>The whole place was in confusion and trouble, for the
+	commander of the foreign army, encouraged by having so
+	easily received such a large sum of money, had returned to
+	the attack and again held the town in siege, declaring that
+	he would destroy every house and slay all the inhabitants,
+	not sparing even the king himself, unless he agreed to give
+	him his only daughter in marriage.</p>
+
+	<p>The terrified citizens crowded to the palace and besought
+	his majesty to do as they asked him, and so save them from
+	such a fate. The king, standing on the balcony, addressed
+	them thus: &#8220;Faithful and devoted people, listen to me.
+	Nothing but a miracle can save us from this fearful calamity;
+	yet it has happened that the most powerful assailants have
+	been forced to ask mercy of the most feeble. I will never
+	consent to the marriage of my only daughter with my most
+	hated and cruel foe. Within a few moments my guards will
+	be ready for combat, and I myself will lead them against the
+	enemy. If there be any among you who can win the victory,
+	to him will I give my only daughter in marriage, the half of
+	my kingdom for her dowry, and the heirship to the throne.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When he had finished speaking the fisherman ordered his
+	club to fall on the foe, while the country round echoed and
+	re-echoed to the blows by means of which it destroyed the
+	besieging army. It was in vain that the brave commander
+	shouted to his soldiers not to run away, for when he himself
+	received three blows from the club he was obliged to make
+	off as fast as possible.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page137" title="137">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-25.png"><img src="images/illo-25-th.png" width="328" height="447" alt="A king and queen address a crowd from a balcony." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page138" title="138">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>When the club had destroyed or driven away into the  <!-- Original location of pages 137 & 138 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page139" title="139">&nbsp;</a>desert all the troops it came back to its master; he, still
+	wearing the magic cap, and with his carpet folded up under
+	his arm and his club in his hand, made his way to the king&#8217;s
+	apartment.</p>
+
+	<p>In the palace shouts of joy had succeeded the cries of fear
+	which had been heard but a short while ago. Every one was
+	happy, and every one congratulated the king upon his victory,
+	as sudden and complete as it was unexpected. But the
+	monarch, turning to his warriors, addressed them thus:
+	&#8220;Victory! Let us rather return thanks to God. He who
+	has won for us the victory has but to present himself and
+	receive the reward he so richly deserves, that is, my beautiful
+	daughter in marriage, the half of my kingdom, and the right
+	of succession to my throne. These are the gifts that await
+	this victorious hero. Where is he?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>They all stood silent and looked from one to the other.
+	Then the fisherman, who had taken off his cap, appeared
+	before the assembly and said, &#8220;Behold, it was I who destroyed
+	your enemies, O king. This is the second time that I have
+	been promised the hand of the princess in marriage, the half
+	of the kingdom, and the right of succession to the throne.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king, struck dumb with amazement, looked inquiringly
+	at his chamberlain, then recovering his presence of mind he
+	shook hands with the fisherman.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Your good health, my friend. By what happy fortune
+	do you return safe and sound to my court? The chamberlain
+	told me that through your own carelessness you had fallen
+	out of the tower window; in truth, we mourned you as dead.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I should not have fallen out of the window if I had not
+	been thrown down by your chamberlain; there is the traitor.
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page140" title="140">&nbsp;</a>I only escaped death through God&#8217;s help, and I have just
+	come to the palace in my air-car.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king made a pretence of being angry with the guilty
+	chamberlain, and ordered his guards to take him away to the
+	donjon cell; then, with pretended friendship, he embraced
+	the fisherman and led him to his own apartments. All the
+	while he was thinking and thinking what he could do to get
+	rid of him. The idea of having him, a mere peasant and one
+	of his own subjects, for a son-in-law was most repugnant to
+	him, and hurt his kingly pride. At last he said, &#8220;The chamberlain
+	will most certainly be punished for his crime. As for
+	you, who have twice been my saviour, you shall be my son-in-law.
+	Now the customs observed at court demand that you
+	should send your bride a wedding gift, a jewel, or some other
+	trifle of value. When this has been observed I promise to
+	give my blessing on the marriage, and may you both be happy
+	and live long.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I have no jewel worthy of the princess&#8217;s acceptance. I
+	might have given her as much gold as she wished, but your
+	chamberlain took my magic golden ring from me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Before insisting upon its return something else might
+	be done. I thoroughly appreciate the value of your marvellous
+	flying carpet&#8212;why should not we both sit on it and make
+	an excursion to the Valley of Diamonds? There we can
+	obtain stones of the finest water, such as no one in the world
+	has ever possessed. Afterwards we will return here with your
+	wedding present for my daughter.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king then opened the window, and the fisherman,
+	spreading out his carpet, repeated the magic words.</p>
+
+	<p>Thus they took flight into the air, and after travelling one
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page141" title="141">&nbsp;</a>or two hours began to descend at their destination. It was
+	a valley surrounded on all sides by rocks so steep and so
+	difficult of access, that, except by God&#8217;s special grace, no
+	mortal man imprisoned there could possibly escape. The
+	ground was strewn with diamonds of the finest quality. The
+	king and fisherman found it easy to make a large collection,
+	picking and choosing, gathering and arranging them upon the
+	carpet. When they had put together all there was room for,
+	the king sat down, and pointing to a large diamond shining
+	at a little distance, said to the fisherman, &#8220;There is yet a
+	more splendid one by the stream yonder; run, my son-in-law,
+	and bring it here, it would be a pity to leave it.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The man went for it, while the king, taking advantage of
+	his absence to pronounce the magic words, seated himself on
+	the carpet, which lifted itself up, and floating like an air-car
+	above the forest and under the clouds, descended by one of
+	the palace windows.</p>
+
+	<p>His joy knew no bounds, for he now found himself not
+	only free from his enemies and rid of the embarrassing
+	presence of the fisherman, but also the possessor of the
+	richest and most beautiful collection of diamonds in the
+	world;&#8212;by his orders they were put away in the caves of
+	the royal treasure-house, and with them the magic ring and
+	the flying carpet.</p>
+
+	<p>Meantime the fisherman had returned with the diamond,
+	and had stood aghast to see the carpet vanishing away in
+	the distance.</p>
+
+	<p>Wounded at the ingratitude and indignant at the perversity
+	of a prince for whom he had done so much, he burst
+	into tears.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page142" title="142">&nbsp;</a>And, indeed, he had good reason to weep. For he had
+	but to look at the enormous height of the polished rocks to
+	be convinced of the impossibility of climbing them. The
+	vegetation, too, was so scanty that it could only provide him
+	with food for a very short time. He saw but two courses
+	open to him: either to die from starvation, or to be devoured
+	by the monstrous serpents that crawled about in great numbers.
+	Night was now coming on, and the poor fellow was obliged to
+	plan some way of escaping the frightful reptiles which were
+	leaving their hiding-places. At last he climbed up a tree, the
+	highest he could find, and there, with his magic cap on and
+	his club in his hand, passed the night without even closing
+	his eyes.</p>
+
+	<p>Next morning when the sun rose the serpents went back
+	to their holes, and the fisherman got down from his tree
+	feeling stiff with cold and very hungry. For some time he
+	walked about the valley in search of food, turning over the
+	diamonds now so useless to him. There he found a few
+	worthless mushrooms, and with such poor food as berries
+	and sorrel leaves, and the water of the valley stream for
+	drink, he lived for some days.</p>
+
+	<p>One night when he went to sleep it happened that his cap
+	came off and fell to the ground, whereupon all the reptiles of
+	the place immediately gathered round him. Aroused by their
+	hisses, he awoke to find himself surrounded on all sides and
+	almost in reach of their stings. He immediately seized his
+	club, and had scarcely begun to repeat the magic formula
+	before the weapon set to work to destroy the snakes, while the
+	rocks resounded right and left with the blows. It was as if
+	the monsters were being covered with boiling water, and the
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page143" title="143">&nbsp;</a>noise they made was like that produced by a flock of birds
+	overtaken by a storm. They roared and hissed and twisted
+	themselves into a thousand knots, gradually disappearing one
+	by one. Then the club returned of its own accord to the
+	fisherman&#8217;s hands, while he returned thanks to God for
+	having delivered him from such a horrible death. At that
+	moment there appeared upon the top of a steep rock his
+	friend, the old man. Overcome with joy at the sight of him,
+	the fisherman called out, &#8220;Save me! come to me, my divine
+	protector.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The old man spread out his arms towards him, and
+	having blessed him drew him up, saying, &#8220;Now you are
+	free again, hasten to save your king, his daughter your bride,
+	and their kingdom. After he had left you in the valley as
+	food for serpents he was punished for his great crimes by
+	the return of the enemy, who again laid siege to the capital.
+	This happened at the very moment when he was surrounded
+	by his guests, and was boasting of his possession of the air-car,
+	the magic golden ring, and the rest of his evilly acquired
+	riches.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;His foes had consulted Yaga, a wicked sorceress; she
+	advised them to obtain the help of Kostey the magician, who
+	promised his aid in carrying off the princess. When he came
+	he fell in love with the beautiful maiden at first sight, and
+	determined to marry her himself. In order to bring this
+	about he threw the king, the courtiers, and all the inhabitants
+	of the land into a heavy sleep. Then he bore off the princess
+	to his own palace, where she has been shut up and ill-treated
+	because she refuses to have anything to do with him. His
+	castle is situated at the very end of the world, to the west.
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page144" title="144">&nbsp;</a>There is nothing to hinder you from taking possession of
+	your carpet and ring, they are hidden in the king&#8217;s treasure-house.
+	Then go with your cap and club and conquer Kostey,
+	rescue the princess, and deliver the king and his subjects.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The fisherman would have thrown himself at the old
+	man&#8217;s feet to pour out his gratitude, but he suddenly vanished.
+	So he thanked God for all His mercies, put on his invisible
+	cap, and taking his club, made his way towards the capital.</p>
+
+	<p>At the end of three days he entered the royal city. All
+	the inhabitants were sleeping the enchanted sleep, from which
+	they were powerless to rouse themselves. The fisherman
+	went straight to the royal treasure-house, took the magic ring
+	and carpet, then seating himself upon the latter and repeating
+	the magic words, away he went like a bird, over rustling forests
+	and under clouds, floating across the blue sky.</p>
+
+	<p>After some days of travel he alighted in Kostey&#8217;s courtyard.
+	Without a moment&#8217;s delay he folded up his carpet,
+	put the magic cap on his head, and with club in hand entered
+	Kostey&#8217;s room. There, to his astonishment, stood the magician
+	himself, admiring the wondrous beauty of the princess.
+	For she was perfectly beautiful; eye had never seen nor ear
+	heard of such loveliness. With a low bow full of pride and
+	an ironical smile he was saying to her: &#8220;Beauteous princess,
+	you have sworn a most solemn oath to marry none but that
+	man who can solve your six riddles. It is in vain that I strive
+	to guess them. Now there are only two courses open to you:
+	either to release yourself from your vow, putting the riddles
+	aside and consenting to be my wife; or to persist in your
+	vow and thus deliver yourself up to my anger, which you
+	will bitterly regret. I give you three minutes to decide.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page145" title="145">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-26.png"><img src="images/illo-26-th.png" width="314" height="490" alt="A woman sleeps in a chair; there's the merest outline of a man in the background." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page146" title="146">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page147" title="147">&nbsp;</a>Upon hearing these threats the fisherman trembled with
+	rage, and in a low voice whispered the magic words to his
+	club.</p>
+
+	<p>This good weapon did not wait for the order to be
+	repeated, but with one bound came down full upon Kostey&#8217;s
+	forehead. Stunned for a moment by the violence of the
+	blow, the terrible creature rolled upon the ground. Sparks
+	like fireworks sprang from his eyes, and the noise as of
+	a hundred mills seemed to go through his head. Any
+	ordinary mortal would never have opened his eyes again,
+	but Kostey was immortal.</p>
+
+	<p>Getting on his feet he pulled himself together, and
+	tried to find out who had thus attacked him. Then the
+	club began to hit him again, and the sound thereof was
+	like unto blows on an empty vault. It seemed to the
+	magician as if showers of boiling water were being poured
+	upon him. He twisted himself about in awful convulsions,
+	and would have liked to bury himself in his palace walls
+	and be turned to stone.</p>
+
+	<p>At last, crippled with wounds, he began to hiss like a
+	serpent, and springing forwards breathed upon the princess,
+	filling the air with the poisonous blast.</p>
+
+	<p>The maiden tottered and fell, as if dead. Kostey
+	changed himself into a wreath of smoke, and floating out
+	of the window, disappeared in a hurricane.</p>
+
+	<p>The fisherman, still invisible, carried the princess into
+	the courtyard of the castle, hoping that the fresh air might
+	restore her to consciousness. He laid her upon the grass,
+	his heart throbbing with hope and fear, and waited anxiously.
+	Suddenly a raven and his nestlings, attracted by the sight
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page148" title="148">&nbsp;</a>of a dead body, and not being able to see the fisherman,
+	came by croaking. The parent bird said to his young ones:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Come, children, sharpen claws and beak, krâk, krâk,</p>
+		<p>For here&#8217;s a feast not far to seek, krâk, krâk,</p>
+		<p>This young girl&#8217;s corse so white and sleek, krâk, krâk.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>One small bird at once settled down on the princess,
+	but the fisherman seized it and took off his cap, so that
+	he could be seen.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Fisherman,&#8221; said the father raven, &#8220;let go my dear
+	birdling and I will give you anything you want.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Then bring me some of the Life-Giving Water.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The raven flew away and returned in about an hour,
+	carrying in his beak a tiny bottle of the water. Then he
+	again begged to have his nestling back.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You shall have it as soon as I have proved that the
+	water is of the right sort.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>So saying, he sprinkled the pale face of the princess.
+	She sighed, opened her eyes, and blushing at the sight of
+	a stranger, got up and said, &#8220;Where am I? Why, how
+	soundly I have slept!&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Lovely princess, your sleep might have lasted for
+	ever.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then he told her his story, how he had been thrown into
+	the river, abandoned in the Valley of Diamonds, and so
+	on, relating at full length all the marvellous events that
+	had taken place.</p>
+
+	<p>She listened attentively, then, thanking him for all he
+	had done for her, placed her hand in his and said, &#8220;In
+	the garden behind the palace is an apple-tree that bears
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page149" title="149">&nbsp;</a>golden fruit. A guzla that plays of its own accord hangs
+	on its branches, and is guarded day and night by four
+	negroes. Now the music from this guzla has the wonderful
+	power of restoring health to invalids who listen to it, and
+	happiness to those who are sad. That which is ugly becomes
+	beautiful, and charms and enchantments of all kinds
+	are broken and destroyed for ever.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The fisherman put on his invisible cap and went into
+	the garden in search of the negroes. Before going up to
+	them he addressed the magic words to his golden ring, and
+	after a short thunderstorm a shower of gold covered the
+	ground. The negroes, greedy of wealth, threw themselves
+	upon it, snatching from each other handfuls of the golden
+	rain. While thus engaged the fisherman unhooked the guzla
+	from the branches and hurried off into the courtyard with it.
+	There he unfolded his carpet, and sitting down upon it with
+	the princess at his side, flew high up into the air. He had
+	not forgotten to bring with him the cap, the club, and the
+	ring; the princess took care of the guzla.</p>
+
+	<p>They floated across the blue sky, above the rustling forests
+	and under the clouds, and in a few days arrived at the palace.
+	There they descended, but the people still lay wrapped in
+	the enchanted sleep, from which they seemed to have no
+	power of awakening.</p>
+
+	<p>The silence of the tomb reigned around. Some of the
+	officers were sitting, others standing, all motionless and rigid,
+	and each one in the position he occupied when last awake.
+	The king held a goblet filled with wine, for he had been
+	giving a toast. The chamberlain had his throat half filled
+	with a lying tale, which there had been no time to finish.
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page150" title="150">&nbsp;</a>One had the end of a joke upon his lips, another a dainty
+	morsel between his teeth, or a tale ready cooked upon his
+	tongue.</p>
+
+	<p>And it was the same in all the villages throughout the
+	length and breadth of the land. All the inhabitants lay
+	under the enchanted spell. The labourer held his whip in
+	the air, for he had been about to strike his oxen. The
+	harvesters with their sickles had stopped short in their work.
+	The shepherds slept by their sheep in the middle of the road.
+	The huntsman stood with the powder still alight on the pan
+	of his gun. The birds, arrested in their flight, hung in mid-air.
+	The animals in the woods were motionless. The water
+	in the streams was still. Even the wind slept. Everywhere
+	men had been overtaken in their occupations or amusements.
+	It was a soundless land, without voice or movement; on all
+	sides calm, death, sleep.</p>
+
+	<p>The fisherman stood with the princess at his side in
+	the banqueting-hall where slept the king and his guests.
+	Taking the magic guzla from the maid, he pronounced these
+	words:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O guzla, play, and let thy sweetest harmonies resound</p>
+		<p>Through hall and cot, o&#8217;er hill and dale, and all the country round;</p>
+		<p>That by the power and beauty of thy heavenly tones and song</p>
+		<p>Awakened may these sleepers be who sleep too well, too long.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>When the first tones of music burst forth everything began
+	to move and live again. The king finished proposing his
+	toast. The chamberlain ended his tale. The guests continued
+	to feast and enjoy themselves. The servants waited
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page151" title="151">&nbsp;</a>at their posts. In short, everything went on just as before,
+	and as if nothing had happened to interrupt it.</p>
+
+	<p>And it was just the same in all the country round.
+	Everything suddenly awoke to life. The labourer finished
+	ploughing his furrow. The haymakers built up the hay in
+	ricks. The reapers cut down the golden grain. The hunter&#8217;s
+	gun went off and shot the duck. The trees rustled. The
+	gardener went on with his work and his song. The rich,
+	who thought only of enjoyment, entertained one another in
+	luxury and splendour.</p>
+
+	<p>Now when the king caught sight of his daughter leaning
+	on the fisherman&#8217;s arm he could hardly believe his own eyes,
+	and it made him very angry. But the princess ran to him,
+	and throwing herself in his arms, related all that he had
+	accomplished. The monarch&#8217;s heart was softened, and he
+	felt ashamed. With tears in his eyes he drew the fisherman
+	towards him, and before the assembled company thanked him
+	for having the third time saved his life.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;God has punished me for my ill-treatment of you,&#8221; said
+	he. &#8220;Yet He is generous and forgives; I will fulfil all your
+	wishes.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He then added that the wedding feast should be held
+	that very day, and that his only daughter would be married
+	to the fisherman.</p>
+
+	<p>The princess was filled with gladness, and standing with
+	her father&#8217;s arms round her, said, &#8220;I cannot, however, break
+	my word. When in Kostey&#8217;s palace I made a vow to bestow
+	my hand only on that man who should guess the six riddles
+	I put to him. I am sure the heroic man, who has done so
+	much, will not refuse to submit to this last trial for my sake.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page152" title="152">&nbsp;</a>To this the fisherman bowed a willing assent.</p>
+
+	<p>The first riddle was: &#8220;Without legs it walks. Without
+	arms it strikes. Without life it moves continually.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;A clock,&#8221; he answered promptly, and to the great satisfaction
+	of the princess, to whom this good beginning seemed
+	to presage a happy ending.</p>
+
+	<p>The second riddle ran thus: &#8220;Without being either bird,
+	reptile, insect, or any animal whatsoever, it ensures the safety
+	of the whole house.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;A bolt,&#8221; said her lover.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Good! Now this is the third: &#8216;Who is that pedestrian
+	who walks fully armed, seasons dishes, and in his sides has
+	two darts? He swims across the water without the help of
+	a boatman.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;A lobster.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The princess clapped her hands and begged him to guess
+	the fourth.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It runs, it moves along on two sides, it has but one eye,
+	an overcoat of polished steel, and a tail of thread.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;A needle.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Well guessed. Now listen to the fifth: &#8216;It walks
+	without feet, beckons without hands, and moves without a
+	body.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It must be a shadow.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Exactly,&#8221; said she, well pleased. &#8220;Now you have
+	succeeded so well with these five you will soon guess the
+	sixth: &#8216;It has four feet, but is not an animal. It is provided
+	with feathers and down, but is no bird. It has a body, and
+	gives warmth, but is not alive.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It is certainly a bed,&#8221; exclaimed the fisherman.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page153" title="153">&nbsp;</a>The princess gave him her hand. They both knelt at
+	the king&#8217;s feet and received his fatherly blessing, after which
+	he with a large wedding party accompanied them to the
+	church. At the same time messengers were sent to bring
+	the fisherman&#8217;s mother to the palace.</p>
+
+	<p>The marvellous guzla played the sweetest music at the
+	marriage feast, while the old king ate and drank and enjoyed
+	himself, and danced like a madman. He treated his guests
+	with so much kindness and generosity that to this very hour
+	the happiness of those who were present is a thing to be
+	talked about and envied.</p>
+
+	<p>Now you see what it is to love virtue and pursue it with
+	energy and courage. For by so doing a mere peasant, a poor
+	simple fisherman, married the most lovely and enchanting
+	princess in the whole world. He received, besides, half the
+	kingdom on his wedding day, and the right of succession to
+	the throne after the old king&#8217;s death.</p>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page154" title="154">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_11" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page155" title="155">&nbsp;</a>
+
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN,
+		AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF
+		FLAME</h2>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page156" title="156">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page157" title="157">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-27.png"><img src="images/illo-27-th.png" width="315" height="218" alt="A young woman holding a peacock fan lies on a divan." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND
+	THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">In</span> those days the king of a certain country had a daughter,
+	who was not only exceedingly beautiful but also remarkably
+	clever. Many kings and princes travelled from far distant
+	lands, each one with the hope of making her his wife. But
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page158" title="158">&nbsp;</a>she would have nothing to do with any one of them. Finally,
+	it was proclaimed that she would marry that man who for
+	three successive nights should keep such strict watch upon
+	her that she could not escape unnoticed. Those who failed
+	were to have their heads cut off.</p>
+
+	<p>The news of this offer was noised about in all parts of
+	the world. A great many kings and princes hastened to
+	make the trial, taking their turn and keeping watch. But
+	each one lost his life in the attempt, for they could not prevent,
+	indeed they were not even able to see, the princess take
+	her flight.</p>
+
+	<p>Now it happened that Matthias, prince of a royal city,
+	heard of what was going on and resolved to watch through
+	the three nights. He was young, handsome as a deer, and
+	brave as a falcon. His father did all he could to turn him
+	from his purpose: he used entreaties, prayers, threats, in fact
+	he forbade him to go, but in vain, nothing could prevent him.
+	What could the poor father do? Worn-out with contention,
+	he was at last obliged to consent. Matthias filled his purse
+	with gold, girded a well-tried sword to his side, and quite
+	alone started off to seek the fortune of the brave.</p>
+
+	<p>Walking along next day, he met a man who seemed hardly
+	able to drag one leg after the other.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Whither are you going?&#8221; asked Matthias.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am travelling all over the world in search of happiness.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What is your profession?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I have no profession, but I can do what no one else can.
+	I am called <em>Broad</em>, because I have the power of swelling
+	myself out to such a size that there is room for a whole
+	regiment of soldiers inside me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page159" title="159">&nbsp;</a>So saying he puffed himself out till he formed a barricade
+	from one side of the road to the other.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Bravo!&#8221; cried Matthias, delighted at this proof of his
+	capacities. &#8220;By the way, would you mind coming with
+	me? I, too, am travelling across the world in search of
+	happiness.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;If there is nothing bad in it I am quite willing,&#8221; answered
+	Broad. And they continued their journey together.</p>
+
+	<p>A little further on they met a very slender man, frightfully
+	thin, and tall and straight as a portico.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Whither are you going, good man?&#8221; asked Matthias,
+	filled with curiosity at his strange appearance.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am travelling about the world.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;To what profession do you belong?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;To no profession, but I know something every one else is
+	ignorant of. I am called <em>Tall</em>, and with good reason. For
+	without leaving the earth I can stretch out and reach up to the
+	clouds. When I walk I clear a mile at each step.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Without more ado he lengthened himself out until his
+	head was lost in the clouds, while he really cleared a mile at
+	each step.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I like that, my fine fellow,&#8221; said Matthias. &#8220;Come, would
+	you not like to travel with us?&#8221;&#8217;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Why not?&#8221; replied he. &#8220;I&#8217;ll come.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>So they proceeded on their way together. While passing
+	through a forest they saw a man placing trunks of trees one
+	upon another.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What are you trying to do there?&#8221; asked Matthias, addressing
+	him.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I have <em>Eyes of Flame</em>,&#8221; said he, &#8220;and I am building a
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page160" title="160">&nbsp;</a>pile here.&#8221; So saying he fixed his flaming eyes upon the
+	wood, and the whole was instantly set alight.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You are a very clever and powerful man,&#8221; said Matthias,
+	&#8220;would you like to join our party?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;All right, I am willing.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>So the four travelled along together. Matthias was overjoyed
+	to have met with such gifted companions, and paid
+	their expenses generously, without complaining of the enormous
+	sum of money he had to spend on the amount of food
+	Broad consumed.</p>
+
+	<p>After some days they reached the princess&#8217;s palace.
+	Matthias had told them the object of his journey, and had
+	promised each a large reward if he was successful. They
+	gave him their word to work with a will at the task which
+	every one up till then had failed to accomplish. The prince
+	bought them each a handsome suit of clothes, and when they
+	were all presentable sent them to tell the king, the princess&#8217;s
+	father, that he had come with his attendants to watch three
+	nights in the lady&#8217;s boudoir. But he took very good care
+	not to say who he was, nor whence he had come.</p>
+
+	<p>The king received them kindly, and after hearing their
+	request said: &#8220;Reflect well before engaging yourselves in this,
+	for if the princess should escape you will have to die.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;We very much doubt her escaping from us,&#8221; they replied,
+	&#8220;but come what will, we intend to make the attempt and to
+	begin at once.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;My duty was to warn you,&#8221; replied the monarch, smiling,
+	&#8220;but if you still persist in your resolution I myself will take
+	you to the lady&#8217;s apartments.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page161" title="161">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-28.png"><img src="images/illo-28-th.png" width="336" height="499" alt="A young man talks to an older man. A large man and a tall man are in the background." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page162" title="162">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Matthias was dazzled at the loveliness of the royal maiden,  <!-- Original location of pages 161 & 162 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page163" title="163">&nbsp;</a>while she, on her side, received the brilliant and handsome
+	young man most graciously, not trying to hide how much she
+	liked his good looks and gentle manner. Hardly had the
+	king retired when Broad lay down across the threshold; Tall
+	and the Man with Eyes of Flame placed themselves near the
+	window; while Matthias talked with the princess, and watched
+	her every movement attentively.</p>
+
+	<p>Suddenly she ceased to speak, then after a few moments
+	said, &#8220;I feel as if a shower of poppies were falling on my
+	eyelids.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And she lay down on the couch, pretending to sleep.</p>
+
+	<p>Matthias did not breathe a word. Seeing her asleep he
+	sat down at a table near the sofa, leaned his elbows upon
+	it, and rested his chin in the hollow of his hands. Gradually
+	he felt drowsy and his eyes closed, as did those of his companions.</p>
+
+	<p>Now this was the moment the princess was waiting for.
+	Quickly changing herself into a dove, she flew towards the
+	window. If it had not happened that one of her wings
+	touched Tall&#8217;s hair he would not have awakened, and he would
+	certainly never have succeeded in catching her if it had not
+	been for the Man with Eyes of Flame, for he, as soon as he
+	knew which direction she had taken, sent such a glance after
+	her, that is, a flame of fire, that in the twinkling of an eye her
+	wings were burnt, and having been thus stopped, she was
+	obliged to perch on the top of a tree. From thence Tall
+	reached her easily, and placed her in Matthias&#8217; hands, where
+	she became a princess again. Matthias had hardly awakened
+	out of his sleep.</p>
+
+	<p>Next morning and the morning after the king was greatly
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page164" title="164">&nbsp;</a>astonished to find his daughter sitting by the prince&#8217;s side, but
+	he was obliged to keep silent and accept facts as they were, at
+	the same time entertaining his guests royally. At the approach
+	of the third night he spoke with his daughter, and begged her
+	to practise all the magic of which she was capable, and to act
+	in such a way as to free him from the presence of intruders of
+	whom he knew neither the rank nor the fortune.</p>
+
+	<p>As for Matthias, he used every means in his power to bring
+	about a happy ending to such a hitherto successful undertaking.
+	Before entering the princess&#8217;s apartments he took his comrades
+	aside and said, &#8220;There is but one more stroke of luck, dear
+	friends, and then we have succeeded. If we fail, do not forget
+	that our four heads will roll on the scaffold.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Come along,&#8221; replied the three; &#8220;never fear, we shall be
+	able to keep good watch.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When they came into the princess&#8217;s room they hastened to
+	take up their positions, and Matthias sat down facing the lady.
+	He would have much preferred to remain with her without
+	being obliged to keep watch all the time for fear of losing her
+	for ever. Resolving not to sleep this time, he said to himself,
+	&#8220;Now I will keep watch upon you, but when you are my wife
+	I will rest.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>At midnight, when sleep was beginning to overpower her
+	watchers, the princess kept silence, and, stretching herself on
+	the couch, shut her beautiful eyes as if she were really asleep.</p>
+
+	<p>Matthias, his elbows on the table, his chin in the palms of
+	his hand, his eyes fixed upon her, admired her silently. But
+	as sleep closes even the eyes of the eagle, so it shut those of
+	the prince and his companions.</p>
+
+	<p>The princess, who all this time had been watching them
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page165" title="165">&nbsp;</a>narrowly and only waiting for this moment, got up from her
+	seat, and changing herself into a little fly, flew out of the
+	window. Once free, she again changed herself into a fish, and
+	falling into the palace well, plunged and hid herself in the
+	depths of the water.</p>
+
+	<p>She would certainly have made her escape if, as a fly, she
+	had not just touched the tip of the nose of the Man with
+	Eyes of Flame. He sneezed, and opened his eyes in time to
+	notice the direction in which she had disappeared. Without
+	losing an instant he gave the alarm, and all four ran into the
+	courtyard. The well was very deep, but that did not matter.
+	Tall soon stretched himself to the required depth, and searched
+	in all the corners: but he was unable to find the little fish, and
+	it seemed impossible that it could ever have been there.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Now then, get out of that, I will take your place,&#8221; said
+	Broad.</p>
+
+	<p>And getting in at the top by the rim, he filled up all the
+	inside of the well, stopping it so completely with his huge
+	body that the water sprang out: but nothing was seen of the
+	little fish.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Now it is my turn,&#8221; said the Man with Eyes of Flame, &#8220;I
+	warrant I&#8217;ll dislodge this clever magician.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When Broad had cleared the well of his enormous person
+	the water returned to its place, but it soon began to boil
+	from the heat of the eyes of flame. It boiled and boiled, till
+	it boiled over the rim; then, as it went on boiling and rising
+	ever higher and higher, a little fish was seen to throw itself
+	out on the grass half cooked. As it touched the ground it
+	again took the form of the princess.</p>
+
+	<p>Matthias went to her and kissed her tenderly.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page166" title="166">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;You have conquered, my master and husband,&#8221; she
+	said, &#8220;you have succeeded in preventing my escape. Henceforth
+	I am yours, both by right of conquest and of my own
+	free will.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The young man&#8217;s courtesy, strength, and gentleness, as
+	well as his beauty, were very pleasing to the princess; but
+	her father, the king, was not so ready to approve of her
+	choice, and he resolved not to let her go with them. But this
+	did not trouble Matthias, who determined to carry her off,
+	aided by his three comrades. They soon all left the palace.</p>
+
+	<p>The king was furious, and ordered his guards to follow
+	them and bring them back under pain of death. Meanwhile
+	Matthias, the princess, and the three comrades had already
+	travelled a distance of some miles. When she heard the steps
+	of the pursuers she begged the Man with Eyes of Flame to
+	see who they were. Having turned to look, he told her that
+	a large army of men on horseback were advancing at a gallop.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;They are my father&#8217;s guards,&#8221; said she, &#8220;we shall have
+	some difficulty in escaping them.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then, seeing the horsemen draw nearer she took the veil
+	from her face, and throwing it behind her in the direction
+	of the wind, said, &#8220;I command as many trees to spring up
+	as there are threads in this veil.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, a high thick forest
+	rose up between them. Before the soldiers had time to clear
+	for themselves a pathway through this dense mass, Matthias
+	and his party had been able to get far ahead, and even to
+	take a little rest.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Look,&#8221; said the princess, &#8220;and see if they are still
+	coming after us.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page167" title="167">&nbsp;</a>The Man with Eyes of Flame looked back, and replied
+	that the king&#8217;s guards were out of the forest and coming
+	towards them with all speed.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;They will not be able to reach us,&#8221; cried she. And she
+	let fall a tear from her eyes, saying as she did so, &#8220;Tear,
+	become a river.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>At the same moment a wide river flowed between them
+	and their pursuers, and before the latter had found means
+	of crossing it, Matthias and his party were far on in front.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Man with Eyes of Flame,&#8221; said the princess, &#8220;look
+	behind and tell me how closely we are followed.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;They are quite near to us again,&#8221; he replied, &#8220;they are
+	almost upon our heels.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Darkness, cover them,&#8221; said she.</p>
+
+	<p>At these words Tall drew himself up. He stretched and
+	stretched and stretched until he reached the clouds, and
+	there, with his hat he half covered the face of the sun. The
+	side towards the soldiers was black as night, while Matthias
+	and his party, lit up by the shining half, went a good way
+	without hindrance.</p>
+
+	<p>When they had travelled some distance, Tall uncovered
+	the sun, and soon joined his companions by taking a mile
+	at each step. They were already in sight of Matthias&#8217; home,
+	when they noticed that the royal guards were again following
+	them closely.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Now it is my turn,&#8221; said Broad; &#8220;go on your way in
+	safety, I will remain here. I shall be ready for them.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He quietly awaited their arrival, standing motionless, with
+	his large mouth open from ear to ear. The royal army,
+	who were determined not to turn back without having taken
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page168" title="168">&nbsp;</a>the princess, advanced towards the town at a gallop. They
+	had decided among themselves that if it resisted they would
+	lay siege to it.</p>
+
+	<p>Mistaking Broad&#8217;s open mouth for one of the city gates,
+	they all dashed through and disappeared.</p>
+
+	<p>Broad closed his mouth, and having swallowed them,
+	ran to rejoin his comrades in the palace of Matthias&#8217; father.
+	He felt somewhat disturbed with a whole army inside him,
+	and the earth groaned and trembled beneath him as he ran.
+	He could hear the shouts of the people assembled round
+	Matthias, as they rejoiced at his safe return.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, here you are at last, brother Broad,&#8221; cried Matthias,
+	directly he caught sight of him. &#8220;But what have you done
+	with the army? Where have you left it?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;The army is here, quite safe,&#8221; answered he, patting his
+	enormous person. &#8220;I shall be very pleased to return them
+	as they are, for the morsel is not very easy to digest.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Come then, let them out of their prison,&#8221; said Matthias,
+	enjoying the joke, and at the same time calling all the
+	inhabitants to assist at the entertainment.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page169" title="169">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-29.png"><img src="images/illo-29-th.png" width="310" height="456" alt="A king gives a toast at a feast, a young man sits to his right, a young woman on the left." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page170" title="170">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Broad, who looked upon it as a common occurrence,
+	stood in the middle of the palace square, and putting his
+	hands to his sides, began to cough. Then&#8212;it was really a
+	sight worth seeing&#8212;at each cough horsemen and horses fell
+	out of his mouth, one over the other, plunging, hopping,
+	jumping, trying who could get out of the way the quickest.
+	The last one had a little difficulty in getting free, for he
+	somehow got into one of Broad&#8217;s nostrils and was unable to
+	move. It was only by giving a good sneeze that Broad
+	could release him, the last of the royal cavaliers, and he  <!-- Original location of pages 169 & 170 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page171" title="171">&nbsp;</a>lost no time in following his companions at the top of
+	his speed.</p>
+
+	<p>A few days later a splendid feast was given at the wedding
+	of Prince Matthias and the princess. The king, her father,
+	was also present. Tall had been sent to invite him. Owing
+	to his knowledge of the road and the length of his limbs,
+	he accomplished the journey so quickly that he was there
+	before the royal horsemen had time to get back. It was well
+	for them that it was so, for, had he not pleaded that their
+	lives might be saved, their heads would certainly have been
+	cut off for returning empty-handed.</p>
+
+	<p>Everything was now arranged to everybody&#8217;s satisfaction.
+	The princess&#8217;s father was delighted to know that his daughter
+	was married to a rich and noble prince, and Matthias
+	generously rewarded his brave travelling companions, who
+	remained with him to the end of their days.</p>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page172" title="172">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_12" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page173" title="173">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL<br />
+			<span class="stopword">OR</span><br />
+			THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT</h2>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page174" title="174">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page175" title="175">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-30.png"><img src="images/illo-30-th.png" width="324" height="373" alt="A flying swan speaks into the ear of a well-dressed young man on a well-dressed horse." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR,
+	THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">There</span> was once a king who had an only son, called
+	Prince Slugobyl. Now this young prince loved nothing
+	better than travelling; so fond of it was he that when he was
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page176" title="176">&nbsp;</a>twenty years old he gave his father no rest until he allowed
+	him to go on a long journey, in short, to travel all over the
+	world. Thus he hoped to see many beautiful and strange
+	things, to meet with marvellous adventures, to gain happiness,
+	knowledge, and wisdom, and to return a better man in every
+	way than when he left. Fearing his youth and want of experience
+	might lead him astray, his father sent with him a valued
+	and faithful servant. When all was ready, Slugobyl bade the
+	king adieu and set off to visit the land of his dreams.</p>
+
+	<p>As he was jogging along, allowing his horse to go at its
+	own pace, he saw a beautiful white swan pursued by an eagle
+	about to pounce down upon it. Seizing his crossbow, he took
+	such good aim that the eagle fell dead at his feet. The
+	rescued swan stopped in its flight, and turning round said to
+	him, &#8220;Valiant Prince Slugobyl, it is not a mere swan who
+	thanks you for your most timely help, but the daughter of the
+	Invisible Knight, who, to escape the pursuit of the giant Kostey,
+	has changed herself into a swan. My father will gladly be of
+	service to you in return for this kindness to me. When in
+	need of his help, you only have to say three times, &#8216;Invisible
+	Knight, come to me.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Having thus spoken the swan flew away. The prince
+	looked after her for a long time, and then continued his journey.
+	He travelled on and on and on, over high mountains, through
+	dark forests, across barren deserts, and so to the middle of a
+	vast plain where every green thing had been burnt up by the
+	rays of the sun. Not a single tree, not even a bush or a plant
+	of any kind was to be seen. No bird was heard to sing, no
+	insect to hum, no breath of air to stir the stillness of this land
+	of desolation. Having ridden for some hours, the prince
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page177" title="177">&nbsp;</a>began to suffer terribly from thirst; so, sending his servant in
+	one direction, he himself went in another, in search of some
+	well or spring. They soon found a well full of cool fresh
+	water, but unluckily without either rope or bucket to
+	draw it up. After a few moments&#8217; thought the prince said
+	to his servant, &#8220;Take the leathern strap used for tethering
+	our horses, put it round your body, and I will then let
+	you down into the well; I cannot endure this thirst any
+	longer.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Your highness,&#8221; answered the servant, &#8220;I am heavier
+	than you, and you are not as strong as I, so you will not be
+	able to pull me out of the water. If you, therefore, will go
+	down first, I shall be able to pull you up when you have
+	quenched your thirst.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince took his advice, and fastening an end of the
+	strap under his arms, was lowered into the well. When he had
+	enjoyed a deep draught of the clear water and filled a bottle
+	of the same for his servant, he gave the signal that he wished
+	to be pulled up. But instead of obeying the servant said,
+	&#8220;Listen, prince; from the day you were born up to the present
+	moment you have never known anything but luxury, pleasure,
+	and happiness, while I have suffered poverty and slaved all my
+	life. Now we will change places, and you shall be my servant.
+	If you refuse you had better make your peace with God, for I
+	shall drown you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Stop, faithful servant,&#8221; cried the prince, &#8220;you will not
+	be so wicked as to do that. What good will it do you?
+	You will never be so happy as you have been with me,
+	and you know what dreadful tortures are in store for
+	murderers in the other world; their hands are plunged into
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page178" title="178">&nbsp;</a>boiling pitch, their shoulders bruised with blows from red-hot
+	iron clubs, and their necks sawn with wooden saws.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You may cut and saw me as much as you like in the
+	other world,&#8221; said the servant, &#8220;but I shall drown you in this.&#8221;
+	And he began to let the strap slide through his fingers.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Very well,&#8221; said the prince, &#8220;I agree to accept your
+	terms. You shall be the prince and I will be your servant,
+	I give you my word.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I have no faith in words that are carried away by the first
+	wind that blows. Swear to confirm your promise in writing.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I swear.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The servant then let down paper and pencil, and dictated
+	the following:</p>
+
+	<blockquote>
+		<p>&#8220;I hereby declare that I renounce my name and rights
+		in favour of the bearer of this writing, and that I acknowledge
+		him to be my prince, and that I am his servant. Written
+		in the well.
+		<span class="signature">(Signed) <strong class="special_name">Prince Slugobyl</strong>.&#8221;</span></p>
+	</blockquote>
+
+	<p>The man having taken this document, which he was
+	quite unable to read, drew out the prince, took off the
+	clothes in which he was dressed, and made him wear those
+	he himself had just taken off. Thus disguised they travelled
+	for a week, and arriving at a large city, went straight to the
+	king&#8217;s palace. There the false prince dismissed his pretended
+	servant to the stables, and presenting himself before the king,
+	addressed him thus in a very haughty manner:</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;King, I am come to demand the hand of your wise and
+	beautiful daughter, whose fame has reached my father&#8217;s court.
+	In exchange I offer our alliance, and in case of refusal, war.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page179" title="179">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-31.png"><img src="images/illo-31-th.png" width="312" height="489" alt="A confident-looking man talks to a seated king." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page180" title="180">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Prayers and threats are equally out of place,&#8221; answered the  <!-- Original location of pages 179 & 180 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page181" title="181">&nbsp;</a>king; &#8220;nevertheless, prince, as proof of the esteem in which I
+	hold the king, your father, I grant your request: but only on
+	one condition, that you deliver us from a large army that now
+	besets our town. Do this, and my daughter shall be yours.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Certainly,&#8221; said the impostor, &#8220;I can soon get rid of
+	them, however near they may be. I undertake by to-morrow
+	morning to have freed the land entirely of them.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>In the evening he went to the stables, and calling his
+	pretended servant, saluted him respectfully and said, &#8220;Listen,
+	my dear friend, I want you to go immediately outside the
+	town and destroy the besieging army that surrounds it. But
+	do it in such a way that every one will believe that I have
+	done it. In exchange for this favour I promise to return
+	the writing in which you renounced your title of prince and
+	engaged to serve me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince put on his armour, mounted his horse, and
+	rode outside the city gates. There he stopped and called
+	three times to the Invisible Knight.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Behold me, prince, at your service,&#8221; said a voice close
+	to him. &#8220;I will do anything you wish, for you saved my
+	only daughter from the hands of the giant Kostey; I shall
+	always be grateful.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Slugobyl showed him the army he had to destroy before
+	morning, and the Invisible Knight whistled and sang:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Magu, Horse with Golden Mane,</p>
+		<p>I want your help yet once again,</p>
+		<p>Walk not the earth but fly through space</p>
+		<p>As lightnings flash or thunders race.</p>
+		<p>Swift as the arrow from the bow,</p>
+		<p>Come quick, yet so that none can know.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page182" title="182">&nbsp;</a>At that instant a magnificent grey horse appeared out of
+	a whirlwind of smoke, and from his head there hung a
+	golden mane. Swift as the wind was he, flames of fire
+	blazed forth from his nostrils, lightnings flashed from his
+	eyes, and volumes of smoke came from his ears. The
+	Invisible Knight leapt upon his back, saying to the prince,
+	&#8220;Take my sword and destroy the left wing of the army,
+	while I attack the right wing and the centre.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The two heroes rushed forward and attacked the invaders
+	with such fury that on all sides men fell like chopped wood
+	or dried grass. A frightful massacre followed, but it was
+	in vain that the enemy fled, for the two knights seemed to
+	be everywhere. Within a short time only the dead and dying
+	remained on the battle-field, and the two conquerors quietly
+	returned to the town. On reaching the palace steps, the
+	Invisible Knight melted into the morning mist, and the
+	serving-man prince returned to the stables.</p>
+
+	<p>That same night it happened that the king&#8217;s daughter,
+	not being able to sleep, had remained on her balcony and
+	seen and heard all that had taken place. She had overheard
+	the conversation between the impostor and the real prince,
+	had seen the latter call to his assistance the Invisible Knight,
+	and then doff his royal armour in favour of the false prince;
+	she had seen and understood everything, but she determined
+	to keep silence for a little longer.</p>
+
+	<p>But when on the next day the king, her father, celebrated
+	the victory of the false prince with great rejoicings, loaded
+	him with honours and presents, and calling his daughter expressed
+	a wish that she should marry him&#8212;the princess could
+	be silent no longer. She walked up to the real prince, who
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page183" title="183">&nbsp;</a>was waiting at table with the other servants, took his arm,
+	and leading him to the king, said:</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Father, and all good people, this is the man who has
+	saved our country from the enemy, and whom God has
+	destined to be my husband. He to whom you pay these
+	honours is but a vile impostor, who has robbed his master
+	of name and rights. Last night I witnessed such deeds as
+	eye has never seen nor ear heard, but which shall be told
+	afterwards. Bid this traitor show the writing which proves
+	the truth of what I say.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When the false prince had delivered up the paper signed
+	by the serving-man prince, it was found to contain the
+	following words:</p>
+
+	<blockquote>
+		<p>&#8220;The bearer of this document, the false and wicked servant
+		of the serving-man prince, shall receive the punishment
+		his sin deserves.
+		<span class="signature">(Signed)  <strong class="special_name">Prince Slugobyl</strong>.&#8221;</span></p>
+	</blockquote>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What? Is that the real meaning of that writing?&#8221;
+	asked the traitor, who could not read.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Most assuredly,&#8221; was the reply.</p>
+
+	<p>Then he threw himself at the king&#8217;s feet and begged for
+	mercy. But he received his punishment, for he was tied to
+	the tails of four wild horses and torn to pieces.</p>
+
+	<p>Prince Slugobyl married the princess. It was a magnificent
+	wedding. I myself was there, and drank of the mead
+	and wine; but they only touched my beard, they did not
+	enter my mouth.</p>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page184" title="184">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_13" class="story"><a class="pagenum" id="page185" title="185">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE SPIRIT OF
+		THE STEPPES</h2>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page186" title="186">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="bg_title" style="background: url(images/illo-32.png) top left no-repeat;width:625px; margin:auto;"><a class="pagenum" id="page187" title="187">&nbsp;</a>
+
+		<div id="sandbag-3" class="sb_left" style="width:625px;height:300px;"></div>
+		<div id="sandbag-4" class="sb_left" style="width:230px;height:650px;"></div>
+
+		<p class="second_title">THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES</p>
+
+		<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">In</span> ancient days there lived a king
+		and queen; the former was old but
+		the latter young. Although they loved
+		one another dearly they were very unhappy,
+		for God had not given them
+		any children. They fretted and grieved
+		about this so deeply that the queen
+		became ill with melancholy. The
+		doctors advised her to travel. The
+		king was obliged to remain at home,
+		so she went without him, accompanied
+		by twelve maids of honour, all beautiful
+		and fresh as flowers in May. When
+		they had travelled for some days, they
+		reached a vast uninhabited plain which
+		stretched so far away it seemed to
+		touch the sky. After driving hither
+		and thither for some time the driver was
+		quite bewildered, and stopped before a
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page188" title="188">&nbsp;</a>large stone column. At its foot stood a warrior on horseback,
+		clad in steel armour.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Brave knight, can you direct me to the high-road?&#8221;
+		said the driver; &#8220;we are lost, and know not which way
+		to go.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I will show you the way,&#8221; said the warrior, &#8220;but only on
+		one condition, that each of you gives me a kiss.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The queen looked at the warrior in wrath, and ordered
+		the coachman to drive on. The carriage continued moving
+		nearly all day, but as if bewitched, for it always returned
+		to the stone column. This time the queen addressed the
+		warrior.</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Knight,&#8221; said she, &#8220;show us the road, and I will reward
+		you richly.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;I am the Master Spirit of the Steppes,&#8221; answered he.
+		&#8220;I demand payment for showing the way, and my payment
+		is always in kisses.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Very well, my twelve maids of honour shall pay you.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>&#8220;Thirteen kisses are due to me; the first must be given
+		by the lady who addresses me.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The queen was very angry, and again the attempt was
+		made to find their way. But the carriage, though during the
+		whole time it moved in an opposite direction, still returned
+		to the stone column. It was now dark, and they were obliged
+		to think of finding shelter for the night, so the queen was
+		obliged to give the warrior his strange payment. Getting out
+		of her carriage she walked up to the knight, and looking
+		modestly down allowed him to kiss her; her twelve maids
+		of honour who followed did the same. A moment later
+		stone column and horseman had vanished, and they found
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page189" title="189">&nbsp;</a>themselves on the high-road, while a perfumed cloud seemed
+		to float over the steppes. The queen stepped into her carriage
+		with her ladies, and so the journey was continued.</p>
+
+		<p>But from that day the beautiful queen and her maids
+		became thoughtful and sad; and, losing all pleasure in travel,
+		went back to the capital. Yet the return home did not make
+		the queen happy, for always before her eyes she saw the
+		Horseman of the Steppes. This displeased the king, who
+		became gloomy and ill-tempered.</p>
+
+		<p>One day while the king was on his throne in the council
+		chamber he suddenly heard the sweetest warblings, like unto
+		those produced by a bird of paradise; these were answered
+		by the songs of many nightingales. Wondering, he sent to
+		find out what it was. The messenger returned saying that
+		the queen and her twelve maids of honour had each been
+		presented with a girl baby, and that the sweet warblings were
+		but the crying of the children. The king was greatly astonished,
+		and while he was engaged in deep thought about the
+		matter the palace was suddenly lit up by lights of dazzling
+		brightness. On inquiring into the cause he learnt that the
+		little princess had opened her eyes, and that they shone with
+		matchless brilliancy.</p>
+
+		<p>At first the king could not speak, so amazed was he. He
+		laughed and he cried, he sorrowed and he rejoiced, and in
+		the midst of it all a deputation of ministers and senators was
+		announced. When these were shown into his presence they
+		fell on their knees, and striking the ground with their foreheads,
+		said, &#8220;Sire, save your people and your royal person.
+		The queen and her twelve maids of honour have been presented
+		by the Spirit of the Steppes with thirteen girl babies. We
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page190" title="190">&nbsp;</a>beseech you to have these children killed, or we shall all be
+		destroyed.&#8221;</p>
+
+		<p>The king, roused to anger, gave orders that all the babies
+		should be thrown into the sea. The courtiers were already on
+		their way to obey this cruel command when the queen entered,
+		weeping, and pale as death. She threw herself at the king&#8217;s
+		feet and begged him to spare the lives of these helpless and
+		innocent children, and instead to let them be placed on a
+		desert island and there left in the hands of God.</p>
+
+		<p>The king granted her wish. The baby princess was placed
+		in a golden cradle, her little companions in copper cradles,
+		and the thirteen were taken to a desert island and left quite
+		alone. Every one at court thought that they had perished,
+		and said one to another, &#8220;They will die from cold and hunger;
+		they will be devoured by wild beasts, or birds of prey; they
+		are sure to die; perchance they will be buried under dead
+		leaves or covered with snow.&#8221; But happily nothing of the
+		kind happened, for God takes care of little children.</p>
+
+	</div>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page191" title="191">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-33.png"><img src="images/illo-33-th.png" width="331" height="496" alt="A sleeping woman on a bed is surrounded by eight seated sleeping women." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page192" title="192">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The small princess grew bigger day by day. Every
+	morning she was awakened by the rising sun, and bathed by
+	the dew. Soft breezes refreshed her, and twisted into plaits
+	her luxuriant hair. The trees sang her to sleep with their
+	rustling lullabies, the stars watched over her at night. The
+	swans clothed her in their soft raiment, and the bees fed her
+	with their honey. The beauty of the little maiden increased
+	with her growth. Her brow was calm and pure as the moon,
+	her lips red as a rosebud, and so eloquent that her voice
+	sounded like a shower of pearls. But wonderful beyond
+	compare was the expressive beauty of her eyes, for if she
+	looked at you kindly you seemed to float in a sea of joy, if  <!-- Original location of pages 191 & 192 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page193" title="193">&nbsp;</a>angrily it made you numb with fear, and you were instantly
+	changed into a block of ice. She was waited upon by her
+	twelve companions, who were almost as charming as their
+	mistress, to whom they were devotedly attached. Rumours
+	of the loveliness of Princess Sudolisu spread far and wide.
+	People came to see her from all parts of the world, so that it
+	was soon no longer a desert island, but a thickly populated
+	and magnificent city.</p>
+
+	<p>Many a prince came from afar and entered the lists as
+	suitor for the hand of Sudolisu, but none succeeded in winning
+	her love. Those who bore with good temper and resignation
+	the disappointment of being refused returned home safe and
+	sound, but woe to the unlucky wretch who rebelled against
+	her will and attempted to use an armed force; his soldiers
+	perished miserably, while he, frozen to the heart by her angry
+	glance, was turned into a block of ice.</p>
+
+	<p>Now it happened that the famous ogre, Kostey, who
+	lived underground, was a great admirer of beauty. And he
+	took it into his head to see what the creatures above ground
+	were doing. By the help of his telescope he was able to
+	observe all the kings and queens, princes and princesses,
+	gentlemen and ladies, living on the earth. As he was looking
+	his eye fell upon a beautiful island, where, bright as many
+	stars, stood twelve maidens; while in their midst, upon a couch
+	of swan&#8217;s-down, slept a young princess lovely as the dawn
+	of day. Sudolisu was dreaming of a young knight who rode
+	a spirited horse; on his breast was a golden cuirass, and in
+	his hand an invisible club. And in her dream she admired
+	this knight, and loved him more than life itself. The wicked
+	Kostey longed to have her for his own, and determined to
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page194" title="194">&nbsp;</a>carry her off. He reached the earth by striking it from underground
+	three times with his forehead. The princess called
+	her army together, and putting herself at its head, led her
+	soldiers against him. But he merely breathed upon the
+	soldiers and they fell down in an overpowering sleep. Then
+	he stretched out his bony hands to take the princess, but she,
+	throwing a glance full of anger and disdain at him, changed
+	him into a block of ice. Then she shut herself up in her
+	palace. Kostey did not remain frozen long; when the princess
+	had departed he came to life again, and started off in pursuit
+	of her. On reaching the town where she dwelt, he put all the
+	inhabitants into a charmed sleep, and laid the same spell
+	upon the twelve maids of honour. Fearing the power of her
+	eyes, he dared not attack Sudolisu herself; so he surrounded
+	her palace with an iron wall, and left it in charge of a monster
+	dragon with twelve heads. Then he waited, in hope that the
+	princess would give in.</p>
+
+	<p>Days passed, weeks grew into months, and still Princess
+	Sudolisu&#8217;s kingdom looked like one large bedchamber. The
+	people snored in the streets, the brave army lying in the fields
+	slept soundly, hidden in the long grass under the shadow
+	of nettle, wormwood, and thistle, rust and dust marring the
+	brightness of their armour. Inside the palace everything was
+	the same. The twelve maids of honour lay motionless. The
+	princess alone kept watch, silent amid this reign of sleep. She
+	walked up and down her narrow prison, sighing and weeping
+	bitter tears, but no other sound broke the silence; only Kostey,
+	avoiding her glance, still called through the doors and begged
+	her to refuse him no longer. Then he promised she should be
+	Queen of the Nether World, but she answered him not.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page195" title="195">&nbsp;</a>Lonely and miserable, she thought of the prince of her
+	dreams. She saw him in his golden armour, mounted on his
+	spirited steed, looking at her with eyes full of love. So she
+	imagined him day and night.</p>
+
+	<p>Looking out of window one day, and seeing a cloud floating
+	on the horizon, she cried:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Floating Cloudlet soft and white,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Pilgrim of the sky,</p>
+		<p>I pray you for one moment, light</p>
+		<p class="i2">On me your pitying eye.</p>
+		<p>Where my love is can you tell?</p>
+		<p>Thinks he of me ill or well?&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I know not,&#8221; answered the cloud, &#8220;ask the wind.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then she saw a tiny breeze playing among the field flowers,
+	and called out:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Gentle Breezelet, soul of air,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Look not lightly on my pain;</p>
+		<p>Kindly lift me from despair,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Help me freedom to regain.</p>
+		<p>Where my love is can you tell?</p>
+		<p>Thinks he of me ill or well?&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ask that little star yonder,&#8221; answered the breeze, &#8220;she
+	knows more than I.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Sudolisu raised her beautiful eyes to the twinkling stars
+	and said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Shining Star, God&#8217;s light on high,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Look down and prithee see;</p>
+		<p>Behold me weep and hear me sigh,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Then help and pity me.</p>
+		<p>Where my love is canst thou tell?</p>
+		<p>Thinks he of me ill or well?&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page196" title="196">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;You will learn more from the moon,&#8221; answered the star;
+	&#8220;she lives nearer the earth than I, and sees everything that
+	goes on there.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The moon was just rising from her silver bed when
+	Sudolisu called to her:</p>
+
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Pearl of the Sky, thou radiant Moon,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Thy watch o&#8217;er the stars pray leave,</p>
+		<p>Throw thy soft glance o&#8217;er the earth ere I swoon,</p>
+		<p class="i2">O&#8217;ercome by my sorrows I weep and I grieve.</p>
+		<p>I pine for my friend, oh ease thou my heart,</p>
+		<p>And say, am I loved? In his thoughts have I part?&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+
+	<p>&#8220;Princess,&#8221; replied the moon, &#8220;I know nothing of your
+	friend. But wait a few hours, the sun will have then risen;
+	he knows everything, and will surely be able to tell you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>So the princess kept her eyes fixed upon that part of the
+	sky where the sun first appears, chasing away the darkness
+	like a flock of birds. When he came forth in all his glory
+	she said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Soul of the World, thou deep fountain of life,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Eye of all-powerful God,</p>
+		<p>Visit my prison, dark scene of sad strife,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Raise up my soul from the sod,</p>
+		<p>With hope that my friend whom I pine for and love</p>
+		<p>May come to my rescue. Say, where does he rove?&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Sweet Sudolisu,&#8221; answered the sun, &#8220;dry the tears that
+	like pearls roll down your sad and lovely face. Let your
+	troubled heart be at peace, for your friend the prince is now
+	on his way to rescue you. He has recovered the magic ring
+	from the Nether World, and many armies from those countries
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page197" title="197">&nbsp;</a>have assembled to follow him. He is now moving towards
+	Kostey&#8217;s palace, and intends to punish him. But all this will
+	be of no avail, and Kostey will gain the victory, if the prince
+	does not make use of other means which I am now on my
+	way to provide him with. Farewell; be brave, he whom you
+	love will come to your aid and save you from Kostey and his
+	sorceries; happiness is in store for you both.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The sun then rose upon a distant land where Prince Junak,
+	mounted on a powerful steed and clad in golden armour,
+	assembled his forces to fight against the giant Kostey. Thrice
+	he had dreamt of the beautiful princess shut up in the Sleeping
+	Palace, for the fame of her loveliness had reached him, and he
+	loved without having seen.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Leave your army where it is,&#8221; said the sun, &#8220;it will not
+	be of the slightest use in fighting against Kostey, he is proof
+	against all weapons. The only way to rescue the princess is
+	to kill him, and there is but one who can tell you how to do
+	it, and that is the witch, old Yaga. I will show you how to
+	find the horse that will carry you straight to her. First take
+	the road to the east, and walk on till you come to a wide
+	plain: there, right in the middle of the plain, are three
+	oaks, and in the centre of these, lying close to the ground,
+	is an iron door with a copper handle. Behind the door is
+	the horse, also an invisible club; both are necessary for
+	the work you have to do. You will learn the rest afterwards.
+	Farewell.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>This advice astonished the prince greatly; he hardly knew
+	what to do. After deep reflection he crossed himself, took the
+	magic ring from his finger and cast it into the sea. Instantly
+	the army vanished like mist before the wind, and when not a
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page198" title="198">&nbsp;</a>trace of it was left he took the road to the east. After walking
+	straight on for eight days he reached a large green plain, in the
+	middle of which grew the three oaks, and in the centre of
+	these, close to the ground, was the iron door with the copper
+	handle. Opening the door, he found a winding staircase
+	which led to a second door bound with iron, and shut by
+	means of a huge padlock sixty pounds in weight. At this
+	moment he heard the neighing of a horse, the sound being
+	followed by the opening of eleven other iron doors. There he
+	saw the war-horse which centuries ago had been bewitched
+	by a magician. The prince whistled; the horse immediately
+	bounded towards him, at the same time breaking the twelve
+	iron chains that fastened him to the manger. He was a
+	beautiful creature, strong, light, handsome, full of fire and
+	grace; his eyes flashed lightnings, from his nostrils came
+	flames of fire, his mane was like a cloud of gold, he was
+	certainly a marvel of a horse.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Prince Junak,&#8221; said the steed, &#8220;I have waited centuries
+	for such a knight as you; here I am, ready to carry you and
+	serve you faithfully. Mount upon my back, and take hold of
+	the invisible club that hangs at the pommel of the saddle.
+	You yourself will not need to use it; give it your orders, it will
+	carry them out and do the fighting itself. Now we will start;
+	may God look after us! Tell me where you wish to go, and
+	you shall be there directly.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince quickly told the horse his history, mounted,
+	seized the club, and set off. The creature capered, galloped,
+	flew, and swam in the air higher than the highest forests but
+	lower than the clouds; he crossed mountains, rivers, and precipices;
+	he barely touched the blades of grass in passing over
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page199" title="199">&nbsp;</a>them, and went so lightly along the roads that he did not raise
+	one grain of dust.</p>
+
+	<p>Towards sunset Junak found himself close to an immense
+	forest, in the centre of which stood Yaga&#8217;s house. All around
+	were oaks and pines hundreds of years old, untouched by the
+	axe of man. These enormous trees, lit up by the rays of the
+	setting sun, seemed to look with astonishment at their strange
+	guest. The silence was absolute; not a bird sang in the
+	branches, not an insect hummed in the air, not a worm
+	crawled upon the ground. The only sound was that made
+	by the horse as he broke through the underwood. Then they
+	came in sight of a small house supported by a cock&#8217;s foot,
+	round which it turned as on a movable pivot. Prince Junak
+	cried:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Turn round, little house, turn round,</p>
+		<p class="i2">I want to come inside;</p>
+		<p>Let thy back to the forest be found,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Thy door to me open wide.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The little house turned round, and the prince entering saw
+	old Yaga, who immediately cried out, &#8220;What, Prince Junak!
+	How have you come here, where no one ever enters?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You are a silly old witch, to worry me with questions
+	instead of making me welcome,&#8221; said the prince.</p>
+
+	<p>At these words old Yaga jumped up and hastened to
+	attend to his needs. She prepared food and drink, made him
+	a soft bed where he could sleep comfortably, and then leaving
+	the house passed the night out of doors. On her return in
+	the morning the prince related all his adventures and confided
+	his plans.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Prince Junak,&#8221; said she, &#8220;you have undertaken a very
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page200" title="200">&nbsp;</a>difficult task, but your courage will enable you to accomplish
+	it successfully. I will tell you how to kill Kostey, for without
+	that you can do nothing. Now, in the very midst of the ocean
+	lies the Island of Eternal Life. Upon this island is an oak
+	tree, and at the foot of it, hidden in the earth, a coffer bound
+	with iron. A hare is shut up in this coffer, and under her sits
+	a grey duck whose body contains an egg. Within this egg
+	is Kostey&#8217;s life&#8212;if it be broken he dies. Good-bye, Prince
+	Junak, start without loss of time. Your horse will carry you
+	to the island.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Junak mounted his horse, spoke a few words to him, and
+	the brave creature fled through space with the swiftness of an
+	arrow. Leaving the forest and its enormous trees behind, they
+	soon reached the shores of the ocean. Fishermen&#8217;s nets lay
+	on the beach, and in one of them was a large sea fish who,
+	struggling to free itself, spoke to the prince in a human
+	voice.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Prince Junak,&#8221; he said sadly, &#8220;free me from my prison;
+	I assure you you will lose nothing by doing me this service.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Junak did what was required of him, and threw the fish
+	back into the water. It plunged and disappeared, but he
+	paid little attention to it, so occupied was he with his own
+	thoughts. In the far distance could be seen the rocks of the
+	Island of Eternal Life, but there seemed no way of reaching
+	it. Leaning on his club he thought and thought, and ever as
+	he thought he grew sadder and sadder.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What is the matter, Prince Junak? Has anything vexed
+	you?&#8221; asked his horse.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;How can I help grieving when, while in sight of the
+	island, I can go no further? How can we cross the sea?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page201" title="201">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-34.png"><img src="images/illo-34-th.png" width="317" height="489" alt="A man reaches for an egg held in the mouth of a fish." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page202" title="202">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page203" title="203">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Get on my back, prince, I will be your bridge; only
+	take care to hold on tight.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince held firmly to its mane, and the horse leapt into
+	the sea. At first they were plunged right beneath the waves,
+	but rising again to the surface swam easily across. The
+	sun was about to set when the prince dismounted on the
+	Island of Eternal Life. He first took off his horse&#8217;s harness,
+	and leaving him to browse on the green grass, hurried to the
+	top of a distant hill, whence he could see a large oak.
+	Without losing a moment he hastened towards it, seized
+	the tree with both hands, pulled at it with all his might,
+	and after the most violent efforts tore it up by the roots
+	from the place it had filled for centuries. The tree groaned
+	and fell, and the hole in which it had been planted appeared
+	like an immense case. Right at the bottom of this case
+	was a coffer bound with iron. The prince took it up, broke
+	the lock by striking it with a stone, opened it and seized
+	the hare that was trying to make its escape. The grey duck
+	that had lain underneath flew off towards the sea: the prince
+	fired, struck the bird, the latter dropped its egg into the
+	sea, and both were swallowed by the waves. Junak gave
+	a cry of despair and rushed to the beach. At first he
+	could see nothing. After a few minutes there was a slight
+	movement of the waves, while upon the surface swam the
+	fish whose life he had saved. It came towards him, right
+	on to the sand, and dropping the lost egg at his feet, said:
+	&#8220;You see, prince, I have not forgotten your kindness, and
+	now I have found it in my power to be of service to you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Having thus spoken it disappeared in the water. The
+	prince took the egg, mounted his horse, and crossing the
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page204" title="204">&nbsp;</a>sea with his heart full of hope, journeyed towards the island
+	where Princess Sudolisu kept watch over her sleeping subjects
+	in the Enchanted Palace. The latter was surrounded by a
+	wall, and guarded by the Dragon with Twelve Heads. Now
+	these heads went to sleep in turn, six at a time, so it was
+	impossible to take him unawares or to kill him, for that could
+	be done only by his own blows.</p>
+
+	<p>On reaching the palace gates Junak sent his invisible
+	club forward to clear the way, whereupon it threw itself upon
+	the dragon, and began to beat all the heads unmercifully.
+	The blows came so thick and fast that the body was soon
+	crushed to pieces. Still the dragon lived and beat the air
+	with its claws. Then it opened its twelve jaws from which
+	darted pointed tongues, but it could not lay hold of the
+	invisible club. At last, tormented on all sides and filled
+	with rage, it buried its sharp claws in its own body and died.
+	The prince then entered the palace gates, and having put
+	his faithful horse in the stables and armed himself with his
+	invisible club, made his way for the tower in which the
+	princess was shut up. On seeing him she cried out, &#8220;Prince,
+	I rejoiced to see your victory over the dragon. There is
+	yet a more terrible foe to conquer, and he is my jailor,
+	the cruel Kostey. Beware of him, for if he should kill
+	you, I shall throw myself out of window into the precipice
+	beneath.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Be comforted, my princess: for in this egg I hold the
+	life or death of Kostey.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then turning to the invisible club, he said, &#8220;Press forward,
+	my invisible club; strike your best, and rid the earth
+	of this wicked giant.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page205" title="205">&nbsp;</a>The club began by breaking down the iron doors, and
+	thus reached Kostey. The giant was soon so crippled with
+	blows that his teeth were smashed, lightnings flashed from his
+	eyes, and he rolled round and round like a pin-cushion.
+	Had he been a man he must have died under such treatment.
+	But he was no man, this master of sorcery. So he
+	managed to get on his feet and look for his tormentor.
+	The blows from the club rained hard upon him all the
+	time, and with such effect that his groans could be heard
+	all over the island. On approaching the window he saw
+	Prince Junak.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, wretch!&#8221; cried the ogre, &#8220;it is you, is it, who
+	torments me in this way!&#8221; and he prepared to blow upon
+	him with his poisonous breath. But the prince instantly
+	crushed the egg between his hands, the shell broke, the
+	white and yellow mingled and flowed to the ground, and
+	Kostey died.</p>
+
+	<p>As the sorcerer breathed his last, the enchantments
+	vanished and the sleeping islanders awoke. The army, once
+	more afoot, advanced with beating drums to the palace, and
+	everything fell into its accustomed place. As soon as Princess
+	Sudolisu was freed from her prison she held out her white
+	hand to her deliverer, and thanking him in the most touching
+	words, led him to the throne and placed him at her side.
+	The twelve maids of honour having chosen young and brave
+	warriors, ranged themselves with their lovers round the
+	queen. Then the doors were thrown open, and the priests in
+	their robes entered, bearing a golden tray of wedding rings.
+	Thereupon the marriage ceremony was gone through, and the
+	lovers united in God&#8217;s name.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page206" title="206">&nbsp;</a>After the wedding there were feasting and music and
+	dancing, as is usual on such occasions, and they all enjoyed
+	themselves. It makes one glad to think how happy they
+	were, and what a glorious time they had after their misfortunes.</p>
+
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_14" class="story"><a class="pagenum" id="page207" title="207">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE PRINCE WITH
+		THE GOLDEN HAND</h2>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page208" title="208">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+<div class="bg_title" style="background: url(images/illo-35.png) top left no-repeat;width:614px; margin:auto;"><a class="pagenum" id="page209" title="209">&nbsp;</a>
+
+	<div id="sandbag-5" class="sb_left" style="width:614px;height:500px;"></div>
+	<div id="sandbag-6" class="sb_left" style="width:180px;height:400px;"></div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND</p>
+
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">There</span> once lived a king and queen
+	who had an only daughter. And the
+	beauty of this princess surpassed everything
+	seen or heard of. Her forehead was
+	brilliant as the moon, her lips like the
+	rose, her complexion had the delicacy of
+	the lily, and her breath the sweetness of
+	jessamine. Her hair was golden, and in
+	her voice and glance there was something
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page210" title="210">&nbsp;</a>so enchanting that none could help listening to her or looking
+	at her.</p>
+
+	<p>The princess lived for seventeen years in her own rooms,
+	rejoicing the heart of her parents, teachers, and servants. No
+	one else ever saw her, for the sons of the king and all other
+	princes were forbidden to enter her rooms. She never went
+	anywhere, never looked upon the outside world, and never
+	breathed the outer air, but she was perfectly happy.</p>
+
+	<p>When she was eighteen it happened, either by chance or
+	by the will of fate, that she heard the cry of the cuckoo. This
+	sound made her strangely uneasy; her golden head drooped,
+	and covering her eyes with her hands, she fell into thought so
+	deep as not to hear her mother enter. The queen looked at
+	her anxiously, and after comforting her went to tell the king
+	about it.</p>
+
+	<p>For many years past the sons of kings and neighbouring
+	princes had, either personally or by their ambassadors, presented
+	themselves at court to ask the king for the hand of
+	his daughter in marriage. But he had always bidden them
+	wait until another time. Now, after a long consultation with
+	the queen, he sent messengers to foreign courts and elsewhere
+	to proclaim that the princess, in accordance with the wishes
+	of her parents, was about to choose a husband, and that the
+	man of her choice would also have the right of succession to
+	the throne.</p>
+
+	<p>When the princess heard of this decision her joy was very
+	great, and for days she would dream about it. Then she
+	looked out into the garden through the golden lattice of her
+	window, and longed with an irresistible longing to walk in the
+	open air upon the smooth lawn. With great difficulty she at
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page211" title="211">&nbsp;</a>last persuaded her governesses to allow her to do so, they
+	agreeing on condition that she should keep with them. So
+	the crystal doors were thrown open, the oaken gates that shut
+	in the orchard turned on their hinges, and the princess found
+	herself on the green grass. She ran about, picking the sweet-scented
+	flowers and chasing the many-coloured butterflies.
+	But she could not have been a very prudent maiden, for
+	she wandered away from her governesses, with her face
+	uncovered.</p>
+
+	<p>Just at that moment a raging hurricane, such as had never
+	been seen or heard before, passed by and fell upon the garden.
+	It roared and whistled round and round, then seizing the
+	princess carried her far away. The terrified governesses
+	wrung their hands, and were for a time speechless with grief.
+	At last they rushed into the palace, and throwing themselves
+	on their knees before the king and queen, told them with
+	sobs and tears what had happened. They were overwhelmed
+	with sorrow and knew not what to do.</p>
+
+	<p>By this time quite a crowd of princes had arrived at the
+	palace, and seeing the king in such bitter grief, inquired the
+	reason of it.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Sorrow has touched my white hairs,&#8221; said the king.
+	&#8220;The hurricane has carried off my dearly beloved child, the
+	sweet Princess with the Golden Hair, and I know not where
+	it has taken her. Whoever finds this out, and brings her
+	back to me, shall have her for his wife, and with her half my
+	kingdom for a wedding present, and the remainder of my
+	wealth and titles after my death.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>After hearing these words, princes and knights mounted
+	their horses and set off to search throughout the world for
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page212" title="212">&nbsp;</a>the beautiful Princess with the Golden Hair, who had been
+	carried away by Vikher.</p>
+
+	<p>Now among the seekers were two brothers, sons of a king,
+	and they travelled together through many countries asking
+	for news of the princess, but no one knew anything about
+	her. But they continued their search, and at the end of two
+	years arrived in a country that lies in the centre of the earth,
+	and has summer and winter at the same time.</p>
+
+	<p>The princes determined to find out whether this was the
+	place where the hurricane had hidden the Princess with the
+	Golden Hair. So they began to ascend one of the mountains
+	on foot, leaving their horses behind them to feed on the grass.
+	On reaching the top, they came in sight of a silver palace
+	supported on a cock&#8217;s foot, while at one of the windows the
+	sun&#8217;s rays shone upon a head of golden hair; surely it could
+	only belong to the princess. Suddenly the north wind blew
+	so violently, and the cold became so intense, that the leaves
+	of the trees withered and the breath froze. The two princes
+	tried to keep their footing, and battled manfully against the
+	storm, but they were overcome by its fierceness and fell
+	together, frozen to death.</p>
+
+	<p>Their broken-hearted parents waited for them in vain.
+	Masses were said, charities distributed, and prayers sent up
+	to God to pity them in their sorrow.</p>
+
+	<p>One day when the queen, the mother of the princes, was
+	giving a poor old man some money she said to him, &#8220;My good
+	old friend, pray God to guard our sons and soon bring them
+	back in good health.&#8221;</p>
+
+</div>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page213" title="213">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-36.png"><img src="images/illo-36-th.png" width="313" height="497" alt="A young woman gives a stooped old man some coins." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page214" title="214">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, noble lady,&#8221; answered he, &#8220;that prayer would be
+	useless. Everlasting rest is all one may ask for the dead,  <!-- Original location of pages 213 & 214 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page215" title="215">&nbsp;</a>but in return for the love you have shown and the money
+	you have given the poor and needy, I am charged with this
+	message&#8212;that God has taken pity on your sorrow, and that
+	ere long you will be the mother of a son, the like of whom
+	has never yet been seen.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The old man, having spoken thus, vanished.</p>
+
+	<p>The queen, whose tears were falling, felt a strange joy enter
+	her heart and a feeling of happiness steal over her, as she went
+	to the king and repeated the old man&#8217;s words. And so it
+	came to pass, for a week or two later God sent her a son, and
+	he was in no way like an ordinary child. His eyes resembled
+	those of a falcon, and his eyebrows the sable&#8217;s fur. His right
+	hand was of pure gold, and his manner and appearance were
+	so full of an indescribable majesty, that he was looked upon
+	by every one with a feeling of awe.</p>
+
+	<p>His growth, too, was not like that of other children.
+	When but three days old, he stepped out of his swaddling-clothes
+	and left his cradle. And he was so strong that when
+	his parents entered the room he ran towards them, crying out,
+	&#8220;Good morning, dear parents, why are you so sad? Are you
+	not happy at the sight of me?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;We are indeed happy, dear child, and we thank God for
+	having sent us you in our great grief. But we cannot forget
+	your two brothers; they were so handsome and brave, and
+	worthy of a great destiny. And our sadness is increased when
+	we remember that, instead of resting in their own country in
+	the tomb of their forefathers, they sleep in an unknown land,
+	perhaps without burial. Alas! it is three years since we had
+	news of them.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>At these words the child&#8217;s tears fell, and he embraced his
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page216" title="216">&nbsp;</a>parents and said, &#8220;Weep no more, dear parents, you shall
+	soon be comforted: for before next spring I shall be a strong
+	young man, and will look for my brothers all over the world.
+	And I will bring them back to you, if not alive, yet dead:
+	ay, though I have to seek them in the very centre of the
+	earth.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>At these words and at that which followed the king and
+	queen were amazed. For the strange child, guided as it were
+	by an invisible hand, rushed into the garden, and in spite of
+	the cold, for it was not yet daylight, bathed in the early dew.
+	When the sun had risen he threw himself down near a little
+	wood on the fine sand, rubbed and rolled himself in it, and
+	returned home, no longer a child but a youth.</p>
+
+	<p>It was pleasant to the king to see his son thrive in this
+	way, and indeed the young prince was the handsomest in the
+	whole land. He grew from hour to hour. At the end of a
+	month he could wield a sword, in two months he rode on
+	horseback, in three months he had grown a beautiful moustache
+	of pure gold. Then he put on a helmet, and presenting
+	himself before the king and queen, said: &#8220;My much honoured
+	parents, your son asks your blessing. I am no longer a child,
+	and now go to seek my brothers. In order to find them I
+	will, if necessary, go to the furthest ends of the world.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, do not venture. Stay rather with us, dear son, you
+	are still too young to be exposed to the risks of such an
+	undertaking.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Adventures have no terrors for me,&#8221; replied the young
+	hero, &#8220;I trust in God. Why should I for a moment hesitate
+	to face these dangers? Whatever Destiny has in store for us
+	will happen, whatever we may do to try to prevent it.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page217" title="217">&nbsp;</a>So they agreed to let him go. Weeping they bade him
+	farewell, blessing him and the road he was to travel.</p>
+
+	<p>A pleasant tale is soon told, but events do not pass so
+	quickly.</p>
+
+	<p>The young prince crossed deep rivers and climbed high
+	mountains, till he came to a dark forest. In the distance he
+	saw a cottage supported on a cock&#8217;s foot, and standing in the
+	midst of a field full of poppies. As he made his ways towards
+	it he was suddenly seized by an overpowering longing to sleep,
+	but he urged on his horse, and breaking off the poppy heads
+	as he galloped through the field, came up close to the house.
+	Then he called out:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Little cot, turn around, on thy foot turn thou free;</p>
+		<p>To the forest set thy back, let thy door be wide to me.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The cottage turned round with a great creaking noise, the
+	door facing the prince. He entered, and found an old woman
+	with thin white hair and a face covered with wrinkles, truly
+	frightful to look upon. She was sitting at a table, her head
+	resting on her hands, her eyes fixed on the ceiling, lost in
+	deep thought. Near her were two beautiful girls, their
+	complexions like lilies and roses, and in every way sweet
+	to the eye.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, how do you do, Prince with Moustache of Gold,
+	Hero with the Golden Fist?&#8221; said old Yaga; &#8220;what has
+	brought you here?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Having told her the object of his journey, she replied,
+	&#8220;Your elder brothers perished on the mountain that touches
+	the clouds, while in search of the Princess with the Golden
+	Hair, who was carried off by Vikher, the hurricane.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page218" title="218">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;And how is this thief Vikher to be got at?&#8221; asked the
+	prince.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, my dear child, he would swallow you like a fly.
+	It is now a hundred years since I went outside this cottage,
+	for fear Vikher should seize me and carry me off to his palace
+	near the sky.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am not afraid of his carrying me off, I am not handsome
+	enough for that; and he will not swallow me either,
+	for my golden hand can smash anything.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Then if you are not afraid, my dove, I will help you to
+	the best of my power. But give me your word of honour that
+	you will bring me some of the Water of Youth, for it restores
+	even to the most aged the beauty and freshness of youth.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I give you my word of honour that I will bring you
+	some.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;This then is what you must do. I will give you a
+	pin-cushion for a guide; this you throw in front of you, and
+	follow whithersoever it goes. It will lead you to the mountain
+	that touches the clouds, and which is guarded in Vikher&#8217;s
+	absence by his father and mother, the northern blast and the
+	south wind. On no account lose sight of the pin-cushion.
+	If attacked by the father, the northern blast, and suddenly
+	seized with cold, then put on this heat-giving hood: if
+	overpowered by burning heat of the south wind, then drink
+	from this cooling flagon. Thus by means of the pin-cushion,
+	the hood, and the flagon, you will reach the top of the
+	mountain where the Princess with the Golden Hair is imprisoned.
+	Deal with Vikher as you will, only remember to
+	bring me some of the Water of Youth.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Our young hero took the heat-giving hood, the cooling
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page219" title="219">&nbsp;</a>flagon, and the pin-cushion, and, after bidding farewell to old
+	Yaga and her two pretty daughters, mounted his steed and
+	rode off, following the pin-cushion, which rolled before him
+	at a great rate.</p>
+
+	<p>Now a beautiful story is soon told, but the events of
+	which it consists do not in real life take place so rapidly.</p>
+
+	<p>When the prince had travelled through two kingdoms,
+	he came to a land in which lay a very beautiful valley that
+	stretched into the far distance, and above it towered the
+	mountain that touches the sky. The summit was so high
+	above the earth you might almost fancy it reached the moon.</p>
+
+	<p>The prince dismounted, left his horse to graze, and having
+	crossed himself began to follow the pin-cushion up steep and
+	rocky paths. When he had got half-way there the north wind
+	began to blow, and the cold was so intense that the wood of
+	the trees split up and the breath froze: he felt chilled to the
+	heart. But he quickly put on the heat-giving hood, and
+	cried:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O Heat-Giving Hood, see I fly now to thee,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Lend me quickly thine aid;</p>
+		<p>O hasten to warm ere the cold has killed me,</p>
+		<p class="i2">With thee I&#8217;m not afraid.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The northern blast blew with redoubled fury, but to no
+	purpose. For the prince was so hot that he streamed with
+	perspiration, and indeed was obliged to unbutton his coat and
+	fan himself.</p>
+
+	<p>Here the pin-cushion stopped upon a small snow-covered
+	mound. The prince cleared away the snow, beneath which lay
+	the frozen bodies of two young men, and he knew them to be
+	those of his lost brothers. Having knelt beside them and
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page220" title="220">&nbsp;</a>prayed he turned to follow the pin-cushion, which had already
+	started, and was rolling ever higher and higher. On reaching
+	the top of the mountain he saw a silver palace supported on a
+	cock&#8217;s foot, and at one of the windows, shining in the sun&#8217;s
+	rays, a head of golden hair which could belong to no one but
+	the princess. Suddenly a hot wind began to blow from the
+	south, and the heat became so intense that leaves withered
+	and dropped from the trees, the grass dried up, and large
+	cracks appeared in several places of the earth&#8217;s surface. Thirst,
+	heat, and weariness began to tell upon the young prince, so he
+	took the cooling flagon from his pocket and cried:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Flagon, bring me quick relief</p>
+		<p class="i2">From this parching heat;</p>
+		<p>In thy draught I have belief,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Coolness it will mete.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>After drinking deeply he felt stronger than ever, and so
+	continued to ascend. Not only was he relieved from the great
+	heat, but was even obliged to button up his coat to keep
+	himself warm.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page221" title="221">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-37.png"><img src="images/illo-37-th.png" width="339" height="499" alt="A man climbs stairs, reaching for a princess." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page222" title="222">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The pin-cushion still led the way, ever climbing higher and
+	higher, while the prince followed close behind. After crossing
+	the region of clouds they came to the topmost peak of the
+	mountain. Here the prince came close to the palace, which
+	can only be likened to a dream of perfect beauty. It was
+	supported on a cock&#8217;s foot, and was built entirely of silver,
+	except for its steel gates and roof of solid gold. Before the
+	entrance was a deep precipice over which none but the birds
+	could pass. As the prince gazed upon the splendid building
+	the princess leaned out of one of the windows, and seeing him  <!-- Original location of pages 221 & 222 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page223" title="223">&nbsp;</a>light shone from her sparkling eyes, her lovely hair floated in
+	the wind, and the scent of her sweet breath filled the air.
+	The prince sprang forward and cried out:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Silver Palace, oh turn, on thy foot turn thou free,</p>
+		<p>To the steep rocks thy back, but thy doors wide to me.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>At these words it revolved creaking, the doorway facing the
+	prince. As he entered it returned to its original position.
+	The prince went through the palace till he came to a room
+	bright as the sun itself, and the walls, floor, and ceiling of
+	which consisted of mirrors. He was filled with wonder, for
+	instead of one princess he saw twelve, all equally beautiful,
+	with the same graceful movements and golden hair. But
+	eleven were only reflections of the one real princess. She
+	gave a cry of joy on seeing him, and running to meet him,
+	said: &#8220;Ah, noble sir, you look like a delivering angel. Surely
+	you bring me good news. From what family, city, or country
+	have you come? Perhaps my dear father and mother sent
+	you in search of me?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;No one has sent me, I have come of my own free will
+	to rescue you and restore you to your parents.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When he had told her all that had passed she said, &#8220;Your
+	devotion, prince, is very great; may God bless your attempt.
+	But Vikher the hurricane is unconquerable, so, if life be dear
+	to you, fly. Leave this place before his return, which I
+	expect every minute; he will kill you with one glance of his
+	eyes.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;If I should not succeed in saving you, sweet princess,
+	life can be no longer dear to me. But I am full of hope,
+	and I beg you first to give me some of the Strength-Giving
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page224" title="224">&nbsp;</a>Water from the Heroic Well, for this is drunk by the
+	hurricane.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The princess drew a bucketful of water, which the young
+	man emptied at one draught and then asked for another.
+	This astonished her somewhat, but she gave it him, and
+	when he had drunk it he said, &#8220;Allow me, princess, to sit
+	down for a moment to take breath.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>She gave him an iron chair, but directly he sat down
+	it broke into a thousand pieces. She then brought him
+	the chair used by Vikher himself, but although it was
+	made of the strongest steel, it bent and creaked beneath the
+	prince&#8217;s weight.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Now you see,&#8221; said he, &#8220;that I have grown heavier
+	than your unconquerable hurricane: so take courage, with
+	God&#8217;s help and your good wishes I shall overcome him. In
+	the meantime tell me how you pass your time here.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Alas! in bitter tears and sad reflections. My only
+	consolation is that I have been able to keep my persecutor
+	at a distance, for he vainly implores me to marry him.
+	Two years have now passed away, and yet none of his efforts
+	to win my consent have been successful. Last time he went
+	away he told me that if on his return he had not guessed the
+	riddles I set him (the correct explanation of these being the
+	condition I have made for his marrying me), he would set
+	them aside, and marry me in spite of my objections.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, then I am just in time. I will be the priest on
+	that occasion, and give him Death for a bride.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>At that moment a horrible whistling was heard.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Be on your guard, prince,&#8221; cried she, &#8220;here comes the
+	hurricane.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page225" title="225">&nbsp;</a>The palace spun rapidly round, fearful sounds filled
+	the building, thousands of ravens and birds of ill omen
+	croaked loudly and flapped their wings, and all the doors
+	opened with a tremendous noise.</p>
+
+	<p>Vikher, mounted on his winged horse that breathed fire,
+	leapt into the mirrored room, then stopped amazed at the
+	sight before him. He was indeed the hurricane, with the
+	body of a giant and the head of a dragon, and as he gazed
+	his horse pranced and beat his wings.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What is your business here, stranger?&#8221; he shouted: and
+	the sound of his voice was like unto a lion&#8217;s roar.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am your enemy, and I want your blood,&#8221; replied the
+	prince calmly.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Your boldness amuses me. At the same time, if you
+	do not depart at once I will take you in my left hand and
+	crush every bone in your body with my right.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Try, if you dare, woman-stealer,&#8221; he answered.</p>
+
+	<p>Vikher roared, breathing fire in his rage, and with his
+	mouth wide open threw himself upon the prince, intending to
+	swallow him. But the latter stepped lightly aside, and putting
+	his golden hand down his enemy&#8217;s throat, seized him by the
+	tongue and dashed him against the wall with such force that
+	the monster bounded against it like a ball, and died within a
+	few moments, shedding torrents of blood.</p>
+
+	<p>The prince then drew from different springs the water
+	that <em>restores</em>, that <em>revives</em>, and that <em>makes young</em>, and taking
+	the unconscious girl in his arms he led the winged horse to
+	the door and said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Silver Palace, oh turn, on thy foot turn thou free,</p>
+		<p>To the steep rocks thy back, the courtyard may I see.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page226" title="226">&nbsp;</a>Whereupon the palace creaked round on the cock&#8217;s foot,
+	and the door opened on the courtyard. Mounting the horse
+	he placed the princess before him, for she had by this time
+	recovered from her swoon, and cried:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Fiery Horse with strength of wing,</p>
+		<p class="i2">I am now your lord;</p>
+		<p>Do my will in everything,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Be your law my word.</p>
+		<p>Where I point there you must go</p>
+		<p>At once, at once. The way you know.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>And he pointed to the place where his brothers lay frozen
+	in death. The horse rose, pranced, beat the air with his
+	wings, then, lifting himself high in the air, came down gently
+	where the two princes were lying. The Prince with the
+	Golden Hand sprinkled their bodies with the Life-Restoring
+	Water, and instantly the pallor of death disappeared, leaving
+	in its place the natural colour. He then sprinkled them with
+	the Water that Revives, after which they opened their eyes,
+	got up, and looking round said, &#8220;How well we have slept:
+	but what has happened? And how is it we see the lovely
+	princess we sought in the society of a young man, a perfect
+	stranger to us?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The Prince with the Golden Hand explained everything,
+	embraced his brothers tenderly, and taking them with him on
+	his horse, showed the latter that he wished to go in the direction
+	of Yaga&#8217;s cottage. The horse rose up, pranced, lifted himself
+	in the air, then, beating his wings far above the highest forests,
+	descended close by the cottage. The prince said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Little cot, turn around, on thy foot turn thou free,</p>
+		<p>To the forest thy back, but thy door wide to me.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page227" title="227">&nbsp;</a>The cottage began to creak without delay, and turned round
+	with the floor facing the travellers. Old Yaga was on the
+	look-out, and came to meet them. As soon as she got the
+	Water of Youth she sprinkled herself with it, and instantly
+	everything about her that was old and ugly became young and
+	charming. So pleased was she to be young again that she
+	kissed the prince&#8217;s hands and said, &#8220;Ask of me anything you
+	like, I will refuse you nothing.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>At that moment her two beautiful young daughters happened
+	to look out of the window, upon which the two elder
+	princes, who were admiring them, said, &#8220;Will you give us your
+	daughters for wives?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;That I will, with pleasure,&#8221; said she, and beckoned
+	them to her. Then curtseying to her future sons-in-law, she
+	laughed merrily and vanished. They placed their brides
+	before them on the same horse, while the Prince with the
+	Golden Hand, pointing to where he wished to go, said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Fiery Horse with strength of wing,</p>
+		<p class="i2">I am now your lord;</p>
+		<p>Do my will in everything,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Be your law my word.</p>
+		<p>Where I point there you must go</p>
+		<p>At once, at once. The way you know.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The horse rose up, pranced, flapped his wings, and flew
+	far above the forest. An hour or two later he descended
+	before the palace of the Golden-Haired Princess&#8217;s parents.
+	When the king and queen saw their only daughter who had
+	so long been lost to them, they ran to meet her with exclamations
+	of joy and kissed her gratefully and lovingly, at the same
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page228" title="228">&nbsp;</a>time thanking the prince who had restored her to them. And
+	when they heard the story of his adventures they said: &#8220;You,
+	Prince with the Golden Hand, shall receive our beloved
+	daughter in marriage, with the half of our kingdom, and the
+	right of succession to the remainder after us. Let us, too,
+	add to the joy of this day by celebrating the weddings of your
+	two brothers.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The Princess with the Golden Hair kissed her father
+	lovingly and said, &#8220;My much honoured and noble sire and
+	lord, the prince my bridegroom knows of the vow I made
+	when carried off by the hurricane, that I would only give my
+	hand to him who could answer aright my six enigmas: it
+	would be impossible for the Princess with the Golden Hair
+	to break her word.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king was silent, but the prince said, &#8220;Speak, sweet
+	princess, I am listening.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;This is my first riddle: &#8216;Two of my extremities form a
+	sharp point, the two others a ring, in my centre is a screw.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;A pair of scissors,&#8221; answered he.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Well guessed. This is the second: &#8216;I make the round
+	of the table on only one foot, but if I am wounded the evil
+	is beyond repair.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;A glass of wine.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Right. This is the third: &#8216;I have no tongue, and yet I
+	answer faithfully; I am not seen, yet every one hears me.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;An echo.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;True. This is the fourth: &#8216;Fire cannot light me; brush
+	cannot sweep me; no painter can paint me; no hiding-place
+	secure me.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Sunshine.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page229" title="229">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;The very thing. This is the fifth: &#8216;I existed before the
+	creation of Adam. I am always changing in succession the
+	two colours of my dress. Thousands of years have gone by,
+	but I have remained unaltered both in colour and form.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It must be time, including day and night.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You have succeeded in guessing the five most difficult,
+	the last is the easiest of all. &#8216;By day a ring, by night a
+	serpent; he who guesses this shall be my bridegroom.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It is a girdle.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Now they are all guessed,&#8221; said she, and gave her hand
+	to the young prince.</p>
+
+	<p>They knelt before the king and queen to receive their
+	blessing. The three weddings were celebrated that same
+	evening, and a messenger mounted the winged horse to carry
+	the good news to the parents of the young princes and to
+	bring them back as guests. Meanwhile a magnificent feast
+	was prepared, and invitations were sent to all their friends and
+	acquaintances. And from that evening until the next morning
+	they ceased not to feast and drink and dance. I too was
+	a guest, and feasted with the rest; but though I ate and
+	drank, the wine only ran down my beard, and my throat
+	remained dry.</p>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page230" title="230">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_15" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page231" title="231">&nbsp;</a>
+
+	<h2 class="story_title">IMPERISHABLE</h2>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page232" title="232">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page233" title="233">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-38.png"><img src="images/illo-38-th.png" width="318" height="307" title="Imperishable." alt="A nest full of eggs." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">IMPERISHABLE</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">Once</span> upon a time, ever so many years ago, there lived
+	a little old man and a little old woman. Very old
+	indeed were they, for they had lived nearly a hundred years.
+	But they took neither joy nor pleasure in anything, and this
+	because they had no children. They were now about to
+	keep the seventy-fifth anniversary of their wedding day, known
+	as the Diamond Wedding, but no guests were invited to share
+	their simple feast.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page234" title="234">&nbsp;</a>As they sat side by side they went over in memory the
+	years of their long life, and as they did so they felt sure that
+	it was to punish them for their sins that God had denied them
+	the sweet happiness of having children about them, and as
+	they thought their tears fell fast. At that moment some one
+	knocked.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Who is there?&#8221; cried the old woman, and ran to open
+	the door. There stood a little old man leaning on a stick,
+	and white as a dove.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What do you want?&#8221; asked the old woman.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Charity,&#8221; answered he.</p>
+
+	<p>The good old woman was kind-hearted, and she cut
+	her last loaf in two, giving one half to the beggar, who said,
+	&#8220;I see you have been weeping, good wife, and I know the
+	reason of your tears; but cheer up, by God&#8217;s grace you shall
+	be comforted. Though poor and childless to-day, to-morrow
+	you shall have family and fortune.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When the old woman heard this she was overjoyed, and
+	fetching her husband they both went to the door to invite the
+	old man in. But he was gone, and though they searched for
+	him in every direction they found nothing but his stick lying
+	on the ground. For it was not a poor old beggar, but an
+	angel of God who had knocked. Our good friends did not
+	know this, so they picked up the stick and hurried off to find
+	the old man, with the purpose of returning it. But it seemed
+	as if the stick, like its master, were endowed with some
+	marvellous power, for whenever the old man or the old woman
+	tried to pick it up it slipped out of their hands and rolled
+	along the ground. Thus they followed it into a forest, and
+	at the foot of a shrub which stood close by a stream it
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page235" title="235">&nbsp;</a>disappeared. They hunted all round the shrub thinking to
+	find the stick there, but instead of the stick they came upon
+	a bird&#8217;s nest containing twelve eggs, and from the shape
+	of the shells it seemed as if the young ones were ready to
+	come forth.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Pick up the eggs,&#8221; said the old man, &#8220;they will make us
+	an omelette for our wedding feast.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The old woman grumbled a little, but she took the nest
+	and carried it home in the skirt of her gown. Fancy their
+	astonishment when at the end of twelve hours there came out,
+	not unfledged birdlings, but twelve pretty little boys. Then
+	the shells broke into tiny fragments which were changed into
+	as many gold pieces. Thus, as had been foretold, the old man
+	and his wife found both family and fortune.</p>
+
+	<p>Now these twelve boys were most extraordinary children.
+	Directly they came out of the shells they seemed to be at least
+	three months old, such a noise did they make, crying and
+	kicking about. The youngest of all was a very big baby with
+	black eyes, red cheeks, and curly hair, and so lively and active
+	that the old woman could hardly keep him in his cradle at all.
+	In twelve hours&#8217; time the children seemed to be a year old,
+	and could walk about and eat anything.</p>
+
+	<p>Then the old woman made up her mind that they should
+	be baptized, and thereupon sent her husband to fetch priest
+	and organist without delay; and the diamond wedding was
+	celebrated at the same time as the christening. For a short
+	time their joy was clouded over by the disappearance of the
+	youngest boy, who was also the best-looking, and his parents&#8217;
+	favourite. They had begun to weep and mourn for him as if
+	he were lost, when suddenly he was seen to come from out of
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page236" title="236">&nbsp;</a>the sleeves of the priest&#8217;s cassock, and was heard to speak
+	these words: &#8220;Never fear, dear parents, your beloved son will
+	not perish.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The old woman kissed him fondly and handed him to his
+	godfather, who presented him to the priest. So they had named
+	him <em>Niezguinek</em>, that is, <em>Imperishable</em>. The twelve boys went on
+	growing at the rate of six weeks every hour, and at the end of
+	two years were fine strong young men. Niezguinek, especially,
+	was of extraordinary size and strength. The good old people
+	lived happily and peacefully at home while their sons worked
+	in the fields. On one occasion the latter went ploughing; and
+	while the eleven eldest used the ordinary plough and team
+	of oxen, Niezguinek made his own plough, and it had twelve
+	ploughshares and twelve handles, and to it were harnessed
+	twelve team of the strongest working oxen. The others
+	laughed at him, but he did not mind, and turned up as much
+	ground as his eleven brothers together.</p>
+
+	<p>Another time when they went haymaking and his brothers
+	used the ordinary scythes, he carried one with twelve blades,
+	and managed it so cleverly, in spite of the jests of his companions,
+	that he cut as much grass as all of them together.
+	And again, when they went to turn over the hay, Niezguinek
+	used a rake with twelve teeth, and so cleared twelve plots of
+	ground with every stroke. His haycock, too, was as large as
+	a hill in comparison with those of his brothers. Now, the
+	day after the making of the haycocks the old man and his
+	wife happened to be in the fields, and they noticed that one
+	haycock had disappeared; so thinking wild horses had made
+	off with it, they advised their sons to take turns in watching
+	the place.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page237" title="237">&nbsp;</a>The eldest took his turn first, but after having watched
+	all night fell asleep towards morning, when he awoke to
+	find another haycock missing. The second son was not
+	more fortunate in preventing the disappearance of the hay,
+	while the others succeeded no better; in fact, of all the
+	twelve haycocks, there only remained the largest, Niezguinek&#8217;s,
+	and even that had been meddled with.</p>
+
+	<p>When it was the youngest&#8217;s turn to watch, he went to
+	the village blacksmith and got him to make an iron club
+	weighing two hundred and sixty pounds; so heavy was it
+	that the blacksmith and his assistants could hardly turn it
+	on the anvil. In order to test it, Niezguinek whirled it
+	round his head and threw it up in the air, and when it
+	had nearly reached the ground he caught it on his knee,
+	upon which it was smashed to atoms. He then ordered
+	another weighing four hundred and eighty pounds, and
+	this the blacksmith and his men could not even move.
+	Niezguinek had helped them to make it, and when finished
+	he tested it in the same manner as the first. Finding it
+	did not break he kept it, and had in addition a noose
+	plaited with twelve strong ropes. Towards nightfall he
+	went to the field, crouched down behind his haycock, crossed
+	himself, and waited to see what would happen. At midnight
+	there was a tremendous noise which seemed to come
+	from the east, while in that direction appeared a bright
+	light. Then a white mare, with twelve colts as white as
+	herself, trotted up to the haycock and began to eat it.
+	Niezguinek came out of his hiding-place, and throwing the
+	noose over the mare&#8217;s neck, jumped on her back and struck
+	her with his heavy club. The terrified creature gave the
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page238" title="238">&nbsp;</a>signal to the colts to escape, but she herself, hindered by
+	the noose, out of breath, and wounded by the club, could not
+	follow, but sank down on the earth saying, &#8220;Do not choke
+	me, Niezguinek.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He marvelled to hear her speak human language, and
+	loosened the noose. When she had taken breath she said,
+	&#8220;Knight, if you give me my liberty you shall never repent
+	it. My husband, the Dappled Horse with Golden Mane,
+	will cruelly revenge himself upon you when he knows I am
+	your prisoner; his strength and swiftness are so great you
+	could not escape him. In exchange for my freedom I will
+	give you my twelve colts, who will serve you and your
+	brothers faithfully.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>On hearing their mother neigh the colts returned and
+	stood with bent heads before the young man, who released
+	the mare, and led them home. The brothers were delighted
+	to see Niezguinek return with twelve beautiful white horses,
+	and each took the one that pleased his fancy most, while
+	the thinnest and weakest-looking was left for the youngest.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page239" title="239">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-39.png"><img src="images/illo-39-th.png" width="322" height="493" alt="A man leans down for a mace, a rope in his hand. There are wild horses nearby." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page240" title="240">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The old couple were happy in the thought that their son
+	was brave as well as strong. One day it occurred to the old
+	woman that she would like to see them all married, and to
+	have the house merry with her daughters-in-law and their
+	children. So she called upon her gossips and friends to talk
+	the matter over, and finally persuaded her husband to be of
+	the same opinion. He called his sons around him and
+	addressed them thus: &#8220;Listen to me, my sons: in a certain
+	country lives a celebrated witch known as old Yaga. She
+	is lame, and travels about in an oaken trough. She supports
+	herself on iron crutches, and when she goes abroad carefully  <!-- Original location of pages 239 & 240 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page241" title="241">&nbsp;</a>removes all traces of her steps with a broom. This old witch
+	has twelve beautiful daughters who have large dowries; do
+	your best to win them for your wives. Do not return without
+	bringing them with you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Both parents blessed their sons, who, mounting their horses,
+	were soon out of sight. All but Niezguinek, who, left alone,
+	went to the stable and began to shed tears.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Why do you weep?&#8221; asked his horse.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t you think I have good reason?&#8221; replied he.
+	&#8220;Here I have to go a long long way in search of a wife,
+	and you, my friend, are so thin and weak that were I to depend
+	upon your strength I should never be able to join my
+	brothers.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Do not despair, Niezguinek,&#8221; said the horse, &#8220;not only
+	will you overtake your brothers, but you will leave them far
+	behind. I am the son of the Dappled Horse with the Golden
+	Mane, and if you will do exactly as I tell you I shall be given
+	the same power as he. You must kill me and bury me under
+	a layer of earth and manure, then sow some wheat over me,
+	and when the corn is ripe it must be gathered and some of it
+	placed near my body.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek threw his arms round his horse&#8217;s neck and kissed
+	him fondly, then led him into a yard and killed him with one
+	blow of his club. The horse staggered a moment and then
+	fell dead. His master covered him with a layer of manure
+	and earth, upon which he sowed wheat, as had been directed.
+	It was immediately watered by a gentle rain, and warmed by
+	the heat of the sun&#8217;s rays. The corn took root and ripened
+	so quickly that on the twelfth day Niezguinek set to work to
+	cut, thresh, and winnow it. So abundant was it that he was
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page242" title="242">&nbsp;</a>able to give eleven measures to his parents, and keeping one
+	for himself, spread it before his horse&#8217;s bones. In a very
+	short time the horse moved his head, sniffed the air, and began
+	to devour the wheat. As soon as it was finished he sprang
+	up, and was so full of life that he wanted to jump over the
+	fence in one bound: but Niezguinek held him by the mane,
+	and getting lightly on his back, said: &#8220;Halt there, my spirited
+	steed, I do not want others to have the benefit of all the
+	trouble I have had with you. Carry me to old Yaga&#8217;s house.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He was of a truth a most magnificent horse, big and strong,
+	with eyes that flashed like lightning. He leapt up into the
+	air as high as the clouds, and the next moment descended
+	in the middle of a field, saying to his master: &#8220;As we have
+	first to see old Yaga, from whom we are still a great way
+	off, we can stop here for a short time: take food and rest,
+	I will do the same. Your brothers will be obliged to pass
+	us, for we are a good way in front of them. When they
+	come you can go on together to visit the old witch: remember,
+	though it is difficult to get into her house, it is
+	much more difficult still to get out. But if you would be
+	perfectly safe, take from under my saddle a brush, a scarf,
+	and a handkerchief. They will be of use in helping you to
+	escape; for when you unroll the scarf, a river will flow between
+	you and your enemy; if you shake the brush it will become
+	a thick forest; and by waving the handkerchief it will be
+	changed into a lake. After you have been received into
+	Yaga&#8217;s house, and your brothers have stabled their horses
+	and gone to bed, I will tell you how to act.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>For twelve days Niezguinek and his horse rested and
+	gained strength, and at the end of the time the eleven
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page243" title="243">&nbsp;</a>brothers came up. They wondered greatly to see the
+	youngest, and said, &#8220;Where on earth did you come from?
+	And whose horse is that?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I have come from home. The horse is the same I
+	chose at first. We have been waiting here twelve days; let
+	us go on together now.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Within a short time they came to a house surrounded
+	by a high oaken paling, at the gate of which they knocked.
+	Old Yaga peeped out through a chink in the fence and
+	cried, &#8220;Who are you? What do you want?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;We are twelve brothers come to ask the twelve daughters
+	of Yaga in marriage. If she is willing to be our mother-in-law,
+	let her open the door.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The door was opened and Yaga appeared. She was a
+	frightful-looking creature, old as the hills; and being one of
+	those monsters who feed on human flesh, the unfortunate
+	wretches who once entered her house never came out again.
+	She had a lame leg, and because of this she leaned on a
+	great iron crutch, and when she went out removed all traces
+	of her steps with a broom.</p>
+
+	<p>She received the young travellers very graciously, shut
+	the gate of the courtyard behind them, and led them into
+	the house. Niezguinek&#8217;s brothers dismounted, and taking
+	their horses to the stables, tied them up to rings made of
+	silver; the youngest fastened his to a copper ring. The old
+	witch served her guests with a good supper, and gave them
+	wine and hydromel to drink. Then she made up twelve
+	beds on the right side of the room for the travellers, and
+	on the left side twelve beds for her daughters.</p>
+
+	<p>All were soon asleep except Niezguinek. He had been
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page244" title="244">&nbsp;</a>warned beforehand by his horse of the danger that threatened
+	them, and now he got up quietly and changed the positions
+	of the twenty-four beds, so that the brothers lay to the left
+	side of the room, and Yaga&#8217;s daughters to the right. At
+	midnight, old Yaga cried out in a hoarse voice, &#8220;Guzla, play.
+	Sword, strike.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then were heard strains of sweet music, to which the old
+	woman beat time from her oaken trough. At the same
+	moment a slender sword descended into the room, and
+	passing over to the beds on the right, cut off the heads of
+	the girls one by one: after which it danced about and
+	flashed in the darkness.</p>
+
+	<p>When the dawn broke the guzla ceased playing, the
+	sword disappeared, and silence reigned. Then Niezguinek
+	softly aroused his brothers, and they all went out without
+	making any noise. Each mounted his horse, and when they
+	had broken open the yard gate they made their escape at full
+	speed. Old Yaga, thinking she heard footsteps, got up and ran
+	into the room where her daughters lay dead. At the dreadful
+	sight she gnashed her teeth, barked like a dog, tore out her
+	hair by handfuls, and seating herself in her trough as in a car,
+	set off after the fugitives. She had nearly reached them, and
+	was already stretching out her hand to seize them, when
+	Niezguinek unrolled his magic scarf, and instantly a deep
+	river flowed between her and the horsemen. Not being able
+	to cross it she stopped on the banks, and howling savagely
+	began to drink it up.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Before you have swallowed all that river you will burst,
+	you wicked old witch,&#8221; cried Niezguinek. Then he rejoined
+	his brothers.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page245" title="245">&nbsp;</a>But the old woman drank all the water, crossed the bed of
+	the river in her trough, and soon came near the young people.
+	Niezguinek shook his handkerchief, and a lake immediately
+	spread out between them. So she was again obliged to stop,
+	and shrieking with rage began to drink up the water.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Before you have drunk that lake dry you will have burst
+	yourself,&#8221; said Niezguinek, and rode after his brothers.</p>
+
+	<p>The old vixen drank up part of the water, and turning the
+	remainder into a thick fog, hastened along in her trough. She
+	was once more close upon the young men when Niezguinek,
+	without a moment&#8217;s delay, seized his brush, and as he waved
+	it in the air a thick forest rose between them. For a time
+	the witch was at a loss to know what to do. On one side
+	she saw Niezguinek and his brothers rapidly disappearing,
+	while she stood on the other hindered by the branches and
+	torn by the thorns of the thick bushes, unable either to advance
+	or retreat. Foaming with rage, with fire flashing from
+	her eyes, she struck right and left with her crutches, crashing
+	trees on all sides, but before she could clear a way those she
+	was in pursuit of had got more than a hundred miles ahead.</p>
+
+	<p>So she was forced to give up, and grinding her teeth,
+	howling, and tearing out her hair, she threw after the fugitives
+	such flaming glances from her eyes that she set the forest on
+	fire, and taking the road home was soon lost to sight.</p>
+
+	<p>The travellers, seeing the flames, guessed what had happened,
+	and thanked God for having preserved them from such
+	great dangers. They continued their journey, and by eventide
+	arrived at the top of a steep hill. There they saw a town
+	besieged by foreign troops, who had already destroyed the
+	outer part, and only awaited daylight to take it by storm.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page246" title="246">&nbsp;</a>The twelve brothers kept out of sight behind the enemy;
+	and when they had rested and turned out their horses to graze
+	all went to sleep except Niezguinek, who kept watch without
+	closing an eye. When everything was perfectly still he got
+	up, and calling his horse, said, &#8220;Listen; yonder in that tent
+	sleeps the king of this besieging army, and he dreams of the
+	victory he hopes for on the morrow: how could we send all
+	the soldiers to sleep and get possession of his person?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The horse replied, &#8220;You will find some dried leaves of
+	the herb of Sleep in the pocket of the saddle. Mount upon
+	my back and hover round the camp, spreading fragments of
+	the plant. That will cause all the soldiers to fall into a sound
+	sleep, after which you can carry out your plans.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek mounted his horse, pronouncing these magic
+	words:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Horse of my heart, let us go;</p>
+		<p>Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Haste to the camp of the foe.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The horse glanced upwards as if he saw some one beckoning
+	to him from the clouds, then rose rapidly as a bird on
+	the wing and hovered over the camp. Niezguinek took
+	handfuls of the herb of Sleep from the saddle-pockets and
+	sprinkled it all about. Upon which all in the camp, including
+	the sentinels, fell at once into a heavy sleep. Niezguinek
+	alighted, entered the tent, and carried off the sleeping king
+	without any difficulty. He then returned to his brothers,
+	unharnessed his horse and lay down to rest, placing the royal
+	prisoner near him. His majesty slept on as if nothing
+	unusual had taken place.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page247" title="247">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-40.png"><img src="images/illo-40-th.png" width="317" height="499" alt="A witch in flies in a trough, carrying a broom." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page248" title="248">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page249" title="249">&nbsp;</a>At daybreak the soldiers of the besieging army awoke, and
+	not being able to find their king, were seized with such a
+	panic of terror that they retreated in great disorder. The
+	ruler of the besieged city would not at first believe that the
+	enemy had really disappeared, and indeed went himself to
+	see if it was true: of a truth there remained nothing of the
+	enemy&#8217;s camp but a few deserted tents whitening on the plain.
+	At that moment Niezguinek came up with his brothers, and
+	said, &#8220;Sire, the enemy has fled, and we were unable to detain
+	them, but here is their king whom we have made prisoner,
+	and whom I deliver up to you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The ruler replied, &#8220;I see, indeed, that you are a brave
+	man among brave men, and I will reward you. This royal
+	prisoner is worth a large ransom to me; so speak,&#8212;what would
+	you like me to do for you?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I should wish, sire, that my brothers and I might enter
+	the service of your majesty.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am quite willing,&#8221; answered the king. Then, having
+	placed his prisoner in charge of his guards, he made Niezguinek
+	general, and placed him at the head of a division of
+	his army; the eleven brothers were given the rank of officers.</p>
+
+	<p>When Niezguinek appeared in uniform, and with sabre
+	in hand mounted his splendid charger, he looked so handsome
+	and conducted the man&oelig;uvres so well that he surpassed
+	all the other chiefs in the country, thus causing much
+	jealousy, even among his own brothers, for they were vexed
+	that the youngest should outshine them, and so determined
+	to ruin him.</p>
+
+	<p>In order to accomplish this they imitated his handwriting,
+	and placed such a note before the king&#8217;s door while
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page250" title="250">&nbsp;</a>Niezguinek was engaged elsewhere. When the king went out
+	he found the letter, and calling Niezguinek to him, said, &#8220;I
+	should very much like to have the phonic guzla you mention
+	in your letter.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;But, sire, I have not written anything about a guzla,&#8221;
+	said he.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Read the note then. Is it not in your handwriting?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek read:</p>
+
+	<blockquote>
+		<p>&#8220;In a certain country, within the house of old Yaga, is a
+		marvellous guzla: if the king wish I will fetch it for him.</p>
+
+		<p class="signature">&#8220;(Signed)  <strong class="special_name">Niezguinek</strong>.&#8221;</p>
+	</blockquote>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It is true,&#8221; said he, &#8220;that this writing resembles mine,
+	but it is a forgery, for I never wrote it.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Never mind,&#8221; said the king, &#8220;as you were able to take
+	my enemy prisoner you will certainly be able to succeed in
+	getting old Yaga&#8217;s guzla: go then, and do not return without
+	it, or you will be executed.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek bowed and went out. He went straight to the
+	stable, where he found his charger looking very sad and thin,
+	his head drooping before the trough, the hay untouched.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What is the matter with you, my good steed? What
+	grieves you?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I grieve for us both, for I foresee a long and perilous
+	journey.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You are right, old fellow, but we have to go. And what
+	is more, we have to take away and bring here old Yaga&#8217;s guzla;
+	and how shall we do it, seeing that she knows us?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;We shall certainly succeed if you do as I tell you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then the horse gave him certain instructions, and when
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page251" title="251">&nbsp;</a>Niezguinek had led him out of the stable and mounted he
+	said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Horse of my heart, do not wait on the road;</p>
+		<p>Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Haste to the wicked old Yaga&#8217;s abode.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The horse arose in the air as if he heard some one calling
+	to him from the clouds, and flitting rapidly along passed over
+	several kingdoms within a few hours, thus reaching old Yaga&#8217;s
+	dwelling before midnight. Niezguinek threw the leaves of
+	Sleep in at the window, and by means of another wonderful
+	herb caused all the doors of the house to open. On entering
+	he found old Yaga fast asleep, with her trough and iron
+	crutches beside her, while above her head hung the magic
+	sword and guzla.</p>
+
+	<p>While the old witch lay snoring with all her might, Niezguinek
+	took the guzla and leapt on his horse, crying:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Horse of my heart, while I sing,</p>
+		<p>Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Haste to the court of my king.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Just as if the horse had seen something in the clouds, he
+	rose swift as an arrow, and flew through the air, above the fogs.
+	The same day about noon he neighed before his own manger
+	in the royal stable, and Niezguinek went in to the king and
+	presented him with the guzla. On pronouncing the two words,
+	&#8220;Guzla, play,&#8221; strains of music so gay and inspiriting were
+	heard that all the courtiers began dancing with one another.
+	The sick who listened were cured of their diseases, those who
+	were in trouble and grief forgot their sorrows, and all living
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page252" title="252">&nbsp;</a>creatures were thrilled with a gladness such as they had never
+	felt before. The king was beside himself with joy; he loaded
+	Niezguinek with honours and presents, and, in order to have
+	him always at court, raised him to a higher rank in the army.
+	In this new post he had many under him, and he showed
+	much exactitude in drill and other matters, punishing somewhat
+	severely when necessary. He made, too, no difference
+	in the treatment of his brothers, which angered them greatly,
+	and caused them to be still more jealous and to plot against
+	him. So they again imitated his handwriting and composed
+	another letter, which they left at the king&#8217;s door. When his
+	majesty had read it he called Niezguinek to him and said,
+	&#8220;I should much like to have the marvellous sword you speak
+	of in your letter.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Sire, I have not written anything about a sword,&#8221; said
+	Niezguinek.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Well, read it for yourself.&#8221; And he read:</p>
+
+	<blockquote>
+		<p>&#8220;In a certain country within the house of old Yaga is a
+		sword that strikes of its own accord: if the king would like
+		to have it, I will engage to bring it him.</p>
+
+		<p class="signature">&#8220;(Signed) <strong class="special_name">Niezguinek</strong>.&#8221;</p>
+	</blockquote>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Certainly,&#8221; said Niezguinek, &#8220;this writing resembles mine,
+	but I never wrote those words.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Never mind, as you succeeded in bringing me the guzla
+	you will find no difficulty in obtaining the sword. Start without
+	delay, and do not return without it at your peril.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek bowed and went to the stable, where he found
+	his horse looking very thin and miserable, with his head
+	drooping.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page253" title="253">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;What is the matter, my horse? Do you want anything?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am unhappy because I foresee a long and dangerous
+	journey.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You are right, for we are ordered to return to Yaga&#8217;s
+	house for the sword: but how can we get hold of it? doubtless
+	she guards it as the apple of her eye.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The horse answered, &#8220;Do as I tell you and all will be
+	right.&#8221; And he gave him certain instructions. Niezguinek
+	came out of the stable, saddled his friend, and mounting
+	him said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Marvel of strength and of beauty so white;</p>
+		<p class="i2">Horse of my heart, do not wait on the road;</p>
+		<p>Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Haste to the wicked old witch&#8217;s abode.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The horse rose immediately as if he had been beckoned
+	to by some one in the clouds, and passing swiftly through the
+	air, crossed rivers and mountains, till at midnight he stopped
+	before old Yaga&#8217;s house.</p>
+
+	<p>Since the disappearance of the guzla the sword had been
+	placed on guard before the house, and whoever came near
+	it was cut to pieces.</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek traced a circle with holy chalk, and placing
+	himself on horseback in the centre of it, said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Sword who of thyself can smite,</p>
+		<p class="i2">I come to brave thy ire;</p>
+		<p>Peace or war upon this site</p>
+		<p class="i2">Of thee I do require.</p>
+		<p>If thou canst conquer, thine my life;</p>
+		<p>Should I beat thee, then ends this strife.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page254" title="254">&nbsp;</a>The sword clinked, leapt into the air, and fell to the
+	ground divided into a thousand other swords, which ranged
+	themselves in battle array and began to attack Niezguinek.
+	But in vain; they were powerless to touch him; for on
+	reaching the chalk-traced circle they broke like wisps of
+	straw. Then the sword-in-chief, seeing how useless it was
+	to go on trying to wound him, submitted itself to Niezguinek
+	and promised him obedience. Taking the magic weapon in
+	his hand, he mounted his horse and said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Horse of my heart, while I sing,</p>
+		<p>Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Back to the court of my king.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The horse started with renewed courage, and by noon
+	was eating his hay in the royal stables. Niezguinek went in
+	to the king and presented him with the sword. While
+	he was rejoicing over it one of his servants rushed in quite
+	out of breath and said, &#8220;Sire, your enemies who attacked
+	us last year, and whose king is your prisoner, surround our
+	town. Being unable to redeem their sovereign, they have
+	come with an immense army, and threaten to destroy us if
+	their king is not released without ransom.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king armed himself with the magic sword, and going
+	outside the city walls, said to it, as he pointed to the enemy&#8217;s
+	camp, &#8220;Magic Sword, smite the foe.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Immediately the sword clinked, leapt flashing in the air,
+	and fell in a thousand blades that threw themselves on the
+	camp. One regiment was destroyed during the first attack,
+	another was defeated in the same way, while the rest of the
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page255" title="255">&nbsp;</a>terrified soldiers fled and completely disappeared. Then the
+	king said, &#8220;Sword, return to me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The thousand swords again became one, and so it returned
+	to its master&#8217;s hand.</p>
+
+	<div class="image" style="float:left;">
+		<a href="images/illo-41.png"><img src="images/illo-41-th.png" width="126" height="310" alt="A man holds a paper in his hand." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The victorious king came
+	home filled with joy. He called
+	Niezguinek to him, loaded him
+	with gifts, and assuring him of
+	his favour, made him the highest
+	general of his forces. In carrying
+	out the duties of this new
+	post Niezguinek was often obliged
+	to punish his brothers, who became
+	more and more enraged
+	against him, and took counsel
+	together how they might bring
+	about his downfall.</p>
+
+	<p>One day the king found a
+	letter by his door, and after reading
+	it he called Niezguinek to him
+	and said, &#8220;I should very much
+	like to see Princess Sudolisu,
+	whom you wish to bring me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Sire, I do not know the
+	lady, and have never spoken
+	to her.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Here, look at your letter.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek read:</p>
+
+	<blockquote>
+		<p>&#8220;Beyond the nine kingdoms, far beyond the ocean, within
+		<a class="pagenum" id="page256" title="256">&nbsp;</a>a silver vessel with golden masts lives Princess Sudolisu. If
+		the king wishes it, I will seek her for him.</p>
+
+		<p class="signature">(Signed) <strong class="special_name">Niezguinek</strong>.&#8221;</p>
+	</blockquote>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It is true the writing is like unto mine; nevertheless, I
+	neither composed the letter nor wrote it.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;No matter,&#8221; answered the king. &#8220;You will be able to
+	get this princess, as you did the guzla and the sword: if not,
+	I will have you killed.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek bowed and went out. He entered the stable
+	where stood his horse looking very weak and sad, with his
+	head bent down.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What is the matter, dear horse? Are you in want of
+	anything?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am sorrowful,&#8221; answered the horse, &#8220;because I foresee
+	a long and difficult journey.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You are right, for we have to go beyond the nine
+	kingdoms, and far beyond the ocean, to find Princess Sudolisu.
+	Can you tell me what to do?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I will do my best, and if it is God&#8217;s will we shall
+	succeed. Bring your club of four hundred and eighty
+	pounds weight, and let us be off.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek saddled his horse, took his club, and mounting
+	said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Horse of my heart, do not lag on the road;</p>
+		<p>Rise in the air, through the clouds take thy flight,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Haste to Princess Sudolisu&#8217;s abode.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Then the horse looked up as if there were something
+	he wanted in the clouds, and with a spring flew through
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page257" title="257">&nbsp;</a>the air, swift as an arrow; and so by the second day they
+	had passed over ten kingdoms, and finding themselves
+	beyond the ocean, halted on the shore. Here the horse
+	said to Niezguinek, &#8220;Do you see that silver ship with golden
+	masts that rides on the waves yonder? That beautiful
+	vessel is the home of Princess Sudolisu, youngest daughter
+	of old Yaga. For after the witch had lost the guzla and
+	magic sword she feared to lose her daughter too: so she
+	shut her up in that vessel, and having thrown the key
+	thereof into the ocean, sat herself in her oaken trough, where
+	with the help of the iron crutches she rows round and
+	round the silver ship, warding off tempests, and keeping at
+	a distance all other ships that would approach it.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;The first thing to be done is to get the diamond key
+	that opens the ship. In order to procure this you must kill
+	me, and then throw into the water one end of my entrails,
+	by which bait you will trap the King of the Lobsters. Do
+	not set him free until he has promised to get you the key,
+	for it is this key that draws the vessel to you of its own
+	accord.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah, my beloved steed,&#8221; cried Niezguinek, &#8220;how can
+	I kill you when I love you as my own brother, and when
+	my fate depends upon you entirely?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Do as I tell you; you can bring me to life again, as
+	you did before.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek caressed his horse, kissed him and wept over
+	him; then, raising his mighty club, struck him full on the
+	forehead. The poor creature staggered and fell down
+	dead. Niezguinek cut him open, and putting an end of
+	his entrails in the water, he kept hold of it and hid
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page258" title="258">&nbsp;</a>himself in the water-rushes. Soon there came a crowd of
+	crawfish, and amongst them a gigantic lobster as large as
+	a year-old calf. Niezguinek seized him and threw him on
+	the beach. The lobster said, &#8220;I am king of all the crawfish
+	tribe. Let me go, and I will give you great riches for
+	my ransom.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I do not want your riches,&#8221; answered Niezguinek,
+	&#8220;but in exchange for your freedom give me the diamond
+	key which belongs to the silver ship with the golden masts,
+	for in that vessel dwells Princess Sudolisu.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The King of the Crawfish whistled, upon which myriads of
+	his subjects appeared. He spoke to them in their own language,
+	and dismissed one, who soon returned with the magic
+	diamond key in his claws.</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek loosed the King of the Crawfish; and hiding
+	himself inside his horse&#8217;s body as he had been instructed, lay
+	in wait. At that moment an old raven, followed by all his
+	nestlings, happened to pass, and attracted by the horse&#8217;s
+	carcase, he called to his young ones to come and feast with
+	him. Niezguinek seized the smallest of the birds and held it
+	firmly.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Let my birdling go,&#8221; said the old raven, &#8220;I will give you
+	in return anything you like to ask.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Fetch me then three kinds of water, the Life-giving, the
+	Curing, and the Strengthening.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The old raven started off, and while awaiting his return
+	Niezguinek, who still held the ravenling, questioned him as
+	to where he had come from and what he had seen on his
+	travels, and in this way heard news of his brothers.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page259" title="259">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-42.png"><img src="images/illo-42-th.png" width="310" height="487" alt="A man talks to a giant crustacean." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page260" title="260">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>When the father bird returned, carrying with him the  <!-- Original location of pages 259 & 260 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page261" title="261">&nbsp;</a>bottles filled with the marvellous waters, he wanted to have
+	his nestling back.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;One moment more,&#8221; said Niezguinek, &#8220;I want to be
+	sure that they are of the right sort.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then he replaced the entrails in the body of his horse and
+	sprinkled him first with the Life-giving, then with the Curing,
+	and finally with the Strengthening Water; after which his
+	beloved steed leapt to his feet full of strength and cried,
+	&#8220;Ah! how very soundly I have slept.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek released the young raven and said to his horse,
+	&#8220;For sure, you would have slept to all eternity, and have
+	never seen the sun again, if I had not revived you as you
+	taught me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>While speaking he saw the marvellous ship sparkling white
+	in the sun. She was made entirely of pure silver, with golden
+	masts. The rigging was of silk, the sails of velvet, and the
+	whole was enclosed in a casing of inpenetrable steel network.
+	Niezguinek sprang down to the water&#8217;s edge armed
+	with his club, and rubbing his forehead with the diamond
+	key, said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Riding on the ocean waves a magic ship I see;</p>
+		<p>Stop and change thy course, O ship, here I hold the key.</p>
+		<p>Obey the signal known to thee,</p>
+		<p>And come at once direct to me.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The vessel turned right round and came at full speed
+	towards land, and right on to the bank, where it remained
+	motionless.</p>
+
+	<p>Niezguinek smashed in the steel network with his club;
+	and opening the doors with the diamond key, there found
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page262" title="262">&nbsp;</a>Princess Sudolisu. He made her unconscious with the herb
+	Sleep, and lifting her before him on his horse, said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Horse of my heart, while I sing,</p>
+		<p>Swift as an arrow through space take thy flight</p>
+		<p class="i2">Straight to the court of my king.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Then the horse, as if he saw some strange thing in the
+	clouds, lifted himself in the air and began to fly through
+	space so rapidly that in about two hours he had crossed
+	rivers, mountains, and forests, and had reached his journey&#8217;s
+	end.</p>
+
+	<p>Although Niezguinek had fallen violently in love with the
+	princess himself, he took her straight to the royal palace and
+	introduced her to the king.</p>
+
+	<p>Now she was so exquisitely beautiful that the monarch
+	was quite dazzled by looking at her, and being thus carried
+	away by his admiration, he put his arm round her as if to
+	caress her: but she rebuked him severely.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What have I done to offend you, princess? Why do
+	you treat me so harshly?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Because in spite of your rank you are ill-bred. You
+	neither ask my name nor that of my parents, and you
+	think to take possession of me as if I were but a dog or a
+	falcon. You must understand that he who would be my
+	husband must have triple youth, that of heart, soul, and
+	body.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Charming princess, if I could become young again we
+	would be married directly.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>She replied, &#8220;But I have the means of making you so,
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page263" title="263">&nbsp;</a>and by help of this sword in my hand. For with it I will
+	pierce you to the heart, then cut up your body into small
+	pieces, wash them carefully, and join them together again.
+	And if I breathe upon them you will return to life young
+	and handsome, just as if you were only twenty years
+	of age.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Oh indeed! I should like to know who would submit to
+	that; first make trial of Sir Niezguinek here.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The princess looked at him, whereupon he bowed and
+	said, &#8220;Lovely princess, I willingly submit, although I am
+	young enough without it. In any case life without you
+	would be valueless.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then the princess took a step towards him and killed him
+	with her sword. She cut him up in pieces and washed these
+	in pure water, after which she joined them together again
+	and breathed upon them. Instantly Niezguinek sprang up
+	full of life and health, and looked so handsome and bright
+	that the old king, who was dreadfully jealous, exclaimed,
+	&#8220;Make me, too, young again, princess; do not lose a
+	moment.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The princess pierced him to the heart with her sword,
+	cut him up into little pieces, and, opening the window,
+	threw them out, at the same time calling the king&#8217;s dogs,
+	who quickly ate them up. Then she turned to Niezguinek
+	and said, &#8220;Proclaim yourself king, and I will be your
+	queen.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He followed her advice, and within a short time they
+	were married; his brothers, whom he had pardoned, and his
+	parents having been invited to the wedding. On their way
+	back from the church the magic sword suddenly clinked, and,
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page264" title="264">&nbsp;</a>flashing in the air, divided itself into a thousand swords that
+	placed themselves on guard as sentinels all round the palace.
+	The guzla, too, began to play so sweetly and gaily that every
+	living thing began to dance for joy.</p>
+
+	<p>The festival was magnificent. I myself was there, and
+	drank freely of wine and mead; and although not a drop went
+	into my mouth, my chin was quite wet.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_16" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page265" title="265">&nbsp;</a>
+
+	<h2 class="story_title">OHNIVAK</h2>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page266" title="266">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page267" title="267">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-43.png"><img src="images/illo-43-th.png" width="311" height="321" title="Ohnivak" alt="A large bird flies in the moonlight." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">OHNIVAK</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">A certain</span> king had a beautiful garden which contained
+	a number of very rare trees, but the most rare
+	of all was an apple tree. It stood in the middle of the
+	garden, and produced one golden apple every day. In the
+	morning the blossom unfolded, during the day you might
+	watch the fruit grow, and before nightfall the apple was fully
+	ripe. The next day the same thing occurred&#8212;indeed, it
+	happened regularly every twenty-four hours. Nevertheless,
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page268" title="268">&nbsp;</a>no ripe fruit ever remained on the tree on the following day;
+	the apple disappeared, no one knew how or when, and this
+	deeply grieved the king.</p>
+
+	<p>At last he could bear it no longer, and calling his eldest
+	son to him, said: &#8220;My child, I wish you to keep watch in
+	the garden to-night, and see if you can find out what becomes
+	of my golden apples. I will reward you with the choice of
+	all my treasures; if you should be lucky enough to get hold
+	of the thief, and bring him to me, I would gladly give you
+	half my kingdom.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The young prince girded his trusty sword to his side, and
+	with his crossbow on his shoulder and a good stock of well-tempered
+	arrows, went into the garden to mount guard. And
+	as he sat under the apple tree a great drowsiness came over
+	him which he could not resist; his arms dropped, his eyes
+	closed, and stretching himself on the grass he slept as soundly
+	as if he had been in his own bed at home, nor did he awake
+	until day dawn, and then he saw that the apple had disappeared.</p>
+
+	<p>When questioned by his father, he said that no thieves
+	had come, but that the apple had vanished all the same. The
+	king shook his head, for he did not believe a word of it.
+	Then, turning to his second son, he bade him keep watch, and
+	promised him a handsome reward if he should catch the thief.</p>
+
+	<p>So the second son armed himself with everything necessary
+	and went into the garden. But he succeeded no better than
+	his brother, for he could not resist the desire to sleep, and
+	when he awoke the apple was no longer there.</p>
+
+	<p>When his father asked him how it disappeared, he replied,
+	&#8220;No one took it, it vanished of itself.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page269" title="269">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Now, my dearest one, take your turn,&#8221; said the king to
+	his youngest son; &#8220;although you are young, and have less
+	experience than your brothers, let us see if you cannot succeed
+	where they have failed. If you are willing, go, and may God
+	help you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Towards evening, when it began to be dusk, the youngest
+	son went into the garden to keep watch. He took with him
+	a sword and crossbow, a few well-tempered arrows, and a
+	hedgehog&#8217;s skin as a sort of apron, for he thought that while
+	sitting under the tree, if he spread the skin over his knees, the
+	pricking of the bristles on his hands might keep him awake.
+	And so it did, for by this means he was able to resist the
+	drowsiness that came over him.</p>
+
+	<p>At midnight Ohnivak, the bird of fire, flew down and
+	alighted upon the tree, and was just going off with the apple
+	when the prince fixed an arrow to his bow, and letting it fly,
+	struck the bird under the wing. Although wounded, it flew
+	away, dropping one of its feathers upon the ground. That
+	night for the first time the apple remained untouched upon
+	the tree.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Have you caught the thief?&#8221; asked the king next day.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Not altogether, but no doubt we shall have him in time.
+	I have a bit of his trappings.&#8221; And he gave the king the
+	feather, and told him all that had taken place.</p>
+
+	<p>The king was charmed with the feather; so lovely and
+	bright was it that it illumined all the galleries of the palace,
+	and they needed no other light.</p>
+
+	<p>The courtiers told the king that the feather could only
+	belong to Ohnivak, the bird of fire, and that it was worth
+	all the rest of the royal treasures put together.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page270" title="270">&nbsp;</a>From that time Ohnivak came no more to the garden,
+	and the apples remained untouched. Yet the king could
+	think of nothing else but how to possess this marvellous bird.
+	At last, beginning to despair of ever seeing it, he was filled
+	with melancholy, and would remain for hours in deep thought;
+	thus he became really ill, and every day continued to grow
+	worse.</p>
+
+	<p>One day he summoned his three sons before him and
+	said, &#8220;My dear children, you see the sad state I am in. If
+	I could but hear the bird Ohnivak sing just once I should
+	be cured of this disease of the heart; otherwise it will be
+	my death. Whichever of you shall succeed in catching
+	Ohnivak alive and inducing him to sing to me, to him I will
+	give half of my kingdom and the heirship to the throne.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Having taken leave of their father the brothers set off.
+	They travelled together until they came to a part of the forest
+	where the road branched off in three directions.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Which turning shall we take?&#8221; asked the eldest.</p>
+
+	<p>The second brother answered, &#8220;We are three, and three
+	roads lie before us; let us each choose one, thus we shall
+	treble our chances of finding the bird, for we shall seek it
+	in three different countries.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;That is a good idea, but how shall each one decide
+	which way to choose?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The youngest brother said, &#8220;I will leave the choice to
+	you two, and will take whichever road you leave me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page271" title="271">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-44.png"><img src="images/illo-44-th.png" width="320" height="477" alt="Three young men surround an old man reclining on a divan." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page272" title="272">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>So each took the road that chance decided for him,
+	agreeing that when their mission was over they would return
+	to the point of departure. In order to recognise the place
+	again each one planted the branch of a tree at the cross  <!-- Original location of pages 271 & 272 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page273" title="273">&nbsp;</a>roads, and they believed that he whose branch should take root
+	and grow into a big tree would be successful in the quest.</p>
+
+	<p>When each one had planted his branch at the chosen
+	road they started off. The eldest rode on, and never stopped
+	until he reached the top of a high mountain; there he dismounted,
+	and let his horse graze while he ate his breakfast.
+	Suddenly a red fox came up, and speaking in the language
+	of men, said: &#8220;Pray, my handsome prince, give me a little
+	of what you are eating; I am very hungry.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>For answer the prince let fly an arrow from his crossbow,
+	but it is impossible to say whether he hit the fox for it vanished
+	and did not appear again.</p>
+
+	<p>The second brother, without meeting with any adventure,
+	reached a wide-stretching moor, where he stopped for his
+	meal. The red fox appeared to him and begged for food;
+	but he also refused food to the famished fox, and shot at him.
+	The creature disappeared as before.</p>
+
+	<p>The youngest travelled on till he came to the banks of
+	a river. Feeling tired and hungry, he got down from his horse
+	and began his breakfast; while he was eating, up came the
+	red fox.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Please, young sir,&#8221; said the fox, &#8220;give me a morsel to
+	satisfy my hunger.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince threw him a piece of meat, and spoke kindly
+	to him.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Come near, do not be afraid, my red fox; I see you are
+	more hungry than I, but there is enough for us both.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And he divided all his provisions into two equal parts,
+	one for himself, and one for the poor red fox.</p>
+
+	<p>When the latter had eaten to his heart&#8217;s content, he said:
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page274" title="274">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;You have fed me well, in return I will serve you well;
+	mount your horse and follow me. If you do everything I tell
+	you, the Bird of Fire shall be yours.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then he set off at a run before the horseman, clearing the
+	road for him with his bushy tail. By means of this marvellous
+	broom, mountains were cut down, ravines filled up, and rivers
+	bridged over.</p>
+
+	<p>The young prince followed at a gallop, without the slightest
+	wish to stop, until they came to a castle built of copper.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;The Bird of Fire is in this castle,&#8221; said the fox; &#8220;you
+	must enter exactly at midday, for then the guards will be asleep,
+	and you will pass unnoticed. Above all, beware of stopping
+	anywhere. In the first apartment you will find twelve birds
+	black as night, in golden cages; in the second, twelve golden
+	birds in wooden cages; in the third, Ohnivak, the bird of fire,
+	roosting on his perch. Near him are two cages, one of
+	wood and the other of gold; be sure you put him in the
+	wooden cage&#8212;you would be sorry for it if he were put into
+	the golden one.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince entered the castle, and found everything just
+	as the fox had told him. Having passed through the two
+	rooms he came to the third, and there saw the fire-bird on
+	his perch, apparently asleep. It was indeed a beautiful
+	creature, so beautiful that the prince&#8217;s heart beat high with
+	joy. He handled him without difficulty, and put him into
+	the wooden cage, thinking at the same time to himself that
+	it could hardly be right for so lovely a bird to be in such an
+	ugly cage, a golden cage could be the only right place for him.
+	So he took him out of the wooden cage and placed him in
+	the golden one. Hardly had he shut the door when the bird
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page275" title="275">&nbsp;</a>opened his eyes and gave a piercing scream; so shrill was it
+	that it awoke the other birds, who began to sing as loud as
+	they could, and gave the alarm to the guards at the palace
+	door. These rushed in, seized the prince, and dragged him
+	before the king. The latter was very angry, and said:
+	&#8220;Infamous thief, who are you to have dared to force an
+	entrance, and pass through my sentinels, to steal my bird
+	Ohnivak?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am not a thief,&#8221; answered the young prince indignantly,
+	&#8220;I have come to reclaim a thief whom you protect. I am the
+	son of a king, and in my father&#8217;s gardens is an apple tree that
+	bears golden fruit. It blossoms at morning-time, while during
+	the day the flower develops into an apple that grows and
+	ripens after sunset. Now in the night your bird robbed us
+	of our golden apples, and though I watched and wounded
+	him I could not catch him. My father is dying with grief
+	because of this, and the only remedy that can save and restore
+	him to health, is that he may listen to the fire-bird&#8217;s song.
+	This is why I beg your majesty to give him me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You may have him,&#8221; said the king, &#8220;but on one condition,
+	that you bring me Zlato-Nrivak, the horse with the
+	golden mane.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>So the prince had to go away empty-handed.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Why did you not do as I told you? Why must you
+	go and take the golden cage?&#8221; said the fox, in despair at
+	the failure of the expedition.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I admit it was my own fault,&#8221; said the prince, &#8220;but
+	do not punish me by being angry. I want your advice: tell
+	me how I am to get Zlato-Nrivak?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I know how it can be done,&#8221; answered the red fox,
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page276" title="276">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;and I will help you once more. Get on your horse,
+	follow me, and do as I tell you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The fox ran on in front, clearing the road with his bushy
+	tail. The prince followed at a gallop, until they came to a
+	castle built entirely of silver.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;In that castle lives the Horse with the Golden Mane,&#8221;
+	said the fox. &#8220;You will have to go exactly at midday,
+	when the sentinels are asleep; thus you will get past safe
+	and sound. But mind, do not stop anywhere. You must
+	pass through three stables. In the first are twelve black
+	horses with golden bridles; in the second, twelve white
+	horses with black bridles; in the third stands Zlato-Nrivak
+	in front of his manger, while near him are two bridles, one
+	of gold, the other of black leather. Whatever you do, beware
+	of using the first, for you will surely repent it.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince waited until the appointed time and then
+	entered the castle, finding everything exactly as the fox had
+	said. In the third stable stood Zlato-Nrivak, eating fire that
+	flared up out of his silver trough.</p>
+
+	<p>The Horse with the Golden Mane was so beautiful that
+	the prince could not take his eyes off him. Quickly unhooking
+	the black leather bridle, he put it over the horse&#8217;s head.
+	The animal made no resistance, but was gentle and quiet as
+	a lamb. Then the prince looked covetously at the golden
+	bridle sparkling with gems, and said to himself, &#8220;It is a shame
+	that such a splendid creature should be guided by these
+	ugly black reins while there is a bridle here far more suited to
+	him, and that is indeed his by right.&#8221; So, forgetting his
+	late experience and the warnings of the red fox, he tore off
+	the black bridle and put in its place that of gold set with
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page277" title="277">&nbsp;</a>precious stones. No sooner did the horse feel the change
+	than he began to neigh and caper about, while all the other
+	horses answered with a perfect storm of neighings. The
+	sentinels, aroused by the noise, ran in, and seizing the prince,
+	led him before the king.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Insolent thief,&#8221; cried the enraged monarch, &#8220;how is it
+	that you have escaped the vigilance of the guards and have
+	dared to lay hands upon my horse with the golden mane?
+	It is really disgraceful.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;True, I am nothing better,&#8221; replied the prince proudly,
+	&#8220;but I was forced to do it against my will.&#8221; And he related
+	all his misadventures at the copper castle, adding that it
+	was impossible to obtain the fire-bird except in exchange
+	for Zlato-Nrivak, and that he hoped his majesty would make
+	him a present of the horse.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Most willingly,&#8221; answered the king, &#8220;but on one condition,
+	that you bring me the Maiden with the Golden
+	Locks: she lives in the golden castle on the shores of the
+	Black Sea.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The fox was waiting in the forest the prince&#8217;s return, and
+	when he saw him come back without the horse he was very
+	angry indeed.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Did I not warn you,&#8221; said he, &#8220;to be content with the
+	black leather bridle? It is really a loss of time to try and
+	help such an ungrateful fellow, for it seems impossible to
+	make you hear reason.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Don&#8217;t be cross,&#8221; said the prince, &#8220;I confess that I am in
+	fault; I ought to have obeyed your orders. But have a little
+	more patience with me and help me out of this difficulty.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Very well; but this will certainly be the last time. If
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page278" title="278">&nbsp;</a>you do just as you are told we may yet repair all that has
+	been spoilt by your imprudence. Mount your horse and
+	follow&#8212;off!&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The fox ran on in front, clearing the road with his bushy
+	tail, until they reached the shores of the Black Sea.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;That palace yonder,&#8221; said the fox, &#8220;is the residence of
+	the Queen of the Ocean Kingdom. She has three daughters;
+	it is the youngest who has the golden hair, and is called Zlato-Vlaska.
+	Now you must first go to the queen and ask her to
+	give you one of her daughters in marriage. If she takes kindly
+	to your proposal she will bid you choose, and mind you take
+	that princess who is the most plainly dressed.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The queen received him most graciously, and when he
+	explained the object of his visit she led him into a room
+	where the three daughters were spinning.</p>
+
+	<p>They were so much alike that no one could possibly
+	distinguish one from the other, and they were all so marvellously
+	lovely that when the young prince looked upon
+	them he dared hardly breathe. Their hair was carefully
+	covered by a veil through which one could not distinguish
+	the colour of it, but their dresses were different. The first
+	wore a gown and veil embroidered with gold, and used a
+	golden distaff; the second had on a gown embroidered with
+	silver and held a distaff of the same metal; the third wore a
+	gown and veil of dazzling whiteness, and her distaff was made
+	of wood.</p>
+
+	<p>The mother bade the prince choose, whereupon he pointed
+	to the maiden clothed in white, saying, &#8220;Give me this one
+	to wife.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Ah,&#8221; said the queen, &#8220;some one has been letting you
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page279" title="279">&nbsp;</a>into the secret: but wait a little, we shall meet again to-morrow.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>All that night the prince lay awake, wondering how he
+	should manage not to make a mistake on the morrow. At
+	dawn he was already at the palace gates, which he had
+	hardly entered when the princess clothed in white chanced
+	to pass: it was Zlato-Vlaska, and she had come to meet him.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;If it is your wish to choose me again to-day,&#8221; she said,
+	&#8220;observe carefully, and take the maiden around whose head
+	buzzes a small fly.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>In the afternoon the queen took the prince into a room
+	where her three daughters sat, and said: &#8220;If among these
+	princesses you recognise the one you chose yesterday she
+	shall be yours; if not, you must die.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The young girls stood side by side, dressed alike in costly
+	robes, and all had golden hair. The prince was puzzled, and
+	their beauty and splendour dazzled him. For some time he
+	could hardly see distinctly; then, all of a sudden, a small fly
+	buzzed over the head of one of the princesses.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;This is the maiden who belongs to me,&#8221; cried he, &#8220;and
+	whom I chose yesterday.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The queen, astonished that he should have guessed correctly,
+	said, &#8220;Quite right, but I cannot let you have her until
+	you have submitted to another trial, which shall be explained
+	to you to-morrow.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>On the morrow she pointed out to him a large fish-pond
+	which lay in the forest, and giving him a small golden sieve,
+	said: &#8220;If with this sieve you can, before sunset, empty that
+	fish-pond yonder, I will give you my daughter with the golden
+	hair, but if you fail you will lose your life.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page280" title="280">&nbsp;</a>The prince took the sieve, and, going down to the pond,
+	plunged it in to try his luck; but no sooner had he lifted it
+	up than all the water ran out through the holes&#8212;not a drop
+	was left behind. Not knowing what to do, he sat down on
+	the bank with the sieve in his hand, wondering in what
+	possible way the difficulty might be overcome.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Why are you so sad?&#8221; asked the maiden in white, as
+	she came towards him.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Because I fear you will never be mine,&#8221; sighed he;
+	&#8220;your mother has given me an impossible task.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Come, cheer up, away with fear; it will all be right in
+	the end.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Thereupon she took the sieve and threw it into the fishpond.
+	Instantly the water turned to foam on the surface,
+	and a thick vapour rose up, which fell in a fog so dense that
+	nothing could be seen through it. Then the prince heard
+	footsteps, and turning round saw his horse coming towards
+	him, with his bridle down and the red fox at his side.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Mount quickly,&#8221; said the horse, &#8220;there is not a moment
+	to lose; lift the maiden in front of you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The faithful steed flew like an arrow, and sped rapidly
+	along over the road that had been recently cleared by the
+	bushy tail of the red fox. But this time, instead of leading,
+	the red fox followed, his tail working marvels as he went: it
+	destroyed the bridges, reopened the ravines, raised high mountains,
+	and in fact put back everything as it used to be.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page281" title="281">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-45.png"><img src="images/illo-45-th.png" width="317" height="495" alt="A young man speaks to a young woman." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page282" title="282">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The prince felt very happy as he rode along, holding the
+	Princess with the Golden Hair, but it saddened him much to
+	think he would have to give up all thought of marrying her
+	himself, and that within a few short hours he must leave her  <!-- Original location of pages 281 & 282 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page283" title="283">&nbsp;</a>with the king of the silver palace: the nearer he came to it,
+	the more wretched he grew. The red fox, who noticed this,
+	said: &#8220;It appears to me that you do not want to exchange
+	the lovely Zlato-Vlaska for the Horse with the Golden Mane:
+	is it not so? Well, I have helped you so far, I will see what
+	I can do for you now.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And having thus spoken he turned a somersault over the
+	stump of a fallen tree which lay in the forest: while, to the
+	prince&#8217;s amazement, he was immediately transformed into a
+	young girl exactly resembling the Princess with the Golden
+	Hair.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Now, leave your real bride in the forest,&#8221; said the
+	transformed fox, &#8220;and take me with you to offer to the
+	king of the silver palace in exchange for his horse Zlato-Nrivak.
+	Mount the horse, return here, and escape with the
+	maid you love; I will manage the rest.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king of the silver castle received the maiden without
+	the least suspicion, and handed over in exchange the Horse
+	with the Golden Mane, over whose back lay the bejewelled
+	bridle. The prince left at once.</p>
+
+	<p>At the palace all were busy preparing the wedding feast,
+	for the marriage was to take place immediately, and everything
+	was to be of the most costly description. Invitations
+	had been out to all the grandees of the land.</p>
+
+	<p>Towards the end of the feast, when every one had drunk
+	his fill of wine and pleasure, the king asked his guests their
+	opinions on the charms of his bride.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;She is most beautiful,&#8221; said one, &#8220;in fact, it would be
+	impossible for her to be more lovely; only, it seems to me
+	that her eyes are somewhat like those of a fox.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page284" title="284">&nbsp;</a>The words were hardly out of his mouth when the royal
+	bride vanished, while in her place sat a red fox, who with
+	one vigorous bound sprang through the door and disappeared
+	to rejoin the prince, who had hastened on in front. With
+	sweeping strokes of his bushy tail he overthrew bridges,
+	reopened precipices, and heaped up mountains; but it was
+	very hard work for the poor thing, and he did not come up
+	with the runaways until they had almost reached the copper
+	castle. Here they all had a rest, while the red fox turned
+	a somersault and transformed himself into a horse resembling
+	the one with the golden mane. Then the prince entered the
+	copper castle and exchanged the transformed fox for the fire-bird
+	Ohnivak, the king having no suspicions whatever. The
+	red fox, having thus deceived the monarch, reassumed his
+	own shape and hurried after the departing prince, whom he
+	did not overtake until they had reached the banks of the
+	river where they had first become acquainted.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Now here you are, prince,&#8221; said the red fox, &#8220;in
+	possession of Ohnivak, of the lovely Zlato-Vlaska, and of
+	the Horse with the Golden Mane. Henceforth you can
+	manage without my help, so return to your father&#8217;s house
+	in peace and joy; but, take warning, do not stop anywhere
+	on the way, for if you do some misfortune will overtake you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>With these words the red fox vanished, while the prince
+	continued his journey unhindered. In his hand he held the
+	golden cage that contained the fire-bird, and at his side the
+	lovely Zlato-Vlaska rode the Horse with the Golden Mane;
+	truly, he was the happiest of men.</p>
+
+	<p>When he reached the cross roads where he had parted
+	from his brothers, he hastened to look for the branches they
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page285" title="285">&nbsp;</a>had planted. His alone had become a spreading tree, theirs
+	were both withered. Delighted with this proof of divine
+	favour, he felt a strong desire to rest for a while under the
+	shadow of his own tree; he therefore dismounted, and assisting
+	the princess to do the same, fastened their horses to
+	one of the branches and hung up the cage containing
+	Ohnivak on another: within a few moments they were all
+	sound asleep.</p>
+
+	<p>Meanwhile the two elder brothers arrived at the same
+	place by different roads, and both with empty hands. There
+	they found their two branches withered, that of their brother
+	having grown into a splendid tree. Under the shade of the
+	latter he lay sleeping; by his side was the Maid with the
+	Golden Locks; the horse, Zlato-Nrivak, was fastened to a tree,
+	and the fire-bird roosted in his golden cage.</p>
+
+	<p>The hearts of the two brothers were filled with envious
+	and wicked thoughts, and they whispered thus to one another,
+	&#8220;Just think what will become of us&#8212;the youngest will receive
+	half of the kingdom during our father&#8217;s life and succeed to the
+	throne at his death; why not cut his throat at once? One of
+	us will take the Maid with the Golden Locks, the other can
+	carry the bird to our father and keep the Horse with the Golden
+	Mane; as for the kingdom, we will divide it between us.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>After this debate they killed their youngest brother and
+	cut up his body into small pieces, while they threatened to
+	treat Zlato-Vlaska in the same way if she attempted to disobey
+	them.</p>
+
+	<p>On reaching home they sent the Horse with the Golden
+	Mane to the marble stables, the cage containing Ohnivak was
+	placed in the room where their father lay sick, and the princess
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page286" title="286">&nbsp;</a>was allowed a beautiful suite of apartments and maids of
+	honour to attend her.</p>
+
+	<p>When the king, who was much weakened by suffering, had
+	looked at the bird, he asked after his youngest son. To which
+	the brothers replied: &#8220;We have not seen or heard anything
+	of him, it is very likely that he has been killed.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The poor old man was much affected&#8212;it seemed, indeed,
+	as if his last hour had come. The fire-bird moped and refused
+	to sing; the Horse with the Golden Mane stood with his
+	head bent down before his manger, and would eat no food;
+	while Princess Zlato-Vlaska remained as silent as if she had
+	been born dumb, her beautiful hair was neglected and uncombed,
+	and she wept&#8212;her tears fell fast.</p>
+
+	<p>Now as the red fox chanced to pass through the forest
+	he came upon the mangled body of the youngest brother, and
+	he at once set to work to put the scattered pieces together,
+	but was unable to restore them to life. At that moment a
+	raven, accompanied by two young ones, came hovering overhead.
+	The fox crouched behind a bramble bush; and when
+	one of the young birds alighted upon the body to feed, he
+	seized it and made a pretence of strangling it. Upon which
+	the parent bird, full of anxious love and fear, perched upon a
+	branch close by and croaked as if to say, &#8220;Let my poor little
+	nestling go. I have done you no harm, neither have I worried
+	you; let him free, and I will take the first opportunity of
+	returning your kindness.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Just so,&#8221; replied the red fox, &#8220;for I am greatly in need
+	of some kindness. Now if you will fetch me some of the
+	Water of Death, and some of the Water of Life, from the
+	Red Sea, I will let your nestling go safe and sound.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page287" title="287">&nbsp;</a>The old raven promised to fetch the water, and went off
+	at once.</p>
+
+	<p>Within three days he returned, carrying in his beak two
+	small bottles, one full of the Water of Death, the other of
+	the Water of Life. When the red fox received them he
+	wished first to try their effect upon some living creature, so
+	he cut the small raven up, and joining the pieces together,
+	watered them with the Water of Death. Instantly they
+	became a living bird, without mark or join anywhere. This
+	he sprinkled with the Water of Life, upon which the young
+	raven spread its wings and flew off to its family.</p>
+
+	<p>The red fox then performed the same operation on the
+	body of the young prince, and with the same happy result,
+	for he rose again perfect in form, and having about him no
+	wound scars. On coming to life again, all he said was, &#8220;Dear
+	me! What a pleasant sleep I have had.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I believe you,&#8221; replied the red fox, &#8220;you would have
+	gone on sleeping for ever if I had not awakened you. And
+	what a foolish young man you are: did I not particularly
+	order you not to stop anywhere, but to go straight back to
+	your father&#8217;s house?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He then related all that his brothers had done, and having
+	obtained a peasant&#8217;s dress for him, led him to the outskirts of
+	the forest, close to the royal palace, where he left him.</p>
+
+	<p>The young prince then entered the palace grounds, unrecognised
+	by the servants, and on representing that he was
+	in need of employment, was appointed stable-boy to the
+	royal stables. Some little time after he heard the grooms
+	lamenting that the Horse with the Golden Mane would
+	eat no food.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page288" title="288">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;What a pity it is,&#8221; said they, &#8220;that this splendid steed
+	should starve to death; he droops his head and will take
+	nothing.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Give him,&#8221; said the disguised prince, &#8220;some pea-straw;
+	I bet you anything he will eat that.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;But do you really think so? Why, our rough draught
+	horses would refuse such coarse food.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince&#8217;s only answer was to fetch a bundle of pea-straw,
+	which he put into Zlato-Nrivak&#8217;s marble trough: then,
+	passing his hand gently over his neck and mane, he said to
+	him, &#8220;Grieve no more, my horse with the golden mane.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The beautiful creature recognised his master&#8217;s voice, and
+	neighing with joy, greedily devoured the pea-straw.</p>
+
+	<p>The news was noised about from one end of the palace
+	to the other, and the sick king summoned the boy to his
+	presence.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I hear you have made Zlato-Nrivak eat,&#8221; said his
+	majesty; &#8220;do you think you could make my fire-bird sing?
+	Go and examine him closely: he is very sad, he droops his
+	wings, and will neither eat nor drink. Ah me! if he dies
+	I shall certainly die too.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Your majesty may rest assured, the bird will not die.
+	Let him have some husks of barley to eat, then he will soon
+	be all right and begin to sing.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king ordered them to be brought, and the disguised
+	prince put a handful into Ohnivak&#8217;s cage, saying, &#8220;Cheer
+	up, my fire-bird.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page289" title="289">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-46.png"><img src="images/illo-46-th.png" width="328" height="499" alt="A king leads a young man into a room where a woman lies on the bed looking depressed." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page290" title="290">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>As soon as Ohnivak heard his master&#8217;s voice he shook
+	himself, and made his feathers shine with more than their
+	usual brightness. Then he began to dance about his cage,  <!-- Original location of pages 289 & 290 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page291" title="291">&nbsp;</a>and pecking up the husks, sang so exquisitely that the
+	king immediately felt better, and it was as if a great weight
+	had been lifted off his heart. The fire-bird again burst into
+	song, and this so affected the king that he sat up quite well,
+	and embraced the disguised prince out of very gratitude.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Now,&#8221; said he, &#8220;teach me how to restore to health
+	this beautiful maiden with the golden hair whom my sons
+	brought back with them; for she will not speak a word, her
+	beautiful hair remains uncared for, and her tears fall night
+	and day.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;If your majesty will allow me to speak a few words
+	to her, it may be the means of making her bright and
+	happy.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The king himself led the way to her apartments, and
+	the disguised prince, taking her hand, said: &#8220;Look up a
+	moment, sweetheart; why these tears? And why grieve
+	thus, dear bride?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The maiden knew him at once, and with a cry of joy
+	threw herself into his arms. This astonished the king
+	mightily, and he could not for the life of him think how
+	a stable-boy dare address such a princess as his &#8220;dear
+	bride.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The prince then addressed the king thus: &#8220;And are
+	you indeed the only one who does not know me? How
+	is it, my father and sovereign, that you have not recognised
+	your youngest son? I alone have succeeded in obtaining
+	the Fire-Bird, the Horse with the Golden Mane, and the
+	Maid with the Golden Hair.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Thereupon he related all his adventures, and Zlato-Vlaska
+	in her turn told how the wicked brothers had threatened
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page292" title="292">&nbsp;</a>to kill her if she betrayed them. As for these bad men,
+	they shook from head to foot, and trembled like leaves
+	in the wind. The indignant king ordered them to be
+	executed then and there.</p>
+
+	<p>Not very long after these events the youngest prince
+	married the beautiful Zlato-Vlaska, and the king gave him
+	half of his kingdom as a wedding present. When the old
+	king died he reigned in his stead, and lived happily with
+	the princess ever after.</p>
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_17" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page293" title="293">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">TEARS OF PEARLS</h2>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page294" title="294">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page295" title="295">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-47.png"><img src="images/illo-47-th.png" width="314" height="257" alt="An old man blesses a young person." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">TEARS OF PEARLS</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">Once</span> upon a time there lived a very rich widow, with
+	whom lived three children&#8212;a handsome stepson; his
+	sister, who was marvellously beautiful; and her own daughter,
+	passably good-looking.</p>
+
+	<p>All three children lived under the same roof, but, as is
+	often the case where there are step-parents, they were treated
+	very differently. The lady&#8217;s own daughter was bad-tempered,
+	disobedient, vain, and of a tell-tale disposition: yet she was
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page296" title="296">&nbsp;</a>made much of, praised, and caressed. The step-children
+	were treated very harshly: the boy, kind-hearted and obliging,
+	was made to do all sorts of hard unpleasant work, was constantly
+	scolded, and looked upon as a good-for-nothing. The
+	step-daughter, who was not only exceedingly pretty but was
+	as sweet as an angel, was found fault with on all occasions,
+	and her life made utterly miserable.</p>
+
+	<p>It is, after all, but natural to love one&#8217;s own children
+	better than those of others, but the feeling of love should be
+	governed by the laws of fairness. Now this wicked woman
+	was blind to the faults of the child she loved, and to the good
+	qualities of her husband&#8217;s children, whom she hated.</p>
+
+	<p>When in a bad temper she was fond of boasting of the
+	handsome fortune she intended securing for her own daughter,
+	even though the step-children should be unprovided for. But,
+	as the old proverb says, &#8220;Man proposes, but God disposes.&#8221;
+	We shall therefore see how things turned out.</p>
+
+	<p>One Sunday morning, before going to church, the step-daughter
+	went into the garden to pick some flowers for
+	decorating the altar. She had only gathered a few roses when,
+	looking up, she saw quite close to her three young men
+	robed in dazzling white garments. They sat on a bench
+	shaded by shrubs, while near them was an old man who
+	asked her for alms.</p>
+
+	<p>She felt rather nervous before the strangers, but when she
+	saw the old man she took her last penny from her purse and
+	gave it him. He thanked her, and raising his hand over
+	the girl&#8217;s head, said to the men: &#8220;This orphan girl is pious,
+	patient under misfortune, and kind to the poor, with whom
+	she shares the little she has. Tell me what you wish for her.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page297" title="297">&nbsp;</a>The first said, &#8220;I wish that when she weeps her tears
+	may be changed into so many pearls.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;And I,&#8221; replied the second, &#8220;that when she smiles sweet
+	roses may fall from her lips.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;My wish,&#8221; said the third, &#8220;is that whenever she dips her
+	hands into water there shall appear in it shining gold-fish.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;All these gifts shall be hers,&#8221; added the old man. And
+	with these words they vanished.</p>
+
+	<p>The maiden was filled with awe, and fell on her knees in
+	prayer. Then her heart was filled with joy and peace, and
+	she went back into the house. She had scarcely crossed the
+	threshold when her stepmother came forward, and looking at
+	her sternly, said, &#8220;Well, where have you been?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The poor child began to cry, when&#8212;marvel of marvels&#8212;instead
+	of tears, pearls fell from her eyes.</p>
+
+	<p>Notwithstanding her rage, the stepmother picked them up
+	as quickly as possible, while the girl smiled as she watched
+	her. And as she smiled roses fell from her lips, and her
+	stepmother was beside herself with delight.</p>
+
+	<p>The girl then went to put the flowers she had gathered in
+	water; and as she dipped her fingers in it while arranging
+	them, pretty little gold-fish appeared in the bowl.</p>
+
+	<p>From that day these marvels were constantly occurring;
+	the tears were changed into pearls, the smiles scattered roses,
+	and the water, even if she dipped but the tips of her fingers
+	in, was filled with gold-fish.</p>
+
+	<p>The stepmother softened and became more gentle, while
+	little by little she managed to draw from her step-child the
+	secret of these gifts.</p>
+
+	<p>So next Sunday morning she sent her own daughter into
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page298" title="298">&nbsp;</a>the garden to gather flowers, under pretence of their being for
+	the altar. When she had picked a few, she raised her eyes
+	and saw the three young men sitting on a low seat, while near
+	them stood the little old man with white hair, begging for
+	alms. She pretended to be shy before the young men, but
+	at the beggar&#8217;s request drew from her pocket a gold piece, and
+	gave it him, evidently much against her will. He put it in
+	his pocket, and turning to his companions, said: &#8220;This girl
+	is the spoilt child of her mother; she is bad-tempered and
+	naughty, while her heart is hardened against the poor. It is
+	easy to understand why, for the first time in her life, she has
+	been so generous to-day. Tell me what gifts you would wish
+	me to bestow upon her.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The first said, &#8220;May her tears be changed into lizards.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;And her smile produce hideous toads,&#8221; added the second.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;And when her hands touch the water may it be filled
+	with serpents,&#8221; said the third.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;So let it be,&#8221; cried the old man. And they all vanished.</p>
+
+	<p>The poor girl was terrified, and went back to tell her
+	mother what had happened. And it was even so; for if she
+	smiled hideous toads fell from her mouth, her tears were
+	changed into lizards, and the water in which she dipped but
+	the tips of her fingers was filled with serpents.</p>
+
+	<p>The stepmother was in despair, but she only loved her
+	child the more, and hated the orphans with a yet more bitter
+	hatred. Indeed, she worried them to such an extent that the
+	boy determined to put up with it no longer, but to seek his
+	fortune elsewhere. So he tied up his belongings in a handkerchief,
+	took a loving farewell of his sister, commending her
+	to God&#8217;s care, and left his home. The great world lay before
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page299" title="299">&nbsp;</a>him, but which path to take he knew not. Turning to the
+	cemetery where his parents lay side by side, he wept and
+	prayed, kissed the earth that covered them three times, and
+	set off on his travels.</p>
+
+	<p>At that moment he felt something hard in the folds of his
+	tunic, and pressing on his heart. Wondering what it could
+	be, he put in his hand and drew thence a charming portrait
+	of his dearly loved sister, surrounded with pearls, roses, and
+	gold-fish. So great was his astonishment he could hardly
+	believe his eyes. But he was very happy, and kissed the
+	picture over and over again; then, with one more look at the
+	cemetery, he made the sign of the cross and departed.</p>
+
+	<p>Now a beautiful story is soon told, but the acts of which
+	it is the sum pass more slowly.</p>
+
+	<p>After many adventures of little importance he reached the
+	capital of a kingdom by the sea, and there obtained the post
+	of under-gardener at the royal palace, with good food and
+	wages.</p>
+
+	<p>In his prosperity he did not forget his unhappy sister, for
+	he felt very uneasy about her. When he had a few moments
+	to himself he would sit down in some retired spot and gaze
+	upon her portrait with a sad heart and eyes filled with tears.
+	For the picture was a faithful likeness of her, and he looked
+	upon it as a gift from his parents.</p>
+
+	<p>Now the king had noticed this habit of his, and one day
+	while he sat by a stream looking at the picture he came quietly
+	behind him, and glanced over his shoulder to see what he was
+	so attentively regarding.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Give me that portrait,&#8221; said the monarch.</p>
+
+	<p>The boy handed it him. The king examined it closely,
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page300" title="300">&nbsp;</a>and admiring it greatly, said: &#8220;I have never seen such a beautiful
+	face in all my life, never even dreamed of such loveliness.
+	Come, tell me, is the original of the picture living?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The lad burst into tears, and told him it was the living
+	image of his sister, who a short time since had received as
+	a special mark of favour from God, that her tears should be
+	changed into pearls, her smiles into roses, and the touch of
+	her hands in water should produce beautiful gold-fish.</p>
+
+	<p>The king commanded him to write to his stepmother at
+	once and bid her send her lovely step-daughter to the chapel
+	of the palace, where the king would be waiting to marry her.
+	The letter also contained promises of special royal favours.</p>
+
+	<p>The lad wrote the letter, which the king sent by a special
+	messenger.</p>
+
+	<p>Now a good story is soon told, but the deeds of which it
+	is the sum are not performed so quickly.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page301" title="301">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-48.png"><img src="images/illo-48-th.png" width="307" height="486" alt="An older man looks at a young man looking at a miniature portrait." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page302" title="302">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>When the stepmother received the letter she determined
+	to say nothing about it to her step-child, but she showed it
+	to her own daughter, and talked the matter over with her.
+	Then she went to learn the art of sorcery from a witch, and
+	having found out all it was necessary to know, set off with
+	both of the girls. On approaching the capital, the wicked
+	woman pushed her step-child out of the carriage and repeated
+	some magic words over her. After this she became very
+	small and covered with feathers, then in a moment she was
+	changed into a wild-duck. She began to quack, and made
+	for the water, as ducks do, and swam to a far distance. The
+	stepmother bade her farewell in the following words: &#8220;By
+	the strength of my hate may my will be fulfilled. Swim
+	about the banks in the form of a duck, and rejoice in thy  <!-- Original location of pages 301 & 302 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page303" title="303">&nbsp;</a>liberty. During that time my daughter shall take thy form,
+	shall marry the king, and shall enjoy the good fortune fate
+	destined for thee.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>At the conclusion of these words her own child became
+	endowed with all the graces and beauty of her unfortunate
+	step-sister. The two then continued their journey, arriving at
+	the royal chapel at the appointed hour. The king received
+	them with all honours, while the deceitful woman gave away
+	her own daughter, whom the bridegroom believed to be the
+	original of the beautiful picture. After the ceremony the
+	mother went away loaded with presents. The king, as he
+	looked at his young wife, could not understand why he did
+	not feel for her the sympathy and admiration he had felt for
+	the portrait she so much resembled. But it could not be
+	altered now; what is done is done. So he admired her beauty
+	and looked forward to the pleasure of seeing pearls fall from
+	her eyes, roses from her lips, and gold-fish at the touch of her
+	fingers.</p>
+
+	<p>During the wedding feast the newly-made bride forgot
+	herself and smiled at her husband; immediately a number of
+	hideous toads escaped from her lips. The king, overcome
+	with horror and disgust, rushed away from her, upon which
+	she began to cry, but instead of pearls, lizards fell from her
+	eyes. The majordomo ordered water to be brought for her
+	to wash her hands, but no sooner had she dipped the tips of
+	her fingers in the bowl than it was filled with serpents that
+	hissed and twisted and threw themselves among the wedding
+	guests. The panic was general, and a scene of great confusion
+	followed. The guard was called in, and had the greatest
+	trouble to clear the hall of the disgusting reptiles.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page304" title="304">&nbsp;</a>The bridegroom had taken refuge in the garden, and when
+	he saw the young man coming towards him, whom he thought
+	had deceived him, his anger overcame him, and he struck the
+	poor lad with so much force that he fell down dead.</p>
+
+	<p>The queen ran forward sobbing, and taking the king by
+	the hand, said: &#8220;What have you done? You have killed my
+	innocent brother. It is neither my fault, nor was it his, that
+	since the wedding I have by some enchantment lost the
+	marvellous power I possessed before. This evil will pass
+	away in time, but time can never restore to me my dear
+	brother, my own mother&#8217;s son.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Forgive me, dear wife; in a moment of irritation I
+	thought he had deceived me, and I wanted to punish him,
+	but did not mean to kill. I regret it deeply, but it cannot be
+	helped now. Forgive me my fault as I forgive yours, with all
+	my heart.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You have my forgiveness, but I beg you to see that your
+	wife&#8217;s brother has an honourable burial.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Her wishes were carried out, and the orphan lad, who had
+	passed as her brother, was laid in a handsome coffin. The
+	chapel was hung with black, and at night a guard was placed
+	both inside and out.</p>
+
+	<p>Towards midnight the church doors silently opened, and
+	while the guards were overcome by sleep a pretty little duck
+	entered unnoticed. She stopped in the middle of the aisle,
+	shook herself, and pulled out her feathers one by one. Then
+	it took the form of the beautiful step-daughter, for it was she.
+	She went up to her brother&#8217;s coffin and stood gazing at him,
+	and as she looked she wept sorrowfully. Then she put on her
+	feathers again and went out a duck. When the guards awoke
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page305" title="305">&nbsp;</a>they were astonished to find a quantity of fine pearls in the
+	coffin. Next day they told the king that the doors had opened
+	of themselves towards midnight, that they had been overcome
+	by sleep, and that on awakening they had found a large
+	number of pearls in the coffin, but knew not how they got
+	there. The king was very much surprised, especially at the
+	appearance of the pearls, that ought to have been produced
+	by his wife&#8217;s tears. On the second night he doubled the
+	guard, and impressed upon them the necessity for watchfulness.</p>
+
+	<p>At midnight the doors again opened silently as before, the
+	soldiers went to sleep, and the same little duck entered, and,
+	taking out her feathers, appeared as a lovely maiden. She
+	could not help smiling as she looked upon the sleeping
+	soldiers, the number of which had been doubled on her
+	account; and as she smiled a number of roses fell from her lips.
+	As she drew near her brother her tears fell in torrents, leaving
+	a profusion of fine pearls. After some time she put on her
+	feathers and went out a duck. When the guards awoke they
+	took the roses and the pearls to the king. He was still more
+	surprised to see roses with the pearls, for these roses should
+	have fallen from his wife&#8217;s lips. He again increased the
+	number of the guard, and threatened them with the most
+	severe punishment if they failed to watch all night. They
+	did their best to obey, but in vain; they could only sleep.
+	When they awoke they found, not only roses and pearls, but
+	little gold-fish swimming in the holy water.</p>
+
+	<p>The amazed king could only conclude that their sleep
+	was caused by magic. On the fourth night he not only increased
+	the number of soldiers, but, unknown to every one, hid
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page306" title="306">&nbsp;</a>himself behind the altar, where he hung a mirror, through
+	which he could see everything that passed without being seen.</p>
+
+	<p>At midnight the doors opened. The soldiers, under the
+	influence of sleep, had let fall their arms and lay on the ground.
+	The king kept his eyes fixed on the mirror, through which he
+	saw a little wild-duck enter. It looked timidly round on all
+	sides, then, reassured at the sight of the sleeping guards,
+	advanced to the centre of the nave and took off its feathers,
+	thus appearing as a young maiden of exquisite beauty.</p>
+
+	<p>The king, overwhelmed with joy and admiration, had a
+	presentiment that this was his true bride. So when she drew
+	near the coffin he crept noiselessly out of his hiding-place,
+	and with a lighted taper set fire to the feathers. They flared
+	up immediately, and with such a bright light that the soldiers
+	were aroused. The girl ran towards the monarch, wringing
+	her hands and weeping tears of pearl.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What have you done?&#8221; cried she. &#8220;How can I now
+	escape my stepmother&#8217;s vengeance? For it is by her magic
+	that I have been changed into a wild-duck.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>When the king had heard all, he ordered some of his
+	soldiers to seize the wife he had married and to take her
+	right out of the country. He sent others to take the wicked
+	stepmother prisoner, and to burn her as a witch. Both commands
+	were instantly carried out. Meanwhile the girl drew
+	from the folds of her gown three small bottles, filled with
+	three different kinds of water, which she had brought from
+	the sea.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page307" title="307">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-49.png"><img src="images/illo-49-th.png" width="313" height="493" alt="A young man sets a fire in a chapel." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page308" title="308">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The first possessed the virtue of restoring life. This she
+	sprinkled over her brother, whereupon the chill and rigidity
+	of death disappeared, the colour came to his face, and warm  <!-- Original location of pages 307 & 308 -->
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page309" title="309">&nbsp;</a>red blood flowed from his wound. Upon the wound she
+	poured water from the second bottle, and it was immediately
+	healed. When she had made use of the third kind of water
+	he opened his eyes, looked at her with astonishment, and
+	threw himself joyfully into her arms.</p>
+
+	<p>The king, enraptured at this sight, conducted the two
+	back to the palace.</p>
+
+	<p>So instead of a funeral there was a wedding, to which a
+	large number of guests were immediately invited. Thus the
+	orphan maid was married to the king, while her brother
+	became one of his majesty&#8217;s nobles. And the magnificence
+	of the wedding feast was greater than anything seen or
+	heard of.</p>
+
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page310" title="310">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_18" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page311" title="311">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE SLUGGARD</h2>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page312" title="312">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page313" title="313">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-50.png"><img src="images/illo-50-th.png" width="308" height="203" alt="A man walks alongside a pair of buckets attached with a pole." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">THE SLUGGARD</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">On</span> the banks of a certain river, where there was always
+	good fishing, lived an old man and his three sons. The
+	two eldest were sharp-witted, active young men, already married;
+	the youngest was stupid and idle, and a bachelor. When
+	the father was dying, he called his children to him and told
+	them how he had left his property. The house was for his
+	two married sons, with a sum of three hundred florins each.
+	After his death he was buried with great pomp, and after
+	the funeral there was a splendid feast. All these honours
+	were supposed to be for the benefit of the man&#8217;s soul.</p>
+
+	<p>When the elder brothers took possession of their inheritance,
+	they said to the youngest: &#8220;Listen, brother; let us take
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page314" title="314">&nbsp;</a>charge of your share of the money, for we intend going out
+	into the world as merchants, and when we have made a great
+	deal of money we will buy you a hat, a sash, and a pair of
+	red boots. You will be better at home; and mind you do as
+	your sisters-in-law tell you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>For a long time this silly fellow had been wanting a cap,
+	a sash, and a pair of red boots, so he was easily persuaded
+	to give up all his money.</p>
+
+	<p>The brothers set out on their travels, and crossed the sea
+	in search of fortune. The &#8220;fool&#8221; of the family remained
+	at home; and, as he was an out-and-out sluggard, he would
+	lie whole days at a time on the warm stove without doing a
+	stroke of work, and only obeying his sisters-in-law with the
+	greatest reluctance. He liked fried onions, potato soup, and
+	cider, better than anything else in the world.</p>
+
+	<p>One day his sisters-in-law asked him to fetch them some
+	water.</p>
+
+	<p>It was winter, and a hard frost; moreover, the sluggard did
+	not feel at all inclined to go out. So he said, &#8220;Go yourselves,
+	I prefer to stay here by the fire.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Stupid boy, go at once. We will have some onions,
+	potato soup, and cider ready for you when you come back.
+	If you refuse to do what we ask you we shall tell our husbands,
+	and then there will be neither cap, sash, nor red boots
+	for you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>At these words the sluggard thought he had better go.
+	So he rolled off the stove, took a hatchet and a couple of
+	pails, and went down to the river. On the surface of the
+	water, where the ice had been broken, was a large pike. The
+	sluggard seized him by the fins and pulled him out.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page315" title="315">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;If you will let me go,&#8221; said the pike, &#8220;I promise to give
+	you everything you wish for.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Well then, I should like all my desires to be fulfilled the
+	moment I utter them.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;You shall have everything you want the moment you
+	pronounce these words:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8216;At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,</p>
+		<p>May such and such things happen, as I like.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Just wait one moment while I try the effect,&#8221; said the
+	sluggard, and began at once to say:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,</p>
+		<p>Bring onions, cider, soup, just as I like.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>That very moment his favourite dishes were before him.
+	Having eaten a large quantity, he said, &#8220;Very good, very good
+	indeed; but will it always be the same?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Always,&#8221; replied the pike.</p>
+
+	<p>The sluggard put the pike back into the river, and turning
+	towards his buckets, said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,</p>
+		<p>Walk home yourselves, my pails&#8212;that I should like.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The pails, and the strong rod to which they were fastened,
+	immediately set off and walked solemnly along, the sluggard
+	following them with his hands in his pockets. When they
+	reached the house he put them in their places, and again
+	stretched himself out to enjoy the warmth of the stove.
+	Presently the sisters-in-law said, &#8220;Come and chop some wood
+	for us.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page316" title="316">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Bother! do it yourselves.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It is not fit work for women. Besides, if you don&#8217;t do it
+	the stove will be cold, and then you will be the chief sufferer.
+	Moreover, pay attention to what we say, for if you do not
+	obey us, there will be no red boots, nor any other pretty
+	things.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The sluggard then just sat up and said:</p>
+
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,</p>
+		<p>Let what my sisters want be done&#8212;that&#8217;s what I like.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Instantly the hatchet came out from behind a stool and
+	chopped up a large heap of wood, put a part of it on the stove,
+	and retired to its corner. All this time the sluggard was
+	eating and drinking at his ease.</p>
+
+	<p>Another day some wood had to be brought from the forest.
+	Our sluggard now thought he would like to show off before
+	the villagers, so he pulled a sledge out of the shed, loaded it
+	with onions and soup, after which he pronounced the magic
+	words.</p>
+
+	<p>The sledge started off, and passing through the village at
+	a rattling pace, ran over several people, and frightened the
+	women and children.</p>
+
+	<p>When the forest was reached, our friend looked on while
+	the blocks of wood and faggots cut, tied, and laid themselves
+	on the sledge, after which they set off home again.
+	But when they got to the middle of the village the
+	men, who had been hurt and frightened in the morning,
+	seized hold of the sluggard and pulled him off the sledge,
+	dragging him along by the hair to give him a sound
+	thrashing.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page317" title="317">&nbsp;</a>At first he thought it was only a joke, but when the blows
+	hurt his shoulders, he said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,</p>
+		<p>Come, faggots, haste, and my assailants strike.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>In a moment all the blocks of wood and faggots jumped
+	off the sledge and began to hit right and left, and they hit
+	so well that the men were glad to get out of the way as best
+	they could.</p>
+
+	<p>The sluggard laughed at them till his sides ached; then
+	he remounted his sledge, and was soon lying on the stove
+	again.</p>
+
+	<p>From that day he became famous, and his doings were
+	talked about all through the country.</p>
+
+	<p>At last even the king heard of him, and, his curiosity
+	being aroused, he sent some of his soldiers to fetch him.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Now then, booby,&#8221; said the soldier, &#8220;come down off
+	that stove and follow me to the king&#8217;s palace.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Why should I? There is as much cider, onions, and
+	soup as I want at home.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The man, indignant at his want of respect, struck him.</p>
+
+	<p>Upon which the sluggard said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,</p>
+		<p>May this man get a taste of what a broom is like.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>A large broom, and not particularly clean, immediately
+	hopped up, and first dipping itself in a pail of water, beat
+	the soldier so mercilessly that he was obliged to escape
+	through the window, whence he returned to the king. His
+	majesty, amazed at the sluggard&#8217;s refusal, sent another
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page318" title="318">&nbsp;</a>messenger. This man was &#8217;cuter than his comrade, and
+	first made inquiries as to the sluggard&#8217;s tastes. Then he
+	went up to him and said, &#8220;Good-day, my friend; will you
+	come with me to see the king? He wishes to present you
+	with a cap, a waistband, and a pair of red boots.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;With the greatest pleasure; you go on, I will soon
+	overtake you.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then he ate as much as he could of his favourite dishes
+	and went to sleep on the stove. He slept so long that at
+	last his sisters-in-law woke him up and told him he would
+	be late if he did not at once go to see the king. The lazy
+	fellow said nothing but these words:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,</p>
+		<p>This stove to carry me before the king I&#8217;d like.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>At the very same instant the stove moved from its place
+	and carried him right up to the palace door. The king was
+	filled with amazement, and running out, followed by the
+	whole court, asked the sluggard what he would like to have.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I have merely come to fetch the hat, waistband, and
+	red boots you promised me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Just then the charming princess Gapiomila came to find
+	out what was going on. Directly the sluggard saw her, he
+	thought her so enchanting that he whispered to himself:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,</p>
+		<p>That this princess so fair may love me, I should like.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Then he ordered his stove to take him back home, and
+	when there he continued to eat onions and soup and to
+	drink cider.</p>
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page319" title="319">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-51.png"><img src="images/illo-51-th.png" width="334" height="495" alt="A king and courtiers confront a man lying on a divan." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page320" title="320">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page321" title="321">&nbsp;</a>Meanwhile the princess had fallen in love with him, and
+	begged her father to send for him again. As the sluggard
+	would not consent, the king had him bound when asleep,
+	and thus brought to the palace. Then he summoned a
+	celebrated magician, who at his orders shut the princess
+	and sluggard up in a crystal cask, to which was fastened a
+	balloon well filled with gas, and sent it up in the air among
+	the clouds. The princess wept bitterly, but the fool sat still
+	and said he felt very comfortable. At last she persuaded
+	him to exert his powers, so he said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,</p>
+		<p>This cask of crystal earth at once must strike</p>
+		<p>Upon the friendly island I should like.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The crystal cask immediately descended, and opened
+	upon a hospitable island where travellers could have all they
+	wanted by simply wishing for it. The princess and her
+	companion walked about, eating when hungry, and drinking
+	when athirst. The sluggard was very happy and contented,
+	but the lady begged him to wish for a palace. Instantly the
+	palace made its appearance. It was built of white marble,
+	with crystal windows, roof of yellow amber, and golden
+	furniture. She was delighted with it. Next day she wanted
+	a good road made, along which she could go to see her
+	father. Immediately there stretched before them a fairy-like
+	bridge made of crystal, having golden balustrades set
+	with diamonds, and leading right up to the king&#8217;s palace.
+	The sluggard was just about to accompany the princess
+	when he began to think of his own appearance, and to feel
+	ashamed that such an awkward, stupid fellow as he should
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page322" title="322">&nbsp;</a>walk by the side of such a lovely and graceful creature.
+	So he said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,</p>
+		<p>To be both handsome, wise, and clever I should like.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Suddenly he became as handsome, wise, and clever as it
+	was possible to be. Then he got into a gorgeous carriage
+	with Gapiomila, and they drove across the bridge that led
+	to the king&#8217;s palace.</p>
+
+	<p>There they were received with every mark of joy and
+	affection. The king gave them his blessing, and they were
+	married the same evening. An immense number of guests
+	were invited to the wedding feast; I, too, was there, and
+	drank freely of wine and hydromel. And this is the story I
+	have done my best to tell you as faithfully as possible.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_19" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page323" title="323">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">KINKACH MARTINKO</h2>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page324" title="324">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page325" title="325">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-52.png"><img src="images/illo-52-th.png" width="312" height="218" alt="An old woman is pounding a young woman's hand between two rocks." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">KINKACH MARTINKO</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">Once</span> upon a time there was a poor woman who had
+	an only daughter, named Helen, a very lazy girl. One
+	day when she had refused to do a single thing, her mother
+	took her down to the banks of a stream and began to strike
+	her fingers with a flat stone, just as you do in beating linen
+	to wash it.</p>
+
+	<p>The girl cried a good deal. A prince, Lord of the Red
+	Castle, happened at that moment to pass by, and inquired
+	as to the cause of such treatment, for it horrified him that a
+	mother should so ill-use her child.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Why should I not punish her?&#8221; answered the woman.
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page326" title="326">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;The idle girl can do nothing but spin hemp into gold
+	thread.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Really?&#8221; cried he. &#8220;Does she really know how to spin
+	gold thread out of hemp? If that be so, sell her to me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Willingly; how much will you give me for her?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Half a measure of gold.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Take her,&#8221; said the mother; and she gave him her
+	daughter as soon as the money was paid.</p>
+
+	<p>The prince placed the girl behind him on the saddle, put
+	spurs to his horse, and took her home.</p>
+
+	<p>On reaching the Red Castle, the prince led Helen into a
+	room filled from floor to ceiling with hemp, and having supplied
+	her with distaff and spinning-wheel, said, &#8220;When you have
+	spun all this hemp into gold thread I will make you my wife.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Then he went out, locking the door after him.</p>
+
+	<p>On finding herself a prisoner, the poor girl wept as if her
+	heart would break. Suddenly she saw a very odd-looking
+	little man seated on the window-sill. He wore a red cap,
+	and his boots were made of some strange sort of material.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Why do you weep so?&#8221; he asked.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I cannot help it,&#8221; she replied, &#8220;I am but a miserable
+	slave. I have been ordered to spin all this hemp into gold
+	thread, but it is impossible, I can never do it, and I know
+	not what will become of me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I will do it for you in three days, on condition that at
+	the end of that time you guess my right name, and tell me
+	what the boots I am wearing now are made of.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Without for one moment reflecting as to whether she would
+	be able to guess aright she consented. The uncanny little man
+	burst out laughing, and taking her distaff set to work at once.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page327" title="327">&nbsp;</a>All day as the distaff moved the hemp grew visibly less,
+	while the skein of gold thread became larger and larger.</p>
+
+	<p>The little man spun all the time, and, without stopping
+	an instant, explained to Helen how to make thread of pure
+	gold. As night drew on he tied up the skein, saying to the
+	girl, &#8220;Well, do you know my name yet? Can you tell me
+	what my boots are made of?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Helen replied that she could not, upon which he grinned
+	and disappeared through the window. She then sat and
+	looked at the sky, and thought, and thought, and thought,
+	and lost herself in conjecturing as to what the little man&#8217;s
+	name might be, and in trying to guess what was the stuff
+	his boots were made of. Were they of leather? or perhaps
+	plaited rushes? or straw? or cast iron? No, they did not
+	look like anything of that sort. And as to his name&#8212;that
+	was a still more difficult problem to solve.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;What shall I call him?&#8221; said she to herself&#8212;&#8220;John? Or
+	Henry? Who knows? perhaps it is Paul or Joseph.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>These thoughts so filled her mind that she forgot to eat
+	her dinner. Her meditations were interrupted by cries and
+	groans from outside, where she saw an old man with white
+	hair sitting under the castle wall.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Miserable old man that I am,&#8221; cried he; &#8220;I die of
+	hunger and thirst, but no one pities my sufferings.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Helen hastened to give him her dinner, and told him to
+	come next day, which he promised to do.</p>
+
+	<p>After again thinking for some time what answers she should
+	give the little old man, she fell asleep on the hemp.</p>
+
+	<p>The little old man did not fail to make his appearance the
+	first thing next morning, and remained all day spinning the
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page328" title="328">&nbsp;</a>gold thread. The work progressed before their eyes, and it
+	was only when evening came that he repeated his questions.
+	Not receiving a satisfactory answer, he vanished in a fit of
+	mocking laughter. Helen sat down by the window to think;
+	but think as she might, no answer to these puzzling questions
+	occurred to her.</p>
+
+	<p>While thus wondering the hungry old man again came by,
+	and she gave him her dinner. She was heart-sick and her
+	eyes were full of tears, for she thought she would never guess
+	the spinner&#8217;s name, nor of what stuff his boots were made,
+	unless perhaps God would help her.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Why are you so sad?&#8221; asked the old man when he had
+	eaten and drunk; &#8220;tell me the cause of your grief, dear lady.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>For a long time she would not tell him, thinking it would
+	be useless; but at last, yielding to his entreaties, she gave a
+	full account of the conditions under which the gold thread
+	was made, explaining that unless she could answer the little
+	old man&#8217;s questions satisfactorily she feared some great misfortune
+	would befall her. The old man listened attentively,
+	then, nodding his head, he said:</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;In coming through the forest to-day I passed close to a
+	large pile of burning wood, round which were placed nine iron
+	pots. A little man in a red cap was running round and
+	jumping over them, singing these words:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;My sweet friend, fair Helen, at the Red Castle near,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Two days and two nights seeks my name to divine.</p>
+		<p>She&#8217;ll never find out, so the third night &#8217;tis clear</p>
+		<p class="i2">My sweet friend, fair Helen, can&#8217;t fail to be mine.</p>
+		<p>Hurrah! for my name is <strong class="special_name">Kinkach Martinko</strong>,</p>
+		<p>Hurrah! for my boots are of doggies&#8217; skin O!&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page329" title="329">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-53.png"><img src="images/illo-53-th.png" width="344" height="498" alt="A young couple hold hands." /></a>
+		<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page330" title="330">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page331" title="331">&nbsp;</a>&#8220;Now that is exactly what you want to know, my dear
+	girl; so do not forget, and you are saved.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And with these words the old man vanished.</p>
+
+	<p>Helen was greatly astonished, but she took care to fix in
+	her memory all that the good fellow had told her, and then
+	went to sleep, feeling that she could face to-morrow without
+	fear.</p>
+
+	<p>On the third day, very early in the morning, the little old
+	man appeared and set busily to work, for he knew that all the
+	hemp must be spun before sunset, and that then he should
+	be able to claim his rights. When evening came all the hemp
+	was gone, and the room shone with the brightness of the
+	golden thread.</p>
+
+	<p>As soon as his work was done, the queer little old man
+	with the red cap drew himself up with a great deal of assurance,
+	and with his hands in his pockets strutted up and down
+	before Helen, ordering her to tell him his right name and to
+	say of what stuff the boots were made: but he felt certain
+	that she would not be able to answer aright.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Your name is <strong class="special_name">Kinkach Martinko</strong>, and your boots are
+	made of dogskin,&#8221; she replied without the slightest hesitation.</p>
+
+	<p>At these words he spun round on the floor like a bobbin,
+	tore out his hair and beat his breast with rage, roaring so that
+	the very walls trembled.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;It is lucky for you that you have guessed. If you had
+	not, I should have torn you to pieces on this very spot:&#8221; so
+	saying he rushed out of the window like a whirlwind.</p>
+
+	<p>Helen felt deeply grateful towards the old man who had
+	told her the answers, and hoped to be able to thank him in
+	person. But he never appeared again.</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page332" title="332">&nbsp;</a>The Prince of the Red Castle was very pleased with her
+	for having accomplished her task so punctually and perfectly,
+	and he married her as he had promised.</p>
+
+	<p>Helen was truly thankful to have escaped the dangers that
+	had threatened her, and her happiness as a princess was
+	greater than she had dared hope. She had, too, such a good
+	stock of gold thread that she never had occasion to spin any
+	more all her life long.</p>
+</div>
+
+<div id="story_20" class="story"><a class="pagenum disguise" id="page333" title="333">&nbsp;</a>
+	<h2 class="story_title">THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH,
+		THE AVENGING WAND, THE
+		SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND
+		THE TERRIBLE HELMET</h2>
+	<!-- <a class="pagenum" id="page334" title="334">&nbsp;</a>[Blank Page] -->
+	<p class="return_toc"><a href="#contents" title="Return to Contents">ToC</a></p>
+	<div class="image"><a class="pagenum" id="page335" title="335">&nbsp;</a>
+		<a href="images/illo-54.png"><img src="images/illo-54-th.png" width="308" height="212" alt="A man holds a stick over a sad looking youth. Two other men look on." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="second_title">THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE
+	AVENGING WAND, THE SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET</p>
+
+	<p class="first_paragraph"><span class="first_word">Now</span> it once happened that one of the king&#8217;s herdsmen
+	had three sons. Two of these lads were supposed to be
+	very sharp-witted, while the youngest was thought to be very
+	stupid indeed. The elder sons helped their father to look
+	after the flocks and herds, while the fool, so they called him,
+	was good for nothing but sleeping and amusing himself.</p>
+
+	<p>He would pass whole days and nights slumbering peacefully
+	on the stove, only getting off when forced to by others,
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page336" title="336">&nbsp;</a>or when he was too warm and wished to lie on the other side,
+	or when, hungry and thirsty, he wanted food and drink.</p>
+
+	<p>His father had no love for him, and called him a ne&#8217;er-do-well.
+	His brothers often tormented him by dragging him off
+	the stove, and taking away his food&#8212;indeed, he would many
+	a time have gone hungry if his mother had not been good to
+	him and fed him on the quiet. She caressed him fondly, for
+	why should he suffer, thought she, if he does happen to have
+	been born a fool? Besides, who can understand the ways of
+	God? It sometimes happens that the wisest men are not
+	happy, while the foolish, when harmless and gentle, lead contented
+	lives.</p>
+
+	<p>One day, on their return from the fields, the fool&#8217;s two
+	brothers dragged him off the stove, and taking him into the
+	yard, where they gave him a sound thrashing, they turned him
+	out of the house, saying, &#8220;Go, fool, and lose no time, for you
+	shall have neither food nor lodging until you bring us a
+	basket of mushrooms from the wood.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The poor lad was so taken by surprise he hardly understood
+	what his brothers wanted him to do. After pondering
+	for a while he made his way towards a small oak forest, where
+	everything seemed to have a strange and marvellous appearance,
+	so strange that he did not recognise the place. As he
+	walked he came to a small dead tree-stump, on the top of
+	which he placed his cap, saying, &#8220;Every tree here raises its
+	head to the skies and wears a good cap of leaves, but you,
+	my poor friend, are bare-headed; you will die of cold. You
+	must be among your brothers, as I am among mine&#8212;a born
+	fool. Take then my cap.&#8221; And, throwing his arms round
+	the dead stump, he wept and embraced it tenderly. At that
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page337" title="337">&nbsp;</a>moment an oak which stood near began to walk towards him
+	as if it were alive. The poor fellow was frightened, and about
+	to run away, but the oak spake like a human being and said,
+	&#8220;Do not fly; stop a moment and listen to me. This withered
+	tree is my son, and up to this time no one has grieved for his
+	dead youth but me. You have now watered him with your
+	tears, and in return for your sympathy you shall henceforward
+	have anything you ask of me, on pronouncing these words:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;&#8216;O Oak Tree so green, and with acorns of gold,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Your friendship to prove I will try;</p>
+		<p>In Heaven&#8217;s good name now to beg I&#8217;ll make bold,</p>
+		<p class="i2">My needs, then, oh kindly supply.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>At the same moment a shower of golden acorns fell. The
+	fool filled his pockets, thanked the oak, and bowing to her
+	returned home.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Well, stupid, where are the mushrooms?&#8221; cried one of
+	his brothers.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I have some mushrooms off the oak in my pockets.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Eat them yourself then, for you will get nothing else,
+	you good-for-nothing. What have you done with your cap?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I put it on a poor stump of a tree that stood by the wayside,
+	for its head was uncovered, and I was afraid it might
+	freeze.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>He then scrambled on to the top of the stove, and as he
+	lay down some of the golden acorns fell out of his pocket.
+	So bright were they, they shone like sunbeams in the room.
+	In spite of the fool&#8217;s entreaties the brothers picked them up
+	and gave them to their father, who hastened to present them
+	to the king, telling him that his idiot son had gathered them
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page338" title="338">&nbsp;</a>in the wood. The king immediately sent a detachment of
+	his guards to the forest to find the oak which bore golden
+	acorns. But their efforts were fruitless, for, though they
+	hunted in every nook and corner of the forest, they found not
+	a single oak that bore acorns of gold.</p>
+
+	<div class="image">
+		<a href="images/illo-55.png"><img src="images/illo-55-th.png" width="328" height="249" alt="A youth crawls at the foot of a large tree." /></a>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>At first the king was very angry, but when he grew calmer
+	he sent for his herdsman and said to him, &#8220;Tell your son, the
+	fool, that he must bring me, by this evening, a cask filled to the
+	brim with these precious golden acorns. If he obeys my commands
+	you shall never lack bread and salt, and you may rest
+	assured that my royal favour will not fail you in time of need.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page339" title="339">&nbsp;</a>The herdsman gave his youngest son the king&#8217;s message.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;The king, I see,&#8221; he replied, &#8220;is fond of a good bargain;
+	he does not ask, he commands&#8212;and insists upon a fool
+	fetching him acorns of solid gold in return for promises made
+	of air. No, I shall not go.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>And neither prayers nor threats were of the slightest avail
+	to make him change his mind. At last his brothers pulled
+	him forcibly off the stove, put his coat on him and a new cap,
+	and dragged him into the yard, where they gave him a good
+	beating and drove him away, saying, &#8220;Now, you stupid, lose
+	no time; be off, and be quick. If you return without the
+	golden acorns you shall have neither supper nor bed.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>What was the poor fellow to do? For a long time he
+	wept, then crossing himself he went in the direction of the
+	forest. He soon reached the dead stump, upon which his
+	cap still rested, and going up to the mother oak, said to her:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O Oak Tree so green, and with acorns of gold,</p>
+		<p class="i2">In my helplessness I to thee cry;</p>
+		<p>In Heaven&#8217;s great name now to beg I make bold,</p>
+		<p class="i2">My pressing needs pray satisfy.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The oak moved, and shook its branches: but instead of
+	golden acorns, a tablecloth fell into the fool&#8217;s hands. And
+	the tree said, &#8220;Keep this cloth always in your possession, and
+	for your own use. When you want a benefit by it, you need
+	only say:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;&#8216;O Tablecloth, who for the poor,</p>
+		<p class="i2">The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,</p>
+		<p>May he who begs from door to door</p>
+		<p class="i2">Feed off you without stint or fear.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page340" title="340">&nbsp;</a>When it had uttered these words the oak ceased to speak,
+	and the fool, thanking her, bowed, and turned towards home.
+	On his way he wondered to himself how he should tell his
+	brothers, and what they would say, but above all he thought
+	how his good mother would rejoice to see the feast-giving
+	tablecloth. When he had walked about half the distance he
+	met an old beggar who said to him, &#8220;See what a sick and
+	ragged old man I am: for the love of God give me a little
+	money or some bread.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The fool spread his tablecloth on the grass, and inviting
+	the beggar to sit down, said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O Tablecloth, who for the poor,</p>
+		<p class="i2">The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,</p>
+		<p>May he who begs from door to door</p>
+		<p class="i2">Feed off you without stint or fear.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Then a whistling was heard in the air, and overhead something
+	shone brightly. At the same instant a table, spread as
+	for a royal banquet, appeared before them. Upon it were
+	many different kinds of food, flasks of mead, and glasses of
+	the choicest wine. The plate was of gold and silver.</p>
+
+	<p>The fool and the beggar man crossed themselves and
+	began to feast. When they had finished the whistling was
+	again heard, and everything vanished. The fool folded up
+	his tablecloth and went on his way. But the old man said,
+	&#8220;If you will give me your tablecloth you shall have this wand
+	in exchange. When you say certain words to it, it will set
+	upon the person or persons pointed out, and give them such
+	a thrashing, that to get rid of it they will give you anything
+	they possess.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page341" title="341">&nbsp;</a>The fool thought of his brothers and exchanged the tablecloth
+	for the wand, after which they both went on their
+	respective ways.</p>
+
+	<p>Suddenly the fool remembered that the oak had ordered
+	him to keep the tablecloth for his own use, and that by parting
+	with it he had lost the power of giving his mother an
+	agreeable surprise. So he said to the wand:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Thou self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,</p>
+		<p class="i4">Run quick and bring</p>
+		<p>My feast-providing tablecloth back to my hand,</p>
+		<p class="i4">Thy praise I&#8217;ll sing.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The wand went off like an arrow after the old man,
+	quickly overtook him, and throwing itself upon him began to
+	beat him dreadfully, crying out in a loud voice:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;For others&#8217; goods you seem to have a liking,</p>
+		<p>Stop, thief, or sure your back I&#8217;ll keep on striking.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The poor beggar tried to run away, but it was of no use,
+	for the wand followed him, striking all the time and repeating
+	the same words over and over again. So in spite of his
+	anxiety to keep the tablecloth he was forced to throw it away
+	and flee.</p>
+
+	<p>The wand brought the cloth back to the fool, who again
+	went on his way towards home, thinking of the surprise in
+	store for his mother and brothers. He had not gone very far
+	when a traveller, carrying an empty wallet, accosted him,
+	saying, &#8220;For the love of God, give me a small coin or a
+	morsel of food, for my bag is empty and I am very hungry.
+	I have, too, a long journey before me.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page342" title="342">&nbsp;</a>The fool again spread his tablecloth on the grass and
+	said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O Tablecloth, who for the poor,</p>
+		<p class="i2">The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,</p>
+		<p>May he who begs from door to door</p>
+		<p class="i2">Feed off you without stint or fear.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>A whistling was heard in the air, something shone brightly
+	overhead, and a table, spread as for a royal feast, placed itself
+	before them. It was laid with a numerous variety of dishes,
+	hydromel and costly wines. The fool and his guest sat down,
+	crossed themselves, and ate to their hearts&#8217; content. When
+	they had finished whistling was again heard, and everything
+	vanished. The fool folded the cloth up carefully, and was
+	about to continue his journey when the traveller said, &#8220;Will
+	you exchange your tablecloth for my waistband? When you
+	say to it certain words it will turn into a deep lake, upon
+	which you may float at will. The words run thus:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;&#8216;O marvellous, wonderful, lake-forming Band,</p>
+		<p class="i2">For my safety, and not for my fun,</p>
+		<p>Bear me in a boat on thy waves far from land,</p>
+		<p class="i2">So that I from my foes need not run.&#8217;&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The fool thought his father would find it very convenient
+	always to have water at hand for the king&#8217;s flocks, so he gave
+	his tablecloth in exchange for the belt, which he wound round
+	his loins, and taking the wand in his hand, they went off in
+	opposite directions. After a little while the fool began to
+	reflect on what the oak had told him about keeping the tablecloth
+	for his own use, and he remembered, too, that he
+	was depriving himself of the power of giving his mother a
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page343" title="343">&nbsp;</a>pleasant surprise. Thereupon he said the magic words to
+	his wand:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Thou self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,</p>
+		<p class="i4">Run quick and bring</p>
+		<p>My feast-providing tablecloth back to my hand,</p>
+		<p class="i4">Thy praise I&#8217;ll sing.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The wand at once started in pursuit of the poor traveller,
+	whom it began to beat, at the same time crying out:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;For others&#8217; goods you seem to have a liking,</p>
+		<p>Stop, thief, or sure your back I&#8217;ll keep on striking.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The man was scared out of his wits, and tried to escape
+	the wand&#8217;s blows, but it was of no use, so he was forced to
+	throw the tablecloth away and run at the top of his speed.
+	The wand brought the tablecloth back to his master. The
+	latter hid it under his coat, rearranged the waistband, and
+	taking the faithful wand in his hand, again went towards home.
+	As he walked he rejoiced to think of the pleasure he should
+	have in exercising the wand on his wicked brothers, of his
+	father&#8217;s satisfaction when, by the help of the waistband, he
+	could always have water for the king&#8217;s flocks, even in the
+	driest weather, and of his mother&#8217;s joy on witnessing the
+	wonders of the feast-giving tablecloth. These pleasant
+	thoughts were interrupted by a soldier, lame, clothed in rags,
+	and covered with wounds. He had once been a famous
+	warrior.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;I am pursued by misfortunes,&#8221; said he to the fool. &#8220;I
+	was once a brave soldier, and fought valiantly in my youth.
+	Now I am lamed for life, and on this lonely road have found
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page344" title="344">&nbsp;</a>no one to give me a morsel of food. Have pity on me and
+	give me a little bread.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The fool sat down on the grass, and spreading out his
+	tablecloth, said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O Tablecloth, who for the poor,</p>
+		<p class="i2">The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,</p>
+		<p>May he who begs from door to door</p>
+		<p class="i2">Feed off you without stint or fear.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>A whistling was heard in the air, something bright shone
+	overhead, and then before them stood a table, spread as for
+	a royal feast, loaded with dainty dishes, mead, and costly
+	wines. When they had eaten and drunk as much as they
+	wanted the whistling was again heard, and then everything
+	vanished.</p>
+
+	<p>The fool was folding up his tablecloth, when the soldier
+	said:</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Will you give me your tablecloth in exchange for this
+	six-horned helmet? It will fire itself off and instantly destroy
+	the object pointed out. You have but to turn it round on
+	your head and repeat these words:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;&#8216;O Magic Helmet, never thou</p>
+		<p class="i2">Dost want for powder nor shot;</p>
+		<p>Allay my fears and fire now</p>
+		<p class="i2">Just where I point. Fail not.&#8217;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p class="continued_paragraph">You will see that it fires off immediately: and even if your
+	enemy were a mile away he would fall.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The fool was delighted with the idea, and thought how
+	useful such a hat would be in any sudden danger; it would
+	even serve him to defend his country, the king, or himself.
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page345" title="345">&nbsp;</a>So he handed the tablecloth to the soldier, put the helmet
+	on his head, took his wand in his hand, and again set his face
+	towards home.</p>
+
+	<p>When he had gone some distance, and the soldier was
+	almost out of sight, he began to think of what the oak had
+	said about not parting with the tablecloth, and of how his
+	dear mother could not now enjoy the pleasant surprise he
+	had been dreaming about. So he said to the wand:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Thou self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,</p>
+		<p class="i4">Run quick, and bring</p>
+		<p>My feast-providing tablecloth back to my hand,</p>
+		<p class="i4">Thy praise I&#8217;ll sing.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The wand dashed after the soldier, and having reached
+	him began to beat him, crying out:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;For others&#8217; goods you seem to have a liking,</p>
+		<p>Stop, thief, or sure your back I&#8217;ll keep on striking.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The soldier was still a powerful man, and in spite of his
+	wound turned right about face, intending to give blow for
+	blow. But the wand was too much for him, and he soon
+	found resistance useless. So, overcome by pain rather than
+	fear, he threw away the tablecloth and took to his heels.</p>
+
+	<p>The faithful wand brought the tablecloth back to his
+	master, who, glad to have it again, once more turned towards
+	home.</p>
+
+	<p>He soon left the forest, crossed the fields, and came in
+	sight of his father&#8217;s house. At a little distance therefrom his
+	brothers met him, and said crossly, &#8220;Well, stupid, where are
+	the golden acorns?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p><a class="pagenum" id="page346" title="346">&nbsp;</a>The fool looked at them and laughed in their faces.
+	Then he said to his wand:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand</p>
+		<p class="i4">Strike with thy usual fire</p>
+		<p>My ever-scolding, teasing, worrying brother band,</p>
+		<p class="i4">For they have roused my ire.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The wand needed no second bidding, and darting out of
+	his hand began to thrash the brothers soundly, crying out like
+	a reasoning creature:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Your brother has often your blows felt, alack!</p>
+		<p>Now taste it yourselves; hope you like it, whack, whack.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The brothers were overpowered, and felt all the while as if
+	boiling water were being poured over their heads. Yelling
+	with pain they began to run at full speed, and soon disappeared
+	with clouds of dust flying round them.</p>
+
+	<p>The wand then came back to the fool&#8217;s hand. He went
+	into the house, climbed on the stove, and told his mother all
+	that had happened. Then he cried:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O Tablecloth, who for the poor,</p>
+		<p class="i2">The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,</p>
+		<p>Let us within our cottage door</p>
+		<p class="i2">Feed off you without stint or fear.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>A whistling was heard in the air, something bright shone
+	overhead, and then a table, laid as for a royal banquet, was
+	placed before them, covered with dainty meats, glasses, and
+	bottles of mead and wine. The whole service was of gold
+	and silver. As the fool and his mother were about to begin
+	the feast the herdsman entered. He stopped, dumb with
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page347" title="347">&nbsp;</a>amazement, but when invited to partake, began to eat and
+	drink with great enjoyment.</p>
+
+	<p>At the end of the meal the whistling was again heard, and
+	everything vanished completely.</p>
+
+	<p>The herdsman set off in hot haste to the court, to tell the
+	king of this new marvel. Thereupon his majesty sent one of
+	his heroes in search of the fool, whom he found stretched on
+	the stove.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;If you value your life, listen, and obey the king&#8217;s orders,&#8221;
+	said the paladin. &#8220;He commands you to send him by me
+	your tablecloth, then you shall have your share of his royal
+	favour. But if not you will always remain a poor fool, and
+	will, moreover, be treated as a refractory prisoner. We teach
+	them how to behave; you understand?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Oh yes, I understand.&#8221; And then he pronounced the
+	magic words:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,</p>
+		<p class="i4">Go, soundly thrash that man&#8212;</p>
+		<p>The most deceiving, dangerous wretch in all the land,</p>
+		<p class="i4">So hurt him all you can.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The wand sprang from the fool&#8217;s hand with the speed of
+	lightning and struck the paladin three times in the face. He
+	immediately fled, but the wand was after him, hitting him all
+	the time, and crying out:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;Mere promises are children&#8217;s play,</p>
+		<p>So do not throw your breath away,</p>
+		<p>But think of something true to say,</p>
+		<p>You rogue, when next you come our way.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Defeated and filled with consternation, the paladin returned
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page348" title="348">&nbsp;</a>to the king and told him about the wand, and how badly
+	he had been beaten. When the king heard that the fool
+	possessed a wand that struck of itself, he wanted it so much
+	that for a time he forgot all about the tablecloth, and
+	sent some of his soldiers with orders to bring him back
+	the wand.</p>
+
+	<p>When they entered the cottage, the fool, as usual, was
+	lying on the stove.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Deliver up the wand to us instantly,&#8221; said they; &#8220;the
+	king is willing to pay any price you ask, but if you refuse he
+	will take it from you by force.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>Instead of replying the fool unwound the waistband, saying
+	to it as he did so:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O marvellous, wonderful, lake-forming Band,</p>
+		<p class="i2">For my safety, and not for my fun,</p>
+		<p>Bear me in a boat on thy waves far from land,</p>
+		<p class="i2">So that I from my foes need not run.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>There was a shimmering in the air, while at the same
+	moment everything around them disappeared, and a beautiful
+	lake, long, wide, and deep, was seen, surrounded by green
+	fields. Fish with golden scales and eyes of pearls played in
+	the clear water. In the centre, in a small silver skiff, rowed
+	a man, whom the soldiers recognised as the fool.</p>
+
+	<p>They remained some time looking at this miracle, and
+	then ran off to tell the king. Now when the king heard
+	thereof he was so anxious to possess the lake, or rather the
+	waistband that produced the lake, that he sent a whole
+	battalion of soldiers to take the fool prisoner.</p>
+
+	<p>This time they managed to get hold of him while he was
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page349" title="349">&nbsp;</a>asleep, but as they were about to tie his hands he turned his
+	hat round and said:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O Magic Helmet, never thou</p>
+		<p class="i2">Dost want for powder nor shot,</p>
+		<p>Allay my fears and fire now</p>
+		<p class="i2">Just where I point. Fail not.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>Instantly a hundred bullets whistled through the air, amid
+	clouds of smoke and loud reports. Many of the soldiers fell
+	dead, others took refuge in the wood, whence they returned
+	to the king to give an account of what had taken place.</p>
+
+	<p>Whereupon the king flew into a violent rage, furious that
+	he had as yet failed to take the fool. But his wish to possess
+	the feast-giving tablecloth, the magic wand, the lake-forming
+	sash, and above all the helmet with twenty-four horns, was
+	stronger than ever.</p>
+
+	<p>Having reflected for some days on the best ways and
+	means to attain his object, he resolved to try the effect of
+	kindness, and sent for the fool&#8217;s mother.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Tell your son, the fool,&#8221; said his majesty to the woman,
+	&#8220;that my charming daughter and I send greeting, and that we
+	shall consider it an honour if he will come here and show us
+	the marvellous things he possesses. Should he feel inclined
+	to make me a present of them, I will give him half my kingdom
+	and will make him my heir. You may also say that the
+	princess, my daughter, will choose him for her husband.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>The good woman hastened home to her son, whom she
+	advised to accept the king&#8217;s invitation and show him his
+	treasures. The fool wound the waistband round his loins,
+	put the helmet on his head, hid the tablecloth in his breast,
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page350" title="350">&nbsp;</a>took his magic wand in his hand, and started off to go to the
+	court.</p>
+
+	<p>The king was not there on his arrival, but he was received
+	by the paladin, who saluted him courteously. Music played,
+	and the troops did him military honours&#8212;in fact, he was
+	treated far better than he had expected. On being presented
+	to the king he took off his helmet, and bowing low, said: &#8220;O
+	king, I am come to lay at the foot of your throne my tablecloth,
+	waistband, wand, and helmet. In return for these
+	gifts I beg that your favour may be shown to the most humble
+	of your subjects.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Tell me then, fool, what price you want for these
+	goods?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Not money, sire, a fool of my sort cares very little about
+	money. Has not the king promised my mother that he will
+	give me in exchange the half of his kingdom, and the hand of
+	his daughter in marriage? These are the gifts I claim.&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>After these words the paladin was filled with envy at the
+	good fortune of the fool, and made a sign for the guards to
+	enter. The soldiers seized the poor fellow, dragged him out
+	into the courtyard, and they killed him treacherously to the
+	sound of drums and trumpets, after which they covered him
+	over with earth.</p>
+
+	<p>Now it happened that when the soldiers stabbed him his
+	blood spurted out, and some of the drops fell beneath the
+	princess&#8217;s window. The maiden wept bitterly at the sight,
+	watering the blood-stained ground with her tears. And lo!
+	marvellous to relate, an apple-tree grew out of the blood-sprinkled
+	earth. And it grew so rapidly that its branches
+	soon touched the windows of her rooms; by noon it was
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page351" title="351">&nbsp;</a>covered with blossom, while at eventide ripe red apples hung
+	thereon. As the princess was admiring them she noticed that
+	one of the apples trembled, and when she touched it, it fell
+	into the bosom of her dress. This took her fancy, and she
+	held it in her hand.</p>
+
+	<p>Meanwhile the sun had set, night had fallen, and every one
+	in the palace was asleep, except the guard, the paladin, and
+	the princess. The guard, sword in hand, patrolled up and
+	down, for it was his duty. The princess toyed with her pretty
+	little apple, and could not sleep. The paladin, who had gone
+	to bed, was aroused by a sound that made his blood run cold,
+	for the avenging wand stood before him and began to beat
+	him soundly. And although he rushed from the room trying
+	to escape from it, it followed him, crying out:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;False paladin, you worthless man,</p>
+		<p class="i2">Do not so envious be;</p>
+		<p>Why act unjustly, when you can</p>
+		<p class="i2">Both just and honest be?</p>
+		<p>For others&#8217; goods why have you such a liking?</p>
+		<p>You rogue, you thief, be sure I&#8217;ll keep on striking.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>The unhappy man wept and cried for mercy, but the wand
+	still continued to strike.</p>
+
+	<p>The princess was distressed on hearing these cries of
+	distress, and she watered her much-cherished apple with
+	her tears. And, strange to tell, the apple grew and changed
+	its shape. Thus continuing to change, it suddenly turned
+	into a handsome young man, even the very same who had
+	been killed that morning.</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;Lovely princess, I salute you,&#8221; said the fool. &#8220;The
+	cunning of the paladin caused my death, but with your tears
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page352" title="352">&nbsp;</a>you have restored me to life. Your father promised to give
+	you to me: are you willing?&#8221;</p>
+
+	<p>&#8220;If such be the king&#8217;s wish, I consent,&#8221; replied she, as she
+	gave him her hand with a tender look.</p>
+
+	<p>As he spoke the door opened, admitting the helmet, which
+	placed itself upon his head; the sash, which wound itself
+	round his waist; the tablecloth, which hid itself in one of
+	his pockets; and the avenging wand, which placed itself in
+	his hand. Then came the king, all out of breath, and
+	wondering what the noise was about. He was amazed to
+	see the fool alive again, and even more so that he should
+	be with the princess.</p>
+
+	<p>The young fellow, fearing the king&#8217;s wrath, cried out:</p>
+
+	<div class="poem">
+		<p>&#8220;O marvellous, wonderful, lake-forming Band,</p>
+		<p class="i2">For my safety, and not for my fun,</p>
+		<p>Bear us in a boat on thy waves far from land,</p>
+		<p class="i2">So that we from our foes need not run.&#8221;</p>
+	</div>
+
+	<p>There was a shimmering in the air, and then everything
+	disappeared, while on the lawn before the palace stretched
+	a wide deep lake, in the crystal water of which swam little
+	fish with eyes of pearl and scales of gold. Far away rowed
+	the princess and the fool in a silver skiff. The king stood
+	on the shores of the lake and signed to them to return.
+	When they had landed they knelt at his feet and avowed
+	their mutual love. Upon which his majesty bestowed his
+	blessing, the lake disappeared, and they again found themselves
+	in the princess&#8217;s apartments.</p>
+
+	<p>The king called a special meeting of his council, at which
+	he explained how things had turned out&#8212;that he had made
+	<a class="pagenum" id="page353" title="353">&nbsp;</a>the fool his heir, and betrothed him to his daughter, and had
+	put the paladin in prison.</p>
+
+	<p>The fool gave the king his magic treasures, and told him
+	what words to say in each case.</p>
+
+	<p>Next day all their wishes were fulfilled. The fool of the
+	family was married to the princess, and at the same time
+	received half the kingdom, with the promise of succession
+	to the throne. And the wedding feast, to which all the
+	rich and noble of the land were invited, exceeded in its
+	magnificence and splendour any other festival ever seen or
+	heard of.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="the_end">
+	<p class="endline">THE END</p>
+
+	<p class="printer">Printed by <strong class="special_name">Ballantyne, Hanson &amp; Co.</strong><br />
+	Edinburgh and London</p>
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and
+Herdsmen, by Alexander Chodsko
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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and
+Herdsmen, by Alexander Chodsko
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and Herdsmen
+
+Author: Alexander Chodsko
+
+Illustrator: Emily J. Harding
+
+Translator: Emily J. Harding
+
+Release Date: May 22, 2008 [EBook #25555]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIRY TALES OF SLAV PEASANTS ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+SLAV TALES
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration: _From "The Plentiful Tablecloth," p. 351._]
+
+
+
+
+Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and Herdsmen
+
+From the French of Alex. Chodsko
+
+Translated and Illustrated by Emily J. Harding
+
+
+London: George Allen
+156 Charing Cross Road
+
+1896
+
+
+Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co.
+At the Ballantyne Press
+
+
+
+
+NOTE BY THE PUBLISHER
+
+
+Very few of the twenty fairy tales included in this volume have been
+presented before in an English dress; this will doubtless enhance
+their value in the eyes of the young folk, for whom, principally, they
+are intended. It is hoped that older readers will find some additional
+interest in tracing throughout the many evidences of kinship between
+these stories and those of more pronounced Eastern origin.
+
+The translation has been carefully revised by a well-known writer, who
+has interfered as little as possible with the original text, except in
+those instances where slight alterations were necessary.
+
+The illustrations speak for themselves, and are what might have been
+expected from the artist who designed those for the "Lullabies of Many
+Lands," issued last Christmas.
+
+_November 1895._
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+  THE ABODE OF THE GODS--
+      I. THE TWO BROTHERS
+     II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS
+    III. THE TWELVE MONTHS
+
+  THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE
+
+  KOVLAD--
+      I. THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM
+     II. THE LOST CHILD
+
+  THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD
+
+  THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON
+
+  THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD
+
+  THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING,
+        AND THE SMITING CLUB
+
+  THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME
+
+  THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT
+
+  THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES
+
+  THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND
+
+  IMPERISHABLE
+
+  OHNIVAK
+
+  TEARS OF PEARLS
+
+  THE SLUGGARD
+
+  KINKACH MARTINKO
+
+  THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND,
+        THE SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
+
+
+  FRONTISPIECE
+
+  THE ABODE OF THE GODS--
+      I. THE TWO BROTHERS.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+     II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+    III. THE TWELVE MONTHS.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  KOVLAD--
+      I. THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+     II. THE LOST CHILD.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING,
+        AND THE SMITING CLUB.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+  IMPERISHABLE.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Half-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  OHNIVAK.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  TEARS OF PEARLS.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE SLUGGARD.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  KINKACH MARTINKO.
+          _Heading_
+          _Full-page design_
+
+  THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND,
+        THE SASH THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET.
+          _Heading_
+          _Half-page design_
+
+
+
+
+THE ABODE OF THE GODS
+
+    I. THE TWO BROTHERS
+   II. TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS
+  III. THE TWELVE MONTHS
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: The Two Brothers]
+
+Once upon a time there were two brothers whose father had left them
+but a small fortune. The eldest grew very rich, but at the same time
+cruel and wicked, whereas there was nowhere a more honest or kinder
+man than the younger. But he remained poor, and had many children, so
+that at times they could scarcely get bread to eat. At last, one day
+there was not even this in the house, so he went to his rich brother
+and asked him for a loaf of bread. Waste of time! His rich brother
+only called him beggar and vagabond, and slammed the door in his face.
+
+The poor fellow, after this brutal reception, did not know which way
+to turn. Hungry, scantily clad, shivering with cold, his legs could
+scarcely carry him along. He had not the heart to go home, with
+nothing for the children, so he went towards the mountain forest. But
+all he found there were some wild pears that had fallen to the ground.
+He had to content himself with eating these, though they set his teeth
+on edge. But what was he to do to warm himself, for the east wind with
+its chill blast pierced him through and through. "Where shall I go?"
+he said; "what will become of us in the cottage? There is neither food
+nor fire, and my brother has driven me from his door." It was just
+then he remembered having heard that the top of the mountain in front
+of him was made of crystal, and had a fire for ever burning upon it.
+"I will try and find it," he said, "and then I may be able to warm
+myself a little." So he went on climbing higher and higher till he
+reached the top, when he was startled to see twelve strange beings
+sitting round a huge fire. He stopped for a moment, but then said to
+himself, "What have I to lose? Why should I fear? God is with me.
+Courage!"
+
+So he advanced towards the fire, and bowing respectfully, said: "Good
+people, take pity on my distress. I am very poor, no one cares for me,
+I have not even a fire in my cottage; will you let me warm myself at
+yours?" They all looked kindly at him, and one of them said: "My son,
+come sit down with us and warm yourself."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+So he sat down, and felt warm directly he was near them. But he dared
+not speak while they were silent. What astonished him most was that
+they changed seats one after another, and in such a way that each one
+passed round the fire and came back to his own place. When he drew
+near the fire an old man with long white beard and bald head arose
+from the flames and spoke to him thus:
+
+"Man, waste not thy life here; return to thy cottage, work, and live
+honestly. Take as many embers as thou wilt, we have more than we
+need."
+
+And having said this he disappeared. Then the twelve filled a large
+sack with embers, and, putting it on the poor man's shoulders, advised
+him to hasten home.
+
+Humbly thanking them, he set off. As he went he wondered why the
+embers did not feel hot, and why they should weigh no more than a sack
+of paper. He was thankful that he should be able to have a fire, but
+imagine his astonishment when on arriving home he found the sack to
+contain as many gold pieces as there had been embers; he almost went
+out of his mind with joy at the possession of so much money. With all
+his heart he thanked those who had been so ready to help him in his
+need.
+
+He was now rich, and rejoiced to be able to provide for his family.
+Being curious to find out how many gold pieces there were, and not
+knowing how to count, he sent his wife to his rich brother for the
+loan of a quart measure.
+
+This time the brother was in a better temper, so he lent what was
+asked of him, but said mockingly, "What can such beggars as you have
+to measure?"
+
+The wife replied, "Our neighbour owes us some wheat; we want to be
+sure he returns us the right quantity."
+
+The rich brother was puzzled, and suspecting something he, unknown to
+his sister-in-law, put some grease inside the measure. The trick
+succeeded, for on getting it back he found a piece of gold sticking to
+it. Filled with astonishment, he could only suppose his brother had
+joined a band of robbers: so he hurried to his brother's cottage, and
+threatened to bring him before the Justice of the Peace if he did not
+confess where the gold came from. The poor man was troubled, and,
+dreading to offend his brother, told the story of his journey to the
+Crystal Mountain.
+
+Now the elder brother had plenty of money for himself, yet he was
+envious of the brother's good fortune, and became greatly displeased
+when he found that his brother won every one's esteem by the good use
+he made of his wealth. At last he determined to visit the Crystal
+Mountain himself.
+
+"I may meet with as good luck as my brother," said he to himself.
+
+Upon reaching the Crystal Mountain he found the twelve seated round
+the fire as before, and thus addressed them:
+
+"I beg of you, good people, to let me warm myself, for it is bitterly
+cold, and I am poor and homeless."
+
+But one of them replied, "My son, the hour of thy birth was
+favourable; thou art rich, but a miser; thou art wicked, for thou hast
+dared to lie to us. Well dost thou deserve thy punishment."
+
+Amazed and terrified he stood silent, not daring to speak. Meanwhile
+the twelve changed places one after another, each at last returning to
+his own seat. Then from the midst of the flames arose the
+white-bearded old man and spoke thus sternly to the rich man:
+
+"Woe unto the wilful! Thy brother is virtuous, therefore have I
+blessed him. As for thee, thou art wicked, and so shalt not escape our
+vengeance."
+
+At these words the twelve arose. The first seized the unfortunate man,
+struck him, and passed him on to the second; the second also struck
+him and passed him on to the third; and so did they all in their turn,
+until he was given up to the old man, who disappeared with him into
+the fire.
+
+Days, weeks, months went by, but the rich man never returned, and none
+knew what had become of him. I think, between you and me, the younger
+brother had his suspicions but he very wisely kept them to himself.
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+II
+
+TIME AND THE KINGS OF THE ELEMENTS
+
+
+There was once a married pair who loved each other tenderly. The
+husband would not have given up his wife for all the riches in the
+world, while her first thought was how best to please him. So they
+were very happy, and lived like two grains in one ear of corn.
+
+One day while working in the fields, a great longing came over him to
+see her: so without waiting for the hour of sunset he ran home. Alas!
+she was not there. He looked high and low, he ran here, there, and
+everywhere, he wept, he called to her; in vain! his dear wife was not
+to be found.
+
+So heartbroken was he that he no longer cared to live. He could think
+of nothing but the loss of his dear wife and how to find her again. At
+last he determined to travel all over the world in search of her. So
+he began to walk straight on, trusting God to direct his steps. Sad
+and thoughtful, he wandered for many days, until he reached a cottage
+close by the shores of a large lake. Here he stopped, hoping to find
+out news. On entering the cottage he was met by a woman, who tried to
+prevent him entering.
+
+"What do you want here, unlucky wretch?" said she. "If my husband sees
+you, he will kill you instantly."
+
+"Who is your husband then?" asked the traveller.
+
+"What! you do not know him? My husband is the Water-King; everything
+under water obeys him. Depart quickly, for if he finds you here he
+will certainly devour you."
+
+"Perhaps after all he would take pity on me. But hide me somewhere,
+for I am worn and weary, and without shelter for the night."
+
+So the Water-Queen was persuaded, and hid him behind the stove. Almost
+immediately after the Water-King entered. He had barely crossed the
+threshold when he called out, "Wife, I smell human flesh; give it me
+quickly, for I am hungry." She dared not disobey him, and so she had
+to tell him of the traveller's hiding-place. The poor man became
+terribly frightened, and trembled in every limb, and began to stammer
+out excuses.
+
+"I assure you I have done no harm. I came here in search of news of my
+poor wife. Oh, do help me to find her; I cannot live without her."
+
+"Well," replied the Water-King, "as you love your wife so tenderly I
+will forgive you for coming here, but I cannot help you to find her,
+for I do not know where she is. Yet I remember seeing two ducks on the
+lake yesterday, perchance she is one of them. But I should advise you
+to ask my brother the Fire-King; he may be able to tell you more."
+
+Happy to have escaped so easily, he thanked the Water-King and set out
+to find the Fire-King. But the latter was unable to help him, and
+could only advise him to consult his other brother, the Air-King. But
+the Air-King, though he had travelled all over the earth, could only
+say he thought he had seen a woman at the foot of the Crystal
+Mountain.
+
+But the traveller was cheered at the news, and went to seek his wife
+at the foot of the Crystal Mountain, which was close to their cottage.
+On reaching it he began at once to climb the mountain by making his
+way up the bed of the torrent that came rushing down there. Several
+ducks that were in the pools near the waterfall called out, "My good
+man, don't go up there; you'll be killed."
+
+But he walked fearlessly on till he came to some thatched cottages, at
+the largest of which he stopped. Here a crowd of wizards and witches
+surrounded him, screaming at the top of their voices, "What are you
+looking for?"
+
+"My wife," said he.
+
+"She is here," they cried, "but you cannot take her away unless you
+recognise her among two hundred women all exactly like her."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"What! Not know my own wife? Why, here she is," said he, as he clasped
+her in his arms. And she, delighted to be with him again, kissed him
+fondly. Then she whispered:
+
+"Dearest, though you knew me to-day I doubt whether you will
+to-morrow, for there will be so many of us all alike. Now I will tell
+you what to do. At nightfall go to the top of the Crystal Mountain,
+where live the King of Time and his court. Ask him how you may know
+me. If you are good and honest he will help you; if not, he will
+devour you whole at one mouthful."
+
+"I will do what you advise, dear one," he replied, "but tell me, why
+did you leave me so suddenly? If you only knew what I have suffered! I
+have sought you all over the world."
+
+"I did not leave you willingly," said she. "A countryman asked me to
+come and look at the mountain torrent. When we got there he sprinkled
+some water over himself, and at once I saw wings growing out of his
+shoulders, and he soon changed his shape entirely into that of a
+drake; and I too became a duck at the same time, and whether I would
+or no I was obliged to follow him. Here I was allowed to resume my own
+form; and now there is but the one difficulty of being recognised by
+you."
+
+So they parted, she to join the other women, he to continue his way to
+the Crystal Mountain. At the top he found twelve strange beings
+sitting round a large fire: they were the attendants of the King of
+Time. He saluted them respectfully.
+
+"What dost thou want?" said they.
+
+"I have lost my dear wife. Can you tell me how to recognise her among
+two hundred other women all exactly alike?"
+
+"No," said they, "but perhaps our King can."
+
+Then arose from the midst of the flames an old man with bald head and
+long white beard, who, on hearing his request, replied: "Though all
+these women be exactly alike, thy wife will have a black thread in the
+shoe of her right foot."
+
+So saying he vanished, and the traveller, thanking the twelve,
+descended the mountain.
+
+Sure it is that without the black thread he would never have
+recognised her. And though the Magician tried to hide her, the spell
+was broken; and the two returned rejoicing to their home, where they
+lived happily ever after.
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+III
+
+THE TWELVE MONTHS
+
+
+There was once a widow who had two daughters, Helen, her own child by
+her dead husband, and Marouckla, his daughter by his first wife. She
+loved Helen, but hated the poor orphan, because she was far prettier
+than her own daughter. Marouckla did not think about her good looks,
+and could not understand why her stepmother should be angry at the
+sight of her. The hardest work fell to her share; she cleaned out the
+rooms, cooked, washed, sewed, spun, wove, brought in the hay, milked
+the cow, and all this without any help. Helen, meanwhile, did nothing
+but dress herself in her best clothes and go to one amusement after
+another. But Marouckla never complained; she bore the scoldings and
+bad temper of mother and sister with a smile on her lips, and the
+patience of a lamb. But this angelic behaviour did not soften them.
+They became even more tyrannical and grumpy, for Marouckla grew daily
+more beautiful, while Helen's ugliness increased. So the stepmother
+determined to get rid of Marouckla, for she knew that while she
+remained her own daughter would have no suitors. Hunger, every kind of
+privation, abuse, every means was used to make the girl's life
+miserable. The most wicked of men could not have been more mercilessly
+cruel than these two vixens. But in spite of it all Marouckla grew
+ever sweeter and more charming.
+
+One day in the middle of winter Helen wanted some wood-violets.
+
+"Listen," cried she to Marouckla; "you must go up the mountain and
+find me some violets, I want some to put in my gown; they must be
+fresh and sweet-scented--do you hear?"
+
+"But, my dear sister, who ever heard of violets blooming in the snow?"
+said the poor orphan.
+
+"You wretched creature! Do you dare to disobey me?" said Helen. "Not
+another word; off with you. If you do not bring me some violets from
+the mountain forest, I will kill you."
+
+The stepmother also added her threats to those of Helen, and with
+vigorous blows they pushed Marouckla outside and shut the door upon
+her. The weeping girl made her way to the mountain. The snow lay deep,
+and there was no trace of any human being. Long she wandered hither
+and thither, and lost herself in the wood. She was hungry, and
+shivered with cold, and prayed to die. Suddenly she saw a light in the
+distance, and climbed towards it, till she reached the top of the
+mountain. Upon the highest peak burnt a large fire, surrounded by
+twelve blocks of stone, on which sat twelve strange beings. Of these
+the first three had white hair, three were not quite so old, three
+were young and handsome, and the rest still younger.
+
+There they all sate silently looking at the fire. They were the twelve
+months of the year. The great Setchene (January) was placed higher
+than the others; his hair and moustache were white as snow, and in his
+hand he held a wand. At first Marouckla was afraid, but after a while
+her courage returned, and drawing near she said:
+
+"Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? I am chilled by the
+winter cold."
+
+The great Setchene raised his head and answered:
+
+"What brings thee here, my daughter? What dost thou seek?"
+
+"I am looking for violets," replied the maiden.
+
+"This is not the season for violets; dost thou not see the snow
+everywhere?" said Setchene.
+
+"I know well, but my sister Helen and my stepmother have ordered me to
+bring them violets from your mountain: if I return without them they
+will kill me. I pray you, good shepherds, tell me where they may be
+found?"
+
+Here the great Setchene arose and went over to the youngest of the
+months, and placing his wand in his hand, said:
+
+"Brother Brezene (March), do thou take the highest place."
+
+Brezene obeyed, at the same time waving his wand over the fire.
+Immediately the flames rose towards the sky, the snow began to melt
+and the trees and shrubs to bud; the grass became green, and from
+between its blades peeped the pale primrose. It was Spring, and the
+meadows were blue with violets.
+
+"Gather them quickly, Marouckla," said Brezene.
+
+Joyfully she hastened to pick the flowers, and having soon a large
+bunch she thanked them and ran home. Helen and the stepmother were
+amazed at the sight of the flowers, the scent of which filled the
+house.
+
+"Where did you find them?" asked Helen.
+
+"Under the trees on the mountain slope," said Marouckla.
+
+Helen kept the flowers for herself and her mother; she did not even
+thank her step-sister for the trouble she had taken. The next day she
+desired Marouckla to fetch her strawberries.
+
+"Run," said she, "and fetch me strawberries from the mountain: they
+must be very sweet and ripe."
+
+"But who ever heard of strawberries ripening in the snow?" exclaimed
+Marouckla.
+
+"Hold your tongue, worm; don't answer me; if I don't have my
+strawberries I will kill you."
+
+Then the stepmother pushed her into the yard and bolted the door. The
+unhappy girl made her way towards the mountain and to the large fire
+round which sat the twelve months. The great Setchene occupied the
+highest place.
+
+"Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? The winter cold chills
+me," said she, drawing near.
+
+The great Setchene raised his head and asked:
+
+"Why comest thou here? What dost thou seek?"
+
+"I am looking for strawberries," said she.
+
+"We are in the midst of winter," replied Setchene; "strawberries do
+not grow in the snow."
+
+"I know," said the girl sadly, "but my sister and stepmother have
+ordered me to bring them strawberries; if I do not they will kill me.
+Pray, good shepherds, tell me where to find them."
+
+The great Setchene arose, crossed over to the month opposite him, and
+putting the wand into his hand, said:
+
+"Brother Tchervene (June), do thou take the highest place."
+
+Tchervene obeyed, and as he waved his wand over the fire the flames
+leapt towards the sky. Instantly the snow melted, the earth was
+covered with verdure, trees were clothed with leaves, birds began to
+sing, and various flowers blossomed in the forest. It was summer.
+Under the bushes masses of star-shaped flowers changed into ripening
+strawberries. Before Marouckla had time to cross herself they covered
+the glade, making it look like a sea of blood.
+
+"Gather them quickly, Marouckla," said Tchervene.
+
+Joyfully she thanked the months, and having filled her apron ran
+happily home. Helen and her mother wondered at seeing the
+strawberries, which filled the house with their delicious fragrance.
+
+"Wherever did you find them?" asked Helen crossly.
+
+"Right up among the mountains; those from under the beech trees are
+not bad."
+
+Helen gave a few to her mother and ate the rest herself; not one did
+she offer to her step-sister. Being tired of strawberries, on the
+third day she took a fancy for some fresh red apples.
+
+"Run, Marouckla," said she, "and fetch me fresh red apples from the
+mountain."
+
+"Apples in winter, sister? why, the trees have neither leaves nor
+fruit."
+
+"Idle slut, go this minute," said Helen; "unless you bring back apples
+we will kill you."
+
+As before, the stepmother seized her roughly and turned her out of the
+house. The poor girl went weeping up the mountain, across the deep
+snow upon which lay no human footprint, and on towards the fire round
+which were the twelve months. Motionless sat they, and on the highest
+stone was the great Setchene.
+
+"Men of God, may I warm myself at your fire? The winter cold chills
+me," said she, drawing near.
+
+The great Setchene raised his head.
+
+"Why com'st thou here? What dost thou seek?" asked he.
+
+"I am come to look for red apples," replied Marouckla.
+
+"But this is winter, and not the season for red apples," observed the
+great Setchene.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"I know," answered the girl, "but my sister and stepmother sent me to
+fetch red apples from the mountain; if I return without them they will
+kill me."
+
+Thereupon the great Setchene arose and went over to one of the elderly
+months, to whom he handed the wand, saying:
+
+"Brother Zare (September), do thou take the highest place."
+
+Zare moved to the highest stone and waved his wand over the fire.
+There was a flare of red flames, the snow disappeared, but the fading
+leaves which trembled on the trees were sent by a cold north-east wind
+in yellow masses to the glade. Only a few flowers of autumn were
+visible, such as the fleabane and red gillyflower, autumn colchicums
+in the ravine, and under the beeches bracken and tufts of northern
+heather. At first Marouckla looked in vain for red apples. Then she
+espied a tree which grew at a great height, and from the branches of
+this hung the bright red fruit. Zare ordered her to gather some
+quickly. The girl was delighted and shook the tree. First one apple
+fell, then another.
+
+"That is enough," said Zare, "hurry home."
+
+Thanking the months, she returned joyfully. Helen marvelled and the
+stepmother wondered at seeing the fruit.
+
+"Where did you gather them?" asked the step-sister.
+
+"There are more on the mountain top," answered Marouckla.
+
+"Then why did you not bring more?" said Helen angrily; "you must have
+eaten them on your way back, you wicked girl."
+
+"No, dear sister, I have not even tasted them," said Marouckla. "I
+shook the tree twice; one apple fell each time. I was not allowed to
+shake it again, but was told to return home."
+
+"May Perum smite you with his thunderbolt," said Helen, striking her.
+
+Marouckla prayed to die rather than suffer such ill-treatment. Weeping
+bitterly, she took refuge in the kitchen. Helen and her mother found
+the apples more delicious than any they had ever tasted, and when they
+had eaten both longed for more.
+
+"Listen, mother," said Helen. "Give me my cloak; I will fetch some
+more apples myself, or else that good-for-nothing wretch will eat them
+all on the way. I shall be able to find the mountain and the tree. The
+shepherds may cry 'Stop,' but I shall not leave go till I have shaken
+down all the apples."
+
+In spite of her mother's advice she put on her pelisse, covered her
+head with a warm hood, and took the road to the mountain. The mother
+stood and watched her till she was lost in the distance.
+
+Snow covered everything, not a human footprint was to be seen on its
+surface. Helen lost herself and wandered hither and thither. After a
+while she saw a light above her, and following in its direction
+reached the mountain top. There was the flaming fire, the twelve
+blocks of stone, and the twelve months. At first she was frightened
+and hesitated; then she came nearer and warmed her hands. She did not
+ask permission, nor did she speak one polite word.
+
+"What has brought thee here? What dost thou seek?" said the great
+Setchene severely.
+
+"I am not obliged to tell you, old greybeard; what business is it of
+yours?" she replied disdainfully, turning her back on the fire and
+going towards the forest.
+
+The great Setchene frowned, and waved his wand over his head.
+Instantly the sky became covered with clouds, the fire went down, snow
+fell in large flakes, an icy wind howled round the mountain. Amid the
+fury of the storm Helen added curses against her step-sister. The
+pelisse failed to warm her benumbed limbs. The mother kept on waiting
+for her; she looked from the window, she watched from the doorstep,
+but her daughter came not. The hours passed slowly, but Helen did not
+return.
+
+"Can it be that the apples have charmed her from her home?" thought
+the mother. Then she clad herself in hood and pelisse and went in
+search of her daughter. Snow fell in huge masses; it covered all
+things, it lay untouched by human footsteps. For long she wandered
+hither and thither; the icy north-east wind whistled in the mountain,
+but no voice answered her cries.
+
+Day after day Marouckla worked and prayed, and waited; but neither
+stepmother nor sister returned, they had been frozen to death on the
+mountain. The inheritance of a small house, a field, and a cow fell to
+Marouckla. In course of time an honest farmer came to share them with
+her, and their lives were happy and peaceful.
+
+
+
+
+THE SUN OR THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE SUN; OR, THE THREE GOLDEN HAIRS OF THE OLD MAN VSEVEDE
+
+
+Can this be a true story? It is said that once there was a king who
+was exceedingly fond of hunting the wild beasts in his forests. One
+day he followed a stag so far and so long that he lost his way. Alone
+and overtaken by night, he was glad to find himself near a small
+thatched cottage in which lived a charcoal-burner.
+
+"Will you kindly show me the way to the high-road? You shall be
+handsomely rewarded."
+
+"I would willingly," said the charcoal-burner, "but God is going to
+send my wife a little child, and I cannot leave her alone. Will you
+pass the night under our roof? There is a truss of sweet hay in the
+loft where you may rest, and to-morrow morning I will be your guide."
+
+The king accepted the invitation and went to bed in the loft. Shortly
+after a son was born to the charcoal-burner's wife. But the king could
+not sleep. At midnight he heard noises in the house, and looking
+through a crack in the flooring he saw the charcoal-burner asleep, his
+wife almost in a faint, and by the side of the newly-born babe three
+old women dressed in white, each holding a lighted taper in her hand,
+and all talking together. Now these were the three Soudiche or Fates,
+you must know.
+
+The first said, "On this boy I bestow the gift of confronting great
+dangers."
+
+The second said, "I bestow the power of happily escaping all these
+dangers, and of living to a good old age."
+
+The third said, "I bestow upon him for wife the princess born at the
+selfsame hour as he, and daughter of the very king sleeping above in
+the loft."
+
+At these words the lights went out and silence reigned around.
+
+Now the king was greatly troubled, and wondered exceedingly; he felt
+as if he had received a sword-thrust in the chest. He lay awake all
+night thinking how to prevent the words of the Fates from coming true.
+
+With the first glimmer of morning light the baby began to cry. The
+charcoal-burner, on going over to it, found that his wife was dead.
+
+"Poor little orphan," he said sadly, "what will become of thee without
+a mother's care?"
+
+"Confide this child to me," said the king, "I will look after it. He
+shall be well provided for. You shall be given a sum of money large
+enough to keep you without having to burn charcoal."
+
+The poor man gladly agreed, and the king went away promising to send
+some one for the child. The queen and courtiers thought it would be an
+agreeable surprise for the king to hear that a charming little
+princess had been born on the night he was away. But instead of being
+pleased he frowned, and calling one of his servants, said to him, "Go
+to the charcoal-burner's cottage in the forest, and give the man this
+purse in exchange for a new-born infant. On your way back drown the
+child. See well that he is drowned, for if he should in any way
+escape, you yourself shall suffer in his place."
+
+The servant was given the child in a basket, and on reaching the
+centre of a narrow bridge that stretched across a wide and deep river,
+he threw both basket and baby into the water.
+
+"A prosperous journey to you, Mr. Son-in-Law," said the king, on
+hearing the servant's story: for he fully believed the child was
+drowned. But it was far from being the case; the little one was
+floating happily along in its basket cradle, and slumbering as sweetly
+as if his mother had sung him to sleep. Now it happened that a
+fisherman, who was mending his nets before his cottage door, saw the
+basket floating down the river. He jumped at once into his boat,
+picked it up, and ran to tell his wife the good news.
+
+"Look," said he, "you have always longed for a son; here is a
+beautiful little boy the river has sent us."
+
+The woman was delighted, and took the infant and loved it as her own
+child. They named him _Plavacek_ (the floater), because he had come to
+them floating on the water.
+
+The river flowed on. Years passed away. The little baby grew into a
+handsome youth; in all the villages round there were none to compare
+with him. Now it happened that one summer day the king was riding
+unattended. And the heat being very great he reined in his horse
+before the fisherman's door to ask for a drink of water. Plavacek
+brought the water. The king looked at him attentively, then turning to
+the fisherman, said, "That is a good-looking lad; is he your son?"
+
+"He is and he isn't," replied the fisherman. "I found him, when he was
+quite a tiny baby, floating down the stream in a basket. So we adopted
+him and brought him up as our own son."
+
+The king turned as pale as death, for he guessed that he was the same
+child he had ordered to be drowned. Then recovering himself he got
+down from his horse and said: "I want a trusty messenger to take a
+letter to the palace, could you send him with it?"
+
+"With pleasure! Your majesty may be sure of its safe delivery."
+
+Thereupon the king wrote to the queen as follows--
+
+    "The man who brings you this letter is the most dangerous of all
+    my enemies. Have his head cut off at once; no delay, no pity, he
+    must be executed before my return. Such is my will and
+    pleasure."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+This he carefully folded and sealed with the royal seal.
+
+Plavacek took the letter and set off immediately. But the forest
+through which he had to pass was so large, and the trees so thick,
+that he missed the path and was overtaken by the darkness before the
+journey was nearly over. In the midst of his trouble he met an old
+woman who said, "Where are you going, Plavacek? Where are you going?"
+
+"I am the bearer of a letter from the king to the queen, but have
+missed the path to the palace. Could you, good mother, put me on the
+right road?"
+
+"Impossible to-day, my child; it is getting dark, and you would not
+have time to get there. Stay with me to-night. You will not be with
+strangers, for I am your godmother."
+
+Plavacek agreed. Thereupon they entered a pretty little cottage that
+seemed suddenly to sink into the earth. Now while he slept the old
+woman changed his letter for another, which ran thus:--
+
+    "Immediately upon the receipt of this letter introduce the
+    bearer to the princess our daughter. I have chosen this young
+    man for my son-in-law, and it is my wish they should be married
+    before my return to the palace. Such is my pleasure."
+
+The letter was duly delivered, and when the queen had read it, she
+ordered everything to be prepared for the wedding. Both she and her
+daughter greatly enjoyed Plavacek's society, and nothing disturbed the
+happiness of the newly married pair.
+
+Within a few days the king returned, and on hearing what had taken
+place was very angry with the queen.
+
+"But you expressly bade me have the wedding before your return. Come,
+read your letter again, here it is," said she.
+
+He closely examined the letter; the paper, handwriting, seal--all were
+undoubtedly his. He then called his son-in-law, and questioned him
+about his journey. Plavacek hid nothing: he told how he had lost his
+way, and how he had passed the night in a cottage in the forest.
+
+"What was the old woman like?" asked the king.
+
+From Plavacek's description the king knew it was the very same who,
+twenty years before, had foretold the marriage of the princess with
+the charcoal-burner's son. After some moments' thought the king said,
+"What is done is done. But you will not become my son-in-law so
+easily. No, i' faith! As a wedding present you must bring me three
+golden hairs from the head of Dede-Vsevede."
+
+In this way he thought to get rid of his son-in-law, whose very
+presence was distasteful to him. The young fellow took leave of his
+wife and set off. "I know not which way to go," said he to himself,
+"but my godmother the witch will surely help me."
+
+But he found the way easily enough. He walked on and on and on for a
+long time over mountain, valley, and river, until he reached the
+shores of the Black Sea. There he found a boat and boatman.
+
+"May God bless you, old boatman," said he.
+
+"And you, too, my young traveller. Where are you going?"
+
+"To Dede-Vsevede's castle for three of his golden hairs."
+
+"Ah, then you are very welcome. For a long weary while I have been
+waiting for such a messenger as you. I have been ferrying passengers
+across for these twenty years, and not one of them has done anything
+to help me. If you will promise to ask Dede-Vsevede when I shall be
+released from my toil I will row you across."
+
+Plavacek promised, and was rowed to the opposite bank. He continued
+his journey on foot until he came in sight of a large town half in
+ruins, near which was passing a funeral procession. The king of that
+country was following his father's coffin, and with the tears running
+down his cheeks.
+
+"May God comfort you in your distress," said Plavacek.
+
+"Thank you, good traveller. Where are you going?"
+
+"To the house of Dede-Vsevede in quest of three of his golden hairs."
+
+"To the house of Dede-Vsevede? indeed! What a pity you did not come
+sooner, we have long been expecting such a messenger as you. Come and
+see me by and bye."
+
+When Plavacek presented himself at court the king said to him:
+
+"We understand you are on your way to the house of Dede-Vsevede? Now
+we have an apple-tree here that bears the fruit of everlasting youth.
+One of these apples eaten by a man, even though he be dying, will cure
+him and make him young again. For the last twenty years neither fruit
+nor flower has been found on this tree. Will you ask Dede-Vsevede the
+cause of it?"
+
+"That I will, with pleasure."
+
+Then Plavacek continued his journey, and as he went he came to a large
+and beautiful city where all was sad and silent. Near the gate was an
+old man who leant on a stick and walked with difficulty.
+
+"May God bless you, good old man."
+
+"And you, too, my handsome young traveller. Where are you going?"
+
+"To Dede-Vsevede's palace in search of three of his golden hairs."
+
+"Ah, you are the very messenger I have so long waited for. Allow me to
+take you to my master the king."
+
+On their arrival at the palace, the king said, "I hear you are an
+ambassador to Dede-Vsevede. We have here a well, the water of which
+renews itself. So wonderful are its effects that invalids are
+immediately cured on drinking it, while a few drops sprinkled on a
+corpse will bring it to life again. For the past twenty years this
+well has remained dry: if you will ask old Dede-Vsevede how the flow
+of water may be restored I will reward you royally."
+
+Plavacek promised to do so, and was dismissed with good wishes. He
+then travelled through deep dark forests, in the midst of which might
+be seen a large meadow; out of it grew lovely flowers, and in the
+centre stood a castle built of gold. It was the home of Dede-Vsevede.
+So brilliant with light was it that it seemed to be built of fire.
+When he entered there was no one there but an old woman spinning.
+
+"Greeting, Plavacek, I am well pleased to see you."
+
+She was his godmother, who had given him shelter in her cottage when
+he was the bearer of the king's letter.
+
+"Tell me what brings you here from such a distance," she went on.
+
+"The king would not have me for his son-in-law, unless I first got him
+three golden hairs from the head of Dede-Vsevede. So he sent me here
+to fetch them."
+
+The Fate laughed. "Dede-Vsevede indeed! Why, I am his mother, it is
+the shining sun himself. He is a child at morning time, a grown man at
+midday, a decrepit old man, looking as if he had lived a hundred
+years, at eventide. But I will see that you have the three hairs from
+his head; I am not your godmother for nothing. All the same you must
+not remain here. My son is a good lad, but when he comes home he is
+hungry, and would very probably order you to be roasted for his
+supper. Now I will turn this empty bucket upside down, and you shall
+hide underneath it."
+
+Plavacek begged the Fate to obtain from Dede-Vsevede the answers to
+the three questions he had been asked.
+
+"I will do so certainly, but you must listen to what he says."
+
+Suddenly a blast of wind howled round the palace, and the Sun entered
+by a western window. He was an old man with golden hair.
+
+"I smell human flesh," cried he, "I am sure of it. Mother, you have
+some one here."
+
+"Star of day," she replied, "whom could I have here that you would not
+see sooner than I? The fact is that in your daily journeys the scent
+of human flesh is always with you, so when you come home at evening it
+clings to you still."
+
+The old man said nothing, and sat down to supper. When he had finished
+he laid his golden head on the Fate's lap and went to sleep. Then she
+pulled out a hair and threw it on the ground. It fell with a metallic
+sound like the vibration of a guitar string.
+
+"What do you want, mother?" asked he.
+
+"Nothing, my son; I was sleeping, and had a strange dream."
+
+"What was it, mother?"
+
+"I thought I was in a place where there was a well, and the well was
+fed from a spring, the water of which cured all diseases. Even the
+dying were restored to health on drinking that water, and the dead who
+were sprinkled with it came to life again. For the last twenty years
+the well has run dry. What must be done to restore the flow of water?"
+
+"That is very simple. A frog has lodged itself in the opening of the
+spring, this prevents the flow of water. Kill the frog, and the water
+will return to the well."
+
+He slept again, and the old woman pulled out another golden hair, and
+threw it on the ground.
+
+"Mother, what do you want?"
+
+"Nothing, my son, nothing; I was dreaming. In my dream I saw a large
+town, the name of which I have forgotten. And there grew an apple-tree
+the fruit of which had the power to make the old young again. A single
+apple eaten by an old man would restore to him the vigour and
+freshness of youth. For twenty years this tree has not borne fruit.
+What can be done to make it fruitful?"
+
+"The means are not difficult. A snake hidden among the roots destroys
+the sap. Kill the snake, transplant the tree, and the fruit will grow
+as before."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+He again fell asleep, and the old woman pulled out another golden
+hair.
+
+"Now look here, mother, why will you not let me sleep?" said the old
+man, really vexed; and he would have got up.
+
+"Lie down, my darling son, do not disturb yourself. I am sorry I awoke
+you, but I have had a very strange dream. It seemed that I saw a
+boatman on the shores of the Black Sea, and he complained that he had
+been toiling at the ferry for twenty years without any one having come
+to take his place. For how much longer must this poor old man continue
+to row?"
+
+"He is a silly fellow. He has but to place his oars in the hands of
+the first comer and jump ashore. Whoever receives the oars will
+replace him as ferryman. But leave me in peace now, mother, and do not
+wake me again. I have to rise very early, and must first dry the eyes
+of a princess. The poor thing spends all night weeping for her husband
+who has been sent by the king to get three of my golden hairs."
+
+Next morning the wind whistled round Dede-Vsevede's palace, and
+instead of an old man, a beautiful child with golden hair awoke on the
+old woman's lap. It was the glorious sun. He bade her good-bye, and
+flew out of the eastern window. The old woman turned up the bucket and
+said to Plavacek, "Look, here are the three golden hairs. You now know
+the answers to your questions. May God direct you and send you a
+prosperous journey. You will not see me again, for you will have no
+further need of me."
+
+He thanked her gratefully and left her. On arriving at the town with
+the dried-up well, he was questioned by the king as to what news he
+had brought.
+
+"Have the well carefully cleaned out," said he, "kill the frog that
+obstructs the spring, and the wonderful water will flow again."
+
+The king did as he was advised, and rejoiced to see the water return.
+He gave Plavacek twelve swan-white horses, and as much gold and silver
+as they could carry.
+
+On reaching the second town and being asked by the king what news he
+had brought, he replied, "Excellent; one could not wish for better.
+Dig up your apple-tree, kill the snake that lies among the roots,
+transplant the tree, and it will produce apples like those of former
+times."
+
+And all turned out as he had said, for no sooner was the tree
+replanted than it was covered with blossoms that gave it the
+appearance of a sea of roses. The delighted king gave him twelve
+raven-black horses, laden with as much wealth as they could carry. He
+then journeyed to the shores of the Black Sea. There the boatman
+questioned him as to what news he had brought respecting his release.
+Plavacek first crossed with his twenty-four horses to the opposite
+bank, and then replied that the boatman might gain his freedom by
+placing the oars in the hands of the first traveller who wished to be
+ferried over.
+
+Plavacek's royal father-in-law could not believe his eyes when he saw
+Dede-Vsevede's three golden hairs. As for the princess, his young
+wife, she wept tears, but of joy, not sadness, to see her dear one
+again, and she said to him, "How did you get such splendid horses and
+so much wealth, dear husband?"
+
+And he answered her, "All this represents the price paid for the
+weariness of spirit I have felt; it is the ready money for hardships
+endured and services given. Thus, I showed one king how to regain
+possession of the Apples of Youth: to another I told the secret of
+reopening the spring of water that gives health and life."
+
+"Apples of Youth! Water of Life!" interrupted the king. "I will
+certainly go and find these treasures for myself. Ah, what joy! having
+eaten of these apples I shall become young again; having drunk of the
+Water of Immortality, I shall live for ever."
+
+And he started off in search of these treasures. But he has not yet
+returned from his search.
+
+
+
+
+KOVLAD
+
+    I. THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM
+   II. THE LOST CHILD
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+I
+
+THE SOVEREIGN OF THE MINERAL KINGDOM
+
+
+Once upon a time, and a long long time ago it was, there lived a widow
+who had a very pretty daughter. The mother, good honest woman, was
+quite content with her station in life. But with the daughter it was
+otherwise; she, like a spoilt beauty, looked contemptuously upon her
+many admirers, her mind was full of proud and ambitious thoughts, and
+the more lovers she had, the prouder she became.
+
+One beautiful moonlight night the mother awoke, and being unable to
+sleep, began to pray God for the happiness of her only child, though
+she often made her mother's life miserable. The fond woman looked
+lovingly at the beautiful daughter sleeping by her side, and she
+wondered, as she saw her smile, what happy dream had visited her. Then
+she finished her prayer, and laying her head on the girl's pillow,
+fell asleep. Next day she said, "Come, darling child, tell me what you
+were dreaming about last night, you looked so happy smiling in your
+sleep."
+
+"Oh yes, mother, I remember. I had a very beautiful dream. I thought a
+rich nobleman came to our house, in a splendid carriage of brass, and
+gave me a ring set with stones, that sparkled like the stars of
+heaven. When I entered the church with him, it was full of people, and
+they all thought me divine and adorable, like the Blessed Virgin."
+
+"Ah! my child, what sin! May God keep you from such dreams."
+
+But the daughter ran away singing, and busied herself about the house.
+The same day a handsome young farmer drove into the village in his
+cart and begged them to come and share his country bread. He was a
+kind fellow, and the mother liked him much. But the daughter refused
+his invitation, and insulted him into the bargain.
+
+"Even if you had driven in a carriage of brass," she said, "and had
+offered me a ring set with stones shining as the stars in heaven, I
+would never have married you--you, a mere peasant!"
+
+The young farmer was terribly upset at her words, and with a prayer
+for her soul, returned home a saddened man. But her mother scolded and
+reproached her.
+
+The next night the woman again awoke, and taking her rosary prayed
+with still greater fervour, that God would bless her child. This time
+the girl laughed as she slept.
+
+"What can the poor child be dreaming about?" she said to herself: and
+sighing she prayed for her again. Then she laid her head upon her
+pillow and tried in vain to sleep. In the morning, when her daughter
+was dressing, she said: "Well, my dear, you were dreaming again last
+night, and laughing like a maniac."
+
+"Was I? Listen, I dreamt a nobleman came for me in a silver carriage,
+and gave me a golden diadem. When I entered the church with him, the
+people admired and worshipped me more than the Blessed Virgin."
+
+"Ay me, what a terrible dream! what a wicked dream! Pray God not to
+lead you into temptation."
+
+Then she scolded her daughter severely and went out, slamming the door
+after her. That same day a carriage drove into the village, and some
+gentlemen invited mother and daughter to share the bread of the lord
+of the manor. The mother considered such an offer a great honour, but
+the daughter refused it and replied to the gentlemen scornfully: "Even
+if you had come to fetch me in a carriage of solid silver and had
+presented me with a golden diadem, I would never have consented to be
+the wife of your lord."
+
+The gentlemen turned away in disgust and returned home; the mother
+rebuked her severely for so much pride.
+
+"Miserable, foolish girl!" she cried, "pride is a breath from hell. It
+is your duty to be humble, honest, and sweet-tempered."
+
+The daughter replied by a laugh.
+
+The third night she slept soundly, but the poor woman at her side
+could not close her eyes. Tormented with dark forebodings, she feared
+some misfortune was about to happen, and counted her beads, praying
+fervently. All at once the young sleeper began to sneer and laugh.
+
+"Merciful God! ah me!" cried the poor woman, "what are these dreams
+that worry her poor brain!"
+
+In the morning she said, "What made you sneer so frightfully last
+night? You must have had bad dreams again, my poor child."
+
+"Now, mother, you look as if you were going to preach again."
+
+"No, no; but I want to know what you were dreaming about."
+
+"Well, I dreamt some one drove up in a golden carriage and asked me to
+marry him, and he brought me a mantle of cloth of pure gold. When we
+came into church, the crowd pressed forward to kneel before me."
+
+The mother wrung her hands piteously, and the girl left the room to
+avoid hearing her lamentations. That same day three carriages entered
+the yard, one of brass, one of silver, and one of gold. The first was
+drawn by two, the second by three, the third by four magnificent
+horses. Gentlemen wearing scarlet gloves and green mantles got out of
+the brass and silver carriages, while from the golden carriage
+alighted a prince who, as the sun shone on him, looked as if he were
+dressed in gold. They all made their way to the widow and asked for
+her daughter's hand.
+
+"I fear we are not worthy of so much honour," replied the widow
+meekly, but when the daughter's eyes fell upon her suitor she
+recognised in him the lover of her dreams, and withdrew to weave an
+aigrette of many-coloured feathers. In exchange for this aigrette
+which she offered her bridegroom, he placed upon her finger a ring set
+with stones that shone like the stars in heaven, and over her
+shoulders a mantle of cloth of gold. The young bride, beside herself
+with joy, retired to complete her toilette. Meanwhile the anxious
+mother, a prey to the blackest forebodings, said to her son-in-law,
+"My daughter has consented to share your bread, tell me of what sort
+of flour it is made?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"In our house we have bread of brass, of silver, and of gold; my wife
+will be free to choose."
+
+Such a reply astonished her more than ever, and made her still more
+unhappy. The daughter asked no questions, was in fact content to know
+nothing, not even what her mother suffered. She looked magnificent in
+her bridal attire and golden mantle, but she left her home with the
+prince without saying good-bye either to her mother or to her youthful
+companions. Neither did she ask her mother's blessing, though the
+latter wept and prayed for her safety.
+
+After the marriage ceremony they mounted the golden carriage and set
+off, followed by the attendants of silver and brass. The procession
+moved slowly along the road without stopping until it reached the foot
+of a high rock. Here, instead of a carriage entrance, was a large
+cavern which led out into a steep slope down which the horses went
+lower and lower. The giant _Zemo-tras_ (he who makes the earthquakes)
+closed the opening with a huge stone. They made their way in darkness
+for some time, the terrified bride being reassured by her husband.
+
+"Fear nothing," said he, "in a little while it will be clear and
+beautiful."
+
+Grotesque dwarfs, carrying lighted torches, appeared on all sides,
+saluted and welcomed their King Kovlad as they illumined the road for
+him and his attendants. Then for the first time the girl knew she had
+married Kovlad, but this mattered little to her. On coming out from
+these gloomy passages into the open they found themselves surrounded
+by large forests and mountains, mountains that seemed to touch the
+sky. And, strange to relate, all the trees of whatsoever kind, and
+even the mountains that seemed to touch the sky, were of solid lead.
+When they had crossed these marvellous mountains the giant Zemo-tras
+closed all the openings in the road they had passed. They then drove
+out upon vast and beautiful plains, in the centre of which was a
+golden palace covered with precious stones. The bride was weary with
+looking at so many wonders, and gladly sat down to the feast prepared
+by the dwarfs. Meats of many kinds were served, roast and boiled, but
+lo! they were of metal--brass, silver, and gold. Every one ate
+heartily and enjoyed the food, but the young wife, with tears in her
+eyes, begged for a piece of bread.
+
+"Certainly, madam, with pleasure," answered Kovlad. But she could not
+eat the bread which was brought, for it was of brass. Then the king
+sent for a piece of silver bread, still she could not eat it; and
+again for a slice of golden bread, that too she was unable to bite.
+The servants did all they could to get something to their mistress's
+taste, but she found it impossible to eat anything.
+
+"I should be most happy to gratify you," said Kovlad "but we have no
+other kind of food."
+
+Then she realised for the first time in whose power she had placed
+herself, and she began to weep bitterly and wish she had taken her
+mother's advice.
+
+"It is of no use to weep and regret," said Kovlad, "you must have
+known the kind of bread you would have to break here; your wish has
+been fulfilled."
+
+And so it was, for nothing can recall the past. The wretched girl was
+obliged henceforth to live underground with her husband Kovlad, the
+God of Metals, in his golden palace. And this because she had set her
+heart upon nothing but the possession of gold, and had never wished
+for anything better.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+II
+
+THE LOST CHILD
+
+
+Long long ago there lived a very rich nobleman. But though he was so
+rich he was not happy, for he had no children to whom he could leave
+his wealth. He was, besides, no longer young. Every day he and his
+wife went to church to pray for a son. At last, after long waiting,
+God sent them what they desired. Now the evening before its arrival
+the father dreamed that its chance of living would depend upon one
+condition, namely, that its feet never touched the earth until it was
+twelve years old. Great care was taken that this should be avoided,
+and when the little stranger came, only trustworthy nurses were
+employed to look after him. As the years passed on the child was
+diligently guarded, sometimes he was carried in his nurses' arms,
+sometimes rocked in his golden cradle, but his feet never touched the
+ground.
+
+Now when the end of the time drew near the father began preparations
+for a magnificent feast which should be given to celebrate his son's
+release. One day while these were in progress a frightful noise,
+followed by most unearthly yells, shook the castle. The nurse dropped
+the child in her terror and ran to the window: that instant the noises
+ceased. On turning to take up the boy, imagine her dismay when she
+found him no longer there, and remembered that she had disobeyed her
+master's orders.
+
+Hearing her screams and lamentations, all the servants of the castle
+ran to her. The father soon followed, asking, "What is the matter?
+What has happened? Where is my child?" The nurse, trembling and
+weeping, told of the disappearance of his son, his only child. No
+words can tell the anguish of the father's heart. He sent servants in
+every direction to hunt for his boy, he gave orders, he begged and
+prayed, he threw away money right and left, he promised everything if
+only his son might be restored to him. Search was made without loss of
+time, but no trace of him could be discovered; he had vanished as
+completely as if he had never existed.
+
+Many years later the unhappy nobleman learnt that in one of the most
+beautiful rooms of the castle, footsteps, as of some one walking up
+and down, and dismal groans, were heard every midnight. Anxious to
+follow the matter up, for he thought it might in some way concern his
+lost son, he made known that a reward of three hundred gold pieces
+would be given to any one who would watch for one whole night in the
+haunted room. Many were willing, but had not the courage to stay till
+the end; for at midnight, when the dismal groans were heard, they
+would run away rather than risk their lives for three hundred gold
+pieces. The poor father was in despair, and knew not how to discover
+the truth of this dark mystery.
+
+Now close to the castle dwelt a widow, a miller by trade, who had
+three daughters. They were very poor, and hardly earned enough for
+their daily needs. When they heard of the midnight noises in the
+castle and the promised reward, the eldest daughter said, "As we are
+so very poor we have nothing to lose; surely we might try to earn
+these three hundred gold pieces by remaining in the room one night. I
+should like to try, mother, if you will let me."
+
+The mother shrugged her shoulders, she hardly knew what to say; but
+when she thought of their poverty and the difficulty they had to earn
+a living she gave permission for her eldest daughter to remain one
+night in the haunted room. Then the daughter went to ask the
+nobleman's consent.
+
+"Have you really the courage to watch for a whole night in a room
+haunted by ghosts? Are you sure you are not afraid, my good girl?"
+
+"I am willing to try this very night," she replied. "I would only ask
+you to give me some food to cook for my supper, for I am very hungry."
+
+Orders were given that she should be supplied with everything she
+wanted, and indeed enough food was given her, not for one supper only,
+but for three. With the food, some dry firewood and a candle, she
+entered the room. Like a good housewife, she first lit the fire and
+put on her saucepans, then she laid the table and made the bed. This
+filled up the early part of the evening. The time passed so quickly
+that she was surprised to hear the clock strike twelve, while at the
+last stroke, footsteps, as of some one walking, shook the room, and
+dismal groans filled the air. The frightened girl ran from one corner
+to the other, but could not see any one. But the footsteps and the
+groans did not cease. Suddenly a young man approached her and asked,
+"For whom is this food cooked?"
+
+"For myself," she said.
+
+The gentle face of the stranger saddened, and after a short silence he
+asked again, "And this table, for whom is it laid?"
+
+"For myself," she replied.
+
+The brow of the young man clouded over, and the beautiful blue eyes
+filled with tears as he asked once more, "And this bed, for whom have
+you made it?"
+
+"For myself," replied she in the same selfish and indifferent tone.
+
+Tears fell from his eyes as he waved his arms and vanished.
+
+Next morning she told the nobleman all that had happened, but without
+mentioning the painful impression her answers had made upon the
+stranger. The three hundred golden crowns were paid, and the father
+was thankful to have at last heard something that might possibly lead
+to the discovery of his son.
+
+On the following day the second daughter, having been told by her
+sister what to do and how to answer the stranger, went to the castle
+to offer her services. The nobleman willingly agreed, and orders were
+given that she should be provided with everything she might want.
+Without loss of time she entered the room, lit the fire, put on the
+saucepans, spread a white cloth upon the table, made the bed, and
+awaited the hour of midnight. When the young stranger appeared and
+asked, "For whom is this food prepared? for whom is the table laid?
+for whom is the bed made?" she answered as her sister had bidden her,
+"For me, for myself only."
+
+As on the night before, he burst into tears, waved his arms, and
+suddenly disappeared.
+
+Next morning she told the nobleman all that had happened except the
+sad impression her answers had made upon the stranger. The three
+hundred gold pieces were given her, and she went home.
+
+On the third day the youngest daughter wanted to try her fortune.
+
+"Sisters," said she, "as you have succeeded in earning three hundred
+gold crowns each, and so helping our dear mother, I too should like to
+do my part and remain a night in the haunted room."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now the widow loved her youngest daughter more dearly than the others,
+and dreaded to expose her to any danger; but as the elder ones had
+been successful, she allowed her to take her chance. So with the
+instructions from her sisters as to what she should do and say, and
+with the nobleman's consent and abundant provisions, she entered the
+haunted room. Having lit the fire, put on the saucepans, laid the
+table and made the bed, she awaited with hope and fear the hour of
+midnight.
+
+As twelve o'clock struck, the room was shaken by the footsteps of some
+one who walked up and down, and the air was filled with cries and
+groans. The girl looked everywhere, but no living being could she see.
+Suddenly there stood before her a young man who asked in a sweet
+voice, "For whom have you prepared this food?"
+
+Now her sisters had told her how to answer and how to act, but when
+she looked into the sad eyes of the stranger she resolved to treat him
+more kindly.
+
+"Well, you do not answer me; for whom is the food prepared?" he asked
+again impatiently, as she made no reply. Somewhat confused, she said,
+"I prepared it for myself, but you too are welcome to it."
+
+At these words his brow grew more serene.
+
+"And this table, for whom is it spread?"
+
+"For myself, unless you will honour me by being my guest."
+
+A bright smile illumined his face.
+
+"And this bed, for whom have you made it?"
+
+"For myself, but if you have need of rest it is for you."
+
+He clapped his hands for joy and replied, "Ah, that's right; I accept
+the invitation with pleasure, and all that you have been so kind as to
+offer me. But wait, I pray you wait for me; I must first thank my kind
+friends for the care they have taken of me."
+
+A fresh warm breath of spring filled the air, while at the same moment
+a deep precipice opened in the middle of the floor. He descended
+lightly, and she, anxious to see what would happen, followed him,
+holding on to his mantle. Thus they both reached the bottom of the
+precipice. Down there a new world opened itself before her eyes. To
+the right flowed a river of liquid gold, to the left rose high
+mountains of solid gold, in the centre lay a large meadow covered with
+millions of flowers. The stranger went on, the girl followed
+unnoticed. And as he went he saluted the field flowers as old friends,
+caressing them and leaving them with regret. Then they came to a
+forest where the trees were of gold. Many birds of different kinds
+began to sing, and flying round the young stranger perched familiarly
+on his head and shoulders. He spoke to and petted each one. While thus
+engaged, the girl broke off a branch from one of the golden trees and
+hid it in remembrance of this strange land.
+
+Leaving the forest of gold, they reached a wood where all the trees
+were of silver. Their arrival was greeted by an immense number of
+animals of various kinds. These crowded together and pushed one
+against another to get close to their friend. He spoke to each one and
+stroked and petted them. Meanwhile the girl broke off a branch of
+silver from one of the trees, saying to herself, "These will serve me
+as tokens of this wonderful land, for my sisters would not believe me
+if I only told them of it."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the young stranger had taken leave of all his friends he returned
+by the paths he had come, and the girl followed without being seen.
+Arrived at the foot of the precipice, he began to ascend, she coming
+silently after, holding on to his mantle. Up they went higher and
+higher, until they reached the room in the castle. The floor closed up
+without trace of the opening. The girl returned to her place by the
+fire, where she was standing when the young man approached.
+
+"All my farewells have been spoken," said he, "now we can have
+supper."
+
+She hastened to place upon the table the food so hurriedly prepared,
+and sitting side by side they supped together. When they had made a
+good meal he said, "Now it is time to rest."
+
+He lay down on the carefully-made bed, and the girl placed by his side
+the gold and silver branches she had picked in the Mineral Land. In a
+few moments he was sleeping peacefully.
+
+Next day the sun was already high in the sky, and yet the girl had not
+come to give an account of herself. The nobleman became impatient; he
+waited and waited, becoming more and more uneasy. At last he
+determined to go and see for himself what had happened. Picture to
+yourself his surprise and joy, when on entering the haunted chamber he
+saw his long-lost son sleeping on the bed, while beside him sat the
+widow's beautiful daughter. At that moment the son awoke. The father,
+overwhelmed with joy, summoned the attendants of the castle to rejoice
+with him in his new-found happiness.
+
+Then the young man saw the two branches of metal, and said with
+astonishment, "What do I see? Did you then follow me down there? Know
+that by this act you have broken the spell and released me from the
+enchantment. These two branches will make two palaces for our future
+dwelling."
+
+Thereupon he took the branches and threw them out of the window.
+Immediately there were seen two magnificent palaces, one of gold, the
+other of silver. And there they lived happily as man and wife, the
+nobleman's son and the miller's daughter. And if not dead they live
+there still.
+
+
+
+
+THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE MAID WITH HAIR OF GOLD
+
+
+There was once a king so wise and clever that he understood the
+language of all animals. You shall hear how he gained this power.
+
+One day an old woman came to the palace and said, "I wish to speak to
+his majesty, for I have something of great importance to tell him."
+When admitted to his presence she presented him with a curious fish,
+saying, "Have it cooked for yourself, and when you have eaten it you
+will understand all that is said by the birds of the air, the animals
+that walk the earth, and the fishes that live under the waters."
+
+The king was delighted to know that which every one else was ignorant
+of, so he rewarded the old woman generously, and told a servant to
+cook the fish very carefully.
+
+"But take care," said the monarch, "that you do not taste it yourself,
+for if you do you will be killed."
+
+George, the servant, was astonished at such a threat, and wondered why
+his master was so anxious that no one else should eat any of the fish.
+Then examining it curiously he said, "Never in all my life have I seen
+such an odd-looking fish; it seems more like a reptile. Now where
+would be the harm if I did take some? Every cook tastes of the dishes
+he prepares."
+
+When it was fried he tasted a small piece, and while taking some of
+the sauce heard a buzzing in the air and a voice speaking in his ear.
+
+"Let us taste a crumb: let us taste a little," it said.
+
+He looked round to see where the words came from, but there were only
+a few flies buzzing about in the kitchen. At the same moment some one
+out in the yard said in a harsh jerky voice, "Where are we going to
+settle? Where?"
+
+And another answered, "In the miller's barley-field; ho! for the
+miller's field of barley."
+
+When George looked towards where this strange talk came he saw a
+gander flying at the head of a flock of geese.
+
+"How lucky," thought he; "now I know why my master set so much value
+on this fish and wished to eat it all himself."
+
+George had now no doubt that by tasting the fish he had learnt the
+language of animals, so after having taken a little more he served the
+king with the remainder as if nothing had happened.
+
+When his majesty had dined he ordered George to saddle two horses and
+accompany him for a ride. They were soon off, the master in front, the
+servant behind.
+
+While crossing a meadow George's horse began to prance and caper,
+neighing out these words, "I say, brother, I feel so light and in such
+good spirits to-day that in one single bound I could leap over those
+mountains yonder."
+
+"I could do the same," answered the king's horse, "but I carry a
+feeble old man on my back; he would fall like a log and break his
+skull."
+
+"What does that matter to you? So much the better if he should break
+his head, for then, instead of being ridden by an old man you would
+probably be mounted by a young one."
+
+The servant laughed a good deal upon hearing this conversation between
+the horses, but he took care to do so on the quiet, lest the king
+should hear him. At that moment his majesty turned round, and, seeing
+a smile on the man's face, asked the cause of it.
+
+"Oh nothing, your majesty, only some nonsense that came into my head."
+
+The king said nothing, and asked no more questions, but he was
+suspicious, and distrusted both servant and horses; so he hastened
+back to the palace.
+
+When there he said to George, "Give me some wine, but mind you only
+pour out enough to fill the glass, for if you put in one drop too
+much, so that it overflows, I shall certainly order my executioner to
+cut off your head."
+
+While he was speaking two birds flew near the window, one chasing the
+other, who carried three golden hairs in his beak.
+
+"Give them me," said one, "you know they are mine."
+
+"Not at all, I picked them up myself."
+
+"No matter, I saw them fall while the Maid with Locks of Gold was
+combing out her hair. At least, give me two, then you can keep the
+third for yourself."
+
+"No, not a single one."
+
+Thereupon one of the birds succeeded in seizing the hairs from the
+other bird's beak, but in the struggle he let one fall, and it made a
+sound as if a piece of metal had struck the ground. As for George, he
+was completely taken off his guard, and the wine overflowed the glass.
+
+The king was furious, and feeling convinced that his servant had
+disobeyed him and had learnt the language of animals, he said, "You
+scoundrel, you deserve death for having failed to do my bidding,
+nevertheless, I will show you mercy upon one condition, that you bring
+me the Maid with the Golden Locks, for I intend to marry her."
+
+Alas, what was to be done? Poor fellow, he was willing to do anything
+to save his life, even run the risk of losing it on a long journey. He
+therefore promised to search for the Maid with the Golden Locks: but
+he knew not where or how to find her.
+
+When he had saddled and mounted his horse he allowed it to go its own
+way, and it carried him to the outskirts of a dark forest, where some
+shepherds had left a bush burning. The sparks of fire from the bush
+endangered the lives of a large number of ants which had built their
+nest close by, and the poor little things were hurrying away in all
+directions, carrying their small white eggs with them.
+
+"Help us in our distress, good George," they cried in a plaintive
+voice; "do not leave us to perish, together with our children whom we
+carry in these eggs."
+
+George immediately dismounted, cut down the bush, and put out the
+fire.
+
+"Thank you, brave man: and remember, when you are in trouble you have
+only to call upon us, and we will help you in our turn." The young
+fellow went on his way far into the forest until he came to a very
+tall fir tree. At the top of the tree was a raven's nest, while at the
+foot, on the ground, lay two young ones who were calling out to their
+parents and saying, "Alas, father and mother, where have you gone? You
+have flown away, and we have to seek our food, weak and helpless as we
+are. Our wings are as yet without feathers, how then shall we be able
+to get anything to eat? Good George," said they, turning to the young
+man, "do not leave us to starve."
+
+Without stopping to think, the young man dismounted, and with his
+sword slew his horse to provide food for the young birds. They thanked
+him heartily, and said, "If ever you should be in distress, call to us
+and we will help you at once."
+
+After this George was obliged to travel on foot, and he walked on for
+a long time, ever getting further and further into the forest. On
+reaching the end of it, he saw stretching before him an immense sea
+that seemed to mingle with the horizon. Close by stood two men
+disputing the possession of a large fish with golden scales that had
+fallen into their net.
+
+"The net belongs to me," said one, "therefore the fish must be mine."
+
+"Your net would not have been of the slightest use, for it would have
+been lost in the sea, had I not come with my boat just in the nick of
+time."
+
+"Well, you shall have the next haul I make."
+
+"And suppose you should catch nothing? No; give me this one and keep
+the next haul for yourself."
+
+"I am going to put an end to your quarrel," said George, addressing
+them. "Sell me the fish: I will pay you well, and you can divide the
+money between you."
+
+Thereupon he put into their hands all the money the king had given him
+for the journey, without keeping a single coin for himself. The
+fishermen rejoiced at the good fortune which had befallen them, but
+George put the fish back into the water. The fish, thankful for this
+unexpected freedom, dived and disappeared, but returning to the
+surface, said, "Whenever you may need my help you have but to call me,
+I shall not fail to show my gratitude."
+
+"Where are you going?" asked the fisherman.
+
+"I am in search of a wife for my old master; she is known as the Maid
+with the Golden Locks: but I am at a loss where to find her."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"If that be all, we can easily give you information," answered they.
+"She is Princess Zlato Vlaska, and daughter of the king whose crystal
+palace is built on that island yonder. The golden light from the
+princess's hair is reflected on sea and sky every morning when she
+combs it. If you would like to go to the island we will take you there
+for nothing, in return for the clever and generous way by which you
+made us stop quarrelling. But beware of one thing: when in the palace
+do not make a mistake as to which is the princess, for there are
+twelve of them, but only Zlato Vlaska has hair of gold."
+
+When George reached the island he lost no time in making his way to
+the palace, and demanded from the king the hand of his daughter,
+Princess Zlato Vlaska, in marriage to the king his master.
+
+"I will grant the request with pleasure," said his majesty, "but only
+on one condition, namely, that you perform certain tasks which I will
+set you. These will be three in number, and must be done in three
+days, just as I order you. For the present you had better rest and
+refresh yourself after your journey."
+
+On the next day the king said, "My daughter, the Maid with the Golden
+Hair, had a string of fine pearls, and the thread having broken, the
+pearls were scattered far and wide among the long grass of this field.
+Go and pick up every one of the pearls, for they must all be found."
+
+George went into the meadow, which was of great length and stretched
+away far out of sight. He went down on his knees and hunted between
+the tufts of grass and bramble from morning until noon, but not a
+single pearl could he find.
+
+"Ah, if I only had my good little ants here," he cried, "they would be
+able to help me."
+
+"Here we are, young man, at your service," answered the ants, suddenly
+appearing. Then they all ran round him, crying out, "What is the
+matter? What do you want?"
+
+"I have to find all the pearls lost in this field, and cannot see a
+single one: can you help me?"
+
+"Wait a little, we will soon get them for you."
+
+He had not to wait very long, for they brought him a heap of pearls,
+and all he had to do was to thread them on the string. Just as he was
+about to make a knot he saw a lame ant coming slowly towards him, for
+one of her feet had been burned in the bush fire.
+
+"Wait a moment, George," she called out; "do not tie the knot before
+threading this last pearl I am bringing you."
+
+When George took his pearls to the king, his majesty first counted
+them to make sure they were all there, and then said, "You have done
+very well in this test, to-morrow I will give you another."
+
+Early next morning the king summoned George to him and said, "My
+daughter, the Princess with the Golden Hair, dropped her gold ring
+into the sea while bathing. You must find the jewel and bring it me
+to-day."
+
+The young fellow walked thoughtfully up and down the beach. The water
+was pure and transparent, but he could not see beyond a certain
+distance into its depths, and therefore could not tell where the ring
+was lying beneath the water.
+
+"Ah, my golden fishling, why are you not here now? You would surely be
+able to help me," he said to himself, speaking aloud.
+
+"Here I am," answered the fish's voice from the sea, "what can I do
+for you?"
+
+"I have to find a gold ring which has been dropped in the sea, but as
+I cannot see to the bottom there is no use looking."
+
+The fish said, "Fortunately I have just met a pike, wearing a gold
+ring on his fin. Just wait a moment, will you?"
+
+In a very short time he reappeared with the pike and the ring. The
+pike willingly gave up the jewel.
+
+The king thanked George for his cleverness, and then told him the
+third task. "If you really wish me to give the hand of my daughter
+with the golden hair to the monarch who has sent you here, you must
+bring me two things that I want above everything: the Water of Death
+and the Water of Life."
+
+George had not the least idea where to find these waters, so he
+determined to trust to chance and "follow his nose," as the saying is.
+He went first in one direction and then in another, until he reached a
+dark forest.
+
+"Ah, if my little ravens were but here, perhaps they would help me,"
+he said aloud.
+
+Suddenly there was heard a rushing noise, as of wings overhead, and
+then down came the ravens calling "Krak, krak, here we are, ready and
+willing to help you. What are you looking for?"
+
+"I want some of the Water of Death and the Water of Life: it is
+impossible for me to find them, for I don't know where to look."
+
+"Krak, krak, we know very well where to find some. Wait a moment."
+
+Off they went immediately, but soon returned, each with a small gourd
+in his beak. One gourd contained the Water of Life, the other the
+Water of Death.
+
+George was delighted with his success, and went back on his way to the
+palace. When nearly out of the forest, he saw a spider's web hanging
+between two fir trees, while in the centre was a large spider
+devouring a fly he had just killed. George sprinkled a few drops of
+the Water of Death on the spider; it immediately left the fly, which
+rolled to the ground like a ripe cherry, but on being touched with the
+Water of Life she began to move, and stretching out first one limb and
+then another, gradually freed herself from the spider's web. Then she
+spread her wings and took flight, having first buzzed these words in
+the ears of her deliverer: "George, you have assured your own
+happiness by restoring mine, for without my help you would never have
+succeeded in recognising the Princess with the Golden Hair when you
+choose her to-morrow from among her twelve sisters."
+
+And the fly was right, for though the king, on finding that George had
+accomplished the third task, agreed to give him his daughter Zlato
+Vlaska, he yet added that he would have to find her himself.
+
+He then led him to a large room and bade him choose from among the
+twelve charming girls who sat at a round table. Each wore a kind of
+linen head-dress that completely hid the upper part of the head, and
+in such a way that the keenest eye could not discover the colour of
+the hair.
+
+"Here are my daughters," said the king, "but only one among them has
+golden hair. If you find her you may take her with you; but if you
+make a mistake she will remain with us, and you will have to return
+empty-handed."
+
+George felt much embarrassed, not knowing what course to take.
+
+"Buzz, Buzz, come walk round these young girls, and I will tell you
+which is yours."
+
+Thus spoke the fly whose life George had saved.
+
+Thus reassured he walked boldly round, pointing at them one after the
+other and saying, "This one has not the golden hair, nor this one
+either, nor this...."
+
+Suddenly, having been told by the fly, he cried, "Here we are: this is
+Zlato Vlaska, even she herself. I take her for my own, she whom I have
+won, and for whom I have paid the price with many cares. You will not
+refuse her me this time."
+
+"Indeed, you have guessed aright," replied the king.
+
+The princess rose from her seat, and letting fall her head-dress,
+exposed to full view all the splendour of her wonderful hair, which
+seemed like a waterfall of golden rays, and covered her from head to
+foot. The glorious light that shone from it dazzled the young man's
+eyes, and he immediately fell in love with her.
+
+The king provided his daughter with gifts worthy of a queen, and she
+left her father's palace in a manner befitting a royal bride. The
+journey back was accomplished without any mishaps.
+
+On their arrival the old king was delighted at the sight of Zlato
+Vlaska, and danced with joy. Splendid and costly preparations were
+made for the wedding. His majesty then said to George, "You robbed me
+of the secret of animal language. For this I intended to have your
+head cut off and your body thrown to birds of prey. But as you have
+served me so faithfully and won the princess for my bride I will
+lessen the punishment--that is, although you will be executed, yet you
+shall be buried with all the honours worthy of a superior officer."
+
+So the sentence was carried out, cruelly and unjustly. After the
+execution the Princess with the Golden Hair begged the king to make
+her a present of George's body, and the monarch was so much in love
+that he could not refuse his intended bride anything.
+
+Zlato Vlaska with her own hands replaced the head on the body, and
+sprinkled it with the Water of Death. Immediately the separated parts
+became one again. Upon this she poured the Water of Life, and George
+returned to life, fresh as a young roebuck, his face radiant with
+health and youth.
+
+"Ah me! How well I have slept," said he, rubbing his eyes.
+
+"Yes; no one could have slept better," answered the princess, smiling,
+"but without me you would have slept through eternity."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the old king saw George restored to life, and looking younger,
+handsomer, and more vigorous than ever, he too wanted to be made young
+again. He therefore ordered his servants to cut off his head and
+sprinkle it with the Life-Giving Water. They cut it off, but he did
+not come to life again, although they sprinkled his body with all the
+water that was left. Perhaps they made some mistake in using the wrong
+water, for the head and body were joined, but life itself never
+returned, there being no Water of Life left for that purpose. No one
+knew where to get any, and none understood the language of animals.
+
+So, to make a long story short, George was proclaimed king, and the
+Princess with Hair of Gold, who really loved him, became his queen.
+
+
+
+
+THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE JOURNEY TO THE SUN AND THE MOON
+
+
+There were once two young people who loved each other dearly. The
+young man was called Jean, the girl, Annette. In her sweetness she was
+like unto a dove, in her strength and bravery she resembled an eagle.
+
+Her father was a rich farmer, and owned a large estate, but Jean's
+father was only a poor mountain shepherd. Annette did not in the least
+mind her lover being poor, for he was rich in goodness: nor did she
+think her father would object to their marrying.
+
+One day Jean put on his best clothes, and went to ask the farmer for
+his daughter's hand. The farmer listened without interrupting him, and
+then replied, "If you would marry Annette, go and ask of the Sun why
+he does not warm the night as well as the day. Then inquire of the
+Moon why she does not shine by day as well as by night. When you
+return with these answers you shall not only have my daughter but all
+my wealth."
+
+These conditions in no way daunted Jean, who placed his hat on the
+side of his head, and taking a loving farewell of Annette, set out in
+search of the Sun. On reaching a small town at the close of day, he
+looked about for a place wherein to pass the night. Some kind people
+offered him shelter and invited him to sup with them, inquiring as to
+the object of his journey. When they heard that he was on his way to
+visit the Sun and Moon, the master of the house begged him to ask the
+Sun why the finest pear-tree they had in the town had, for several
+years, ceased to bear fruit, for it used to produce the most delicious
+pears in the world.
+
+Jean willingly promised to make this inquiry, and the next day
+continued his journey.
+
+He walked on and on, over mountain and moor, through valley and dense
+forest, until he came to a land where there was no drinking water. The
+inhabitants, when they heard the object of Jean's journey, begged him
+to ask the Sun and Moon why a well, that was the chief water supply of
+the district, no longer gave good water. Jean promised to do so, and
+resumed his journey.
+
+After long and weary wanderings he reached the Sun's abode, and found
+him about to start on his travels.
+
+"O Sun," said he, "stop one moment, do not depart without first
+answering a few questions."
+
+"Be quick then and speak, for I have to go all round the world
+to-day."
+
+"Pray tell me why you do not warm or light the earth by night as well
+as day?"
+
+"For this simple reason, that if I did, the world and everything upon
+it would be very soon burnt up."
+
+Jean then put his questions concerning the pear-tree and the well. But
+the Sun replied that his sister, the Moon, would be able to answer him
+on those points.
+
+Hardly had the Sun finished speaking before he was obliged to hurry
+off, and Jean travelled far and fast to meet the Moon. On coming up to
+her he said, "Would you kindly stop one moment? there are a few
+questions I should like to ask you."
+
+"Very well, be quick, for the earth is waiting for me," answered she,
+and stood still at once.
+
+"Tell me, dear Moon, why you do not light the world by day as well as
+by night? And why you never warm it?"
+
+"Because if I lit up the world by day as well as by night the plants
+would produce neither fruit nor flower. And though I do not warm the
+earth, I supply it with dew, which makes it fertile and fruitful."
+
+She was then about to continue her course, but Jean, begging her to
+stop one moment longer, questioned her about the pear-tree which had
+ceased to bear fruit.
+
+And she answered him thus: "While the king's eldest daughter remained
+unmarried the tree bore fruit every year. After her wedding she had a
+little child who died and was buried under this tree. Since then there
+has been neither fruit nor flower on its branches: if the child be
+given Christian burial the tree will produce blossom and fruit as in
+the past."
+
+The Moon was just moving off when Jean begged her to stop and answer
+one more question, which was, why the inhabitants of a certain land
+were unable to obtain from their well the clear and wholesome water it
+had formerly poured forth.
+
+She replied: "Under the mouth of the well, just where the water should
+flow, lies an enormous toad which poisons it continually: the brim of
+the well must be broken and the toad killed, then the water will be as
+pure and wholesome as formerly."
+
+The Moon then resumed her journey, for Jean had no more questions to
+ask her.
+
+He joyfully went back to claim his Annette, but forgot not to stop on
+coming to the land where they were short of water. The inhabitants ran
+out to meet him, anxious to know what he had found out.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Jean led them to the well and there explained the instructions he had
+received from the Moon, at the same time showing them what to do. Sure
+enough, right underneath the brim of the well they found a horrible
+toad which poisoned everything. When they had killed it, the water
+immediately became pure and transparent, and sweet to the taste as
+before.
+
+All the people brought Jean presents, and thus laden with riches he
+again set out. On arriving at the town where grew the unfruitful
+pear-tree, he was warmly welcomed by the prince, who at once asked if
+he had forgotten to question the stars about the tree.
+
+"I never forget a promise once made," replied Jean, "but I doubt
+whether it will be agreeable to your majesty to know the cause of the
+evil."
+
+He then related all the Moon had said, and when his directions had
+been carried out they were rewarded by seeing the tree blossom
+immediately. Jean was loaded with rich gifts, and the king presented
+him with a most valuable horse, by means of which he reached home very
+quickly.
+
+Little Annette was wild with joy on hearing of her lover's safe
+return, for she had wept and suffered much during his absence. But her
+father's feelings were very different; he wished never to see Jean
+again, and had, indeed, sent him in search of the Sun with the hope
+that he might be burnt up by the heat. True it is that "Man proposes
+and God disposes." Our young shepherd returned, not only safe and
+sound, but with more knowledge than any of his evil-wishers. For he
+had learnt why the Sun neither lights nor warms the earth by night as
+in the day; also why the Moon does not give warmth, and only lights up
+during the night. Besides all this he had brought with him riches
+which far exceeded those of his father-in-law, and a steed full of
+fire and vigour.
+
+So Annette's father could find no fault, and the wedding was
+celebrated with joy and feasting. Large quantities of roasted crane
+were eaten, and glasses overflowing with mead were emptied. So
+beautiful, too, was the music, that for long, long after it was heard
+to echo among the mountains, and even now its sweet sounds are heard
+at times by travellers among those regions.
+
+
+
+
+THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE DWARF.]
+
+THE DWARF WITH THE LONG BEARD
+
+
+In a far distant land there reigned a king, and he had an only
+daughter who was so very beautiful that no one in the whole kingdom
+could be compared to her. She was known as Princess Pietnotka, and the
+fame of her beauty spread far and wide. There were many princes among
+her suitors, but her choice fell upon Prince Dobrotek. She obtained
+her father's consent to their marriage, and then, attended by a
+numerous suite, set off with her lover for the church, having first,
+as was the custom, received her royal parent's blessing. Most of the
+princes who had been unsuccessful in their wooing of Pietnotka
+returned disappointed to their own kingdoms: but one of them, a dwarf
+only seven inches high, with an enormous hump on his back and a beard
+seven feet long, who was a powerful prince and magician, was so
+enraged that he determined to have his revenge. So he changed himself
+into a whirlwind and lay in wait to receive the princess. When the
+wedding procession was about to enter the church the air was suddenly
+filled with a blinding cloud of dust, and Pietnotka was borne up high
+as the highest clouds, and then right down to an underground palace.
+There the dwarf, for it was he who had worked this spell, disappeared,
+leaving her in a lifeless condition.
+
+When she opened her eyes she found herself in such a magnificent
+apartment that she imagined some king must have run away with her. She
+got up and began to walk about, when lo! as if by some unseen hand the
+table was laden with gold and silver dishes, filled with cakes of
+every kind. They looked so tempting, that in spite of her grief she
+could not resist tasting, and she continued to eat until she was more
+than satisfied. She returned to the sofa and lay down to rest, but
+being unable to sleep, she looked first at the door, and then at the
+lamp burning on the table, then at the door again, and then back to
+the lamp. Suddenly the door opened of itself, giving entrance to four
+negroes fully armed, and bearing a golden throne, upon which was
+seated the Dwarf with the Long Beard. He came close up to the sofa and
+attempted to kiss the princess, but she struck him such a blow in the
+face that a thousand stars swam before his eyes, and a thousand bells
+rang in his ears; upon which he gave such a shout, that the palace
+walls trembled. Yet his love for her was so great that he did his best
+not to show his anger, and turned away as if to leave her. But his
+feet became entangled in his long beard, and he fell down, dropping a
+cap he was carrying in his hand. Now this cap had the power of making
+its wearer invisible. The negroes hastened up to their master, and
+placing him on his throne bore him out.
+
+Directly the princess found herself alone she jumped off the sofa,
+locked the door, and picking up the cap ran to a mirror to try it on
+and see how it suited her. Imagine her amazement when looking in the
+glass she saw--nothing at all! She took off the cap, and behold, she
+was there again as large as life. She soon found out what sort of cap
+it was, and rejoicing in the possession of such a marvel, put it on
+her head again and began to walk about the room. Soon the door was
+burst violently open, and the dwarf entered with his beard tied up.
+But he found neither the princess nor the cap, and so came to the
+conclusion that she had taken it. In a great rage he began to search
+high and low; he looked under all the furniture, behind the curtains,
+and even beneath the carpets, but it was all in vain. Meanwhile the
+princess, still invisible, had left the palace and run into the
+garden, which was very large and beautiful. There she lived at her
+ease, eating the delicious fruit, drinking water from the fountain,
+and enjoying the helpless fury of the dwarf, who sought her
+untiringly. Sometimes she would throw the fruit-stones in his face, or
+take off the cap and show herself for an instant: then she would put
+it on again, and laugh merrily at his rage.
+
+One day, while playing this game, the cap caught in the branches of a
+gooseberry bush. The dwarf seeing this at once ran up, seized the
+princess in one hand and the cap in the other, and was about to carry
+both off when the sound of a war-trumpet was heard.
+
+The dwarf trembled with rage and muttered a thousand curses. He
+breathed on the princess to send her to sleep, covered her with the
+invisible cap, and seizing a double-bladed sword, rose up in the air
+as high as the clouds, so that he might fall upon his assailant and
+kill him at one stroke. We shall now see with whom he had to deal.
+
+After the hurricane had upset the wedding procession and carried off
+the princess, there arose a great tumult among those at court. The
+king, the princess's attendants, and Prince Dobrotek sought her in
+every direction, calling her by name, and making inquiries of every
+one they met. At last, the king in despair declared that if Prince
+Dobrotek did not bring back his daughter, he would destroy his kingdom
+and have him killed. And to the other princes present he promised that
+whosoever among them should bring Pietnotka back to him should have
+her for his wife and receive half of the kingdom. Whereupon they all
+mounted their horses without loss of time and dispersed in every
+direction.
+
+Prince Dobrotek, overpowered with grief and dismay, travelled three
+days without eating, drinking, or sleeping. On the evening of the
+third day he was quite worn-out with fatigue, and stopping his horse
+in a field, got down to rest for a short time. Suddenly he heard
+cries, as of something in pain, and looking round saw an enormous owl
+tearing a hare with its claws. The prince laid hold of the first hard
+thing that came to his hand; he imagined it to be a stone, but it was
+really a skull, and aiming it at the owl, killed the bird with the
+first blow. The rescued hare ran up to him and gratefully licked his
+hands, after which it ran away: but the human skull spoke to him and
+said, "Prince Dobrotek, accept my grateful thanks for the good turn
+you have done me. I belonged to an unhappy man who took his own life,
+and for this crime of suicide I have been condemned to roll in the mud
+until I was the means of saving the life of one of God's creatures. I
+have been kicked about for seven hundred and seventy years, crumbling
+miserably on the earth, and without exciting the compassion of a
+single individual. You have been the means of setting me free by
+making use of me to save the life of that poor hare. In return for
+this kindness I will teach you how to call to your aid a most
+marvellous horse, who during my life belonged to me. He will be able
+to help you in a thousand ways, and when in need of him you have only
+to walk out on the moorland without once looking behind you, and to
+say:
+
+  'Dappled Horse with Mane of Gold,
+  Horse of Wonder! Come to me.
+  Walk not the earth, for I am told
+  You fly like birds o'er land and sea.'
+
+Finish your work of mercy by burying me here, so that I may be at rest
+until the day of judgment. Then depart in peace and be of good cheer."
+
+The prince dug a hole at the foot of a tree, and reverently buried the
+skull, repeating over it the prayers for the dead. Just as he finished
+he saw a small blue flame come out of the skull and fly towards
+heaven: it was the soul of the dead man on its way to the angels.
+
+The prince made the sign of the cross and resumed his journey. When he
+had gone some way along the moorland he stopped, and without looking
+back tried the effect of the magic words, saying:
+
+  "Dappled Horse with Mane of Gold,
+  Horse of Wonder! Come to me.
+  Walk not the earth, for I am told
+  You fly like birds o'er land and sea."
+
+Then amid flash of lightning and roll of thunder appeared the horse. A
+horse, do I say? Why, he was a miracle of wonder. He was light as air,
+with dappled coat and golden mane. Flames came from his nostrils and
+sparks from his eyes. Volumes of steam rolled from his mouth and
+clouds of smoke issued from his ears. He stopped before the prince,
+and said in a human voice, "What are your orders, Prince Dobrotek?"
+
+"I am in great trouble," answered the prince, "and shall be glad if
+you can help me." Then he told all that had happened.
+
+And the horse said, "Enter in at my left ear, and come out at my
+right."
+
+The prince obeyed, and came out at the right ear clad in a suit of
+splendid armour. His gilded cuirass, his steel helmet inlaid with
+gold, and his sword and club made of him a complete warrior. Still
+more, he felt himself endowed with superhuman strength and bravery.
+When he stamped his foot and shouted the earth trembled and gave forth
+a sound like thunder, the very leaves fell from the trees.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"What must we do? Where are we to go?" he asked.
+
+The horse replied, "Your bride, Princess Pietnotka, has been carried
+off by the Dwarf with the Long Beard, whose hump weighs two hundred
+and eighty pounds. This powerful magician must be defeated, but he
+lives a long way from here, and nothing can touch or wound him except
+the sharp smiting sword that belongs to his own brother, a monster
+with the head and eyes of a basilisk. We must first attack the
+brother."
+
+Prince Dobrotek leaped on to the dappled horse, which was covered with
+golden trappings, and they set off immediately, clearing mountains,
+penetrating forests, crossing rivers; and so light was the steed's
+step that he galloped over the grass without bending a single blade,
+and along sandy roads without raising a grain of dust. At last they
+reached a vast plain, strewn with human bones. They stopped in front
+of a huge moving mountain, and the horse said:
+
+"Prince, this moving mountain that you see before you is the head of
+the Monster with Basilisk Eyes, and the bones that whiten the ground
+are the skeletons of his victims, so beware of the eyes that deal
+death. The heat of the midday sun has made the giant sleep, and the
+sword with the never-failing blade lies there before him. Bend down
+and lie along my neck until we are near enough, then seize the sword
+and you have nothing more to fear. For, without the sword, not only
+will the monster be unable to harm you, but he himself will be
+completely at your mercy."
+
+The horse then noiselessly approached the huge creature, upon which
+the prince bent down, and quickly picked up the sword. Then, raising
+himself on his steed's back, he gave a "Hurrah!" loud enough to wake
+the dead. The giant lifted his head, yawned, and turned his
+bloodthirsty eyes upon the prince; but seeing the sword in his hand he
+became quiet, and said, "Knight, is it weariness of life that brings
+you here?"
+
+"Boast not," replied the prince, "you are in my power. Your glance has
+already lost its magic charm, and you will soon have to die by this
+sword. But first tell me who you are."
+
+"It is true, prince, I am in your hands, but be generous, I deserve
+your pity. I am a knight of the race of giants, and if it were not for
+the wickedness of my brother I should have lived in peace. He is the
+horrible dwarf with the great hump and the beard seven feet long. He
+was jealous of my fine figure, and tried to do me an injury. You must
+know that all his strength, which is extraordinary, lies in his beard,
+and it can only be cut off by the sword you hold in your hand. One day
+he came to me and said, 'Dear brother, I pray you help me to discover
+the sharp smiting sword that has been hidden in the earth by a
+magician. He is our enemy, and he alone can destroy us both.' Fool
+that I was, I believed him, and by means of a large oak tree, raked up
+the mountain and found the sword. Then we disputed as to which of us
+should have it, and at last my brother suggested that we should cease
+quarrelling and decide by lot. 'Let us each put an ear to the ground,
+and the sword shall belong to him who first hears the bells of yonder
+church,' said he. I placed my ear to the ground at once, and my
+brother treacherously cut off my head with the sword. My body, left
+unburied, became a great mountain, which is now overgrown with
+forests. As for my head, it is full of a life and strength proof
+against all dangers, and has remained here ever since to frighten all
+who attempt to take away the sword. Now, prince, I beg of you, use the
+sword to cut off the beard of my wicked brother; kill him, and return
+here to put an end to me: I shall die happy if I die avenged."
+
+"That you shall be, and very soon, I promise you," replied his
+listener.
+
+The prince bade the Dappled Horse with Golden Mane carry him to the
+kingdom of the Dwarf with the Long Beard. They reached the garden gate
+at the very moment when the dwarf had caught sight of Princess
+Pietnotka and was running after her. The war-trumpet, challenging him
+to fight, had obliged him to leave her, which he did, having first put
+on her head the invisible cap.
+
+While the prince was awaiting the answer to his challenge he heard a
+great noise in the clouds, and looking up saw the dwarf preparing to
+aim at him from a great height. But he missed his aim and fell to the
+ground so heavily that his body was half buried in the earth. The
+prince seized him by the beard, which he at once cut off with the
+sharp smiting sword.
+
+Then he fastened the dwarf to the saddle, put the beard in his helmet,
+and entered the palace. When the servants saw that he had really got
+possession of the terrible beard, they opened all the doors to give
+him entrance. Without losing a moment he began his search for Princess
+Pietnotka. For a long time he was unsuccessful, and was almost in
+despair when he came across her accidentally, and, without knowing it,
+knocked off the invisible cap. He saw his lovely bride sound asleep,
+and being unable to wake her he put the cap in his pocket, took her in
+his arms, and, mounting his steed, set off to return to the Monster
+with the Basilisk Eyes. The giant swallowed the dwarf at one mouthful,
+and the prince cut the monster's head up into a thousand pieces, which
+he scattered all over the plain.
+
+He then resumed his journey, and on coming to the moorland the dappled
+horse stopped short and said, "Prince, here for the present we must
+take leave of each other. You are not far from home, your own horse
+awaits you; but before leaving, enter in at my right ear and come out
+at my left."
+
+The prince did so, and came out without his armour, and clad as when
+Pietnotka left him.
+
+The dappled horse vanished, and Dobrotek whistled to his own horse,
+who ran up, quite pleased to see him again. They immediately set off
+for the king's palace.
+
+But night came on before they reached the end of their journey.
+
+The prince laid the sleeping maiden on the grass, and, covering her up
+carefully to keep her warm, he himself fell fast asleep. By chance, a
+knight, one of her suitors, passed that way. Seeing Dobrotek asleep he
+drew his sword and stabbed him; then he lifted the princess on his
+horse and soon reached the king's palace, where he addressed
+Pietnotka's father in these words: "Here is your daughter, whom I now
+claim as my wife, for it is I who have restored her to you. She was
+carried off by a terrible sorcerer who fought with me three days and
+three nights. But I conquered him, and I have brought you the princess
+safely back."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The king was overjoyed at seeing her again, but finding that his
+tenderest efforts were powerless to awake her, he wanted to know the
+reason of it.
+
+"That I cannot tell you," replied the impostor; "you see her as I
+found her myself."
+
+Meanwhile, poor Prince Dobrotek, seriously wounded, was slowly
+recovering consciousness, but he felt so weak that he could hardly
+utter these words:
+
+  "Come, Magic Horse with Mane of Gold,
+  Come, Dappled Horse, O come to me.
+  Fly like the birds as you did of old,
+  As flashes of lightning o'er land and sea."
+
+Instantly a bright cloud appeared, and from the midst thereof stepped
+the magic horse. As he already knew all that had happened, he dashed
+off immediately to the Mountain of Eternal Life. Thence he drew the
+three kinds of water: the Water that gives Life, the Water that Cures,
+and the Water that Strengthens. Returning to the prince, he sprinkled
+him first with the Life-giving Water, and instantly the body, which
+had become cold, was warm again and the blood began to circulate. The
+Water that Cures healed the wound, and the Strength-giving Water had
+such an effect upon him that he opened his eyes and cried out, "Oh,
+how well I have slept."
+
+"You were already sleeping the eternal sleep," replied the dappled
+horse. "One of your rivals stabbed you mortally, and carried off
+Pietnotka, whom he pretends to have rescued. But do not worry
+yourself, she still sleeps, and none can arouse her but you, and this
+you must do by touching her with the dwarf's beard. Go now, and be
+happy."
+
+The brave steed disappeared in a whirlwind, and Prince Dobrotek
+proceeded on his way. On drawing near the capital he saw it surrounded
+by a large foreign army; part of it was already taken, and the
+inhabitants seemed to be begging for mercy. The prince put on his
+invisible cap, and began to strike right and left with the sharp
+smiting sword. With such fury did he attack the enemy that they fell
+dead on all sides, like felled trees. When he had thus destroyed the
+whole army he went, still invisible, into the palace, where he heard
+the king express the utmost astonishment that the enemy had retired
+without fighting.
+
+"Where then is the brave warrior who has saved us?" said his majesty
+aloud.
+
+Every one was silent, when Dobrotek took off his magic cap, and
+falling on his knees before the monarch, said: "It is I, my king and
+father, who have routed and destroyed the enemy. It is I who saved the
+princess, my bride. While on my way back with her I was treacherously
+killed by my rival, who has represented himself to you as her rescuer,
+but he has deceived you. Lead me to the princess, that I may awaken
+her."
+
+On hearing these words the impostor ran away as quickly as possible,
+and Dobrotek approached the sleeping maiden. He just touched her brow
+with the dwarf's beard, upon which she opened her eyes, smiled, and
+seemed to ask where she was.
+
+The king, overcome with joy, kissed her fondly, and the same evening
+she was married to the devoted Prince Dobrotek. The king himself led
+her to the altar, and to his son-in-law he gave half his kingdom. So
+splendid was the wedding banquet, that eye has never seen, nor ear
+ever heard of its equal.
+
+
+
+
+THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING, AND THE
+SMITING CLUB
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE FLYING CARPET, THE INVISIBLE CAP, THE GOLD-GIVING RING, AND THE
+SMITING CLUB
+
+
+In a cottage near the high-road, and close to the shores of a large
+lake, there once lived a widow, poor and old. She was very very poor,
+but her mother's heart was rich in pride in her son, who was the joy
+of her life. He was a handsome lad with an honest soul. He earned his
+living by fishing in the lake, and succeeded so well that neither he
+nor his mother were ever in want of their daily bread. Every one
+called him "the fisherman."
+
+One evening at dusk he went down to the lake to throw in his nets, and
+standing on the shore with a new bucket in his hand, waited to put
+into it whatever fish it might please God to send him. In about a
+quarter of an hour or so he drew in his nets and took out two bream.
+These he threw into the bucket, and humming a merry song turned to go
+home. At that moment a traveller, poorly clad, with hair and beard
+white as the wings of a dove, spoke to him, saying, "Have pity on a
+feeble old man, obliged to lean on his stick, hungry and ragged. I beg
+you, in Heaven's name, to give me either money or bread. The sun will
+soon set, and I who have eaten nothing to-day shall have to pass the
+night fasting, with the bare earth for a bed."
+
+"My good old friend, I am sorry I have nothing about me to give you,
+but you see the black smoke curling up in the distance? That is our
+cottage, where my old mother is waiting for me to bring her some fish
+to cook for our supper. Now take these two bream to her, meanwhile I
+will return to the lake and throw in my nets again to see if I can
+catch something more. Thus, with God's help, we shall all three have
+enough for supper to-night and breakfast to-morrow morning."
+
+While speaking the fisherman handed the fish to the old man, when,
+marvel of marvels! he melted into the rays of the setting sun and
+vanished, both he and the fish.
+
+The fisherman, much astonished, rubbed his eyes and looked about on
+all sides. For a moment he felt afraid, but when he had crossed
+himself all terror left him and he went to draw in his nets by the
+light of the moon. And what do you think he found in them? It was
+neither a pike nor a trout, but a small fish with eyes of diamonds,
+fins of rainbow colour, and golden scales that shone and flashed like
+lightning.
+
+When he had spread his nets on the beach the fish began to talk to him
+in the language of men.
+
+"Do not kill me, young fisherman," it said, "but accept in exchange
+for my life this golden ring. Every time you put it on your finger
+repeat these words:
+
+  'I conjure thee, O ring, who gold can give,
+  In the name of the little fishling of gold,
+  For the good of man, that man may live,
+  And the honour of heaven, send, new or old,
+  Little or much, as may be my need,
+  Coins of the realm, let them fall like seed.'
+
+After uttering each of these words, a shower of gold pieces will
+fall."
+
+The fisherman gladly accepted the ring, and freeing the miraculous
+fish from the net he threw it back into the water. As it fell, it
+shone in the air like a shooting star and then disappeared beneath the
+waves.
+
+On his way back he said to himself, "My mother and I will go to bed
+hungry to-night, without our fried fish, but to-morrow, when I have
+made the golden coins gleam in our humble cottage, all sorts of good
+things will find their way there, and we shall live like lords."
+
+But things turned out very differently, for the first thing he saw on
+opening the door was the table covered with a white cloth, and upon it
+a china soup-tureen in which lay the two bream freshly cooked.
+
+"Where did you get those fish from, dear mother?"
+
+"I do not know myself," replied she, "for I have neither cleaned them
+nor cooked them. Our table spread itself, the fish placed themselves
+upon it, and although they have been there an hour they do not get
+cold; any one might think they had just been taken off the fire. Come,
+let us eat them."
+
+The widow and her son sat down, said grace, and after eating as much
+as they wanted went to bed.
+
+Next morning, at breakfast time, the fisherman made the sign of the
+cross, and then put on the gold ring, at the same time repeating the
+words the fish had taught him:
+
+  "I conjure thee, O ring, who gold can give,
+  In the name of the little fishling of gold,
+  For the good of man, that man may live,
+  And the honour of heaven, send, new or old,
+  Little or much, as may be my need,
+  Coins of the realm, let them fall like seed."
+
+When he had ceased speaking the room was filled with a blast of wind
+followed by flashes of lightning, then a hailstorm of gold pieces
+showered down and quite covered the table.
+
+The chink of the money aroused his mother, who sat up in bed perfectly
+amazed.
+
+"What is the meaning of this, my son? Am I awake or dreaming? or is it
+the work of the Evil One? Where did all that money come from?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Fear not, mother, I wear a cross that charms away evil spirits. I
+have my work, so that you shall never want, and I have your heart,
+where for me there will ever be love to sweeten the disappointments
+and troubles of life. This gold that you see will drive poverty far
+away, and enable us to help others. Take these pieces, lock them up
+safely, and use them when in need. As for me, kiss me, and wish me
+good luck on my journey."
+
+"What! Is it possible that you want to leave me already? Why? and
+whither are you going?"
+
+"I want to go, mother mine, to see the great city. When there, I mean
+to enrol myself in the national army. Thus the fisherman turned
+soldier will become the defender of his king, for the glory of his
+country and his mother."
+
+"Of a truth, my son, I have heard some talk about the king being in
+danger, and that our enemies are trying to take his crown from him.
+But why should you go? Stay at home rather, for alone and unnoticed
+among so many troops you will neither be able to help nor to hinder."
+
+"You are right, one man alone is a small thing, but by adding one
+grain to another the measure overflows. If all those who are capable
+of bearing arms will help the king, there is no doubt that he will
+soon overcome his enemies."
+
+"But a harmless fisherman like you! Of what use can you be in a
+battle?"
+
+"The fisherman has, doubtless, a peaceable disposition, and he never
+boasts of his strength. But when the right moment comes he knows how
+to handle a sword, and how to water the land with the enemy's blood.
+And the victorious king will, perhaps, reward me for my bravery by
+giving me some splendid castle, or a few acres of forest land, a suit
+of armour and a horse, or even the hand of his daughter in marriage."
+
+"If you feel like this," answered she, "go, and may God bless you. May
+He cover you, dear child, with His grace as with a buckler, so that
+neither guns nor sabres shall do you harm. May He take you under His
+protection, so that you may return safe and sound to be a comfort to
+me; and at the end of my days may I rejoice in your happiness, and
+live near you as long as God in His wisdom shall allow."
+
+Then she gave him her blessing and kissed him tenderly, making the
+sign of the cross in the direction he was about to take.
+
+So he departed, and after a few days' march reached the capital,
+thinking within himself how he might help the king most effectually.
+
+The town was surrounded by a countless host who threatened to utterly
+destroy it unless the king would agree to pay a very large ransom.
+
+The people crowded into the square, and stood before the palace gates
+listening to the herald's proclamation.
+
+"Hear the king's will," said the herald; "listen, all ye faithful
+subjects, to the words he speaks to you by my mouth. Here are our
+deadly enemies, who have scattered our troops, and have come to
+besiege the capital of our kingdom. If we do not send them, by
+daybreak to-morrow, twenty-four waggons, each drawn by six horses and
+loaded with gold, they threaten to take the town and destroy it by
+fire and sword, and to deliver our land to the soldiers. It is certain
+that we cannot hold out any longer, and our royal treasure-house does
+not contain one-half the amount demanded. Therefore, through me our
+sovereign announces, that whosoever among you shall succeed, either in
+defeating our foes, or in providing the money needed for the ransom,
+him will he appoint his heir to the crown, and to him will he give his
+only daughter in marriage, a princess of marvellous beauty. Further,
+he shall receive half the kingdom in his own right."
+
+When the fisherman heard these words he went to the king and said, "My
+sovereign and father, command that twenty-four waggons, each harnessed
+with twenty-four horses and provided with leathern bags, be brought
+into the courtyard; I will engage to fill them with gold, and that at
+once, before your eyes."
+
+Then he left the palace, and standing in the middle of the large
+square, recited the words the fish had taught him.
+
+These were followed by rumblings of thunder and flashes of lightning,
+and then by a perfect hurricane which sent down masses and showers of
+gold. In a few minutes the square was covered with a layer of gold so
+thick that, after loading the twenty-four waggons and filling a large
+half of the royal treasure-house, there was enough left to make
+handsome presents to all the king's officers and servants.
+
+Next day the enemy returned to their own country laden with the heavy
+ransom they had demanded.
+
+The king sent for the fisherman, and inviting him to partake of
+hydromel wine and sweetmeats, said, "You have to-day been the means of
+saving our capital from a great calamity, and shall, therefore,
+receive the reward which you have earned. My only daughter, a princess
+of great beauty, shall be your wife, and I will give you the half of
+my kingdom for a wedding present. I also appoint you my heir to the
+throne. But tell me, to whom am I indebted? What kingdom or land
+belongs to you? How is it that by a mere movement of the hand you were
+able to supply my enemies with such a quantity of gold?"
+
+And the fisherman, simple-hearted and straightforward as a child,
+ignorant of the deceptions practised in court, answered frankly,
+"Sire, I belong to no royal or princely family, I am a simple
+fisherman and your loyal subject. I procure my gold by means of this
+magic ring, and at any time I can have as much as I want."
+
+Then he told how his good fortune had come to him.
+
+The king made no answer, but it hurt his royal dignity to think that
+he owed his safety to one of his own peasants, and that he had
+promised to make him his son-in-law.
+
+That evening, after a luxurious supper, the fisherman, having taken a
+little more wine than usual, ventured to ask the king to present him
+to his bride. The king whispered a few words in the ear of the
+chamberlain of the court, and then went out.
+
+The chamberlain took the fisherman to the top of the castle tower, and
+there said to him, "According to the customs of the court you should,
+before being introduced to the princess, send her by my hands some
+valuable jewel as a wedding gift."
+
+"But I have nothing of value or beauty about me," replied he, "unless
+you offer the princess this golden ring, to which I owe all my good
+fortune, the princess herself, and the safety of her father."
+
+The chamberlain took the ring, and opening the window of the tower,
+asked, "Fisherman, do you see the moon in the heavens?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"Very well, she shall be the witness of your betrothal. Now look down;
+do you see that precipice, and the deep river shining in its depths."
+
+"I do."
+
+"Very well, it shall be your bridal couch."
+
+So saying the chamberlain threw him into the deep abyss, shut the
+window, and ran to tell the king that there was no longer a suitor for
+the hand of his daughter.
+
+The fisherman, stunned by the force of his fall, reached the water
+quite senseless. When he came to himself and opened his eyes, he lay
+in a boat which at that moment was leaving the mouth of the river and
+entering the open sea.
+
+The very old man, to whom he had given the bream, was guiding the
+vessel with an oar.
+
+"My good old man, is it you? How did you manage to save me?" asked the
+astonished fisherman.
+
+"I came to your assistance," replied the old man, "because he who
+shows pity to others deserves their help when in need of it. But take
+the oar and row to whatever place you wish."
+
+And having thus spoken the mysterious old man disappeared. The
+fisherman crossed himself, and having looked round upon the royal
+palace sparkling with light he sighed deeply, and chanting the hymn
+"Under Thy Help," put out to sea.
+
+When the sun rose he saw some nets in the boat, and throwing them into
+the water caught some pike, which he sold in a town near the shore,
+and then continued his journey on foot.
+
+Two or three months later, when crossing some open country, he heard
+cries for help which came from a hill near the forest. There he saw
+two little demons pulling each other's hair. By the cut of their short
+waistcoats, by their tight pantaloons and three-cornered hats, he knew
+that they were inhabitants of the nether world, from which they must
+have escaped. He had no doubt about it, but being a good Christian he
+was not afraid, and accosted them boldly, saying, "Why do you
+ill-treat each other in this way? What is the meaning of it?"
+
+"It means, that for many a long year we have both been working hard to
+entice a silly fellow down below. He was first tempted by the desire
+to learn something of sorcery, and he ended by becoming an
+accomplished scoundrel. After giving him time to commit a great many
+crimes and thus forfeit his soul, we handed him over to safe keeping.
+Now we want to divide his property between us. He has left three
+things, which by every right belong to us. The first is a wonderful
+carpet. Whoever sits down upon it, and pronounces certain magic words,
+will be carried off at once, over forests and under clouds, never
+stopping until his destination is reached. The magic words are as
+follows:
+
+  'Carpet, that of thyself through space takes flight,
+  O travel, thou airy car, both day and night
+  Till my desired haven comes in sight.'
+
+The second piece of property is that club lying on the grass. After
+uttering some magic words, the club will immediately begin to hit so
+vigorously that a whole army may be crushed to pieces or dispersed.
+The words run thus:
+
+  'Club, thou marvellous club, who knows
+  How to strike and smite my foes,
+  By thine own strength and in God's name
+  O strike well home and strike again.'
+
+The third piece of property is a cap that renders its wearer
+invisible. Now, my good man, you see our difficulty: there are but two
+of us, and we are fighting to decide how these three lots may be
+divided into two equal parts."
+
+"I can help you," said the fisherman, "provided you will do as I tell
+you. Leave the three lots here just as they are--the carpet, the club,
+and the magic cap. I will roll a stone from the top of this hill to
+the bottom--whoever catches it first shall have two lots for his
+share. What do you say?"
+
+"Agreed!" cried the demons, racing after the stone that rolled and
+bounded on its way down.
+
+In the meantime the fisherman hastily put on the cap, seized the club,
+and sitting down on the carpet, repeated the magic formula without
+forgetting a single word.
+
+He was already high up in the air when the demons returned carrying
+the stone and calling out to him to come and reward the winner.
+
+"Come down and divide those things between us," they cried after him.
+
+The fisherman's only answer was the magic address to his club. This
+enchanted weapon then fell upon them and struck so hard that the
+country round echoed to the sound thereof. In the midst of screams and
+cries and clouds of dust they escaped at last, and the club, of its
+own accord, came back and placed itself at the fisherman's orders. He,
+in spite of the rapid motion, sat comfortably on the carpet with the
+cap under his arm and the club in his hand. Thus they flew over
+forests, under clouds, and so high that seen from the earth they
+looked like a tiny white cloud.
+
+Within two or three days they stopped at the king's capital. The
+fisherman, with his cap on, descended into the middle of the
+courtyard.
+
+The whole place was in confusion and trouble, for the commander of the
+foreign army, encouraged by having so easily received such a large sum
+of money, had returned to the attack and again held the town in siege,
+declaring that he would destroy every house and slay all the
+inhabitants, not sparing even the king himself, unless he agreed to
+give him his only daughter in marriage.
+
+The terrified citizens crowded to the palace and besought his majesty
+to do as they asked him, and so save them from such a fate. The king,
+standing on the balcony, addressed them thus: "Faithful and devoted
+people, listen to me. Nothing but a miracle can save us from this
+fearful calamity; yet it has happened that the most powerful
+assailants have been forced to ask mercy of the most feeble. I will
+never consent to the marriage of my only daughter with my most hated
+and cruel foe. Within a few moments my guards will be ready for
+combat, and I myself will lead them against the enemy. If there be any
+among you who can win the victory, to him will I give my only daughter
+in marriage, the half of my kingdom for her dowry, and the heirship to
+the throne."
+
+When he had finished speaking the fisherman ordered his club to fall
+on the foe, while the country round echoed and re-echoed to the blows
+by means of which it destroyed the besieging army. It was in vain that
+the brave commander shouted to his soldiers not to run away, for when
+he himself received three blows from the club he was obliged to make
+off as fast as possible.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the club had destroyed or driven away into the desert all the
+troops it came back to its master; he, still wearing the magic cap,
+and with his carpet folded up under his arm and his club in his hand,
+made his way to the king's apartment.
+
+In the palace shouts of joy had succeeded the cries of fear which had
+been heard but a short while ago. Every one was happy, and every one
+congratulated the king upon his victory, as sudden and complete as it
+was unexpected. But the monarch, turning to his warriors, addressed
+them thus: "Victory! Let us rather return thanks to God. He who has
+won for us the victory has but to present himself and receive the
+reward he so richly deserves, that is, my beautiful daughter in
+marriage, the half of my kingdom, and the right of succession to my
+throne. These are the gifts that await this victorious hero. Where is
+he?"
+
+They all stood silent and looked from one to the other. Then the
+fisherman, who had taken off his cap, appeared before the assembly and
+said, "Behold, it was I who destroyed your enemies, O king. This is
+the second time that I have been promised the hand of the princess in
+marriage, the half of the kingdom, and the right of succession to the
+throne."
+
+The king, struck dumb with amazement, looked inquiringly at his
+chamberlain, then recovering his presence of mind he shook hands with
+the fisherman.
+
+"Your good health, my friend. By what happy fortune do you return safe
+and sound to my court? The chamberlain told me that through your own
+carelessness you had fallen out of the tower window; in truth, we
+mourned you as dead."
+
+"I should not have fallen out of the window if I had not been thrown
+down by your chamberlain; there is the traitor. I only escaped death
+through God's help, and I have just come to the palace in my air-car."
+
+The king made a pretence of being angry with the guilty chamberlain,
+and ordered his guards to take him away to the donjon cell; then, with
+pretended friendship, he embraced the fisherman and led him to his own
+apartments. All the while he was thinking and thinking what he could
+do to get rid of him. The idea of having him, a mere peasant and one
+of his own subjects, for a son-in-law was most repugnant to him, and
+hurt his kingly pride. At last he said, "The chamberlain will most
+certainly be punished for his crime. As for you, who have twice been
+my saviour, you shall be my son-in-law. Now the customs observed at
+court demand that you should send your bride a wedding gift, a jewel,
+or some other trifle of value. When this has been observed I promise
+to give my blessing on the marriage, and may you both be happy and
+live long."
+
+"I have no jewel worthy of the princess's acceptance. I might have
+given her as much gold as she wished, but your chamberlain took my
+magic golden ring from me."
+
+"Before insisting upon its return something else might be done. I
+thoroughly appreciate the value of your marvellous flying carpet--why
+should not we both sit on it and make an excursion to the Valley of
+Diamonds? There we can obtain stones of the finest water, such as no
+one in the world has ever possessed. Afterwards we will return here
+with your wedding present for my daughter."
+
+The king then opened the window, and the fisherman, spreading out his
+carpet, repeated the magic words.
+
+Thus they took flight into the air, and after travelling one or two
+hours began to descend at their destination. It was a valley
+surrounded on all sides by rocks so steep and so difficult of access,
+that, except by God's special grace, no mortal man imprisoned there
+could possibly escape. The ground was strewn with diamonds of the
+finest quality. The king and fisherman found it easy to make a large
+collection, picking and choosing, gathering and arranging them upon
+the carpet. When they had put together all there was room for, the
+king sat down, and pointing to a large diamond shining at a little
+distance, said to the fisherman, "There is yet a more splendid one by
+the stream yonder; run, my son-in-law, and bring it here, it would be
+a pity to leave it."
+
+The man went for it, while the king, taking advantage of his absence
+to pronounce the magic words, seated himself on the carpet, which
+lifted itself up, and floating like an air-car above the forest and
+under the clouds, descended by one of the palace windows.
+
+His joy knew no bounds, for he now found himself not only free from
+his enemies and rid of the embarrassing presence of the fisherman, but
+also the possessor of the richest and most beautiful collection of
+diamonds in the world;--by his orders they were put away in the caves
+of the royal treasure-house, and with them the magic ring and the
+flying carpet.
+
+Meantime the fisherman had returned with the diamond, and had stood
+aghast to see the carpet vanishing away in the distance.
+
+Wounded at the ingratitude and indignant at the perversity of a prince
+for whom he had done so much, he burst into tears.
+
+And, indeed, he had good reason to weep. For he had but to look at the
+enormous height of the polished rocks to be convinced of the
+impossibility of climbing them. The vegetation, too, was so scanty
+that it could only provide him with food for a very short time. He saw
+but two courses open to him: either to die from starvation, or to be
+devoured by the monstrous serpents that crawled about in great
+numbers. Night was now coming on, and the poor fellow was obliged to
+plan some way of escaping the frightful reptiles which were leaving
+their hiding-places. At last he climbed up a tree, the highest he
+could find, and there, with his magic cap on and his club in his hand,
+passed the night without even closing his eyes.
+
+Next morning when the sun rose the serpents went back to their holes,
+and the fisherman got down from his tree feeling stiff with cold and
+very hungry. For some time he walked about the valley in search of
+food, turning over the diamonds now so useless to him. There he found
+a few worthless mushrooms, and with such poor food as berries and
+sorrel leaves, and the water of the valley stream for drink, he lived
+for some days.
+
+One night when he went to sleep it happened that his cap came off and
+fell to the ground, whereupon all the reptiles of the place
+immediately gathered round him. Aroused by their hisses, he awoke to
+find himself surrounded on all sides and almost in reach of their
+stings. He immediately seized his club, and had scarcely begun to
+repeat the magic formula before the weapon set to work to destroy the
+snakes, while the rocks resounded right and left with the blows. It
+was as if the monsters were being covered with boiling water, and the
+noise they made was like that produced by a flock of birds overtaken
+by a storm. They roared and hissed and twisted themselves into a
+thousand knots, gradually disappearing one by one. Then the club
+returned of its own accord to the fisherman's hands, while he returned
+thanks to God for having delivered him from such a horrible death. At
+that moment there appeared upon the top of a steep rock his friend,
+the old man. Overcome with joy at the sight of him, the fisherman
+called out, "Save me! come to me, my divine protector."
+
+The old man spread out his arms towards him, and having blessed him
+drew him up, saying, "Now you are free again, hasten to save your
+king, his daughter your bride, and their kingdom. After he had left
+you in the valley as food for serpents he was punished for his great
+crimes by the return of the enemy, who again laid siege to the
+capital. This happened at the very moment when he was surrounded by
+his guests, and was boasting of his possession of the air-car, the
+magic golden ring, and the rest of his evilly acquired riches.
+
+"His foes had consulted Yaga, a wicked sorceress; she advised them to
+obtain the help of Kostey the magician, who promised his aid in
+carrying off the princess. When he came he fell in love with the
+beautiful maiden at first sight, and determined to marry her himself.
+In order to bring this about he threw the king, the courtiers, and all
+the inhabitants of the land into a heavy sleep. Then he bore off the
+princess to his own palace, where she has been shut up and ill-treated
+because she refuses to have anything to do with him. His castle is
+situated at the very end of the world, to the west. There is nothing
+to hinder you from taking possession of your carpet and ring, they are
+hidden in the king's treasure-house. Then go with your cap and club
+and conquer Kostey, rescue the princess, and deliver the king and his
+subjects."
+
+The fisherman would have thrown himself at the old man's feet to pour
+out his gratitude, but he suddenly vanished. So he thanked God for all
+His mercies, put on his invisible cap, and taking his club, made his
+way towards the capital.
+
+At the end of three days he entered the royal city. All the
+inhabitants were sleeping the enchanted sleep, from which they were
+powerless to rouse themselves. The fisherman went straight to the
+royal treasure-house, took the magic ring and carpet, then seating
+himself upon the latter and repeating the magic words, away he went
+like a bird, over rustling forests and under clouds, floating across
+the blue sky.
+
+After some days of travel he alighted in Kostey's courtyard. Without a
+moment's delay he folded up his carpet, put the magic cap on his head,
+and with club in hand entered Kostey's room. There, to his
+astonishment, stood the magician himself, admiring the wondrous beauty
+of the princess. For she was perfectly beautiful; eye had never seen
+nor ear heard of such loveliness. With a low bow full of pride and an
+ironical smile he was saying to her: "Beauteous princess, you have
+sworn a most solemn oath to marry none but that man who can solve your
+six riddles. It is in vain that I strive to guess them. Now there are
+only two courses open to you: either to release yourself from your
+vow, putting the riddles aside and consenting to be my wife; or to
+persist in your vow and thus deliver yourself up to my anger, which
+you will bitterly regret. I give you three minutes to decide."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Upon hearing these threats the fisherman trembled with rage, and in a
+low voice whispered the magic words to his club.
+
+This good weapon did not wait for the order to be repeated, but with
+one bound came down full upon Kostey's forehead. Stunned for a moment
+by the violence of the blow, the terrible creature rolled upon the
+ground. Sparks like fireworks sprang from his eyes, and the noise as
+of a hundred mills seemed to go through his head. Any ordinary mortal
+would never have opened his eyes again, but Kostey was immortal.
+
+Getting on his feet he pulled himself together, and tried to find out
+who had thus attacked him. Then the club began to hit him again, and
+the sound thereof was like unto blows on an empty vault. It seemed to
+the magician as if showers of boiling water were being poured upon
+him. He twisted himself about in awful convulsions, and would have
+liked to bury himself in his palace walls and be turned to stone.
+
+At last, crippled with wounds, he began to hiss like a serpent, and
+springing forwards breathed upon the princess, filling the air with
+the poisonous blast.
+
+The maiden tottered and fell, as if dead. Kostey changed himself into
+a wreath of smoke, and floating out of the window, disappeared in a
+hurricane.
+
+The fisherman, still invisible, carried the princess into the
+courtyard of the castle, hoping that the fresh air might restore her
+to consciousness. He laid her upon the grass, his heart throbbing with
+hope and fear, and waited anxiously. Suddenly a raven and his
+nestlings, attracted by the sight of a dead body, and not being able
+to see the fisherman, came by croaking. The parent bird said to his
+young ones:
+
+  "Come, children, sharpen claws and beak, krak, krak,
+  For here's a feast not far to seek, krak, krak,
+  This young girl's corse so white and sleek, krak, krak."
+
+One small bird at once settled down on the princess, but the fisherman
+seized it and took off his cap, so that he could be seen.
+
+"Fisherman," said the father raven, "let go my dear birdling and I
+will give you anything you want."
+
+"Then bring me some of the Life-Giving Water."
+
+The raven flew away and returned in about an hour, carrying in his
+beak a tiny bottle of the water. Then he again begged to have his
+nestling back.
+
+"You shall have it as soon as I have proved that the water is of the
+right sort."
+
+So saying, he sprinkled the pale face of the princess. She sighed,
+opened her eyes, and blushing at the sight of a stranger, got up and
+said, "Where am I? Why, how soundly I have slept!"
+
+"Lovely princess, your sleep might have lasted for ever."
+
+Then he told her his story, how he had been thrown into the river,
+abandoned in the Valley of Diamonds, and so on, relating at full
+length all the marvellous events that had taken place.
+
+She listened attentively, then, thanking him for all he had done for
+her, placed her hand in his and said, "In the garden behind the palace
+is an apple-tree that bears golden fruit. A guzla that plays of its
+own accord hangs on its branches, and is guarded day and night by four
+negroes. Now the music from this guzla has the wonderful power of
+restoring health to invalids who listen to it, and happiness to those
+who are sad. That which is ugly becomes beautiful, and charms and
+enchantments of all kinds are broken and destroyed for ever."
+
+The fisherman put on his invisible cap and went into the garden in
+search of the negroes. Before going up to them he addressed the magic
+words to his golden ring, and after a short thunderstorm a shower of
+gold covered the ground. The negroes, greedy of wealth, threw
+themselves upon it, snatching from each other handfuls of the golden
+rain. While thus engaged the fisherman unhooked the guzla from the
+branches and hurried off into the courtyard with it. There he unfolded
+his carpet, and sitting down upon it with the princess at his side,
+flew high up into the air. He had not forgotten to bring with him the
+cap, the club, and the ring; the princess took care of the guzla.
+
+They floated across the blue sky, above the rustling forests and under
+the clouds, and in a few days arrived at the palace. There they
+descended, but the people still lay wrapped in the enchanted sleep,
+from which they seemed to have no power of awakening.
+
+The silence of the tomb reigned around. Some of the officers were
+sitting, others standing, all motionless and rigid, and each one in
+the position he occupied when last awake. The king held a goblet
+filled with wine, for he had been giving a toast. The chamberlain had
+his throat half filled with a lying tale, which there had been no time
+to finish. One had the end of a joke upon his lips, another a dainty
+morsel between his teeth, or a tale ready cooked upon his tongue.
+
+And it was the same in all the villages throughout the length and
+breadth of the land. All the inhabitants lay under the enchanted
+spell. The labourer held his whip in the air, for he had been about to
+strike his oxen. The harvesters with their sickles had stopped short
+in their work. The shepherds slept by their sheep in the middle of the
+road. The huntsman stood with the powder still alight on the pan of
+his gun. The birds, arrested in their flight, hung in mid-air. The
+animals in the woods were motionless. The water in the streams was
+still. Even the wind slept. Everywhere men had been overtaken in their
+occupations or amusements. It was a soundless land, without voice or
+movement; on all sides calm, death, sleep.
+
+The fisherman stood with the princess at his side in the
+banqueting-hall where slept the king and his guests. Taking the magic
+guzla from the maid, he pronounced these words:
+
+  "O guzla, play, and let thy sweetest harmonies resound
+  Through hall and cot, o'er hill and dale, and all the country round;
+  That by the power and beauty of thy heavenly tones and song
+  Awakened may these sleepers be who sleep too well, too long."
+
+When the first tones of music burst forth everything began to move and
+live again. The king finished proposing his toast. The chamberlain
+ended his tale. The guests continued to feast and enjoy themselves.
+The servants waited at their posts. In short, everything went on just
+as before, and as if nothing had happened to interrupt it.
+
+And it was just the same in all the country round. Everything suddenly
+awoke to life. The labourer finished ploughing his furrow. The
+haymakers built up the hay in ricks. The reapers cut down the golden
+grain. The hunter's gun went off and shot the duck. The trees rustled.
+The gardener went on with his work and his song. The rich, who thought
+only of enjoyment, entertained one another in luxury and splendour.
+
+Now when the king caught sight of his daughter leaning on the
+fisherman's arm he could hardly believe his own eyes, and it made him
+very angry. But the princess ran to him, and throwing herself in his
+arms, related all that he had accomplished. The monarch's heart was
+softened, and he felt ashamed. With tears in his eyes he drew the
+fisherman towards him, and before the assembled company thanked him
+for having the third time saved his life.
+
+"God has punished me for my ill-treatment of you," said he. "Yet He is
+generous and forgives; I will fulfil all your wishes."
+
+He then added that the wedding feast should be held that very day, and
+that his only daughter would be married to the fisherman.
+
+The princess was filled with gladness, and standing with her father's
+arms round her, said, "I cannot, however, break my word. When in
+Kostey's palace I made a vow to bestow my hand only on that man who
+should guess the six riddles I put to him. I am sure the heroic man,
+who has done so much, will not refuse to submit to this last trial for
+my sake."
+
+To this the fisherman bowed a willing assent.
+
+The first riddle was: "Without legs it walks. Without arms it strikes.
+Without life it moves continually."
+
+"A clock," he answered promptly, and to the great satisfaction of the
+princess, to whom this good beginning seemed to presage a happy
+ending.
+
+The second riddle ran thus: "Without being either bird, reptile,
+insect, or any animal whatsoever, it ensures the safety of the whole
+house."
+
+"A bolt," said her lover.
+
+"Good! Now this is the third: 'Who is that pedestrian who walks fully
+armed, seasons dishes, and in his sides has two darts? He swims across
+the water without the help of a boatman.'"
+
+"A lobster."
+
+The princess clapped her hands and begged him to guess the fourth.
+
+"It runs, it moves along on two sides, it has but one eye, an overcoat
+of polished steel, and a tail of thread."
+
+"A needle."
+
+"Well guessed. Now listen to the fifth: 'It walks without feet,
+beckons without hands, and moves without a body.'"
+
+"It must be a shadow."
+
+"Exactly," said she, well pleased. "Now you have succeeded so well
+with these five you will soon guess the sixth: 'It has four feet, but
+is not an animal. It is provided with feathers and down, but is no
+bird. It has a body, and gives warmth, but is not alive.'"
+
+"It is certainly a bed," exclaimed the fisherman.
+
+The princess gave him her hand. They both knelt at the king's feet and
+received his fatherly blessing, after which he with a large wedding
+party accompanied them to the church. At the same time messengers were
+sent to bring the fisherman's mother to the palace.
+
+The marvellous guzla played the sweetest music at the marriage feast,
+while the old king ate and drank and enjoyed himself, and danced like
+a madman. He treated his guests with so much kindness and generosity
+that to this very hour the happiness of those who were present is a
+thing to be talked about and envied.
+
+Now you see what it is to love virtue and pursue it with energy and
+courage. For by so doing a mere peasant, a poor simple fisherman,
+married the most lovely and enchanting princess in the whole world. He
+received, besides, half the kingdom on his wedding day, and the right
+of succession to the throne after the old king's death.
+
+
+
+
+THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE BROAD MAN, THE TALL MAN, AND THE MAN WITH EYES OF FLAME
+
+
+It was in those days when cats wore shoes, when frogs croaked in
+grandmothers' chairs, when donkeys clanked their spurs on the
+pavements like brave knights, and when hares chased dogs. So you see
+it must have been a very very long time ago.
+
+In those days the king of a certain country had a daughter, who was
+not only exceedingly beautiful but also remarkably clever. Many kings
+and princes travelled from far distant lands, each one with the hope
+of making her his wife. But she would have nothing to do with any one
+of them. Finally, it was proclaimed that she would marry that man who
+for three successive nights should keep such strict watch upon her
+that she could not escape unnoticed. Those who failed were to have
+their heads cut off.
+
+The news of this offer was noised about in all parts of the world. A
+great many kings and princes hastened to make the trial, taking their
+turn and keeping watch. But each one lost his life in the attempt, for
+they could not prevent, indeed they were not even able to see, the
+princess take her flight.
+
+Now it happened that Matthias, prince of a royal city, heard of what
+was going on and resolved to watch through the three nights. He was
+young, handsome as a deer, and brave as a falcon. His father did all
+he could to turn him from his purpose: he used entreaties, prayers,
+threats, in fact he forbade him to go, but in vain, nothing could
+prevent him. What could the poor father do? Worn-out with contention,
+he was at last obliged to consent. Matthias filled his purse with
+gold, girded a well-tried sword to his side, and quite alone started
+off to seek the fortune of the brave.
+
+Walking along next day, he met a man who seemed hardly able to drag
+one leg after the other.
+
+"Whither are you going?" asked Matthias.
+
+"I am travelling all over the world in search of happiness."
+
+"What is your profession?"
+
+"I have no profession, but I can do what no one else can. I am called
+_Broad_, because I have the power of swelling myself out to such a
+size that there is room for a whole regiment of soldiers inside me."
+
+So saying he puffed himself out till he formed a barricade from one
+side of the road to the other.
+
+"Bravo!" cried Matthias, delighted at this proof of his capacities.
+"By the way, would you mind coming with me? I, too, am travelling
+across the world in search of happiness."
+
+"If there is nothing bad in it I am quite willing," answered Broad.
+And they continued their journey together.
+
+A little further on they met a very slender man, frightfully thin, and
+tall and straight as a portico.
+
+"Whither are you going, good man?" asked Matthias, filled with
+curiosity at his strange appearance.
+
+"I am travelling about the world."
+
+"To what profession do you belong?"
+
+"To no profession, but I know something every one else is ignorant of.
+I am called _Tall_, and with good reason. For without leaving the
+earth I can stretch out and reach up to the clouds. When I walk I
+clear a mile at each step."
+
+Without more ado he lengthened himself out until his head was lost in
+the clouds, while he really cleared a mile at each step.
+
+"I like that, my fine fellow," said Matthias. "Come, would you not
+like to travel with us?"'
+
+"Why not?" replied he. "I'll come."
+
+So they proceeded on their way together. While passing through a
+forest they saw a man placing trunks of trees one upon another.
+
+"What are you trying to do there?" asked Matthias, addressing him.
+
+"I have _Eyes of Flame_," said he, "and I am building a pile here." So
+saying he fixed his flaming eyes upon the wood, and the whole was
+instantly set alight.
+
+"You are a very clever and powerful man," said Matthias, "would you
+like to join our party?"
+
+"All right, I am willing."
+
+So the four travelled along together. Matthias was overjoyed to have
+met with such gifted companions, and paid their expenses generously,
+without complaining of the enormous sum of money he had to spend on
+the amount of food Broad consumed.
+
+After some days they reached the princess's palace. Matthias had told
+them the object of his journey, and had promised each a large reward
+if he was successful. They gave him their word to work with a will at
+the task which every one up till then had failed to accomplish. The
+prince bought them each a handsome suit of clothes, and when they were
+all presentable sent them to tell the king, the princess's father,
+that he had come with his attendants to watch three nights in the
+lady's boudoir. But he took very good care not to say who he was, nor
+whence he had come.
+
+The king received them kindly, and after hearing their request said:
+"Reflect well before engaging yourselves in this, for if the princess
+should escape you will have to die."
+
+"We very much doubt her escaping from us," they replied, "but come
+what will, we intend to make the attempt and to begin at once."
+
+"My duty was to warn you," replied the monarch, smiling, "but if you
+still persist in your resolution I myself will take you to the lady's
+apartments."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Matthias was dazzled at the loveliness of the royal maiden, while she,
+on her side, received the brilliant and handsome young man most
+graciously, not trying to hide how much she liked his good looks and
+gentle manner. Hardly had the king retired when Broad lay down across
+the threshold; Tall and the Man with Eyes of Flame placed themselves
+near the window; while Matthias talked with the princess, and watched
+her every movement attentively.
+
+Suddenly she ceased to speak, then after a few moments said, "I feel
+as if a shower of poppies were falling on my eyelids."
+
+And she lay down on the couch, pretending to sleep.
+
+Matthias did not breathe a word. Seeing her asleep he sat down at a
+table near the sofa, leaned his elbows upon it, and rested his chin in
+the hollow of his hands. Gradually he felt drowsy and his eyes closed,
+as did those of his companions.
+
+Now this was the moment the princess was waiting for. Quickly changing
+herself into a dove, she flew towards the window. If it had not
+happened that one of her wings touched Tall's hair he would not have
+awakened, and he would certainly never have succeeded in catching her
+if it had not been for the Man with Eyes of Flame, for he, as soon as
+he knew which direction she had taken, sent such a glance after her,
+that is, a flame of fire, that in the twinkling of an eye her wings
+were burnt, and having been thus stopped, she was obliged to perch on
+the top of a tree. From thence Tall reached her easily, and placed her
+in Matthias' hands, where she became a princess again. Matthias had
+hardly awakened out of his sleep.
+
+Next morning and the morning after the king was greatly astonished to
+find his daughter sitting by the prince's side, but he was obliged to
+keep silent and accept facts as they were, at the same time
+entertaining his guests royally. At the approach of the third night he
+spoke with his daughter, and begged her to practise all the magic of
+which she was capable, and to act in such a way as to free him from
+the presence of intruders of whom he knew neither the rank nor the
+fortune.
+
+As for Matthias, he used every means in his power to bring about a
+happy ending to such a hitherto successful undertaking. Before
+entering the princess's apartments he took his comrades aside and
+said, "There is but one more stroke of luck, dear friends, and then we
+have succeeded. If we fail, do not forget that our four heads will
+roll on the scaffold."
+
+"Come along," replied the three; "never fear, we shall be able to keep
+good watch."
+
+When they came into the princess's room they hastened to take up their
+positions, and Matthias sat down facing the lady. He would have much
+preferred to remain with her without being obliged to keep watch all
+the time for fear of losing her for ever. Resolving not to sleep this
+time, he said to himself, "Now I will keep watch upon you, but when
+you are my wife I will rest."
+
+At midnight, when sleep was beginning to overpower her watchers, the
+princess kept silence, and, stretching herself on the couch, shut her
+beautiful eyes as if she were really asleep.
+
+Matthias, his elbows on the table, his chin in the palms of his hand,
+his eyes fixed upon her, admired her silently. But as sleep closes
+even the eyes of the eagle, so it shut those of the prince and his
+companions.
+
+The princess, who all this time had been watching them narrowly and
+only waiting for this moment, got up from her seat, and changing
+herself into a little fly, flew out of the window. Once free, she
+again changed herself into a fish, and falling into the palace well,
+plunged and hid herself in the depths of the water.
+
+She would certainly have made her escape if, as a fly, she had not
+just touched the tip of the nose of the Man with Eyes of Flame. He
+sneezed, and opened his eyes in time to notice the direction in which
+she had disappeared. Without losing an instant he gave the alarm, and
+all four ran into the courtyard. The well was very deep, but that did
+not matter. Tall soon stretched himself to the required depth, and
+searched in all the corners: but he was unable to find the little
+fish, and it seemed impossible that it could ever have been there.
+
+"Now then, get out of that, I will take your place," said Broad.
+
+And getting in at the top by the rim, he filled up all the inside of
+the well, stopping it so completely with his huge body that the water
+sprang out: but nothing was seen of the little fish.
+
+"Now it is my turn," said the Man with Eyes of Flame, "I warrant I'll
+dislodge this clever magician."
+
+When Broad had cleared the well of his enormous person the water
+returned to its place, but it soon began to boil from the heat of the
+eyes of flame. It boiled and boiled, till it boiled over the rim;
+then, as it went on boiling and rising ever higher and higher, a
+little fish was seen to throw itself out on the grass half cooked. As
+it touched the ground it again took the form of the princess.
+
+Matthias went to her and kissed her tenderly.
+
+"You have conquered, my master and husband," she said, "you have
+succeeded in preventing my escape. Henceforth I am yours, both by
+right of conquest and of my own free will."
+
+The young man's courtesy, strength, and gentleness, as well as his
+beauty, were very pleasing to the princess; but her father, the king,
+was not so ready to approve of her choice, and he resolved not to let
+her go with them. But this did not trouble Matthias, who determined to
+carry her off, aided by his three comrades. They soon all left the
+palace.
+
+The king was furious, and ordered his guards to follow them and bring
+them back under pain of death. Meanwhile Matthias, the princess, and
+the three comrades had already travelled a distance of some miles.
+When she heard the steps of the pursuers she begged the Man with Eyes
+of Flame to see who they were. Having turned to look, he told her that
+a large army of men on horseback were advancing at a gallop.
+
+"They are my father's guards," said she, "we shall have some
+difficulty in escaping them."
+
+Then, seeing the horsemen draw nearer she took the veil from her face,
+and throwing it behind her in the direction of the wind, said, "I
+command as many trees to spring up as there are threads in this veil."
+
+Instantly, in the twinkling of an eye, a high thick forest rose up
+between them. Before the soldiers had time to clear for themselves a
+pathway through this dense mass, Matthias and his party had been able
+to get far ahead, and even to take a little rest.
+
+"Look," said the princess, "and see if they are still coming after
+us."
+
+The Man with Eyes of Flame looked back, and replied that the king's
+guards were out of the forest and coming towards them with all speed.
+
+"They will not be able to reach us," cried she. And she let fall a
+tear from her eyes, saying as she did so, "Tear, become a river."
+
+At the same moment a wide river flowed between them and their
+pursuers, and before the latter had found means of crossing it,
+Matthias and his party were far on in front.
+
+"Man with Eyes of Flame," said the princess, "look behind and tell me
+how closely we are followed."
+
+"They are quite near to us again," he replied, "they are almost upon
+our heels."
+
+"Darkness, cover them," said she.
+
+At these words Tall drew himself up. He stretched and stretched and
+stretched until he reached the clouds, and there, with his hat he half
+covered the face of the sun. The side towards the soldiers was black
+as night, while Matthias and his party, lit up by the shining half,
+went a good way without hindrance.
+
+When they had travelled some distance, Tall uncovered the sun, and
+soon joined his companions by taking a mile at each step. They were
+already in sight of Matthias' home, when they noticed that the royal
+guards were again following them closely.
+
+"Now it is my turn," said Broad; "go on your way in safety, I will
+remain here. I shall be ready for them."
+
+He quietly awaited their arrival, standing motionless, with his large
+mouth open from ear to ear. The royal army, who were determined not to
+turn back without having taken the princess, advanced towards the town
+at a gallop. They had decided among themselves that if it resisted
+they would lay siege to it.
+
+Mistaking Broad's open mouth for one of the city gates, they all
+dashed through and disappeared.
+
+Broad closed his mouth, and having swallowed them, ran to rejoin his
+comrades in the palace of Matthias' father. He felt somewhat disturbed
+with a whole army inside him, and the earth groaned and trembled
+beneath him as he ran. He could hear the shouts of the people
+assembled round Matthias, as they rejoiced at his safe return.
+
+"Ah, here you are at last, brother Broad," cried Matthias, directly he
+caught sight of him. "But what have you done with the army? Where have
+you left it?"
+
+"The army is here, quite safe," answered he, patting his enormous
+person. "I shall be very pleased to return them as they are, for the
+morsel is not very easy to digest."
+
+"Come then, let them out of their prison," said Matthias, enjoying the
+joke, and at the same time calling all the inhabitants to assist at
+the entertainment.
+
+Broad, who looked upon it as a common occurrence, stood in the middle
+of the palace square, and putting his hands to his sides, began to
+cough. Then--it was really a sight worth seeing--at each cough
+horsemen and horses fell out of his mouth, one over the other,
+plunging, hopping, jumping, trying who could get out of the way the
+quickest. The last one had a little difficulty in getting free, for he
+somehow got into one of Broad's nostrils and was unable to move. It
+was only by giving a good sneeze that Broad could release him, the
+last of the royal cavaliers, and he lost no time in following his
+companions at the top of his speed.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+A few days later a splendid feast was given at the wedding of Prince
+Matthias and the princess. The king, her father, was also present.
+Tall had been sent to invite him. Owing to his knowledge of the road
+and the length of his limbs, he accomplished the journey so quickly
+that he was there before the royal horsemen had time to get back. It
+was well for them that it was so, for, had he not pleaded that their
+lives might be saved, their heads would certainly have been cut off
+for returning empty-handed.
+
+Everything was now arranged to everybody's satisfaction. The
+princess's father was delighted to know that his daughter was married
+to a rich and noble prince, and Matthias generously rewarded his brave
+travelling companions, who remained with him to the end of their days.
+
+
+
+
+THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL OR THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE HISTORY OF PRINCE SLUGOBYL; OR, THE INVISIBLE KNIGHT
+
+
+There was once a king who had an only son, called Prince Slugobyl. Now
+this young prince loved nothing better than travelling; so fond of it
+was he that when he was twenty years old he gave his father no rest
+until he allowed him to go on a long journey, in short, to travel all
+over the world. Thus he hoped to see many beautiful and strange
+things, to meet with marvellous adventures, to gain happiness,
+knowledge, and wisdom, and to return a better man in every way than
+when he left. Fearing his youth and want of experience might lead him
+astray, his father sent with him a valued and faithful servant. When
+all was ready, Slugobyl bade the king adieu and set off to visit the
+land of his dreams.
+
+As he was jogging along, allowing his horse to go at its own pace, he
+saw a beautiful white swan pursued by an eagle about to pounce down
+upon it. Seizing his crossbow, he took such good aim that the eagle
+fell dead at his feet. The rescued swan stopped in its flight, and
+turning round said to him, "Valiant Prince Slugobyl, it is not a mere
+swan who thanks you for your most timely help, but the daughter of the
+Invisible Knight, who, to escape the pursuit of the giant Kostey, has
+changed herself into a swan. My father will gladly be of service to
+you in return for this kindness to me. When in need of his help, you
+only have to say three times, 'Invisible Knight, come to me.'"
+
+Having thus spoken the swan flew away. The prince looked after her for
+a long time, and then continued his journey. He travelled on and on
+and on, over high mountains, through dark forests, across barren
+deserts, and so to the middle of a vast plain where every green thing
+had been burnt up by the rays of the sun. Not a single tree, not even
+a bush or a plant of any kind was to be seen. No bird was heard to
+sing, no insect to hum, no breath of air to stir the stillness of this
+land of desolation. Having ridden for some hours, the prince began to
+suffer terribly from thirst; so, sending his servant in one direction,
+he himself went in another, in search of some well or spring. They
+soon found a well full of cool fresh water, but unluckily without
+either rope or bucket to draw it up. After a few moments' thought the
+prince said to his servant, "Take the leathern strap used for
+tethering our horses, put it round your body, and I will then let you
+down into the well; I cannot endure this thirst any longer."
+
+"Your highness," answered the servant, "I am heavier than you, and you
+are not as strong as I, so you will not be able to pull me out of the
+water. If you, therefore, will go down first, I shall be able to pull
+you up when you have quenched your thirst."
+
+The prince took his advice, and fastening an end of the strap under
+his arms, was lowered into the well. When he had enjoyed a deep
+draught of the clear water and filled a bottle of the same for his
+servant, he gave the signal that he wished to be pulled up. But
+instead of obeying the servant said, "Listen, prince; from the day you
+were born up to the present moment you have never known anything but
+luxury, pleasure, and happiness, while I have suffered poverty and
+slaved all my life. Now we will change places, and you shall be my
+servant. If you refuse you had better make your peace with God, for I
+shall drown you."
+
+"Stop, faithful servant," cried the prince, "you will not be so wicked
+as to do that. What good will it do you? You will never be so happy as
+you have been with me, and you know what dreadful tortures are in
+store for murderers in the other world; their hands are plunged into
+boiling pitch, their shoulders bruised with blows from red-hot iron
+clubs, and their necks sawn with wooden saws."
+
+"You may cut and saw me as much as you like in the other world," said
+the servant, "but I shall drown you in this." And he began to let the
+strap slide through his fingers.
+
+"Very well," said the prince, "I agree to accept your terms. You shall
+be the prince and I will be your servant, I give you my word."
+
+"I have no faith in words that are carried away by the first wind that
+blows. Swear to confirm your promise in writing."
+
+"I swear."
+
+The servant then let down paper and pencil, and dictated
+the following:
+
+    "I hereby declare that I renounce my name and rights in
+    favour of the bearer of this writing, and that I acknowledge
+    him to be my prince, and that I am his servant. Written in
+    the well.
+                                        (Signed) PRINCE SLUGOBYL."
+
+The man having taken this document, which he was quite unable to read,
+drew out the prince, took off the clothes in which he was dressed, and
+made him wear those he himself had just taken off. Thus disguised they
+travelled for a week, and arriving at a large city, went straight to
+the king's palace. There the false prince dismissed his pretended
+servant to the stables, and presenting himself before the king,
+addressed him thus in a very haughty manner:
+
+"King, I am come to demand the hand of your wise and beautiful
+daughter, whose fame has reached my father's court. In exchange I
+offer our alliance, and in case of refusal, war."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Prayers and threats are equally out of place," answered the king;
+"nevertheless, prince, as proof of the esteem in which I hold the
+king, your father, I grant your request: but only on one condition,
+that you deliver us from a large army that now besets our town. Do
+this, and my daughter shall be yours."
+
+"Certainly," said the impostor, "I can soon get rid of them, however
+near they may be. I undertake by to-morrow morning to have freed the
+land entirely of them."
+
+In the evening he went to the stables, and calling his pretended
+servant, saluted him respectfully and said, "Listen, my dear friend, I
+want you to go immediately outside the town and destroy the besieging
+army that surrounds it. But do it in such a way that every one will
+believe that I have done it. In exchange for this favour I promise to
+return the writing in which you renounced your title of prince and
+engaged to serve me."
+
+The prince put on his armour, mounted his horse, and rode outside the
+city gates. There he stopped and called three times to the Invisible
+Knight.
+
+"Behold me, prince, at your service," said a voice close to him. "I
+will do anything you wish, for you saved my only daughter from the
+hands of the giant Kostey; I shall always be grateful."
+
+Slugobyl showed him the army he had to destroy before morning, and the
+Invisible Knight whistled and sang:
+
+  "Magu, Horse with Golden Mane,
+  I want your help yet once again,
+  Walk not the earth but fly through space
+  As lightnings flash or thunders race.
+  Swift as the arrow from the bow,
+  Come quick, yet so that none can know."
+
+At that instant a magnificent grey horse appeared out of a whirlwind
+of smoke, and from his head there hung a golden mane. Swift as the
+wind was he, flames of fire blazed forth from his nostrils, lightnings
+flashed from his eyes, and volumes of smoke came from his ears. The
+Invisible Knight leapt upon his back, saying to the prince, "Take my
+sword and destroy the left wing of the army, while I attack the right
+wing and the centre."
+
+The two heroes rushed forward and attacked the invaders with such fury
+that on all sides men fell like chopped wood or dried grass. A
+frightful massacre followed, but it was in vain that the enemy fled,
+for the two knights seemed to be everywhere. Within a short time only
+the dead and dying remained on the battle-field, and the two
+conquerors quietly returned to the town. On reaching the palace steps,
+the Invisible Knight melted into the morning mist, and the serving-man
+prince returned to the stables.
+
+That same night it happened that the king's daughter, not being able
+to sleep, had remained on her balcony and seen and heard all that had
+taken place. She had overheard the conversation between the impostor
+and the real prince, had seen the latter call to his assistance the
+Invisible Knight, and then doff his royal armour in favour of the
+false prince; she had seen and understood everything, but she
+determined to keep silence for a little longer.
+
+But when on the next day the king, her father, celebrated the victory
+of the false prince with great rejoicings, loaded him with honours and
+presents, and calling his daughter expressed a wish that she should
+marry him--the princess could be silent no longer. She walked up to
+the real prince, who was waiting at table with the other servants,
+took his arm, and leading him to the king, said:
+
+"Father, and all good people, this is the man who has saved our
+country from the enemy, and whom God has destined to be my husband. He
+to whom you pay these honours is but a vile impostor, who has robbed
+his master of name and rights. Last night I witnessed such deeds as
+eye has never seen nor ear heard, but which shall be told afterwards.
+Bid this traitor show the writing which proves the truth of what I
+say."
+
+When the false prince had delivered up the paper signed by the
+serving-man prince, it was found to contain the following words:
+
+    "The bearer of this document, the false and wicked servant
+    of the serving-man prince, shall receive the punishment his
+    sin deserves.
+                                        (Signed) PRINCE SLUGOBYL."
+
+"What? Is that the real meaning of that writing?" asked the traitor,
+who could not read.
+
+"Most assuredly," was the reply.
+
+Then he threw himself at the king's feet and begged for mercy. But he
+received his punishment, for he was tied to the tails of four wild
+horses and torn to pieces.
+
+Prince Slugobyl married the princess. It was a magnificent wedding. I
+myself was there, and drank of the mead and wine; but they only
+touched my beard, they did not enter my mouth.
+
+
+
+
+THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES
+
+
+In ancient days there lived a king and queen; the former was old but
+the latter young. Although they loved one another dearly they were
+very unhappy, for God had not given them any children. They fretted
+and grieved about this so deeply that the queen became ill with
+melancholy. The doctors advised her to travel. The king was obliged to
+remain at home, so she went without him, accompanied by twelve maids
+of honour, all beautiful and fresh as flowers in May. When they had
+travelled for some days, they reached a vast uninhabited plain which
+stretched so far away it seemed to touch the sky. After driving hither
+and thither for some time the driver was quite bewildered, and stopped
+before a large stone column. At its foot stood a warrior on horseback,
+clad in steel armour.
+
+"Brave knight, can you direct me to the high-road?" said the driver;
+"we are lost, and know not which way to go."
+
+"I will show you the way," said the warrior, "but only on one
+condition, that each of you gives me a kiss."
+
+The queen looked at the warrior in wrath, and ordered the coachman to
+drive on. The carriage continued moving nearly all day, but as if
+bewitched, for it always returned to the stone column. This time the
+queen addressed the warrior.
+
+"Knight," said she, "show us the road, and I will reward you richly."
+
+"I am the Master Spirit of the Steppes," answered he. "I demand
+payment for showing the way, and my payment is always in kisses."
+
+"Very well, my twelve maids of honour shall pay you."
+
+"Thirteen kisses are due to me; the first must be given by the lady
+who addresses me."
+
+The queen was very angry, and again the attempt was made to find their
+way. But the carriage, though during the whole time it moved in an
+opposite direction, still returned to the stone column. It was now
+dark, and they were obliged to think of finding shelter for the night,
+so the queen was obliged to give the warrior his strange payment.
+Getting out of her carriage she walked up to the knight, and looking
+modestly down allowed him to kiss her; her twelve maids of honour who
+followed did the same. A moment later stone column and horseman had
+vanished, and they found themselves on the high-road, while a perfumed
+cloud seemed to float over the steppes. The queen stepped into her
+carriage with her ladies, and so the journey was continued.
+
+But from that day the beautiful queen and her maids became thoughtful
+and sad; and, losing all pleasure in travel, went back to the capital.
+Yet the return home did not make the queen happy, for always before
+her eyes she saw the Horseman of the Steppes. This displeased the
+king, who became gloomy and ill-tempered.
+
+One day while the king was on his throne in the council chamber he
+suddenly heard the sweetest warblings, like unto those produced by a
+bird of paradise; these were answered by the songs of many
+nightingales. Wondering, he sent to find out what it was. The
+messenger returned saying that the queen and her twelve maids of
+honour had each been presented with a girl baby, and that the sweet
+warblings were but the crying of the children. The king was greatly
+astonished, and while he was engaged in deep thought about the matter
+the palace was suddenly lit up by lights of dazzling brightness. On
+inquiring into the cause he learnt that the little princess had opened
+her eyes, and that they shone with matchless brilliancy.
+
+At first the king could not speak, so amazed was he. He laughed and he
+cried, he sorrowed and he rejoiced, and in the midst of it all a
+deputation of ministers and senators was announced. When these were
+shown into his presence they fell on their knees, and striking the
+ground with their foreheads, said, "Sire, save your people and your
+royal person. The queen and her twelve maids of honour have been
+presented by the Spirit of the Steppes with thirteen girl babies. We
+beseech you to have these children killed, or we shall all be
+destroyed."
+
+The king, roused to anger, gave orders that all the babies should be
+thrown into the sea. The courtiers were already on their way to obey
+this cruel command when the queen entered, weeping, and pale as death.
+She threw herself at the king's feet and begged him to spare the lives
+of these helpless and innocent children, and instead to let them be
+placed on a desert island and there left in the hands of God.
+
+The king granted her wish. The baby princess was placed in a golden
+cradle, her little companions in copper cradles, and the thirteen were
+taken to a desert island and left quite alone. Every one at court
+thought that they had perished, and said one to another, "They will
+die from cold and hunger; they will be devoured by wild beasts, or
+birds of prey; they are sure to die; perchance they will be buried
+under dead leaves or covered with snow." But happily nothing of the
+kind happened, for God takes care of little children.
+
+The small princess grew bigger day by day. Every morning she was
+awakened by the rising sun, and bathed by the dew. Soft breezes
+refreshed her, and twisted into plaits her luxuriant hair. The trees
+sang her to sleep with their rustling lullabies, the stars watched
+over her at night. The swans clothed her in their soft raiment, and
+the bees fed her with their honey. The beauty of the little maiden
+increased with her growth. Her brow was calm and pure as the moon, her
+lips red as a rosebud, and so eloquent that her voice sounded like a
+shower of pearls. But wonderful beyond compare was the expressive
+beauty of her eyes, for if she looked at you kindly you seemed to
+float in a sea of joy, if angrily it made you numb with fear, and you
+were instantly changed into a block of ice. She was waited upon by her
+twelve companions, who were almost as charming as their mistress, to
+whom they were devotedly attached. Rumours of the loveliness of
+Princess Sudolisu spread far and wide. People came to see her from all
+parts of the world, so that it was soon no longer a desert island, but
+a thickly populated and magnificent city.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Many a prince came from afar and entered the lists as suitor for the
+hand of Sudolisu, but none succeeded in winning her love. Those who
+bore with good temper and resignation the disappointment of being
+refused returned home safe and sound, but woe to the unlucky wretch
+who rebelled against her will and attempted to use an armed force; his
+soldiers perished miserably, while he, frozen to the heart by her
+angry glance, was turned into a block of ice.
+
+Now it happened that the famous ogre, Kostey, who lived underground,
+was a great admirer of beauty. And he took it into his head to see
+what the creatures above ground were doing. By the help of his
+telescope he was able to observe all the kings and queens, princes and
+princesses, gentlemen and ladies, living on the earth. As he was
+looking his eye fell upon a beautiful island, where, bright as many
+stars, stood twelve maidens; while in their midst, upon a couch of
+swan's-down, slept a young princess lovely as the dawn of day.
+Sudolisu was dreaming of a young knight who rode a spirited horse; on
+his breast was a golden cuirass, and in his hand an invisible club.
+And in her dream she admired this knight, and loved him more than life
+itself. The wicked Kostey longed to have her for his own, and
+determined to carry her off. He reached the earth by striking it from
+underground three times with his forehead. The princess called her
+army together, and putting herself at its head, led her soldiers
+against him. But he merely breathed upon the soldiers and they fell
+down in an overpowering sleep. Then he stretched out his bony hands to
+take the princess, but she, throwing a glance full of anger and
+disdain at him, changed him into a block of ice. Then she shut herself
+up in her palace. Kostey did not remain frozen long; when the princess
+had departed he came to life again, and started off in pursuit of her.
+On reaching the town where she dwelt, he put all the inhabitants into
+a charmed sleep, and laid the same spell upon the twelve maids of
+honour. Fearing the power of her eyes, he dared not attack Sudolisu
+herself; so he surrounded her palace with an iron wall, and left it in
+charge of a monster dragon with twelve heads. Then he waited, in hope
+that the princess would give in.
+
+Days passed, weeks grew into months, and still Princess Sudolisu's
+kingdom looked like one large bedchamber. The people snored in the
+streets, the brave army lying in the fields slept soundly, hidden in
+the long grass under the shadow of nettle, wormwood, and thistle, rust
+and dust marring the brightness of their armour. Inside the palace
+everything was the same. The twelve maids of honour lay motionless.
+The princess alone kept watch, silent amid this reign of sleep. She
+walked up and down her narrow prison, sighing and weeping bitter
+tears, but no other sound broke the silence; only Kostey, avoiding her
+glance, still called through the doors and begged her to refuse him no
+longer. Then he promised she should be Queen of the Nether World, but
+she answered him not.
+
+Lonely and miserable, she thought of the prince of her dreams. She saw
+him in his golden armour, mounted on his spirited steed, looking at
+her with eyes full of love. So she imagined him day and night.
+
+Looking out of window one day, and seeing a cloud floating on the
+horizon, she cried:
+
+  "Floating Cloudlet soft and white,
+    Pilgrim of the sky,
+  I pray you for one moment, light
+    On me your pitying eye.
+  Where my love is can you tell?
+  Thinks he of me ill or well?"
+
+"I know not," answered the cloud, "ask the wind."
+
+Then she saw a tiny breeze playing among the field flowers, and called
+out:
+
+  "Gentle Breezelet, soul of air,
+    Look not lightly on my pain;
+  Kindly lift me from despair,
+    Help me freedom to regain.
+  Where my love is can you tell?
+  Thinks he of me ill or well?"
+
+"Ask that little star yonder," answered the breeze, "she knows more
+than I."
+
+Sudolisu raised her beautiful eyes to the twinkling stars and said:
+
+  "Shining Star, God's light on high,
+    Look down and prithee see;
+  Behold me weep and hear me sigh,
+    Then help and pity me.
+  Where my love is canst thou tell?
+  Thinks he of me ill or well?"
+
+"You will learn more from the moon," answered the star; "she lives
+nearer the earth than I, and sees everything that goes on there."
+
+The moon was just rising from her silver bed when Sudolisu called to
+her:
+
+  "Pearl of the Sky, thou radiant Moon,
+    Thy watch o'er the stars pray leave,
+  Throw thy soft glance o'er the earth ere I swoon,
+    O'ercome by my sorrows I weep and I grieve.
+  I pine for my friend, oh ease thou my heart,
+  And say, am I loved? In his thoughts have I part?"
+
+"Princess," replied the moon, "I know nothing of your friend. But wait
+a few hours, the sun will have then risen; he knows everything, and
+will surely be able to tell you."
+
+So the princess kept her eyes fixed upon that part of the sky where
+the sun first appears, chasing away the darkness like a flock of
+birds. When he came forth in all his glory she said:
+
+  "Soul of the World, thou deep fountain of life,
+    Eye of all-powerful God,
+  Visit my prison, dark scene of sad strife,
+    Raise up my soul from the sod,
+  With hope that my friend whom I pine for and love
+  May come to my rescue. Say, where does he rove?"
+
+"Sweet Sudolisu," answered the sun, "dry the tears that like pearls
+roll down your sad and lovely face. Let your troubled heart be at
+peace, for your friend the prince is now on his way to rescue you. He
+has recovered the magic ring from the Nether World, and many armies
+from those countries have assembled to follow him. He is now moving
+towards Kostey's palace, and intends to punish him. But all this will
+be of no avail, and Kostey will gain the victory, if the prince does
+not make use of other means which I am now on my way to provide him
+with. Farewell; be brave, he whom you love will come to your aid and
+save you from Kostey and his sorceries; happiness is in store for you
+both."
+
+The sun then rose upon a distant land where Prince Junak, mounted on a
+powerful steed and clad in golden armour, assembled his forces to
+fight against the giant Kostey. Thrice he had dreamt of the beautiful
+princess shut up in the Sleeping Palace, for the fame of her
+loveliness had reached him, and he loved without having seen.
+
+"Leave your army where it is," said the sun, "it will not be of the
+slightest use in fighting against Kostey, he is proof against all
+weapons. The only way to rescue the princess is to kill him, and there
+is but one who can tell you how to do it, and that is the witch, old
+Yaga. I will show you how to find the horse that will carry you
+straight to her. First take the road to the east, and walk on till you
+come to a wide plain: there, right in the middle of the plain, are
+three oaks, and in the centre of these, lying close to the ground, is
+an iron door with a copper handle. Behind the door is the horse, also
+an invisible club; both are necessary for the work you have to do. You
+will learn the rest afterwards. Farewell."
+
+This advice astonished the prince greatly; he hardly knew what to do.
+After deep reflection he crossed himself, took the magic ring from his
+finger and cast it into the sea. Instantly the army vanished like mist
+before the wind, and when not a trace of it was left he took the road
+to the east. After walking straight on for eight days he reached a
+large green plain, in the middle of which grew the three oaks, and in
+the centre of these, close to the ground, was the iron door with the
+copper handle. Opening the door, he found a winding staircase which
+led to a second door bound with iron, and shut by means of a huge
+padlock sixty pounds in weight. At this moment he heard the neighing
+of a horse, the sound being followed by the opening of eleven other
+iron doors. There he saw the war-horse which centuries ago had been
+bewitched by a magician. The prince whistled; the horse immediately
+bounded towards him, at the same time breaking the twelve iron chains
+that fastened him to the manger. He was a beautiful creature, strong,
+light, handsome, full of fire and grace; his eyes flashed lightnings,
+from his nostrils came flames of fire, his mane was like a cloud of
+gold, he was certainly a marvel of a horse.
+
+"Prince Junak," said the steed, "I have waited centuries for such a
+knight as you; here I am, ready to carry you and serve you faithfully.
+Mount upon my back, and take hold of the invisible club that hangs at
+the pommel of the saddle. You yourself will not need to use it; give
+it your orders, it will carry them out and do the fighting itself. Now
+we will start; may God look after us! Tell me where you wish to go,
+and you shall be there directly."
+
+The prince quickly told the horse his history, mounted, seized the
+club, and set off. The creature capered, galloped, flew, and swam in
+the air higher than the highest forests but lower than the clouds; he
+crossed mountains, rivers, and precipices; he barely touched the
+blades of grass in passing over them, and went so lightly along the
+roads that he did not raise one grain of dust.
+
+Towards sunset Junak found himself close to an immense forest, in the
+centre of which stood Yaga's house. All around were oaks and pines
+hundreds of years old, untouched by the axe of man. These enormous
+trees, lit up by the rays of the setting sun, seemed to look with
+astonishment at their strange guest. The silence was absolute; not a
+bird sang in the branches, not an insect hummed in the air, not a worm
+crawled upon the ground. The only sound was that made by the horse as
+he broke through the underwood. Then they came in sight of a small
+house supported by a cock's foot, round which it turned as on a
+movable pivot. Prince Junak cried:
+
+  "Turn round, little house, turn round,
+    I want to come inside;
+  Let thy back to the forest be found,
+    Thy door to me open wide."
+
+The little house turned round, and the prince entering saw old Yaga,
+who immediately cried out, "What, Prince Junak! How have you come
+here, where no one ever enters?"
+
+"You are a silly old witch, to worry me with questions instead of
+making me welcome," said the prince.
+
+At these words old Yaga jumped up and hastened to attend to his needs.
+She prepared food and drink, made him a soft bed where he could sleep
+comfortably, and then leaving the house passed the night out of doors.
+On her return in the morning the prince related all his adventures and
+confided his plans.
+
+"Prince Junak," said she, "you have undertaken a very difficult task,
+but your courage will enable you to accomplish it successfully. I will
+tell you how to kill Kostey, for without that you can do nothing. Now,
+in the very midst of the ocean lies the Island of Eternal Life. Upon
+this island is an oak tree, and at the foot of it, hidden in the
+earth, a coffer bound with iron. A hare is shut up in this coffer, and
+under her sits a grey duck whose body contains an egg. Within this egg
+is Kostey's life--if it be broken he dies. Good-bye, Prince Junak,
+start without loss of time. Your horse will carry you to the island."
+
+Junak mounted his horse, spoke a few words to him, and the brave
+creature fled through space with the swiftness of an arrow. Leaving
+the forest and its enormous trees behind, they soon reached the shores
+of the ocean. Fishermen's nets lay on the beach, and in one of them
+was a large sea fish who, struggling to free itself, spoke to the
+prince in a human voice.
+
+"Prince Junak," he said sadly, "free me from my prison; I assure you
+you will lose nothing by doing me this service."
+
+Junak did what was required of him, and threw the fish back into the
+water. It plunged and disappeared, but he paid little attention to it,
+so occupied was he with his own thoughts. In the far distance could be
+seen the rocks of the Island of Eternal Life, but there seemed no way
+of reaching it. Leaning on his club he thought and thought, and ever
+as he thought he grew sadder and sadder.
+
+"What is the matter, Prince Junak? Has anything vexed you?" asked his
+horse.
+
+"How can I help grieving when, while in sight of the island, I can go
+no further? How can we cross the sea?"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Get on my back, prince, I will be your bridge; only take care to hold
+on tight."
+
+The prince held firmly to its mane, and the horse leapt into the sea.
+At first they were plunged right beneath the waves, but rising again
+to the surface swam easily across. The sun was about to set when the
+prince dismounted on the Island of Eternal Life. He first took off his
+horse's harness, and leaving him to browse on the green grass, hurried
+to the top of a distant hill, whence he could see a large oak. Without
+losing a moment he hastened towards it, seized the tree with both
+hands, pulled at it with all his might, and after the most violent
+efforts tore it up by the roots from the place it had filled for
+centuries. The tree groaned and fell, and the hole in which it had
+been planted appeared like an immense case. Right at the bottom of
+this case was a coffer bound with iron. The prince took it up, broke
+the lock by striking it with a stone, opened it and seized the hare
+that was trying to make its escape. The grey duck that had lain
+underneath flew off towards the sea: the prince fired, struck the
+bird, the latter dropped its egg into the sea, and both were swallowed
+by the waves. Junak gave a cry of despair and rushed to the beach. At
+first he could see nothing. After a few minutes there was a slight
+movement of the waves, while upon the surface swam the fish whose life
+he had saved. It came towards him, right on to the sand, and dropping
+the lost egg at his feet, said: "You see, prince, I have not forgotten
+your kindness, and now I have found it in my power to be of service to
+you."
+
+Having thus spoken it disappeared in the water. The prince took the
+egg, mounted his horse, and crossing the sea with his heart full of
+hope, journeyed towards the island where Princess Sudolisu kept watch
+over her sleeping subjects in the Enchanted Palace. The latter was
+surrounded by a wall, and guarded by the Dragon with Twelve Heads. Now
+these heads went to sleep in turn, six at a time, so it was impossible
+to take him unawares or to kill him, for that could be done only by
+his own blows.
+
+On reaching the palace gates Junak sent his invisible club forward to
+clear the way, whereupon it threw itself upon the dragon, and began to
+beat all the heads unmercifully. The blows came so thick and fast that
+the body was soon crushed to pieces. Still the dragon lived and beat
+the air with its claws. Then it opened its twelve jaws from which
+darted pointed tongues, but it could not lay hold of the invisible
+club. At last, tormented on all sides and filled with rage, it buried
+its sharp claws in its own body and died. The prince then entered the
+palace gates, and having put his faithful horse in the stables and
+armed himself with his invisible club, made his way for the tower in
+which the princess was shut up. On seeing him she cried out, "Prince,
+I rejoiced to see your victory over the dragon. There is yet a more
+terrible foe to conquer, and he is my jailor, the cruel Kostey. Beware
+of him, for if he should kill you, I shall throw myself out of window
+into the precipice beneath."
+
+"Be comforted, my princess: for in this egg I hold the life or death
+of Kostey."
+
+Then turning to the invisible club, he said, "Press forward, my
+invisible club; strike your best, and rid the earth of this wicked
+giant."
+
+The club began by breaking down the iron doors, and thus reached
+Kostey. The giant was soon so crippled with blows that his teeth were
+smashed, lightnings flashed from his eyes, and he rolled round and
+round like a pin-cushion. Had he been a man he must have died under
+such treatment. But he was no man, this master of sorcery. So he
+managed to get on his feet and look for his tormentor. The blows from
+the club rained hard upon him all the time, and with such effect that
+his groans could be heard all over the island. On approaching the
+window he saw Prince Junak.
+
+"Ah, wretch!" cried the ogre, "it is you, is it, who torments me in
+this way!" and he prepared to blow upon him with his poisonous breath.
+But the prince instantly crushed the egg between his hands, the shell
+broke, the white and yellow mingled and flowed to the ground, and
+Kostey died.
+
+As the sorcerer breathed his last, the enchantments vanished and the
+sleeping islanders awoke. The army, once more afoot, advanced with
+beating drums to the palace, and everything fell into its accustomed
+place. As soon as Princess Sudolisu was freed from her prison she held
+out her white hand to her deliverer, and thanking him in the most
+touching words, led him to the throne and placed him at her side. The
+twelve maids of honour having chosen young and brave warriors, ranged
+themselves with their lovers round the queen. Then the doors were
+thrown open, and the priests in their robes entered, bearing a golden
+tray of wedding rings. Thereupon the marriage ceremony was gone
+through, and the lovers united in God's name.
+
+After the wedding there were feasting and music and dancing, as is
+usual on such occasions, and they all enjoyed themselves. It makes one
+glad to think how happy they were, and what a glorious time they had
+after their misfortunes.
+
+
+
+
+THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE PRINCE WITH THE GOLDEN HAND
+
+
+There once lived a king and queen who had an only daughter. And the
+beauty of this princess surpassed everything seen or heard of. Her
+forehead was brilliant as the moon, her lips like the rose, her
+complexion had the delicacy of the lily, and her breath the sweetness
+of jessamine. Her hair was golden, and in her voice and glance there
+was something so enchanting that none could help listening to her or
+looking at her.
+
+The princess lived for seventeen years in her own rooms, rejoicing the
+heart of her parents, teachers, and servants. No one else ever saw
+her, for the sons of the king and all other princes were forbidden to
+enter her rooms. She never went anywhere, never looked upon the
+outside world, and never breathed the outer air, but she was perfectly
+happy.
+
+When she was eighteen it happened, either by chance or by the will of
+fate, that she heard the cry of the cuckoo. This sound made her
+strangely uneasy; her golden head drooped, and covering her eyes with
+her hands, she fell into thought so deep as not to hear her mother
+enter. The queen looked at her anxiously, and after comforting her
+went to tell the king about it.
+
+For many years past the sons of kings and neighbouring princes had,
+either personally or by their ambassadors, presented themselves at
+court to ask the king for the hand of his daughter in marriage. But he
+had always bidden them wait until another time. Now, after a long
+consultation with the queen, he sent messengers to foreign courts and
+elsewhere to proclaim that the princess, in accordance with the wishes
+of her parents, was about to choose a husband, and that the man of her
+choice would also have the right of succession to the throne.
+
+When the princess heard of this decision her joy was very great, and
+for days she would dream about it. Then she looked out into the garden
+through the golden lattice of her window, and longed with an
+irresistible longing to walk in the open air upon the smooth lawn.
+With great difficulty she at last persuaded her governesses to allow
+her to do so, they agreeing on condition that she should keep with
+them. So the crystal doors were thrown open, the oaken gates that shut
+in the orchard turned on their hinges, and the princess found herself
+on the green grass. She ran about, picking the sweet-scented flowers
+and chasing the many-coloured butterflies. But she could not have been
+a very prudent maiden, for she wandered away from her governesses,
+with her face uncovered.
+
+Just at that moment a raging hurricane, such as had never been seen or
+heard before, passed by and fell upon the garden. It roared and
+whistled round and round, then seizing the princess carried her far
+away. The terrified governesses wrung their hands, and were for a time
+speechless with grief. At last they rushed into the palace, and
+throwing themselves on their knees before the king and queen, told
+them with sobs and tears what had happened. They were overwhelmed with
+sorrow and knew not what to do.
+
+By this time quite a crowd of princes had arrived at the palace, and
+seeing the king in such bitter grief, inquired the reason of it.
+
+"Sorrow has touched my white hairs," said the king. "The hurricane has
+carried off my dearly beloved child, the sweet Princess with the
+Golden Hair, and I know not where it has taken her. Whoever finds this
+out, and brings her back to me, shall have her for his wife, and with
+her half my kingdom for a wedding present, and the remainder of my
+wealth and titles after my death."
+
+After hearing these words, princes and knights mounted their horses
+and set off to search throughout the world for the beautiful Princess
+with the Golden Hair, who had been carried away by Vikher.
+
+Now among the seekers were two brothers, sons of a king, and they
+travelled together through many countries asking for news of the
+princess, but no one knew anything about her. But they continued their
+search, and at the end of two years arrived in a country that lies in
+the centre of the earth, and has summer and winter at the same time.
+
+The princes determined to find out whether this was the place where
+the hurricane had hidden the Princess with the Golden Hair. So they
+began to ascend one of the mountains on foot, leaving their horses
+behind them to feed on the grass. On reaching the top, they came in
+sight of a silver palace supported on a cock's foot, while at one of
+the windows the sun's rays shone upon a head of golden hair; surely it
+could only belong to the princess. Suddenly the north wind blew so
+violently, and the cold became so intense, that the leaves of the
+trees withered and the breath froze. The two princes tried to keep
+their footing, and battled manfully against the storm, but they were
+overcome by its fierceness and fell together, frozen to death.
+
+Their broken-hearted parents waited for them in vain. Masses were
+said, charities distributed, and prayers sent up to God to pity them
+in their sorrow.
+
+One day when the queen, the mother of the princes, was giving a poor
+old man some money she said to him, "My good old friend, pray God to
+guard our sons and soon bring them back in good health."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Ah, noble lady," answered he, "that prayer would be useless.
+Everlasting rest is all one may ask for the dead, but in return for
+the love you have shown and the money you have given the poor and
+needy, I am charged with this message--that God has taken pity on your
+sorrow, and that ere long you will be the mother of a son, the like of
+whom has never yet been seen."
+
+The old man, having spoken thus, vanished.
+
+The queen, whose tears were falling, felt a strange joy enter her
+heart and a feeling of happiness steal over her, as she went to the
+king and repeated the old man's words. And so it came to pass, for a
+week or two later God sent her a son, and he was in no way like an
+ordinary child. His eyes resembled those of a falcon, and his eyebrows
+the sable's fur. His right hand was of pure gold, and his manner and
+appearance were so full of an indescribable majesty, that he was
+looked upon by every one with a feeling of awe.
+
+His growth, too, was not like that of other children. When but three
+days old, he stepped out of his swaddling-clothes and left his cradle.
+And he was so strong that when his parents entered the room he ran
+towards them, crying out, "Good morning, dear parents, why are you so
+sad? Are you not happy at the sight of me?"
+
+"We are indeed happy, dear child, and we thank God for having sent us
+you in our great grief. But we cannot forget your two brothers; they
+were so handsome and brave, and worthy of a great destiny. And our
+sadness is increased when we remember that, instead of resting in
+their own country in the tomb of their forefathers, they sleep in an
+unknown land, perhaps without burial. Alas! it is three years since we
+had news of them."
+
+At these words the child's tears fell, and he embraced his parents and
+said, "Weep no more, dear parents, you shall soon be comforted: for
+before next spring I shall be a strong young man, and will look for my
+brothers all over the world. And I will bring them back to you, if not
+alive, yet dead: ay, though I have to seek them in the very centre of
+the earth."
+
+At these words and at that which followed the king and queen were
+amazed. For the strange child, guided as it were by an invisible hand,
+rushed into the garden, and in spite of the cold, for it was not yet
+daylight, bathed in the early dew. When the sun had risen he threw
+himself down near a little wood on the fine sand, rubbed and rolled
+himself in it, and returned home, no longer a child but a youth.
+
+It was pleasant to the king to see his son thrive in this way, and
+indeed the young prince was the handsomest in the whole land. He grew
+from hour to hour. At the end of a month he could wield a sword, in
+two months he rode on horseback, in three months he had grown a
+beautiful moustache of pure gold. Then he put on a helmet, and
+presenting himself before the king and queen, said: "My much honoured
+parents, your son asks your blessing. I am no longer a child, and now
+go to seek my brothers. In order to find them I will, if necessary, go
+to the furthest ends of the world."
+
+"Ah, do not venture. Stay rather with us, dear son, you are still too
+young to be exposed to the risks of such an undertaking."
+
+"Adventures have no terrors for me," replied the young hero, "I trust
+in God. Why should I for a moment hesitate to face these dangers?
+Whatever Destiny has in store for us will happen, whatever we may do
+to try to prevent it."
+
+So they agreed to let him go. Weeping they bade him farewell, blessing
+him and the road he was to travel.
+
+A pleasant tale is soon told, but events do not pass so quickly.
+
+The young prince crossed deep rivers and climbed high mountains, till
+he came to a dark forest. In the distance he saw a cottage supported
+on a cock's foot, and standing in the midst of a field full of
+poppies. As he made his ways towards it he was suddenly seized by an
+overpowering longing to sleep, but he urged on his horse, and breaking
+off the poppy heads as he galloped through the field, came up close to
+the house. Then he called out:
+
+  "Little cot, turn around, on thy foot turn thou free;
+  To the forest set thy back, let thy door be wide to me."
+
+The cottage turned round with a great creaking noise, the door facing
+the prince. He entered, and found an old woman with thin white hair
+and a face covered with wrinkles, truly frightful to look upon. She
+was sitting at a table, her head resting on her hands, her eyes fixed
+on the ceiling, lost in deep thought. Near her were two beautiful
+girls, their complexions like lilies and roses, and in every way sweet
+to the eye.
+
+"Ah, how do you do, Prince with Moustache of Gold, Hero with the
+Golden Fist?" said old Yaga; "what has brought you here?"
+
+Having told her the object of his journey, she replied, "Your elder
+brothers perished on the mountain that touches the clouds, while in
+search of the Princess with the Golden Hair, who was carried off by
+Vikher, the hurricane."
+
+"And how is this thief Vikher to be got at?" asked the prince.
+
+"Ah, my dear child, he would swallow you like a fly. It is now a
+hundred years since I went outside this cottage, for fear Vikher
+should seize me and carry me off to his palace near the sky."
+
+"I am not afraid of his carrying me off, I am not handsome enough for
+that; and he will not swallow me either, for my golden hand can smash
+anything."
+
+"Then if you are not afraid, my dove, I will help you to the best of
+my power. But give me your word of honour that you will bring me some
+of the Water of Youth, for it restores even to the most aged the
+beauty and freshness of youth."
+
+"I give you my word of honour that I will bring you some."
+
+"This then is what you must do. I will give you a pin-cushion for a
+guide; this you throw in front of you, and follow whithersoever it
+goes. It will lead you to the mountain that touches the clouds, and
+which is guarded in Vikher's absence by his father and mother, the
+northern blast and the south wind. On no account lose sight of the
+pin-cushion. If attacked by the father, the northern blast, and
+suddenly seized with cold, then put on this heat-giving hood: if
+overpowered by burning heat of the south wind, then drink from this
+cooling flagon. Thus by means of the pin-cushion, the hood, and the
+flagon, you will reach the top of the mountain where the Princess with
+the Golden Hair is imprisoned. Deal with Vikher as you will, only
+remember to bring me some of the Water of Youth."
+
+Our young hero took the heat-giving hood, the cooling flagon, and the
+pin-cushion, and, after bidding farewell to old Yaga and her two
+pretty daughters, mounted his steed and rode off, following the
+pin-cushion, which rolled before him at a great rate.
+
+Now a beautiful story is soon told, but the events of which it
+consists do not in real life take place so rapidly.
+
+When the prince had travelled through two kingdoms, he came to a land
+in which lay a very beautiful valley that stretched into the far
+distance, and above it towered the mountain that touches the sky. The
+summit was so high above the earth you might almost fancy it reached
+the moon.
+
+The prince dismounted, left his horse to graze, and having crossed
+himself began to follow the pin-cushion up steep and rocky paths. When
+he had got half-way there the north wind began to blow, and the cold
+was so intense that the wood of the trees split up and the breath
+froze: he felt chilled to the heart. But he quickly put on the
+heat-giving hood, and cried:
+
+  "O Heat-Giving Hood, see I fly now to thee,
+    Lend me quickly thine aid;
+  O hasten to warm ere the cold has killed me,
+    With thee I'm not afraid."
+
+The northern blast blew with redoubled fury, but to no purpose. For
+the prince was so hot that he streamed with perspiration, and indeed
+was obliged to unbutton his coat and fan himself.
+
+Here the pin-cushion stopped upon a small snow-covered mound. The
+prince cleared away the snow, beneath which lay the frozen bodies of
+two young men, and he knew them to be those of his lost brothers.
+Having knelt beside them and prayed he turned to follow the
+pin-cushion, which had already started, and was rolling ever higher
+and higher. On reaching the top of the mountain he saw a silver palace
+supported on a cock's foot, and at one of the windows, shining in the
+sun's rays, a head of golden hair which could belong to no one but the
+princess. Suddenly a hot wind began to blow from the south, and the
+heat became so intense that leaves withered and dropped from the
+trees, the grass dried up, and large cracks appeared in several places
+of the earth's surface. Thirst, heat, and weariness began to tell upon
+the young prince, so he took the cooling flagon from his pocket and
+cried:
+
+  "Flagon, bring me quick relief
+    From this parching heat;
+  In thy draught I have belief,
+    Coolness it will mete."
+
+After drinking deeply he felt stronger than ever, and so continued to
+ascend. Not only was he relieved from the great heat, but was even
+obliged to button up his coat to keep himself warm.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The pin-cushion still led the way, ever climbing higher and higher,
+while the prince followed close behind. After crossing the region of
+clouds they came to the topmost peak of the mountain. Here the prince
+came close to the palace, which can only be likened to a dream of
+perfect beauty. It was supported on a cock's foot, and was built
+entirely of silver, except for its steel gates and roof of solid gold.
+Before the entrance was a deep precipice over which none but the birds
+could pass. As the prince gazed upon the splendid building the
+princess leaned out of one of the windows, and seeing him light shone
+from her sparkling eyes, her lovely hair floated in the wind, and the
+scent of her sweet breath filled the air. The prince sprang forward
+and cried out:
+
+  "Silver Palace, oh turn, on thy foot turn thou free,
+  To the steep rocks thy back, but thy doors wide to me."
+
+At these words it revolved creaking, the doorway facing the prince. As
+he entered it returned to its original position. The prince went
+through the palace till he came to a room bright as the sun itself,
+and the walls, floor, and ceiling of which consisted of mirrors. He
+was filled with wonder, for instead of one princess he saw twelve, all
+equally beautiful, with the same graceful movements and golden hair.
+But eleven were only reflections of the one real princess. She gave a
+cry of joy on seeing him, and running to meet him, said: "Ah, noble
+sir, you look like a delivering angel. Surely you bring me good news.
+From what family, city, or country have you come? Perhaps my dear
+father and mother sent you in search of me?"
+
+"No one has sent me, I have come of my own free will to rescue you and
+restore you to your parents."
+
+When he had told her all that had passed she said, "Your devotion,
+prince, is very great; may God bless your attempt. But Vikher the
+hurricane is unconquerable, so, if life be dear to you, fly. Leave
+this place before his return, which I expect every minute; he will
+kill you with one glance of his eyes."
+
+"If I should not succeed in saving you, sweet princess, life can be no
+longer dear to me. But I am full of hope, and I beg you first to give
+me some of the Strength-Giving Water from the Heroic Well, for this is
+drunk by the hurricane."
+
+The princess drew a bucketful of water, which the young man emptied at
+one draught and then asked for another. This astonished her somewhat,
+but she gave it him, and when he had drunk it he said, "Allow me,
+princess, to sit down for a moment to take breath."
+
+She gave him an iron chair, but directly he sat down it broke into a
+thousand pieces. She then brought him the chair used by Vikher
+himself, but although it was made of the strongest steel, it bent and
+creaked beneath the prince's weight.
+
+"Now you see," said he, "that I have grown heavier than your
+unconquerable hurricane: so take courage, with God's help and your
+good wishes I shall overcome him. In the meantime tell me how you pass
+your time here."
+
+"Alas! in bitter tears and sad reflections. My only consolation is
+that I have been able to keep my persecutor at a distance, for he
+vainly implores me to marry him. Two years have now passed away, and
+yet none of his efforts to win my consent have been successful. Last
+time he went away he told me that if on his return he had not guessed
+the riddles I set him (the correct explanation of these being the
+condition I have made for his marrying me), he would set them aside,
+and marry me in spite of my objections."
+
+"Ah, then I am just in time. I will be the priest on that occasion,
+and give him Death for a bride."
+
+At that moment a horrible whistling was heard.
+
+"Be on your guard, prince," cried she, "here comes the hurricane."
+
+The palace spun rapidly round, fearful sounds filled the building,
+thousands of ravens and birds of ill omen croaked loudly and flapped
+their wings, and all the doors opened with a tremendous noise.
+
+Vikher, mounted on his winged horse that breathed fire, leapt into the
+mirrored room, then stopped amazed at the sight before him. He was
+indeed the hurricane, with the body of a giant and the head of a
+dragon, and as he gazed his horse pranced and beat his wings.
+
+"What is your business here, stranger?" he shouted: and the sound of
+his voice was like unto a lion's roar.
+
+"I am your enemy, and I want your blood," replied the prince calmly.
+
+"Your boldness amuses me. At the same time, if you do not depart at
+once I will take you in my left hand and crush every bone in your body
+with my right."
+
+"Try, if you dare, woman-stealer," he answered.
+
+Vikher roared, breathing fire in his rage, and with his mouth wide
+open threw himself upon the prince, intending to swallow him. But the
+latter stepped lightly aside, and putting his golden hand down his
+enemy's throat, seized him by the tongue and dashed him against the
+wall with such force that the monster bounded against it like a ball,
+and died within a few moments, shedding torrents of blood.
+
+The prince then drew from different springs the water that _restores_,
+that _revives_, and that _makes young_, and taking the unconscious
+girl in his arms he led the winged horse to the door and said:
+
+  "Silver Palace, oh turn, on thy foot turn thou free,
+  To the steep rocks thy back, the courtyard may I see."
+
+Whereupon the palace creaked round on the cock's foot, and the door
+opened on the courtyard. Mounting the horse he placed the princess
+before him, for she had by this time recovered from her swoon, and
+cried:
+
+  "Fiery Horse with strength of wing,
+    I am now your lord;
+  Do my will in everything,
+    Be your law my word.
+  Where I point there you must go
+  At once, at once. The way you know."
+
+And he pointed to the place where his brothers lay frozen in death.
+The horse rose, pranced, beat the air with his wings, then, lifting
+himself high in the air, came down gently where the two princes were
+lying. The Prince with the Golden Hand sprinkled their bodies with the
+Life-Restoring Water, and instantly the pallor of death disappeared,
+leaving in its place the natural colour. He then sprinkled them with
+the Water that Revives, after which they opened their eyes, got up,
+and looking round said, "How well we have slept: but what has
+happened? And how is it we see the lovely princess we sought in the
+society of a young man, a perfect stranger to us?"
+
+The Prince with the Golden Hand explained everything, embraced his
+brothers tenderly, and taking them with him on his horse, showed the
+latter that he wished to go in the direction of Yaga's cottage. The
+horse rose up, pranced, lifted himself in the air, then, beating his
+wings far above the highest forests, descended close by the cottage.
+The prince said:
+
+  "Little cot, turn around, on thy foot turn thou free,
+  To the forest thy back, but thy door wide to me."
+
+The cottage began to creak without delay, and turned round with the
+floor facing the travellers. Old Yaga was on the look-out, and came to
+meet them. As soon as she got the Water of Youth she sprinkled herself
+with it, and instantly everything about her that was old and ugly
+became young and charming. So pleased was she to be young again that
+she kissed the prince's hands and said, "Ask of me anything you like,
+I will refuse you nothing."
+
+At that moment her two beautiful young daughters happened to look out
+of the window, upon which the two elder princes, who were admiring
+them, said, "Will you give us your daughters for wives?"
+
+"That I will, with pleasure," said she, and beckoned them to her. Then
+curtseying to her future sons-in-law, she laughed merrily and
+vanished. They placed their brides before them on the same horse,
+while the Prince with the Golden Hand, pointing to where he wished to
+go, said:
+
+  "Fiery Horse with strength of wing,
+    I am now your lord;
+  Do my will in everything,
+    Be your law my word.
+  Where I point there you must go
+  At once, at once. The way you know."
+
+The horse rose up, pranced, flapped his wings, and flew far above the
+forest. An hour or two later he descended before the palace of the
+Golden-Haired Princess's parents. When the king and queen saw their
+only daughter who had so long been lost to them, they ran to meet her
+with exclamations of joy and kissed her gratefully and lovingly, at
+the same time thanking the prince who had restored her to them. And
+when they heard the story of his adventures they said: "You, Prince
+with the Golden Hand, shall receive our beloved daughter in marriage,
+with the half of our kingdom, and the right of succession to the
+remainder after us. Let us, too, add to the joy of this day by
+celebrating the weddings of your two brothers."
+
+The Princess with the Golden Hair kissed her father lovingly and said,
+"My much honoured and noble sire and lord, the prince my bridegroom
+knows of the vow I made when carried off by the hurricane, that I
+would only give my hand to him who could answer aright my six enigmas:
+it would be impossible for the Princess with the Golden Hair to break
+her word."
+
+The king was silent, but the prince said, "Speak, sweet princess, I am
+listening."
+
+"This is my first riddle: 'Two of my extremities form a sharp point,
+the two others a ring, in my centre is a screw.'"
+
+"A pair of scissors," answered he.
+
+"Well guessed. This is the second: 'I make the round of the table on
+only one foot, but if I am wounded the evil is beyond repair.'"
+
+"A glass of wine."
+
+"Right. This is the third: 'I have no tongue, and yet I answer
+faithfully; I am not seen, yet every one hears me.'"
+
+"An echo."
+
+"True. This is the fourth: 'Fire cannot light me; brush cannot sweep
+me; no painter can paint me; no hiding-place secure me.'"
+
+"Sunshine."
+
+"The very thing. This is the fifth: 'I existed before the creation of
+Adam. I am always changing in succession the two colours of my dress.
+Thousands of years have gone by, but I have remained unaltered both in
+colour and form.'"
+
+"It must be time, including day and night."
+
+"You have succeeded in guessing the five most difficult, the last is
+the easiest of all. 'By day a ring, by night a serpent; he who guesses
+this shall be my bridegroom.'"
+
+"It is a girdle."
+
+"Now they are all guessed," said she, and gave her hand to the young
+prince.
+
+They knelt before the king and queen to receive their blessing. The
+three weddings were celebrated that same evening, and a messenger
+mounted the winged horse to carry the good news to the parents of the
+young princes and to bring them back as guests. Meanwhile a
+magnificent feast was prepared, and invitations were sent to all their
+friends and acquaintances. And from that evening until the next
+morning they ceased not to feast and drink and dance. I too was a
+guest, and feasted with the rest; but though I ate and drank, the wine
+only ran down my beard, and my throat remained dry.
+
+
+
+
+IMPERISHABLE
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Imperishable.]
+
+
+Once upon a time, ever so many years ago, there lived a little old man
+and a little old woman. Very old indeed were they, for they had lived
+nearly a hundred years. But they took neither joy nor pleasure in
+anything, and this because they had no children. They were now about
+to keep the seventy-fifth anniversary of their wedding day, known as
+the Diamond Wedding, but no guests were invited to share their simple
+feast.
+
+As they sat side by side they went over in memory the years of their
+long life, and as they did so they felt sure that it was to punish
+them for their sins that God had denied them the sweet happiness of
+having children about them, and as they thought their tears fell fast.
+At that moment some one knocked.
+
+"Who is there?" cried the old woman, and ran to open the door. There
+stood a little old man leaning on a stick, and white as a dove.
+
+"What do you want?" asked the old woman.
+
+"Charity," answered he.
+
+The good old woman was kind-hearted, and she cut her last loaf in two,
+giving one half to the beggar, who said, "I see you have been weeping,
+good wife, and I know the reason of your tears; but cheer up, by God's
+grace you shall be comforted. Though poor and childless to-day,
+to-morrow you shall have family and fortune."
+
+When the old woman heard this she was overjoyed, and fetching her
+husband they both went to the door to invite the old man in. But he
+was gone, and though they searched for him in every direction they
+found nothing but his stick lying on the ground. For it was not a poor
+old beggar, but an angel of God who had knocked. Our good friends did
+not know this, so they picked up the stick and hurried off to find the
+old man, with the purpose of returning it. But it seemed as if the
+stick, like its master, were endowed with some marvellous power, for
+whenever the old man or the old woman tried to pick it up it slipped
+out of their hands and rolled along the ground. Thus they followed it
+into a forest, and at the foot of a shrub which stood close by a
+stream it disappeared. They hunted all round the shrub thinking to
+find the stick there, but instead of the stick they came upon a bird's
+nest containing twelve eggs, and from the shape of the shells it
+seemed as if the young ones were ready to come forth.
+
+"Pick up the eggs," said the old man, "they will make us an omelette
+for our wedding feast."
+
+The old woman grumbled a little, but she took the nest and carried it
+home in the skirt of her gown. Fancy their astonishment when at the
+end of twelve hours there came out, not unfledged birdlings, but
+twelve pretty little boys. Then the shells broke into tiny fragments
+which were changed into as many gold pieces. Thus, as had been
+foretold, the old man and his wife found both family and fortune.
+
+Now these twelve boys were most extraordinary children. Directly they
+came out of the shells they seemed to be at least three months old,
+such a noise did they make, crying and kicking about. The youngest of
+all was a very big baby with black eyes, red cheeks, and curly hair,
+and so lively and active that the old woman could hardly keep him in
+his cradle at all. In twelve hours' time the children seemed to be a
+year old, and could walk about and eat anything.
+
+Then the old woman made up her mind that they should be baptized, and
+thereupon sent her husband to fetch priest and organist without delay;
+and the diamond wedding was celebrated at the same time as the
+christening. For a short time their joy was clouded over by the
+disappearance of the youngest boy, who was also the best-looking, and
+his parents' favourite. They had begun to weep and mourn for him as if
+he were lost, when suddenly he was seen to come from out of the
+sleeves of the priest's cassock, and was heard to speak these words:
+"Never fear, dear parents, your beloved son will not perish."
+
+The old woman kissed him fondly and handed him to his godfather, who
+presented him to the priest. So they had named him _Niezguinek_, that
+is, _Imperishable_. The twelve boys went on growing at the rate of six
+weeks every hour, and at the end of two years were fine strong young
+men. Niezguinek, especially, was of extraordinary size and strength.
+The good old people lived happily and peacefully at home while their
+sons worked in the fields. On one occasion the latter went ploughing;
+and while the eleven eldest used the ordinary plough and team of oxen,
+Niezguinek made his own plough, and it had twelve ploughshares and
+twelve handles, and to it were harnessed twelve team of the strongest
+working oxen. The others laughed at him, but he did not mind, and
+turned up as much ground as his eleven brothers together.
+
+Another time when they went haymaking and his brothers used the
+ordinary scythes, he carried one with twelve blades, and managed it so
+cleverly, in spite of the jests of his companions, that he cut as much
+grass as all of them together. And again, when they went to turn over
+the hay, Niezguinek used a rake with twelve teeth, and so cleared
+twelve plots of ground with every stroke. His haycock, too, was as
+large as a hill in comparison with those of his brothers. Now, the day
+after the making of the haycocks the old man and his wife happened to
+be in the fields, and they noticed that one haycock had disappeared;
+so thinking wild horses had made off with it, they advised their sons
+to take turns in watching the place.
+
+The eldest took his turn first, but after having watched all night
+fell asleep towards morning, when he awoke to find another haycock
+missing. The second son was not more fortunate in preventing the
+disappearance of the hay, while the others succeeded no better; in
+fact, of all the twelve haycocks, there only remained the largest,
+Niezguinek's, and even that had been meddled with.
+
+When it was the youngest's turn to watch, he went to the village
+blacksmith and got him to make an iron club weighing two hundred and
+sixty pounds; so heavy was it that the blacksmith and his assistants
+could hardly turn it on the anvil. In order to test it, Niezguinek
+whirled it round his head and threw it up in the air, and when it had
+nearly reached the ground he caught it on his knee, upon which it was
+smashed to atoms. He then ordered another weighing four hundred and
+eighty pounds, and this the blacksmith and his men could not even
+move. Niezguinek had helped them to make it, and when finished he
+tested it in the same manner as the first. Finding it did not break he
+kept it, and had in addition a noose plaited with twelve strong ropes.
+Towards nightfall he went to the field, crouched down behind his
+haycock, crossed himself, and waited to see what would happen. At
+midnight there was a tremendous noise which seemed to come from the
+east, while in that direction appeared a bright light. Then a white
+mare, with twelve colts as white as herself, trotted up to the haycock
+and began to eat it. Niezguinek came out of his hiding-place, and
+throwing the noose over the mare's neck, jumped on her back and struck
+her with his heavy club. The terrified creature gave the signal to the
+colts to escape, but she herself, hindered by the noose, out of
+breath, and wounded by the club, could not follow, but sank down on
+the earth saying, "Do not choke me, Niezguinek."
+
+He marvelled to hear her speak human language, and loosened the noose.
+When she had taken breath she said, "Knight, if you give me my liberty
+you shall never repent it. My husband, the Dappled Horse with Golden
+Mane, will cruelly revenge himself upon you when he knows I am your
+prisoner; his strength and swiftness are so great you could not escape
+him. In exchange for my freedom I will give you my twelve colts, who
+will serve you and your brothers faithfully."
+
+On hearing their mother neigh the colts returned and stood with bent
+heads before the young man, who released the mare, and led them home.
+The brothers were delighted to see Niezguinek return with twelve
+beautiful white horses, and each took the one that pleased his fancy
+most, while the thinnest and weakest-looking was left for the
+youngest.
+
+The old couple were happy in the thought that their son was brave as
+well as strong. One day it occurred to the old woman that she would
+like to see them all married, and to have the house merry with her
+daughters-in-law and their children. So she called upon her gossips
+and friends to talk the matter over, and finally persuaded her husband
+to be of the same opinion. He called his sons around him and addressed
+them thus: "Listen to me, my sons: in a certain country lives a
+celebrated witch known as old Yaga. She is lame, and travels about in
+an oaken trough. She supports herself on iron crutches, and when she
+goes abroad carefully removes all traces of her steps with a broom.
+This old witch has twelve beautiful daughters who have large dowries;
+do your best to win them for your wives. Do not return without
+bringing them with you."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Both parents blessed their sons, who, mounting their horses, were soon
+out of sight. All but Niezguinek, who, left alone, went to the stable
+and began to shed tears.
+
+"Why do you weep?" asked his horse.
+
+"Don't you think I have good reason?" replied he. "Here I have to go a
+long long way in search of a wife, and you, my friend, are so thin and
+weak that were I to depend upon your strength I should never be able
+to join my brothers."
+
+"Do not despair, Niezguinek," said the horse, "not only will you
+overtake your brothers, but you will leave them far behind. I am the
+son of the Dappled Horse with the Golden Mane, and if you will do
+exactly as I tell you I shall be given the same power as he. You must
+kill me and bury me under a layer of earth and manure, then sow some
+wheat over me, and when the corn is ripe it must be gathered and some
+of it placed near my body."
+
+Niezguinek threw his arms round his horse's neck and kissed him
+fondly, then led him into a yard and killed him with one blow of his
+club. The horse staggered a moment and then fell dead. His master
+covered him with a layer of manure and earth, upon which he sowed
+wheat, as had been directed. It was immediately watered by a gentle
+rain, and warmed by the heat of the sun's rays. The corn took root and
+ripened so quickly that on the twelfth day Niezguinek set to work to
+cut, thresh, and winnow it. So abundant was it that he was able to
+give eleven measures to his parents, and keeping one for himself,
+spread it before his horse's bones. In a very short time the horse
+moved his head, sniffed the air, and began to devour the wheat. As
+soon as it was finished he sprang up, and was so full of life that he
+wanted to jump over the fence in one bound: but Niezguinek held him by
+the mane, and getting lightly on his back, said: "Halt there, my
+spirited steed, I do not want others to have the benefit of all the
+trouble I have had with you. Carry me to old Yaga's house."
+
+He was of a truth a most magnificent horse, big and strong, with eyes
+that flashed like lightning. He leapt up into the air as high as the
+clouds, and the next moment descended in the middle of a field, saying
+to his master: "As we have first to see old Yaga, from whom we are
+still a great way off, we can stop here for a short time: take food
+and rest, I will do the same. Your brothers will be obliged to pass
+us, for we are a good way in front of them. When they come you can go
+on together to visit the old witch: remember, though it is difficult
+to get into her house, it is much more difficult still to get out. But
+if you would be perfectly safe, take from under my saddle a brush, a
+scarf, and a handkerchief. They will be of use in helping you to
+escape; for when you unroll the scarf, a river will flow between you
+and your enemy; if you shake the brush it will become a thick forest;
+and by waving the handkerchief it will be changed into a lake. After
+you have been received into Yaga's house, and your brothers have
+stabled their horses and gone to bed, I will tell you how to act."
+
+For twelve days Niezguinek and his horse rested and gained strength,
+and at the end of the time the eleven brothers came up. They wondered
+greatly to see the youngest, and said, "Where on earth did you come
+from? And whose horse is that?"
+
+"I have come from home. The horse is the same I chose at first. We
+have been waiting here twelve days; let us go on together now."
+
+Within a short time they came to a house surrounded by a high oaken
+paling, at the gate of which they knocked. Old Yaga peeped out through
+a chink in the fence and cried, "Who are you? What do you want?"
+
+"We are twelve brothers come to ask the twelve daughters of Yaga in
+marriage. If she is willing to be our mother-in-law, let her open the
+door."
+
+The door was opened and Yaga appeared. She was a frightful-looking
+creature, old as the hills; and being one of those monsters who feed
+on human flesh, the unfortunate wretches who once entered her house
+never came out again. She had a lame leg, and because of this she
+leaned on a great iron crutch, and when she went out removed all
+traces of her steps with a broom.
+
+She received the young travellers very graciously, shut the gate of
+the courtyard behind them, and led them into the house. Niezguinek's
+brothers dismounted, and taking their horses to the stables, tied them
+up to rings made of silver; the youngest fastened his to a copper
+ring. The old witch served her guests with a good supper, and gave
+them wine and hydromel to drink. Then she made up twelve beds on the
+right side of the room for the travellers, and on the left side twelve
+beds for her daughters.
+
+All were soon asleep except Niezguinek. He had been warned beforehand
+by his horse of the danger that threatened them, and now he got up
+quietly and changed the positions of the twenty-four beds, so that the
+brothers lay to the left side of the room, and Yaga's daughters to the
+right. At midnight, old Yaga cried out in a hoarse voice, "Guzla,
+play. Sword, strike."
+
+Then were heard strains of sweet music, to which the old woman beat
+time from her oaken trough. At the same moment a slender sword
+descended into the room, and passing over to the beds on the right,
+cut off the heads of the girls one by one: after which it danced about
+and flashed in the darkness.
+
+When the dawn broke the guzla ceased playing, the sword disappeared,
+and silence reigned. Then Niezguinek softly aroused his brothers, and
+they all went out without making any noise. Each mounted his horse,
+and when they had broken open the yard gate they made their escape at
+full speed. Old Yaga, thinking she heard footsteps, got up and ran
+into the room where her daughters lay dead. At the dreadful sight she
+gnashed her teeth, barked like a dog, tore out her hair by handfuls,
+and seating herself in her trough as in a car, set off after the
+fugitives. She had nearly reached them, and was already stretching out
+her hand to seize them, when Niezguinek unrolled his magic scarf, and
+instantly a deep river flowed between her and the horsemen. Not being
+able to cross it she stopped on the banks, and howling savagely began
+to drink it up.
+
+"Before you have swallowed all that river you will burst, you wicked
+old witch," cried Niezguinek. Then he rejoined his brothers.
+
+But the old woman drank all the water, crossed the bed of the river in
+her trough, and soon came near the young people. Niezguinek shook his
+handkerchief, and a lake immediately spread out between them. So she
+was again obliged to stop, and shrieking with rage began to drink up
+the water.
+
+"Before you have drunk that lake dry you will have burst yourself,"
+said Niezguinek, and rode after his brothers.
+
+The old vixen drank up part of the water, and turning the remainder
+into a thick fog, hastened along in her trough. She was once more
+close upon the young men when Niezguinek, without a moment's delay,
+seized his brush, and as he waved it in the air a thick forest rose
+between them. For a time the witch was at a loss to know what to do.
+On one side she saw Niezguinek and his brothers rapidly disappearing,
+while she stood on the other hindered by the branches and torn by the
+thorns of the thick bushes, unable either to advance or retreat.
+Foaming with rage, with fire flashing from her eyes, she struck right
+and left with her crutches, crashing trees on all sides, but before
+she could clear a way those she was in pursuit of had got more than a
+hundred miles ahead.
+
+So she was forced to give up, and grinding her teeth, howling, and
+tearing out her hair, she threw after the fugitives such flaming
+glances from her eyes that she set the forest on fire, and taking the
+road home was soon lost to sight.
+
+The travellers, seeing the flames, guessed what had happened, and
+thanked God for having preserved them from such great dangers. They
+continued their journey, and by eventide arrived at the top of a steep
+hill. There they saw a town besieged by foreign troops, who had
+already destroyed the outer part, and only awaited daylight to take it
+by storm.
+
+The twelve brothers kept out of sight behind the enemy; and when they
+had rested and turned out their horses to graze all went to sleep
+except Niezguinek, who kept watch without closing an eye. When
+everything was perfectly still he got up, and calling his horse, said,
+"Listen; yonder in that tent sleeps the king of this besieging army,
+and he dreams of the victory he hopes for on the morrow: how could we
+send all the soldiers to sleep and get possession of his person?"
+
+The horse replied, "You will find some dried leaves of the herb of
+Sleep in the pocket of the saddle. Mount upon my back and hover round
+the camp, spreading fragments of the plant. That will cause all the
+soldiers to fall into a sound sleep, after which you can carry out
+your plans."
+
+Niezguinek mounted his horse, pronouncing these magic words:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, let us go;
+  Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,
+    Haste to the camp of the foe."
+
+The horse glanced upwards as if he saw some one beckoning to him from
+the clouds, then rose rapidly as a bird on the wing and hovered over
+the camp. Niezguinek took handfuls of the herb of Sleep from the
+saddle-pockets and sprinkled it all about. Upon which all in the camp,
+including the sentinels, fell at once into a heavy sleep. Niezguinek
+alighted, entered the tent, and carried off the sleeping king without
+any difficulty. He then returned to his brothers, unharnessed his
+horse and lay down to rest, placing the royal prisoner near him. His
+majesty slept on as if nothing unusual had taken place.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At daybreak the soldiers of the besieging army awoke, and not being
+able to find their king, were seized with such a panic of terror that
+they retreated in great disorder. The ruler of the besieged city would
+not at first believe that the enemy had really disappeared, and indeed
+went himself to see if it was true: of a truth there remained nothing
+of the enemy's camp but a few deserted tents whitening on the plain.
+At that moment Niezguinek came up with his brothers, and said, "Sire,
+the enemy has fled, and we were unable to detain them, but here is
+their king whom we have made prisoner, and whom I deliver up to you."
+
+The ruler replied, "I see, indeed, that you are a brave man among
+brave men, and I will reward you. This royal prisoner is worth a large
+ransom to me; so speak,--what would you like me to do for you?"
+
+"I should wish, sire, that my brothers and I might enter the service
+of your majesty."
+
+"I am quite willing," answered the king. Then, having placed his
+prisoner in charge of his guards, he made Niezguinek general, and
+placed him at the head of a division of his army; the eleven brothers
+were given the rank of officers.
+
+When Niezguinek appeared in uniform, and with sabre in hand mounted
+his splendid charger, he looked so handsome and conducted the
+manoeuvres so well that he surpassed all the other chiefs in the
+country, thus causing much jealousy, even among his own brothers, for
+they were vexed that the youngest should outshine them, and so
+determined to ruin him.
+
+In order to accomplish this they imitated his handwriting, and placed
+such a note before the king's door while Niezguinek was engaged
+elsewhere. When the king went out he found the letter, and calling
+Niezguinek to him, said, "I should very much like to have the phonic
+guzla you mention in your letter."
+
+"But, sire, I have not written anything about a guzla," said he.
+
+"Read the note then. Is it not in your handwriting?"
+
+Niezguinek read:
+
+    "In a certain country, within the house of old Yaga, is a
+    marvellous guzla: if the king wish I will fetch it for him.
+
+                                            "(Signed) NIEZGUINEK."
+
+"It is true," said he, "that this writing resembles mine, but it is a
+forgery, for I never wrote it."
+
+"Never mind," said the king, "as you were able to take my enemy
+prisoner you will certainly be able to succeed in getting old Yaga's
+guzla: go then, and do not return without it, or you will be
+executed."
+
+Niezguinek bowed and went out. He went straight to the stable, where
+he found his charger looking very sad and thin, his head drooping
+before the trough, the hay untouched.
+
+"What is the matter with you, my good steed? What grieves you?"
+
+"I grieve for us both, for I foresee a long and perilous journey."
+
+"You are right, old fellow, but we have to go. And what is more, we
+have to take away and bring here old Yaga's guzla; and how shall we do
+it, seeing that she knows us?"
+
+"We shall certainly succeed if you do as I tell you."
+
+Then the horse gave him certain instructions, and when Niezguinek had
+led him out of the stable and mounted he said:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, do not wait on the road;
+  Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,
+    Haste to the wicked old Yaga's abode."
+
+The horse arose in the air as if he heard some one calling to him from
+the clouds, and flitting rapidly along passed over several kingdoms
+within a few hours, thus reaching old Yaga's dwelling before midnight.
+Niezguinek threw the leaves of Sleep in at the window, and by means of
+another wonderful herb caused all the doors of the house to open. On
+entering he found old Yaga fast asleep, with her trough and iron
+crutches beside her, while above her head hung the magic sword and
+guzla.
+
+While the old witch lay snoring with all her might, Niezguinek took
+the guzla and leapt on his horse, crying:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, while I sing,
+  Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,
+    Haste to the court of my king."
+
+Just as if the horse had seen something in the clouds, he rose swift
+as an arrow, and flew through the air, above the fogs. The same day
+about noon he neighed before his own manger in the royal stable, and
+Niezguinek went in to the king and presented him with the guzla. On
+pronouncing the two words, "Guzla, play," strains of music so gay and
+inspiriting were heard that all the courtiers began dancing with one
+another. The sick who listened were cured of their diseases, those who
+were in trouble and grief forgot their sorrows, and all living
+creatures were thrilled with a gladness such as they had never felt
+before. The king was beside himself with joy; he loaded Niezguinek
+with honours and presents, and, in order to have him always at court,
+raised him to a higher rank in the army. In this new post he had many
+under him, and he showed much exactitude in drill and other matters,
+punishing somewhat severely when necessary. He made, too, no
+difference in the treatment of his brothers, which angered them
+greatly, and caused them to be still more jealous and to plot against
+him. So they again imitated his handwriting and composed another
+letter, which they left at the king's door. When his majesty had read
+it he called Niezguinek to him and said, "I should much like to have
+the marvellous sword you speak of in your letter."
+
+"Sire, I have not written anything about a sword," said Niezguinek.
+
+"Well, read it for yourself." And he read:
+
+    "In a certain country within the house of old Yaga is a
+    sword that strikes of its own accord: if the king would like
+    to have it, I will engage to bring it him.
+
+                                            "(Signed) NIEZGUINEK."
+
+"Certainly," said Niezguinek, "this writing resembles mine, but I
+never wrote those words."
+
+"Never mind, as you succeeded in bringing me the guzla you will find
+no difficulty in obtaining the sword. Start without delay, and do not
+return without it at your peril."
+
+Niezguinek bowed and went to the stable, where he found his horse
+looking very thin and miserable, with his head drooping.
+
+"What is the matter, my horse? Do you want anything?"
+
+"I am unhappy because I foresee a long and dangerous journey."
+
+"You are right, for we are ordered to return to Yaga's house for the
+sword: but how can we get hold of it? doubtless she guards it as the
+apple of her eye."
+
+The horse answered, "Do as I tell you and all will be right." And he
+gave him certain instructions. Niezguinek came out of the stable,
+saddled his friend, and mounting him said:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white;
+    Horse of my heart, do not wait on the road;
+  Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,
+    Haste to the wicked old witch's abode."
+
+The horse rose immediately as if he had been beckoned to by some one
+in the clouds, and passing swiftly through the air, crossed rivers and
+mountains, till at midnight he stopped before old Yaga's house.
+
+Since the disappearance of the guzla the sword had been placed on
+guard before the house, and whoever came near it was cut to pieces.
+
+Niezguinek traced a circle with holy chalk, and placing himself on
+horseback in the centre of it, said:
+
+  "Sword who of thyself can smite,
+    I come to brave thy ire;
+  Peace or war upon this site
+    Of thee I do require.
+  If thou canst conquer, thine my life;
+  Should I beat thee, then ends this strife."
+
+The sword clinked, leapt into the air, and fell to the ground divided
+into a thousand other swords, which ranged themselves in battle array
+and began to attack Niezguinek. But in vain; they were powerless to
+touch him; for on reaching the chalk-traced circle they broke like
+wisps of straw. Then the sword-in-chief, seeing how useless it was to
+go on trying to wound him, submitted itself to Niezguinek and promised
+him obedience. Taking the magic weapon in his hand, he mounted his
+horse and said:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, while I sing,
+  Rise in the air, like a bird take thy flight,
+    Back to the court of my king."
+
+The horse started with renewed courage, and by noon was eating his hay
+in the royal stables. Niezguinek went in to the king and presented him
+with the sword. While he was rejoicing over it one of his servants
+rushed in quite out of breath and said, "Sire, your enemies who
+attacked us last year, and whose king is your prisoner, surround our
+town. Being unable to redeem their sovereign, they have come with an
+immense army, and threaten to destroy us if their king is not released
+without ransom."
+
+The king armed himself with the magic sword, and going outside the
+city walls, said to it, as he pointed to the enemy's camp, "Magic
+Sword, smite the foe."
+
+Immediately the sword clinked, leapt flashing in the air, and fell in
+a thousand blades that threw themselves on the camp. One regiment was
+destroyed during the first attack, another was defeated in the same
+way, while the rest of the terrified soldiers fled and completely
+disappeared. Then the king said, "Sword, return to me."
+
+The thousand swords again became one, and so it returned to its
+master's hand.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The victorious king came home filled with joy. He called Niezguinek to
+him, loaded him with gifts, and assuring him of his favour, made him
+the highest general of his forces. In carrying out the duties of this
+new post Niezguinek was often obliged to punish his brothers, who
+became more and more enraged against him, and took counsel together
+how they might bring about his downfall.
+
+One day the king found a letter by his door, and after reading it he
+called Niezguinek to him and said, "I should very much like to see
+Princess Sudolisu, whom you wish to bring me."
+
+"Sire, I do not know the lady, and have never spoken to her."
+
+"Here, look at your letter."
+
+Niezguinek read:
+
+    "Beyond the nine kingdoms, far beyond the ocean, within a
+    silver vessel with golden masts lives Princess Sudolisu. If
+    the king wishes it, I will seek her for him.
+
+                                             (Signed) NIEZGUINEK."
+
+"It is true the writing is like unto mine; nevertheless, I neither
+composed the letter nor wrote it."
+
+"No matter," answered the king. "You will be able to get this
+princess, as you did the guzla and the sword: if not, I will have you
+killed."
+
+Niezguinek bowed and went out. He entered the stable where stood his
+horse looking very weak and sad, with his head bent down.
+
+"What is the matter, dear horse? Are you in want of anything?"
+
+"I am sorrowful," answered the horse, "because I foresee a long and
+difficult journey."
+
+"You are right, for we have to go beyond the nine kingdoms, and far
+beyond the ocean, to find Princess Sudolisu. Can you tell me what to
+do?"
+
+"I will do my best, and if it is God's will we shall succeed. Bring
+your club of four hundred and eighty pounds weight, and let us be
+off."
+
+Niezguinek saddled his horse, took his club, and mounting said:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, do not lag on the road;
+  Rise in the air, through the clouds take thy flight,
+    Haste to Princess Sudolisu's abode."
+
+Then the horse looked up as if there were something he wanted in the
+clouds, and with a spring flew through the air, swift as an arrow; and
+so by the second day they had passed over ten kingdoms, and finding
+themselves beyond the ocean, halted on the shore. Here the horse said
+to Niezguinek, "Do you see that silver ship with golden masts that
+rides on the waves yonder? That beautiful vessel is the home of
+Princess Sudolisu, youngest daughter of old Yaga. For after the witch
+had lost the guzla and magic sword she feared to lose her daughter
+too: so she shut her up in that vessel, and having thrown the key
+thereof into the ocean, sat herself in her oaken trough, where with
+the help of the iron crutches she rows round and round the silver
+ship, warding off tempests, and keeping at a distance all other ships
+that would approach it.
+
+"The first thing to be done is to get the diamond key that opens the
+ship. In order to procure this you must kill me, and then throw into
+the water one end of my entrails, by which bait you will trap the King
+of the Lobsters. Do not set him free until he has promised to get you
+the key, for it is this key that draws the vessel to you of its own
+accord."
+
+"Ah, my beloved steed," cried Niezguinek, "how can I kill you when I
+love you as my own brother, and when my fate depends upon you
+entirely?"
+
+"Do as I tell you; you can bring me to life again, as you did before."
+
+Niezguinek caressed his horse, kissed him and wept over him; then,
+raising his mighty club, struck him full on the forehead. The poor
+creature staggered and fell down dead. Niezguinek cut him open, and
+putting an end of his entrails in the water, he kept hold of it and
+hid himself in the water-rushes. Soon there came a crowd of crawfish,
+and amongst them a gigantic lobster as large as a year-old calf.
+Niezguinek seized him and threw him on the beach. The lobster said, "I
+am king of all the crawfish tribe. Let me go, and I will give you
+great riches for my ransom."
+
+"I do not want your riches," answered Niezguinek, "but in exchange for
+your freedom give me the diamond key which belongs to the silver ship
+with the golden masts, for in that vessel dwells Princess Sudolisu."
+
+The King of the Crawfish whistled, upon which myriads of his subjects
+appeared. He spoke to them in their own language, and dismissed one,
+who soon returned with the magic diamond key in his claws.
+
+Niezguinek loosed the King of the Crawfish; and hiding himself inside
+his horse's body as he had been instructed, lay in wait. At that
+moment an old raven, followed by all his nestlings, happened to pass,
+and attracted by the horse's carcase, he called to his young ones to
+come and feast with him. Niezguinek seized the smallest of the birds
+and held it firmly.
+
+"Let my birdling go," said the old raven, "I will give you in return
+anything you like to ask."
+
+"Fetch me then three kinds of water, the Life-giving, the Curing, and
+the Strengthening."
+
+The old raven started off, and while awaiting his return Niezguinek,
+who still held the ravenling, questioned him as to where he had come
+from and what he had seen on his travels, and in this way heard news
+of his brothers.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the father bird returned, carrying with him the bottles filled
+with the marvellous waters, he wanted to have his nestling back.
+
+"One moment more," said Niezguinek, "I want to be sure that they are
+of the right sort."
+
+Then he replaced the entrails in the body of his horse and sprinkled
+him first with the Life-giving, then with the Curing, and finally with
+the Strengthening Water; after which his beloved steed leapt to his
+feet full of strength and cried, "Ah! how very soundly I have slept."
+
+Niezguinek released the young raven and said to his horse, "For sure,
+you would have slept to all eternity, and have never seen the sun
+again, if I had not revived you as you taught me."
+
+While speaking he saw the marvellous ship sparkling white in the sun.
+She was made entirely of pure silver, with golden masts. The rigging
+was of silk, the sails of velvet, and the whole was enclosed in a
+casing of inpenetrable steel network. Niezguinek sprang down to the
+water's edge armed with his club, and rubbing his forehead with the
+diamond key, said:
+
+  "Riding on the ocean waves a magic ship I see;
+  Stop and change thy course, O ship, here I hold the key.
+  Obey the signal known to thee,
+  And come at once direct to me."
+
+The vessel turned right round and came at full speed towards land, and
+right on to the bank, where it remained motionless.
+
+Niezguinek smashed in the steel network with his club; and opening the
+doors with the diamond key, there found Princess Sudolisu. He made her
+unconscious with the herb Sleep, and lifting her before him on his
+horse, said:
+
+  "Marvel of strength and of beauty so white,
+    Horse of my heart, while I sing,
+  Swift as an arrow through space take thy flight
+    Straight to the court of my king."
+
+Then the horse, as if he saw some strange thing in the clouds, lifted
+himself in the air and began to fly through space so rapidly that in
+about two hours he had crossed rivers, mountains, and forests, and had
+reached his journey's end.
+
+Although Niezguinek had fallen violently in love with the princess
+himself, he took her straight to the royal palace and introduced her
+to the king.
+
+Now she was so exquisitely beautiful that the monarch was quite
+dazzled by looking at her, and being thus carried away by his
+admiration, he put his arm round her as if to caress her: but she
+rebuked him severely.
+
+"What have I done to offend you, princess? Why do you treat me so
+harshly?"
+
+"Because in spite of your rank you are ill-bred. You neither ask my
+name nor that of my parents, and you think to take possession of me as
+if I were but a dog or a falcon. You must understand that he who would
+be my husband must have triple youth, that of heart, soul, and body."
+
+"Charming princess, if I could become young again we would be married
+directly."
+
+She replied, "But I have the means of making you so, and by help of
+this sword in my hand. For with it I will pierce you to the heart,
+then cut up your body into small pieces, wash them carefully, and join
+them together again. And if I breathe upon them you will return to
+life young and handsome, just as if you were only twenty years of
+age."
+
+"Oh indeed! I should like to know who would submit to that; first make
+trial of Sir Niezguinek here."
+
+The princess looked at him, whereupon he bowed and said, "Lovely
+princess, I willingly submit, although I am young enough without it.
+In any case life without you would be valueless."
+
+Then the princess took a step towards him and killed him with her
+sword. She cut him up in pieces and washed these in pure water, after
+which she joined them together again and breathed upon them. Instantly
+Niezguinek sprang up full of life and health, and looked so handsome
+and bright that the old king, who was dreadfully jealous, exclaimed,
+"Make me, too, young again, princess; do not lose a moment."
+
+The princess pierced him to the heart with her sword, cut him up into
+little pieces, and, opening the window, threw them out, at the same
+time calling the king's dogs, who quickly ate them up. Then she turned
+to Niezguinek and said, "Proclaim yourself king, and I will be your
+queen."
+
+He followed her advice, and within a short time they were married; his
+brothers, whom he had pardoned, and his parents having been invited to
+the wedding. On their way back from the church the magic sword
+suddenly clinked, and, flashing in the air, divided itself into a
+thousand swords that placed themselves on guard as sentinels all round
+the palace. The guzla, too, began to play so sweetly and gaily that
+every living thing began to dance for joy.
+
+The festival was magnificent. I myself was there, and drank freely of
+wine and mead; and although not a drop went into my mouth, my chin was
+quite wet.
+
+
+
+
+OHNIVAK
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: OHNIVAK]
+
+
+A certain king had a beautiful garden which contained a number of very
+rare trees, but the most rare of all was an apple tree. It stood in
+the middle of the garden, and produced one golden apple every day. In
+the morning the blossom unfolded, during the day you might watch the
+fruit grow, and before nightfall the apple was fully ripe. The next
+day the same thing occurred--indeed, it happened regularly every
+twenty-four hours. Nevertheless, no ripe fruit ever remained on the
+tree on the following day; the apple disappeared, no one knew how or
+when, and this deeply grieved the king.
+
+At last he could bear it no longer, and calling his eldest son to him,
+said: "My child, I wish you to keep watch in the garden to-night, and
+see if you can find out what becomes of my golden apples. I will
+reward you with the choice of all my treasures; if you should be lucky
+enough to get hold of the thief, and bring him to me, I would gladly
+give you half my kingdom."
+
+The young prince girded his trusty sword to his side, and with his
+crossbow on his shoulder and a good stock of well-tempered arrows,
+went into the garden to mount guard. And as he sat under the apple
+tree a great drowsiness came over him which he could not resist; his
+arms dropped, his eyes closed, and stretching himself on the grass he
+slept as soundly as if he had been in his own bed at home, nor did he
+awake until day dawn, and then he saw that the apple had disappeared.
+
+When questioned by his father, he said that no thieves had come, but
+that the apple had vanished all the same. The king shook his head, for
+he did not believe a word of it. Then, turning to his second son, he
+bade him keep watch, and promised him a handsome reward if he should
+catch the thief.
+
+So the second son armed himself with everything necessary and went
+into the garden. But he succeeded no better than his brother, for he
+could not resist the desire to sleep, and when he awoke the apple was
+no longer there.
+
+When his father asked him how it disappeared, he replied, "No one took
+it, it vanished of itself."
+
+"Now, my dearest one, take your turn," said the king to his youngest
+son; "although you are young, and have less experience than your
+brothers, let us see if you cannot succeed where they have failed. If
+you are willing, go, and may God help you."
+
+Towards evening, when it began to be dusk, the youngest son went into
+the garden to keep watch. He took with him a sword and crossbow, a few
+well-tempered arrows, and a hedgehog's skin as a sort of apron, for he
+thought that while sitting under the tree, if he spread the skin over
+his knees, the pricking of the bristles on his hands might keep him
+awake. And so it did, for by this means he was able to resist the
+drowsiness that came over him.
+
+At midnight Ohnivak, the bird of fire, flew down and alighted upon the
+tree, and was just going off with the apple when the prince fixed an
+arrow to his bow, and letting it fly, struck the bird under the wing.
+Although wounded, it flew away, dropping one of its feathers upon the
+ground. That night for the first time the apple remained untouched
+upon the tree.
+
+"Have you caught the thief?" asked the king next day.
+
+"Not altogether, but no doubt we shall have him in time. I have a bit
+of his trappings." And he gave the king the feather, and told him all
+that had taken place.
+
+The king was charmed with the feather; so lovely and bright was it
+that it illumined all the galleries of the palace, and they needed no
+other light.
+
+The courtiers told the king that the feather could only belong to
+Ohnivak, the bird of fire, and that it was worth all the rest of the
+royal treasures put together.
+
+From that time Ohnivak came no more to the garden, and the apples
+remained untouched. Yet the king could think of nothing else but how
+to possess this marvellous bird. At last, beginning to despair of ever
+seeing it, he was filled with melancholy, and would remain for hours
+in deep thought; thus he became really ill, and every day continued to
+grow worse.
+
+One day he summoned his three sons before him and said, "My dear
+children, you see the sad state I am in. If I could but hear the bird
+Ohnivak sing just once I should be cured of this disease of the heart;
+otherwise it will be my death. Whichever of you shall succeed in
+catching Ohnivak alive and inducing him to sing to me, to him I will
+give half of my kingdom and the heirship to the throne."
+
+Having taken leave of their father the brothers set off. They
+travelled together until they came to a part of the forest where the
+road branched off in three directions.
+
+"Which turning shall we take?" asked the eldest.
+
+The second brother answered, "We are three, and three roads lie before
+us; let us each choose one, thus we shall treble our chances of
+finding the bird, for we shall seek it in three different countries."
+
+"That is a good idea, but how shall each one decide which way to
+choose?"
+
+The youngest brother said, "I will leave the choice to you two, and
+will take whichever road you leave me."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+So each took the road that chance decided for him, agreeing that when
+their mission was over they would return to the point of departure. In
+order to recognise the place again each one planted the branch of a
+tree at the cross roads, and they believed that he whose branch should
+take root and grow into a big tree would be successful in the quest.
+
+When each one had planted his branch at the chosen road they started
+off. The eldest rode on, and never stopped until he reached the top of
+a high mountain; there he dismounted, and let his horse graze while he
+ate his breakfast. Suddenly a red fox came up, and speaking in the
+language of men, said: "Pray, my handsome prince, give me a little of
+what you are eating; I am very hungry."
+
+For answer the prince let fly an arrow from his crossbow, but it is
+impossible to say whether he hit the fox for it vanished and did not
+appear again.
+
+The second brother, without meeting with any adventure, reached a
+wide-stretching moor, where he stopped for his meal. The red fox
+appeared to him and begged for food; but he also refused food to the
+famished fox, and shot at him. The creature disappeared as before.
+
+The youngest travelled on till he came to the banks of a river.
+Feeling tired and hungry, he got down from his horse and began his
+breakfast; while he was eating, up came the red fox.
+
+"Please, young sir," said the fox, "give me a morsel to satisfy my
+hunger."
+
+The prince threw him a piece of meat, and spoke kindly to him.
+
+"Come near, do not be afraid, my red fox; I see you are more hungry
+than I, but there is enough for us both."
+
+And he divided all his provisions into two equal parts, one for
+himself, and one for the poor red fox.
+
+When the latter had eaten to his heart's content, he said: "You have
+fed me well, in return I will serve you well; mount your horse and
+follow me. If you do everything I tell you, the Bird of Fire shall be
+yours."
+
+Then he set off at a run before the horseman, clearing the road for
+him with his bushy tail. By means of this marvellous broom, mountains
+were cut down, ravines filled up, and rivers bridged over.
+
+The young prince followed at a gallop, without the slightest wish to
+stop, until they came to a castle built of copper.
+
+"The Bird of Fire is in this castle," said the fox; "you must enter
+exactly at midday, for then the guards will be asleep, and you will
+pass unnoticed. Above all, beware of stopping anywhere. In the first
+apartment you will find twelve birds black as night, in golden cages;
+in the second, twelve golden birds in wooden cages; in the third,
+Ohnivak, the bird of fire, roosting on his perch. Near him are two
+cages, one of wood and the other of gold; be sure you put him in the
+wooden cage--you would be sorry for it if he were put into the golden
+one."
+
+The prince entered the castle, and found everything just as the fox
+had told him. Having passed through the two rooms he came to the
+third, and there saw the fire-bird on his perch, apparently asleep. It
+was indeed a beautiful creature, so beautiful that the prince's heart
+beat high with joy. He handled him without difficulty, and put him
+into the wooden cage, thinking at the same time to himself that it
+could hardly be right for so lovely a bird to be in such an ugly cage,
+a golden cage could be the only right place for him. So he took him
+out of the wooden cage and placed him in the golden one. Hardly had he
+shut the door when the bird opened his eyes and gave a piercing
+scream; so shrill was it that it awoke the other birds, who began to
+sing as loud as they could, and gave the alarm to the guards at the
+palace door. These rushed in, seized the prince, and dragged him
+before the king. The latter was very angry, and said: "Infamous thief,
+who are you to have dared to force an entrance, and pass through my
+sentinels, to steal my bird Ohnivak?"
+
+"I am not a thief," answered the young prince indignantly, "I have
+come to reclaim a thief whom you protect. I am the son of a king, and
+in my father's gardens is an apple tree that bears golden fruit. It
+blossoms at morning-time, while during the day the flower develops
+into an apple that grows and ripens after sunset. Now in the night
+your bird robbed us of our golden apples, and though I watched and
+wounded him I could not catch him. My father is dying with grief
+because of this, and the only remedy that can save and restore him to
+health, is that he may listen to the fire-bird's song. This is why I
+beg your majesty to give him me."
+
+"You may have him," said the king, "but on one condition, that you
+bring me Zlato-Nrivak, the horse with the golden mane."
+
+So the prince had to go away empty-handed.
+
+"Why did you not do as I told you? Why must you go and take the golden
+cage?" said the fox, in despair at the failure of the expedition.
+
+"I admit it was my own fault," said the prince, "but do not punish me
+by being angry. I want your advice: tell me how I am to get
+Zlato-Nrivak?"
+
+"I know how it can be done," answered the red fox, "and I will help
+you once more. Get on your horse, follow me, and do as I tell you."
+
+The fox ran on in front, clearing the road with his bushy tail. The
+prince followed at a gallop, until they came to a castle built
+entirely of silver.
+
+"In that castle lives the Horse with the Golden Mane," said the fox.
+"You will have to go exactly at midday, when the sentinels are asleep;
+thus you will get past safe and sound. But mind, do not stop anywhere.
+You must pass through three stables. In the first are twelve black
+horses with golden bridles; in the second, twelve white horses with
+black bridles; in the third stands Zlato-Nrivak in front of his
+manger, while near him are two bridles, one of gold, the other of
+black leather. Whatever you do, beware of using the first, for you
+will surely repent it."
+
+The prince waited until the appointed time and then entered the
+castle, finding everything exactly as the fox had said. In the third
+stable stood Zlato-Nrivak, eating fire that flared up out of his
+silver trough.
+
+The Horse with the Golden Mane was so beautiful that the prince could
+not take his eyes off him. Quickly unhooking the black leather bridle,
+he put it over the horse's head. The animal made no resistance, but
+was gentle and quiet as a lamb. Then the prince looked covetously at
+the golden bridle sparkling with gems, and said to himself, "It is a
+shame that such a splendid creature should be guided by these ugly
+black reins while there is a bridle here far more suited to him, and
+that is indeed his by right." So, forgetting his late experience and
+the warnings of the red fox, he tore off the black bridle and put in
+its place that of gold set with precious stones. No sooner did the
+horse feel the change than he began to neigh and caper about, while
+all the other horses answered with a perfect storm of neighings. The
+sentinels, aroused by the noise, ran in, and seizing the prince, led
+him before the king.
+
+"Insolent thief," cried the enraged monarch, "how is it that you have
+escaped the vigilance of the guards and have dared to lay hands upon
+my horse with the golden mane? It is really disgraceful."
+
+"True, I am nothing better," replied the prince proudly, "but I was
+forced to do it against my will." And he related all his misadventures
+at the copper castle, adding that it was impossible to obtain the
+fire-bird except in exchange for Zlato-Nrivak, and that he hoped his
+majesty would make him a present of the horse.
+
+"Most willingly," answered the king, "but on one condition, that you
+bring me the Maiden with the Golden Locks: she lives in the golden
+castle on the shores of the Black Sea."
+
+The fox was waiting in the forest the prince's return, and when he saw
+him come back without the horse he was very angry indeed.
+
+"Did I not warn you," said he, "to be content with the black leather
+bridle? It is really a loss of time to try and help such an ungrateful
+fellow, for it seems impossible to make you hear reason."
+
+"Don't be cross," said the prince, "I confess that I am in fault; I
+ought to have obeyed your orders. But have a little more patience with
+me and help me out of this difficulty."
+
+"Very well; but this will certainly be the last time. If you do just
+as you are told we may yet repair all that has been spoilt by your
+imprudence. Mount your horse and follow--off!"
+
+The fox ran on in front, clearing the road with his bushy tail, until
+they reached the shores of the Black Sea.
+
+"That palace yonder," said the fox, "is the residence of the Queen of
+the Ocean Kingdom. She has three daughters; it is the youngest who has
+the golden hair, and is called Zlato-Vlaska. Now you must first go to
+the queen and ask her to give you one of her daughters in marriage. If
+she takes kindly to your proposal she will bid you choose, and mind
+you take that princess who is the most plainly dressed."
+
+The queen received him most graciously, and when he explained the
+object of his visit she led him into a room where the three daughters
+were spinning.
+
+They were so much alike that no one could possibly distinguish one
+from the other, and they were all so marvellously lovely that when the
+young prince looked upon them he dared hardly breathe. Their hair was
+carefully covered by a veil through which one could not distinguish
+the colour of it, but their dresses were different. The first wore a
+gown and veil embroidered with gold, and used a golden distaff; the
+second had on a gown embroidered with silver and held a distaff of the
+same metal; the third wore a gown and veil of dazzling whiteness, and
+her distaff was made of wood.
+
+The mother bade the prince choose, whereupon he pointed to the maiden
+clothed in white, saying, "Give me this one to wife."
+
+"Ah," said the queen, "some one has been letting you into the secret:
+but wait a little, we shall meet again to-morrow."
+
+All that night the prince lay awake, wondering how he should manage
+not to make a mistake on the morrow. At dawn he was already at the
+palace gates, which he had hardly entered when the princess clothed in
+white chanced to pass: it was Zlato-Vlaska, and she had come to meet
+him.
+
+"If it is your wish to choose me again to-day," she said, "observe
+carefully, and take the maiden around whose head buzzes a small fly."
+
+In the afternoon the queen took the prince into a room where her three
+daughters sat, and said: "If among these princesses you recognise the
+one you chose yesterday she shall be yours; if not, you must die."
+
+The young girls stood side by side, dressed alike in costly robes, and
+all had golden hair. The prince was puzzled, and their beauty and
+splendour dazzled him. For some time he could hardly see distinctly;
+then, all of a sudden, a small fly buzzed over the head of one of the
+princesses.
+
+"This is the maiden who belongs to me," cried he, "and whom I chose
+yesterday."
+
+The queen, astonished that he should have guessed correctly, said,
+"Quite right, but I cannot let you have her until you have submitted
+to another trial, which shall be explained to you to-morrow."
+
+On the morrow she pointed out to him a large fish-pond which lay in
+the forest, and giving him a small golden sieve, said: "If with this
+sieve you can, before sunset, empty that fish-pond yonder, I will give
+you my daughter with the golden hair, but if you fail you will lose
+your life."
+
+The prince took the sieve, and, going down to the pond, plunged it in
+to try his luck; but no sooner had he lifted it up than all the water
+ran out through the holes--not a drop was left behind. Not knowing
+what to do, he sat down on the bank with the sieve in his hand,
+wondering in what possible way the difficulty might be overcome.
+
+"Why are you so sad?" asked the maiden in white, as she came towards
+him.
+
+"Because I fear you will never be mine," sighed he; "your mother has
+given me an impossible task."
+
+"Come, cheer up, away with fear; it will all be right in the end."
+
+Thereupon she took the sieve and threw it into the fishpond. Instantly
+the water turned to foam on the surface, and a thick vapour rose up,
+which fell in a fog so dense that nothing could be seen through it.
+Then the prince heard footsteps, and turning round saw his horse
+coming towards him, with his bridle down and the red fox at his side.
+
+"Mount quickly," said the horse, "there is not a moment to lose; lift
+the maiden in front of you."
+
+The faithful steed flew like an arrow, and sped rapidly along over the
+road that had been recently cleared by the bushy tail of the red fox.
+But this time, instead of leading, the red fox followed, his tail
+working marvels as he went: it destroyed the bridges, reopened the
+ravines, raised high mountains, and in fact put back everything as it
+used to be.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The prince felt very happy as he rode along, holding the Princess with
+the Golden Hair, but it saddened him much to think he would have to
+give up all thought of marrying her himself, and that within a few
+short hours he must leave her with the king of the silver palace: the
+nearer he came to it, the more wretched he grew. The red fox, who
+noticed this, said: "It appears to me that you do not want to exchange
+the lovely Zlato-Vlaska for the Horse with the Golden Mane: is it not
+so? Well, I have helped you so far, I will see what I can do for you
+now."
+
+And having thus spoken he turned a somersault over the stump of a
+fallen tree which lay in the forest: while, to the prince's amazement,
+he was immediately transformed into a young girl exactly resembling
+the Princess with the Golden Hair.
+
+"Now, leave your real bride in the forest," said the transformed fox,
+"and take me with you to offer to the king of the silver palace in
+exchange for his horse Zlato-Nrivak. Mount the horse, return here, and
+escape with the maid you love; I will manage the rest."
+
+The king of the silver castle received the maiden without the least
+suspicion, and handed over in exchange the Horse with the Golden Mane,
+over whose back lay the bejewelled bridle. The prince left at once.
+
+At the palace all were busy preparing the wedding feast, for the
+marriage was to take place immediately, and everything was to be of
+the most costly description. Invitations had been out to all the
+grandees of the land.
+
+Towards the end of the feast, when every one had drunk his fill of
+wine and pleasure, the king asked his guests their opinions on the
+charms of his bride.
+
+"She is most beautiful," said one, "in fact, it would be impossible
+for her to be more lovely; only, it seems to me that her eyes are
+somewhat like those of a fox."
+
+The words were hardly out of his mouth when the royal bride vanished,
+while in her place sat a red fox, who with one vigorous bound sprang
+through the door and disappeared to rejoin the prince, who had
+hastened on in front. With sweeping strokes of his bushy tail he
+overthrew bridges, reopened precipices, and heaped up mountains; but
+it was very hard work for the poor thing, and he did not come up with
+the runaways until they had almost reached the copper castle. Here
+they all had a rest, while the red fox turned a somersault and
+transformed himself into a horse resembling the one with the golden
+mane. Then the prince entered the copper castle and exchanged the
+transformed fox for the fire-bird Ohnivak, the king having no
+suspicions whatever. The red fox, having thus deceived the monarch,
+reassumed his own shape and hurried after the departing prince, whom
+he did not overtake until they had reached the banks of the river
+where they had first become acquainted.
+
+"Now here you are, prince," said the red fox, "in possession of
+Ohnivak, of the lovely Zlato-Vlaska, and of the Horse with the Golden
+Mane. Henceforth you can manage without my help, so return to your
+father's house in peace and joy; but, take warning, do not stop
+anywhere on the way, for if you do some misfortune will overtake you."
+
+With these words the red fox vanished, while the prince continued his
+journey unhindered. In his hand he held the golden cage that contained
+the fire-bird, and at his side the lovely Zlato-Vlaska rode the Horse
+with the Golden Mane; truly, he was the happiest of men.
+
+When he reached the cross roads where he had parted from his brothers,
+he hastened to look for the branches they had planted. His alone had
+become a spreading tree, theirs were both withered. Delighted with
+this proof of divine favour, he felt a strong desire to rest for a
+while under the shadow of his own tree; he therefore dismounted, and
+assisting the princess to do the same, fastened their horses to one of
+the branches and hung up the cage containing Ohnivak on another:
+within a few moments they were all sound asleep.
+
+Meanwhile the two elder brothers arrived at the same place by
+different roads, and both with empty hands. There they found their two
+branches withered, that of their brother having grown into a splendid
+tree. Under the shade of the latter he lay sleeping; by his side was
+the Maid with the Golden Locks; the horse, Zlato-Nrivak, was fastened
+to a tree, and the fire-bird roosted in his golden cage.
+
+The hearts of the two brothers were filled with envious and wicked
+thoughts, and they whispered thus to one another, "Just think what
+will become of us--the youngest will receive half of the kingdom
+during our father's life and succeed to the throne at his death; why
+not cut his throat at once? One of us will take the Maid with the
+Golden Locks, the other can carry the bird to our father and keep the
+Horse with the Golden Mane; as for the kingdom, we will divide it
+between us."
+
+After this debate they killed their youngest brother and cut up his
+body into small pieces, while they threatened to treat Zlato-Vlaska in
+the same way if she attempted to disobey them.
+
+On reaching home they sent the Horse with the Golden Mane to the
+marble stables, the cage containing Ohnivak was placed in the room
+where their father lay sick, and the princess was allowed a beautiful
+suite of apartments and maids of honour to attend her.
+
+When the king, who was much weakened by suffering, had looked at the
+bird, he asked after his youngest son. To which the brothers replied:
+"We have not seen or heard anything of him, it is very likely that he
+has been killed."
+
+The poor old man was much affected--it seemed, indeed, as if his last
+hour had come. The fire-bird moped and refused to sing; the Horse with
+the Golden Mane stood with his head bent down before his manger, and
+would eat no food; while Princess Zlato-Vlaska remained as silent as
+if she had been born dumb, her beautiful hair was neglected and
+uncombed, and she wept--her tears fell fast.
+
+Now as the red fox chanced to pass through the forest he came upon the
+mangled body of the youngest brother, and he at once set to work to
+put the scattered pieces together, but was unable to restore them to
+life. At that moment a raven, accompanied by two young ones, came
+hovering overhead. The fox crouched behind a bramble bush; and when
+one of the young birds alighted upon the body to feed, he seized it
+and made a pretence of strangling it. Upon which the parent bird, full
+of anxious love and fear, perched upon a branch close by and croaked
+as if to say, "Let my poor little nestling go. I have done you no
+harm, neither have I worried you; let him free, and I will take the
+first opportunity of returning your kindness."
+
+"Just so," replied the red fox, "for I am greatly in need of some
+kindness. Now if you will fetch me some of the Water of Death, and
+some of the Water of Life, from the Red Sea, I will let your nestling
+go safe and sound."
+
+The old raven promised to fetch the water, and went off at once.
+
+Within three days he returned, carrying in his beak two small bottles,
+one full of the Water of Death, the other of the Water of Life. When
+the red fox received them he wished first to try their effect upon
+some living creature, so he cut the small raven up, and joining the
+pieces together, watered them with the Water of Death. Instantly they
+became a living bird, without mark or join anywhere. This he sprinkled
+with the Water of Life, upon which the young raven spread its wings
+and flew off to its family.
+
+The red fox then performed the same operation on the body of the young
+prince, and with the same happy result, for he rose again perfect in
+form, and having about him no wound scars. On coming to life again,
+all he said was, "Dear me! What a pleasant sleep I have had."
+
+"I believe you," replied the red fox, "you would have gone on sleeping
+for ever if I had not awakened you. And what a foolish young man you
+are: did I not particularly order you not to stop anywhere, but to go
+straight back to your father's house?"
+
+He then related all that his brothers had done, and having obtained a
+peasant's dress for him, led him to the outskirts of the forest, close
+to the royal palace, where he left him.
+
+The young prince then entered the palace grounds, unrecognised by the
+servants, and on representing that he was in need of employment, was
+appointed stable-boy to the royal stables. Some little time after he
+heard the grooms lamenting that the Horse with the Golden Mane would
+eat no food.
+
+"What a pity it is," said they, "that this splendid steed should
+starve to death; he droops his head and will take nothing."
+
+"Give him," said the disguised prince, "some pea-straw; I bet you
+anything he will eat that."
+
+"But do you really think so? Why, our rough draught horses would
+refuse such coarse food."
+
+The prince's only answer was to fetch a bundle of pea-straw, which he
+put into Zlato-Nrivak's marble trough: then, passing his hand gently
+over his neck and mane, he said to him, "Grieve no more, my horse with
+the golden mane."
+
+The beautiful creature recognised his master's voice, and neighing
+with joy, greedily devoured the pea-straw.
+
+The news was noised about from one end of the palace to the other, and
+the sick king summoned the boy to his presence.
+
+"I hear you have made Zlato-Nrivak eat," said his majesty; "do you
+think you could make my fire-bird sing? Go and examine him closely: he
+is very sad, he droops his wings, and will neither eat nor drink. Ah
+me! if he dies I shall certainly die too."
+
+"Your majesty may rest assured, the bird will not die. Let him have
+some husks of barley to eat, then he will soon be all right and begin
+to sing."
+
+The king ordered them to be brought, and the disguised prince put a
+handful into Ohnivak's cage, saying, "Cheer up, my fire-bird."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+As soon as Ohnivak heard his master's voice he shook himself, and made
+his feathers shine with more than their usual brightness. Then he
+began to dance about his cage, and pecking up the husks, sang so
+exquisitely that the king immediately felt better, and it was as if a
+great weight had been lifted off his heart. The fire-bird again burst
+into song, and this so affected the king that he sat up quite well,
+and embraced the disguised prince out of very gratitude.
+
+"Now," said he, "teach me how to restore to health this beautiful
+maiden with the golden hair whom my sons brought back with them; for
+she will not speak a word, her beautiful hair remains uncared for, and
+her tears fall night and day."
+
+"If your majesty will allow me to speak a few words to her, it may be
+the means of making her bright and happy."
+
+The king himself led the way to her apartments, and the disguised
+prince, taking her hand, said: "Look up a moment, sweetheart; why
+these tears? And why grieve thus, dear bride?"
+
+The maiden knew him at once, and with a cry of joy threw herself into
+his arms. This astonished the king mightily, and he could not for the
+life of him think how a stable-boy dare address such a princess as his
+"dear bride."
+
+The prince then addressed the king thus: "And are you indeed the only
+one who does not know me? How is it, my father and sovereign, that you
+have not recognised your youngest son? I alone have succeeded in
+obtaining the Fire-Bird, the Horse with the Golden Mane, and the Maid
+with the Golden Hair."
+
+Thereupon he related all his adventures, and Zlato-Vlaska in her turn
+told how the wicked brothers had threatened to kill her if she
+betrayed them. As for these bad men, they shook from head to foot, and
+trembled like leaves in the wind. The indignant king ordered them to
+be executed then and there.
+
+Not very long after these events the youngest prince married the
+beautiful Zlato-Vlaska, and the king gave him half of his kingdom as a
+wedding present. When the old king died he reigned in his stead, and
+lived happily with the princess ever after.
+
+
+
+
+TEARS OF PEARLS
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+TEARS OF PEARLS
+
+
+Once upon a time there lived a very rich widow, with whom lived three
+children--a handsome stepson; his sister, who was marvellously
+beautiful; and her own daughter, passably good-looking.
+
+All three children lived under the same roof, but, as is often the
+case where there are step-parents, they were treated very differently.
+The lady's own daughter was bad-tempered, disobedient, vain, and of a
+tell-tale disposition: yet she was made much of, praised, and
+caressed. The step-children were treated very harshly: the boy,
+kind-hearted and obliging, was made to do all sorts of hard unpleasant
+work, was constantly scolded, and looked upon as a good-for-nothing.
+The step-daughter, who was not only exceedingly pretty but was as
+sweet as an angel, was found fault with on all occasions, and her life
+made utterly miserable.
+
+It is, after all, but natural to love one's own children better than
+those of others, but the feeling of love should be governed by the
+laws of fairness. Now this wicked woman was blind to the faults of the
+child she loved, and to the good qualities of her husband's children,
+whom she hated.
+
+When in a bad temper she was fond of boasting of the handsome fortune
+she intended securing for her own daughter, even though the
+step-children should be unprovided for. But, as the old proverb says,
+"Man proposes, but God disposes." We shall therefore see how things
+turned out.
+
+One Sunday morning, before going to church, the step-daughter went
+into the garden to pick some flowers for decorating the altar. She had
+only gathered a few roses when, looking up, she saw quite close to her
+three young men robed in dazzling white garments. They sat on a bench
+shaded by shrubs, while near them was an old man who asked her for
+alms.
+
+She felt rather nervous before the strangers, but when she saw the old
+man she took her last penny from her purse and gave it him. He thanked
+her, and raising his hand over the girl's head, said to the men: "This
+orphan girl is pious, patient under misfortune, and kind to the poor,
+with whom she shares the little she has. Tell me what you wish for
+her."
+
+The first said, "I wish that when she weeps her tears may be changed
+into so many pearls."
+
+"And I," replied the second, "that when she smiles sweet roses may
+fall from her lips."
+
+"My wish," said the third, "is that whenever she dips her hands into
+water there shall appear in it shining gold-fish."
+
+"All these gifts shall be hers," added the old man. And with these
+words they vanished.
+
+The maiden was filled with awe, and fell on her knees in prayer. Then
+her heart was filled with joy and peace, and she went back into the
+house. She had scarcely crossed the threshold when her stepmother came
+forward, and looking at her sternly, said, "Well, where have you
+been?"
+
+The poor child began to cry, when--marvel of marvels--instead of
+tears, pearls fell from her eyes.
+
+Notwithstanding her rage, the stepmother picked them up as quickly as
+possible, while the girl smiled as she watched her. And as she smiled
+roses fell from her lips, and her stepmother was beside herself with
+delight.
+
+The girl then went to put the flowers she had gathered in water; and
+as she dipped her fingers in it while arranging them, pretty little
+gold-fish appeared in the bowl.
+
+From that day these marvels were constantly occurring; the tears were
+changed into pearls, the smiles scattered roses, and the water, even
+if she dipped but the tips of her fingers in, was filled with
+gold-fish.
+
+The stepmother softened and became more gentle, while little by little
+she managed to draw from her step-child the secret of these gifts.
+
+So next Sunday morning she sent her own daughter into the garden to
+gather flowers, under pretence of their being for the altar. When she
+had picked a few, she raised her eyes and saw the three young men
+sitting on a low seat, while near them stood the little old man with
+white hair, begging for alms. She pretended to be shy before the young
+men, but at the beggar's request drew from her pocket a gold piece,
+and gave it him, evidently much against her will. He put it in his
+pocket, and turning to his companions, said: "This girl is the spoilt
+child of her mother; she is bad-tempered and naughty, while her heart
+is hardened against the poor. It is easy to understand why, for the
+first time in her life, she has been so generous to-day. Tell me what
+gifts you would wish me to bestow upon her."
+
+The first said, "May her tears be changed into lizards."
+
+"And her smile produce hideous toads," added the second.
+
+"And when her hands touch the water may it be filled with serpents,"
+said the third.
+
+"So let it be," cried the old man. And they all vanished.
+
+The poor girl was terrified, and went back to tell her mother what had
+happened. And it was even so; for if she smiled hideous toads fell
+from her mouth, her tears were changed into lizards, and the water in
+which she dipped but the tips of her fingers was filled with serpents.
+
+The stepmother was in despair, but she only loved her child the more,
+and hated the orphans with a yet more bitter hatred. Indeed, she
+worried them to such an extent that the boy determined to put up with
+it no longer, but to seek his fortune elsewhere. So he tied up his
+belongings in a handkerchief, took a loving farewell of his sister,
+commending her to God's care, and left his home. The great world lay
+before him, but which path to take he knew not. Turning to the
+cemetery where his parents lay side by side, he wept and prayed,
+kissed the earth that covered them three times, and set off on his
+travels.
+
+At that moment he felt something hard in the folds of his tunic, and
+pressing on his heart. Wondering what it could be, he put in his hand
+and drew thence a charming portrait of his dearly loved sister,
+surrounded with pearls, roses, and gold-fish. So great was his
+astonishment he could hardly believe his eyes. But he was very happy,
+and kissed the picture over and over again; then, with one more look
+at the cemetery, he made the sign of the cross and departed.
+
+Now a beautiful story is soon told, but the acts of which it is the
+sum pass more slowly.
+
+After many adventures of little importance he reached the capital of a
+kingdom by the sea, and there obtained the post of under-gardener at
+the royal palace, with good food and wages.
+
+In his prosperity he did not forget his unhappy sister, for he felt
+very uneasy about her. When he had a few moments to himself he would
+sit down in some retired spot and gaze upon her portrait with a sad
+heart and eyes filled with tears. For the picture was a faithful
+likeness of her, and he looked upon it as a gift from his parents.
+
+Now the king had noticed this habit of his, and one day while he sat
+by a stream looking at the picture he came quietly behind him, and
+glanced over his shoulder to see what he was so attentively regarding.
+
+"Give me that portrait," said the monarch.
+
+The boy handed it him. The king examined it closely, and admiring it
+greatly, said: "I have never seen such a beautiful face in all my
+life, never even dreamed of such loveliness. Come, tell me, is the
+original of the picture living?"
+
+The lad burst into tears, and told him it was the living image of his
+sister, who a short time since had received as a special mark of
+favour from God, that her tears should be changed into pearls, her
+smiles into roses, and the touch of her hands in water should produce
+beautiful gold-fish.
+
+The king commanded him to write to his stepmother at once and bid her
+send her lovely step-daughter to the chapel of the palace, where the
+king would be waiting to marry her. The letter also contained promises
+of special royal favours.
+
+The lad wrote the letter, which the king sent by a special messenger.
+
+Now a good story is soon told, but the deeds of which it is the sum
+are not performed so quickly.
+
+When the stepmother received the letter she determined to say nothing
+about it to her step-child, but she showed it to her own daughter, and
+talked the matter over with her. Then she went to learn the art of
+sorcery from a witch, and having found out all it was necessary to
+know, set off with both of the girls. On approaching the capital, the
+wicked woman pushed her step-child out of the carriage and repeated
+some magic words over her. After this she became very small and
+covered with feathers, then in a moment she was changed into a
+wild-duck. She began to quack, and made for the water, as ducks do,
+and swam to a far distance. The stepmother bade her farewell in the
+following words: "By the strength of my hate may my will be fulfilled.
+Swim about the banks in the form of a duck, and rejoice in thy
+liberty. During that time my daughter shall take thy form, shall marry
+the king, and shall enjoy the good fortune fate destined for thee."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At the conclusion of these words her own child became endowed with all
+the graces and beauty of her unfortunate step-sister. The two then
+continued their journey, arriving at the royal chapel at the appointed
+hour. The king received them with all honours, while the deceitful
+woman gave away her own daughter, whom the bridegroom believed to be
+the original of the beautiful picture. After the ceremony the mother
+went away loaded with presents. The king, as he looked at his young
+wife, could not understand why he did not feel for her the sympathy
+and admiration he had felt for the portrait she so much resembled. But
+it could not be altered now; what is done is done. So he admired her
+beauty and looked forward to the pleasure of seeing pearls fall from
+her eyes, roses from her lips, and gold-fish at the touch of her
+fingers.
+
+During the wedding feast the newly-made bride forgot herself and
+smiled at her husband; immediately a number of hideous toads escaped
+from her lips. The king, overcome with horror and disgust, rushed away
+from her, upon which she began to cry, but instead of pearls, lizards
+fell from her eyes. The majordomo ordered water to be brought for her
+to wash her hands, but no sooner had she dipped the tips of her
+fingers in the bowl than it was filled with serpents that hissed and
+twisted and threw themselves among the wedding guests. The panic was
+general, and a scene of great confusion followed. The guard was called
+in, and had the greatest trouble to clear the hall of the disgusting
+reptiles.
+
+The bridegroom had taken refuge in the garden, and when he saw the
+young man coming towards him, whom he thought had deceived him, his
+anger overcame him, and he struck the poor lad with so much force that
+he fell down dead.
+
+The queen ran forward sobbing, and taking the king by the hand, said:
+"What have you done? You have killed my innocent brother. It is
+neither my fault, nor was it his, that since the wedding I have by
+some enchantment lost the marvellous power I possessed before. This
+evil will pass away in time, but time can never restore to me my dear
+brother, my own mother's son."
+
+"Forgive me, dear wife; in a moment of irritation I thought he had
+deceived me, and I wanted to punish him, but did not mean to kill. I
+regret it deeply, but it cannot be helped now. Forgive me my fault as
+I forgive yours, with all my heart."
+
+"You have my forgiveness, but I beg you to see that your wife's
+brother has an honourable burial."
+
+Her wishes were carried out, and the orphan lad, who had passed as her
+brother, was laid in a handsome coffin. The chapel was hung with
+black, and at night a guard was placed both inside and out.
+
+Towards midnight the church doors silently opened, and while the
+guards were overcome by sleep a pretty little duck entered unnoticed.
+She stopped in the middle of the aisle, shook herself, and pulled out
+her feathers one by one. Then it took the form of the beautiful
+step-daughter, for it was she. She went up to her brother's coffin and
+stood gazing at him, and as she looked she wept sorrowfully. Then she
+put on her feathers again and went out a duck. When the guards awoke
+they were astonished to find a quantity of fine pearls in the coffin.
+Next day they told the king that the doors had opened of themselves
+towards midnight, that they had been overcome by sleep, and that on
+awakening they had found a large number of pearls in the coffin, but
+knew not how they got there. The king was very much surprised,
+especially at the appearance of the pearls, that ought to have been
+produced by his wife's tears. On the second night he doubled the
+guard, and impressed upon them the necessity for watchfulness.
+
+At midnight the doors again opened silently as before, the soldiers
+went to sleep, and the same little duck entered, and, taking out her
+feathers, appeared as a lovely maiden. She could not help smiling as
+she looked upon the sleeping soldiers, the number of which had been
+doubled on her account; and as she smiled a number of roses fell from
+her lips. As she drew near her brother her tears fell in torrents,
+leaving a profusion of fine pearls. After some time she put on her
+feathers and went out a duck. When the guards awoke they took the
+roses and the pearls to the king. He was still more surprised to see
+roses with the pearls, for these roses should have fallen from his
+wife's lips. He again increased the number of the guard, and
+threatened them with the most severe punishment if they failed to
+watch all night. They did their best to obey, but in vain; they could
+only sleep. When they awoke they found, not only roses and pearls, but
+little gold-fish swimming in the holy water.
+
+The amazed king could only conclude that their sleep was caused by
+magic. On the fourth night he not only increased the number of
+soldiers, but, unknown to every one, hid himself behind the altar,
+where he hung a mirror, through which he could see everything that
+passed without being seen.
+
+At midnight the doors opened. The soldiers, under the influence of
+sleep, had let fall their arms and lay on the ground. The king kept
+his eyes fixed on the mirror, through which he saw a little wild-duck
+enter. It looked timidly round on all sides, then, reassured at the
+sight of the sleeping guards, advanced to the centre of the nave and
+took off its feathers, thus appearing as a young maiden of exquisite
+beauty.
+
+The king, overwhelmed with joy and admiration, had a presentiment that
+this was his true bride. So when she drew near the coffin he crept
+noiselessly out of his hiding-place, and with a lighted taper set fire
+to the feathers. They flared up immediately, and with such a bright
+light that the soldiers were aroused. The girl ran towards the
+monarch, wringing her hands and weeping tears of pearl.
+
+"What have you done?" cried she. "How can I now escape my stepmother's
+vengeance? For it is by her magic that I have been changed into a
+wild-duck."
+
+When the king had heard all, he ordered some of his soldiers to seize
+the wife he had married and to take her right out of the country. He
+sent others to take the wicked stepmother prisoner, and to burn her as
+a witch. Both commands were instantly carried out. Meanwhile the girl
+drew from the folds of her gown three small bottles, filled with three
+different kinds of water, which she had brought from the sea.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The first possessed the virtue of restoring life. This she sprinkled
+over her brother, whereupon the chill and rigidity of death
+disappeared, the colour came to his face, and warm red blood flowed
+from his wound. Upon the wound she poured water from the second
+bottle, and it was immediately healed. When she had made use of the
+third kind of water he opened his eyes, looked at her with
+astonishment, and threw himself joyfully into her arms.
+
+The king, enraptured at this sight, conducted the two back to the
+palace.
+
+So instead of a funeral there was a wedding, to which a large number
+of guests were immediately invited. Thus the orphan maid was married
+to the king, while her brother became one of his majesty's nobles. And
+the magnificence of the wedding feast was greater than anything seen
+or heard of.
+
+
+
+
+THE SLUGGARD
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE SLUGGARD
+
+
+On the banks of a certain river, where there was always good fishing,
+lived an old man and his three sons. The two eldest were sharp-witted,
+active young men, already married; the youngest was stupid and idle,
+and a bachelor. When the father was dying, he called his children to
+him and told them how he had left his property. The house was for his
+two married sons, with a sum of three hundred florins each. After his
+death he was buried with great pomp, and after the funeral there was a
+splendid feast. All these honours were supposed to be for the benefit
+of the man's soul.
+
+When the elder brothers took possession of their inheritance, they
+said to the youngest: "Listen, brother; let us take charge of your
+share of the money, for we intend going out into the world as
+merchants, and when we have made a great deal of money we will buy you
+a hat, a sash, and a pair of red boots. You will be better at home;
+and mind you do as your sisters-in-law tell you."
+
+For a long time this silly fellow had been wanting a cap, a sash, and
+a pair of red boots, so he was easily persuaded to give up all his
+money.
+
+The brothers set out on their travels, and crossed the sea in search
+of fortune. The "fool" of the family remained at home; and, as he was
+an out-and-out sluggard, he would lie whole days at a time on the warm
+stove without doing a stroke of work, and only obeying his
+sisters-in-law with the greatest reluctance. He liked fried onions,
+potato soup, and cider, better than anything else in the world.
+
+One day his sisters-in-law asked him to fetch them some water.
+
+It was winter, and a hard frost; moreover, the sluggard did not feel
+at all inclined to go out. So he said, "Go yourselves, I prefer to
+stay here by the fire."
+
+"Stupid boy, go at once. We will have some onions, potato soup, and
+cider ready for you when you come back. If you refuse to do what we
+ask you we shall tell our husbands, and then there will be neither
+cap, sash, nor red boots for you."
+
+At these words the sluggard thought he had better go. So he rolled off
+the stove, took a hatchet and a couple of pails, and went down to the
+river. On the surface of the water, where the ice had been broken, was
+a large pike. The sluggard seized him by the fins and pulled him out.
+
+"If you will let me go," said the pike, "I promise to give you
+everything you wish for."
+
+"Well then, I should like all my desires to be fulfilled the moment I
+utter them."
+
+"You shall have everything you want the moment you pronounce these
+words:
+
+  'At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  May such and such things happen, as I like.'"
+
+"Just wait one moment while I try the effect," said the
+sluggard, and began at once to say:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  Bring onions, cider, soup, just as I like."
+
+That very moment his favourite dishes were before him. Having eaten a
+large quantity, he said, "Very good, very good indeed; but will it
+always be the same?"
+
+"Always," replied the pike.
+
+The sluggard put the pike back into the river, and turning towards his
+buckets, said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  Walk home yourselves, my pails--that I should like."
+
+The pails, and the strong rod to which they were fastened, immediately
+set off and walked solemnly along, the sluggard following them with
+his hands in his pockets. When they reached the house he put them in
+their places, and again stretched himself out to enjoy the warmth of
+the stove. Presently the sisters-in-law said, "Come and chop some wood
+for us."
+
+"Bother! do it yourselves."
+
+"It is not fit work for women. Besides, if you don't do it the stove
+will be cold, and then you will be the chief sufferer. Moreover, pay
+attention to what we say, for if you do not obey us, there will be no
+red boots, nor any other pretty things."
+
+The sluggard then just sat up and said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  Let what my sisters want be done--that's what I like."
+
+Instantly the hatchet came out from behind a stool and chopped up a
+large heap of wood, put a part of it on the stove, and retired to its
+corner. All this time the sluggard was eating and drinking at his
+ease.
+
+Another day some wood had to be brought from the forest. Our sluggard
+now thought he would like to show off before the villagers, so he
+pulled a sledge out of the shed, loaded it with onions and soup, after
+which he pronounced the magic words.
+
+The sledge started off, and passing through the village at a rattling
+pace, ran over several people, and frightened the women and children.
+
+When the forest was reached, our friend looked on while the blocks of
+wood and faggots cut, tied, and laid themselves on the sledge, after
+which they set off home again. But when they got to the middle of the
+village the men, who had been hurt and frightened in the morning,
+seized hold of the sluggard and pulled him off the sledge, dragging
+him along by the hair to give him a sound thrashing.
+
+At first he thought it was only a joke, but when the blows hurt his
+shoulders, he said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  Come, faggots, haste, and my assailants strike."
+
+In a moment all the blocks of wood and faggots jumped off the sledge
+and began to hit right and left, and they hit so well that the men
+were glad to get out of the way as best they could.
+
+The sluggard laughed at them till his sides ached; then he remounted
+his sledge, and was soon lying on the stove again.
+
+From that day he became famous, and his doings were talked about all
+through the country.
+
+At last even the king heard of him, and, his curiosity being aroused,
+he sent some of his soldiers to fetch him.
+
+"Now then, booby," said the soldier, "come down off that stove and
+follow me to the king's palace."
+
+"Why should I? There is as much cider, onions, and soup as I want at
+home."
+
+The man, indignant at his want of respect, struck him.
+
+Upon which the sluggard said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  May this man get a taste of what a broom is like."
+
+A large broom, and not particularly clean, immediately hopped up, and
+first dipping itself in a pail of water, beat the soldier so
+mercilessly that he was obliged to escape through the window, whence
+he returned to the king. His majesty, amazed at the sluggard's
+refusal, sent another messenger. This man was 'cuter than his comrade,
+and first made inquiries as to the sluggard's tastes. Then he went up
+to him and said, "Good-day, my friend; will you come with me to see
+the king? He wishes to present you with a cap, a waistband, and a pair
+of red boots."
+
+"With the greatest pleasure; you go on, I will soon overtake you."
+
+Then he ate as much as he could of his favourite dishes and went to
+sleep on the stove. He slept so long that at last his sisters-in-law
+woke him up and told him he would be late if he did not at once go to
+see the king. The lazy fellow said nothing but these words:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  This stove to carry me before the king I'd like."
+
+At the very same instant the stove moved from its place and carried
+him right up to the palace door. The king was filled with amazement,
+and running out, followed by the whole court, asked the sluggard what
+he would like to have.
+
+"I have merely come to fetch the hat, waistband, and red boots you
+promised me."
+
+Just then the charming princess Gapiomila came to find out what was
+going on. Directly the sluggard saw her, he thought her so enchanting
+that he whispered to himself:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  That this princess so fair may love me, I should like."
+
+Then he ordered his stove to take him back home, and when there he
+continued to eat onions and soup and to drink cider.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Meanwhile the princess had fallen in love with him, and begged her
+father to send for him again. As the sluggard would not consent, the
+king had him bound when asleep, and thus brought to the palace. Then
+he summoned a celebrated magician, who at his orders shut the princess
+and sluggard up in a crystal cask, to which was fastened a balloon
+well filled with gas, and sent it up in the air among the clouds. The
+princess wept bitterly, but the fool sat still and said he felt very
+comfortable. At last she persuaded him to exert his powers, so he
+said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  This cask of crystal earth at once must strike
+  Upon the friendly island I should like."
+
+The crystal cask immediately descended, and opened upon a hospitable
+island where travellers could have all they wanted by simply wishing
+for it. The princess and her companion walked about, eating when
+hungry, and drinking when athirst. The sluggard was very happy and
+contented, but the lady begged him to wish for a palace. Instantly the
+palace made its appearance. It was built of white marble, with crystal
+windows, roof of yellow amber, and golden furniture. She was delighted
+with it. Next day she wanted a good road made, along which she could
+go to see her father. Immediately there stretched before them a
+fairy-like bridge made of crystal, having golden balustrades set with
+diamonds, and leading right up to the king's palace. The sluggard was
+just about to accompany the princess when he began to think of his own
+appearance, and to feel ashamed that such an awkward, stupid fellow as
+he should walk by the side of such a lovely and graceful creature. So
+he said:
+
+  "At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
+  To be both handsome, wise, and clever I should like."
+
+Suddenly he became as handsome, wise, and clever as it was possible to
+be. Then he got into a gorgeous carriage with Gapiomila, and they
+drove across the bridge that led to the king's palace.
+
+There they were received with every mark of joy and affection. The
+king gave them his blessing, and they were married the same evening.
+An immense number of guests were invited to the wedding feast; I, too,
+was there, and drank freely of wine and hydromel. And this is the
+story I have done my best to tell you as faithfully as possible.
+
+
+
+
+KINKACH MARTINKO
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+KINKACH MARTINKO
+
+
+Once upon a time there was a poor woman who had an only daughter,
+named Helen, a very lazy girl. One day when she had refused to do a
+single thing, her mother took her down to the banks of a stream and
+began to strike her fingers with a flat stone, just as you do in
+beating linen to wash it.
+
+The girl cried a good deal. A prince, Lord of the Red Castle, happened
+at that moment to pass by, and inquired as to the cause of such
+treatment, for it horrified him that a mother should so ill-use her
+child.
+
+"Why should I not punish her?" answered the woman. "The idle girl can
+do nothing but spin hemp into gold thread."
+
+"Really?" cried he. "Does she really know how to spin gold thread out
+of hemp? If that be so, sell her to me."
+
+"Willingly; how much will you give me for her?"
+
+"Half a measure of gold."
+
+"Take her," said the mother; and she gave him her daughter as soon as
+the money was paid.
+
+The prince placed the girl behind him on the saddle, put spurs to his
+horse, and took her home.
+
+On reaching the Red Castle, the prince led Helen into a room filled
+from floor to ceiling with hemp, and having supplied her with distaff
+and spinning-wheel, said, "When you have spun all this hemp into gold
+thread I will make you my wife."
+
+Then he went out, locking the door after him.
+
+On finding herself a prisoner, the poor girl wept as if her heart
+would break. Suddenly she saw a very odd-looking little man seated on
+the window-sill. He wore a red cap, and his boots were made of some
+strange sort of material.
+
+"Why do you weep so?" he asked.
+
+"I cannot help it," she replied, "I am but a miserable slave. I have
+been ordered to spin all this hemp into gold thread, but it is
+impossible, I can never do it, and I know not what will become of me."
+
+"I will do it for you in three days, on condition that at the end of
+that time you guess my right name, and tell me what the boots I am
+wearing now are made of."
+
+Without for one moment reflecting as to whether she would be able to
+guess aright she consented. The uncanny little man burst out laughing,
+and taking her distaff set to work at once.
+
+All day as the distaff moved the hemp grew visibly less, while the
+skein of gold thread became larger and larger.
+
+The little man spun all the time, and, without stopping an instant,
+explained to Helen how to make thread of pure gold. As night drew on
+he tied up the skein, saying to the girl, "Well, do you know my name
+yet? Can you tell me what my boots are made of?"
+
+Helen replied that she could not, upon which he grinned and
+disappeared through the window. She then sat and looked at the sky,
+and thought, and thought, and thought, and lost herself in
+conjecturing as to what the little man's name might be, and in trying
+to guess what was the stuff his boots were made of. Were they of
+leather? or perhaps plaited rushes? or straw? or cast iron? No, they
+did not look like anything of that sort. And as to his name--that was
+a still more difficult problem to solve.
+
+"What shall I call him?" said she to herself--"John? Or Henry? Who
+knows? perhaps it is Paul or Joseph."
+
+These thoughts so filled her mind that she forgot to eat her dinner.
+Her meditations were interrupted by cries and groans from outside,
+where she saw an old man with white hair sitting under the castle
+wall.
+
+"Miserable old man that I am," cried he; "I die of hunger and thirst,
+but no one pities my sufferings."
+
+Helen hastened to give him her dinner, and told him to come next day,
+which he promised to do.
+
+After again thinking for some time what answers she should give the
+little old man, she fell asleep on the hemp.
+
+The little old man did not fail to make his appearance the first thing
+next morning, and remained all day spinning the gold thread. The work
+progressed before their eyes, and it was only when evening came that
+he repeated his questions. Not receiving a satisfactory answer, he
+vanished in a fit of mocking laughter. Helen sat down by the window to
+think; but think as she might, no answer to these puzzling questions
+occurred to her.
+
+While thus wondering the hungry old man again came by, and she gave
+him her dinner. She was heart-sick and her eyes were full of tears,
+for she thought she would never guess the spinner's name, nor of what
+stuff his boots were made, unless perhaps God would help her.
+
+"Why are you so sad?" asked the old man when he had eaten and drunk;
+"tell me the cause of your grief, dear lady."
+
+For a long time she would not tell him, thinking it would be useless;
+but at last, yielding to his entreaties, she gave a full account of
+the conditions under which the gold thread was made, explaining that
+unless she could answer the little old man's questions satisfactorily
+she feared some great misfortune would befall her. The old man
+listened attentively, then, nodding his head, he said:
+
+"In coming through the forest to-day I passed close to a large pile of
+burning wood, round which were placed nine iron pots. A little man in
+a red cap was running round and jumping over them, singing these
+words:
+
+  "My sweet friend, fair Helen, at the Red Castle near,
+    Two days and two nights seeks my name to divine.
+  She'll never find out, so the third night 'tis clear
+    My sweet friend, fair Helen, can't fail to be mine.
+  Hurrah! for my name is KINKACH MARTINKO,
+  Hurrah! for my boots are of doggies' skin O!"
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Now that is exactly what you want to know, my dear girl; so do not
+forget, and you are saved."
+
+And with these words the old man vanished.
+
+Helen was greatly astonished, but she took care to fix in her memory
+all that the good fellow had told her, and then went to sleep, feeling
+that she could face to-morrow without fear.
+
+On the third day, very early in the morning, the little old man
+appeared and set busily to work, for he knew that all the hemp must be
+spun before sunset, and that then he should be able to claim his
+rights. When evening came all the hemp was gone, and the room shone
+with the brightness of the golden thread.
+
+As soon as his work was done, the queer little old man with the red
+cap drew himself up with a great deal of assurance, and with his hands
+in his pockets strutted up and down before Helen, ordering her to tell
+him his right name and to say of what stuff the boots were made: but
+he felt certain that she would not be able to answer aright.
+
+"Your name is KINKACH MARTINKO, and your boots are made of dogskin,"
+she replied without the slightest hesitation.
+
+At these words he spun round on the floor like a bobbin, tore out his
+hair and beat his breast with rage, roaring so that the very walls
+trembled.
+
+"It is lucky for you that you have guessed. If you had not, I should
+have torn you to pieces on this very spot:" so saying he rushed out of
+the window like a whirlwind.
+
+Helen felt deeply grateful towards the old man who had told her the
+answers, and hoped to be able to thank him in person. But he never
+appeared again.
+
+The Prince of the Red Castle was very pleased with her for having
+accomplished her task so punctually and perfectly, and he married her
+as he had promised.
+
+Helen was truly thankful to have escaped the dangers that had
+threatened her, and her happiness as a princess was greater than she
+had dared hope. She had, too, such a good stock of gold thread that
+she never had occasion to spin any more all her life long.
+
+
+
+
+THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND, THE SASH
+THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE STORY OF THE PLENTIFUL TABLECLOTH, THE AVENGING WAND, THE SASH
+THAT BECOMES A LAKE, AND THE TERRIBLE HELMET
+
+
+Now it once happened that one of the king's herdsmen had three sons.
+Two of these lads were supposed to be very sharp-witted, while the
+youngest was thought to be very stupid indeed. The elder sons helped
+their father to look after the flocks and herds, while the fool, so
+they called him, was good for nothing but sleeping and amusing
+himself.
+
+He would pass whole days and nights slumbering peacefully on the
+stove, only getting off when forced to by others, or when he was too
+warm and wished to lie on the other side, or when, hungry and thirsty,
+he wanted food and drink.
+
+His father had no love for him, and called him a ne'er-do-well. His
+brothers often tormented him by dragging him off the stove, and taking
+away his food--indeed, he would many a time have gone hungry if his
+mother had not been good to him and fed him on the quiet. She caressed
+him fondly, for why should he suffer, thought she, if he does happen
+to have been born a fool? Besides, who can understand the ways of God?
+It sometimes happens that the wisest men are not happy, while the
+foolish, when harmless and gentle, lead contented lives.
+
+One day, on their return from the fields, the fool's two brothers
+dragged him off the stove, and taking him into the yard, where they
+gave him a sound thrashing, they turned him out of the house, saying,
+"Go, fool, and lose no time, for you shall have neither food nor
+lodging until you bring us a basket of mushrooms from the wood."
+
+The poor lad was so taken by surprise he hardly understood what his
+brothers wanted him to do. After pondering for a while he made his way
+towards a small oak forest, where everything seemed to have a strange
+and marvellous appearance, so strange that he did not recognise the
+place. As he walked he came to a small dead tree-stump, on the top of
+which he placed his cap, saying, "Every tree here raises its head to
+the skies and wears a good cap of leaves, but you, my poor friend, are
+bare-headed; you will die of cold. You must be among your brothers, as
+I am among mine--a born fool. Take then my cap." And, throwing his
+arms round the dead stump, he wept and embraced it tenderly. At that
+moment an oak which stood near began to walk towards him as if it were
+alive. The poor fellow was frightened, and about to run away, but the
+oak spake like a human being and said, "Do not fly; stop a moment and
+listen to me. This withered tree is my son, and up to this time no one
+has grieved for his dead youth but me. You have now watered him with
+your tears, and in return for your sympathy you shall henceforward
+have anything you ask of me, on pronouncing these words:
+
+  "'O Oak Tree so green, and with acorns of gold,
+    Your friendship to prove I will try;
+  In Heaven's good name now to beg I'll make bold,
+    My needs, then, oh kindly supply.'"
+
+At the same moment a shower of golden acorns fell. The fool filled his
+pockets, thanked the oak, and bowing to her returned home.
+
+"Well, stupid, where are the mushrooms?" cried one of his brothers.
+
+"I have some mushrooms off the oak in my pockets."
+
+"Eat them yourself then, for you will get nothing else, you
+good-for-nothing. What have you done with your cap?"
+
+"I put it on a poor stump of a tree that stood by the wayside, for its
+head was uncovered, and I was afraid it might freeze."
+
+He then scrambled on to the top of the stove, and as he lay down some
+of the golden acorns fell out of his pocket. So bright were they, they
+shone like sunbeams in the room. In spite of the fool's entreaties the
+brothers picked them up and gave them to their father, who hastened to
+present them to the king, telling him that his idiot son had gathered
+them in the wood. The king immediately sent a detachment of his guards
+to the forest to find the oak which bore golden acorns. But their
+efforts were fruitless, for, though they hunted in every nook and
+corner of the forest, they found not a single oak that bore acorns of
+gold.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At first the king was very angry, but when he grew calmer he sent for
+his herdsman and said to him, "Tell your son, the fool, that he must
+bring me, by this evening, a cask filled to the brim with these
+precious golden acorns. If he obeys my commands you shall never lack
+bread and salt, and you may rest assured that my royal favour will not
+fail you in time of need."
+
+The herdsman gave his youngest son the king's message.
+
+"The king, I see," he replied, "is fond of a good bargain; he does not
+ask, he commands--and insists upon a fool fetching him acorns of solid
+gold in return for promises made of air. No, I shall not go."
+
+And neither prayers nor threats were of the slightest avail to make
+him change his mind. At last his brothers pulled him forcibly off the
+stove, put his coat on him and a new cap, and dragged him into the
+yard, where they gave him a good beating and drove him away, saying,
+"Now, you stupid, lose no time; be off, and be quick. If you return
+without the golden acorns you shall have neither supper nor bed."
+
+What was the poor fellow to do? For a long time he wept, then crossing
+himself he went in the direction of the forest. He soon reached the
+dead stump, upon which his cap still rested, and going up to the
+mother oak, said to her:
+
+  "O Oak Tree so green, and with acorns of gold,
+    In my helplessness I to thee cry;
+  In Heaven's great name now to beg I make bold,
+    My pressing needs pray satisfy."
+
+The oak moved, and shook its branches: but instead of golden acorns, a
+tablecloth fell into the fool's hands. And the tree said, "Keep this
+cloth always in your possession, and for your own use. When you want a
+benefit by it, you need only say:
+
+  "'O Tablecloth, who for the poor,
+    The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,
+  May he who begs from door to door
+    Feed off you without stint or fear.'"
+
+When it had uttered these words the oak ceased to speak, and the fool,
+thanking her, bowed, and turned towards home. On his way he wondered
+to himself how he should tell his brothers, and what they would say,
+but above all he thought how his good mother would rejoice to see the
+feast-giving tablecloth. When he had walked about half the distance he
+met an old beggar who said to him, "See what a sick and ragged old man
+I am: for the love of God give me a little money or some bread."
+
+The fool spread his tablecloth on the grass, and inviting the beggar
+to sit down, said:
+
+  "O Tablecloth, who for the poor,
+    The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,
+  May he who begs from door to door
+    Feed off you without stint or fear."
+
+Then a whistling was heard in the air, and overhead something shone
+brightly. At the same instant a table, spread as for a royal banquet,
+appeared before them. Upon it were many different kinds of food,
+flasks of mead, and glasses of the choicest wine. The plate was of
+gold and silver.
+
+The fool and the beggar man crossed themselves and began to feast.
+When they had finished the whistling was again heard, and everything
+vanished. The fool folded up his tablecloth and went on his way. But
+the old man said, "If you will give me your tablecloth you shall have
+this wand in exchange. When you say certain words to it, it will set
+upon the person or persons pointed out, and give them such a
+thrashing, that to get rid of it they will give you anything they
+possess."
+
+The fool thought of his brothers and exchanged the tablecloth for the
+wand, after which they both went on their respective ways.
+
+Suddenly the fool remembered that the oak had ordered him to keep the
+tablecloth for his own use, and that by parting with it he had lost
+the power of giving his mother an agreeable surprise. So he said to
+the wand:
+
+  "Thou self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,
+      Run quick and bring
+  My feast-providing tablecloth back to my hand,
+      Thy praise I'll sing."
+
+The wand went off like an arrow after the old man, quickly overtook
+him, and throwing itself upon him began to beat him dreadfully, crying
+out in a loud voice:
+
+  "For others' goods you seem to have a liking,
+  Stop, thief, or sure your back I'll keep on striking."
+
+The poor beggar tried to run away, but it was of no use, for the wand
+followed him, striking all the time and repeating the same words over
+and over again. So in spite of his anxiety to keep the tablecloth he
+was forced to throw it away and flee.
+
+The wand brought the cloth back to the fool, who again went on his way
+towards home, thinking of the surprise in store for his mother and
+brothers. He had not gone very far when a traveller, carrying an empty
+wallet, accosted him, saying, "For the love of God, give me a small
+coin or a morsel of food, for my bag is empty and I am very hungry. I
+have, too, a long journey before me."
+
+The fool again spread his tablecloth on the grass and said:
+
+  "O Tablecloth, who for the poor,
+    The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,
+  May he who begs from door to door
+    Feed off you without stint or fear."
+
+A whistling was heard in the air, something shone brightly overhead,
+and a table, spread as for a royal feast, placed itself before them.
+It was laid with a numerous variety of dishes, hydromel and costly
+wines. The fool and his guest sat down, crossed themselves, and ate to
+their hearts' content. When they had finished whistling was again
+heard, and everything vanished. The fool folded the cloth up
+carefully, and was about to continue his journey when the traveller
+said, "Will you exchange your tablecloth for my waistband? When you
+say to it certain words it will turn into a deep lake, upon which you
+may float at will. The words run thus:
+
+  "'O marvellous, wonderful, lake-forming Band,
+    For my safety, and not for my fun,
+  Bear me in a boat on thy waves far from land,
+    So that I from my foes need not run.'"
+
+The fool thought his father would find it very convenient always to
+have water at hand for the king's flocks, so he gave his tablecloth in
+exchange for the belt, which he wound round his loins, and taking the
+wand in his hand, they went off in opposite directions. After a little
+while the fool began to reflect on what the oak had told him about
+keeping the tablecloth for his own use, and he remembered, too, that
+he was depriving himself of the power of giving his mother a pleasant
+surprise. Thereupon he said the magic words to his wand:
+
+  "Thou self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,
+      Run quick and bring
+  My feast-providing tablecloth back to my hand,
+      Thy praise I'll sing."
+
+The wand at once started in pursuit of the poor traveller, whom it
+began to beat, at the same time crying out:
+
+  "For others' goods you seem to have a liking,
+  Stop, thief, or sure your back I'll keep on striking."
+
+The man was scared out of his wits, and tried to escape the wand's
+blows, but it was of no use, so he was forced to throw the tablecloth
+away and run at the top of his speed. The wand brought the tablecloth
+back to his master. The latter hid it under his coat, rearranged the
+waistband, and taking the faithful wand in his hand, again went
+towards home. As he walked he rejoiced to think of the pleasure he
+should have in exercising the wand on his wicked brothers, of his
+father's satisfaction when, by the help of the waistband, he could
+always have water for the king's flocks, even in the driest weather,
+and of his mother's joy on witnessing the wonders of the feast-giving
+tablecloth. These pleasant thoughts were interrupted by a soldier,
+lame, clothed in rags, and covered with wounds. He had once been a
+famous warrior.
+
+"I am pursued by misfortunes," said he to the fool. "I was once a
+brave soldier, and fought valiantly in my youth. Now I am lamed for
+life, and on this lonely road have found no one to give me a morsel of
+food. Have pity on me and give me a little bread."
+
+The fool sat down on the grass, and spreading out his tablecloth,
+said:
+
+  "O Tablecloth, who for the poor,
+    The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,
+  May he who begs from door to door
+    Feed off you without stint or fear."
+
+A whistling was heard in the air, something bright shone overhead, and
+then before them stood a table, spread as for a royal feast, loaded
+with dainty dishes, mead, and costly wines. When they had eaten and
+drunk as much as they wanted the whistling was again heard, and then
+everything vanished.
+
+The fool was folding up his tablecloth, when the soldier said:
+
+"Will you give me your tablecloth in exchange for this six-horned
+helmet? It will fire itself off and instantly destroy the object
+pointed out. You have but to turn it round on your head and repeat
+these words:
+
+  "'O Magic Helmet, never thou
+    Dost want for powder nor shot;
+  Allay my fears and fire now
+    Just where I point. Fail not.'
+
+You will see that it fires off immediately: and even if your enemy
+were a mile away he would fall."
+
+The fool was delighted with the idea, and thought how useful such a
+hat would be in any sudden danger; it would even serve him to defend
+his country, the king, or himself. So he handed the tablecloth to the
+soldier, put the helmet on his head, took his wand in his hand, and
+again set his face towards home.
+
+When he had gone some distance, and the soldier was almost out of
+sight, he began to think of what the oak had said about not parting
+with the tablecloth, and of how his dear mother could not now enjoy
+the pleasant surprise he had been dreaming about. So he said to the
+wand:
+
+  "Thou self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,
+      Run quick, and bring
+  My feast-providing tablecloth back to my hand,
+      Thy praise I'll sing."
+
+The wand dashed after the soldier, and having reached him began to
+beat him, crying out:
+
+  "For others' goods you seem to have a liking,
+  Stop, thief, or sure your back I'll keep on striking."
+
+
+The soldier was still a powerful man, and in spite of his wound turned
+right about face, intending to give blow for blow. But the wand was
+too much for him, and he soon found resistance useless. So, overcome
+by pain rather than fear, he threw away the tablecloth and took to his
+heels.
+
+The faithful wand brought the tablecloth back to his master, who, glad
+to have it again, once more turned towards home.
+
+He soon left the forest, crossed the fields, and came in sight of his
+father's house. At a little distance therefrom his brothers met him,
+and said crossly, "Well, stupid, where are the golden acorns?"
+
+The fool looked at them and laughed in their faces. Then he said to
+his wand:
+
+  "O self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand
+      Strike with thy usual fire
+  My ever-scolding, teasing, worrying brother band,
+      For they have roused my ire."
+
+The wand needed no second bidding, and darting out of his hand began
+to thrash the brothers soundly, crying out like a reasoning creature:
+
+  "Your brother has often your blows felt, alack!
+  Now taste it yourselves; hope you like it, whack, whack."
+
+The brothers were overpowered, and felt all the while as if boiling
+water were being poured over their heads. Yelling with pain they began
+to run at full speed, and soon disappeared with clouds of dust flying
+round them.
+
+The wand then came back to the fool's hand. He went into the house,
+climbed on the stove, and told his mother all that had happened. Then
+he cried:
+
+  "O Tablecloth, who for the poor,
+    The hungry, and thirsty, makes cheer,
+  Let us within our cottage door
+    Feed off you without stint or fear."
+
+A whistling was heard in the air, something bright shone overhead, and
+then a table, laid as for a royal banquet, was placed before them,
+covered with dainty meats, glasses, and bottles of mead and wine. The
+whole service was of gold and silver. As the fool and his mother were
+about to begin the feast the herdsman entered. He stopped, dumb with
+amazement, but when invited to partake, began to eat and drink with
+great enjoyment.
+
+At the end of the meal the whistling was again heard, and everything
+vanished completely.
+
+The herdsman set off in hot haste to the court, to tell the king of
+this new marvel. Thereupon his majesty sent one of his heroes in
+search of the fool, whom he found stretched on the stove.
+
+"If you value your life, listen, and obey the king's orders," said the
+paladin. "He commands you to send him by me your tablecloth, then you
+shall have your share of his royal favour. But if not you will always
+remain a poor fool, and will, moreover, be treated as a refractory
+prisoner. We teach them how to behave; you understand?"
+
+"Oh yes, I understand." And then he pronounced the magic words:
+
+  "O self-propelling, ever willing, fighting Wand,
+      Go, soundly thrash that man--
+  The most deceiving, dangerous wretch in all the land,
+      So hurt him all you can."
+
+The wand sprang from the fool's hand with the speed of lightning and
+struck the paladin three times in the face. He immediately fled, but
+the wand was after him, hitting him all the time, and crying out:
+
+  "Mere promises are children's play,
+  So do not throw your breath away,
+  But think of something true to say,
+  You rogue, when next you come our way."
+
+Defeated and filled with consternation, the paladin returned to the
+king and told him about the wand, and how badly he had been beaten.
+When the king heard that the fool possessed a wand that struck of
+itself, he wanted it so much that for a time he forgot all about the
+tablecloth, and sent some of his soldiers with orders to bring him
+back the wand.
+
+When they entered the cottage, the fool, as usual, was lying on the
+stove.
+
+"Deliver up the wand to us instantly," said they; "the king is willing
+to pay any price you ask, but if you refuse he will take it from you
+by force."
+
+Instead of replying the fool unwound the waistband, saying to it as he
+did so:
+
+  "O marvellous, wonderful, lake-forming Band,
+    For my safety, and not for my fun,
+  Bear me in a boat on thy waves far from land,
+    So that I from my foes need not run."
+
+There was a shimmering in the air, while at the same moment everything
+around them disappeared, and a beautiful lake, long, wide, and deep,
+was seen, surrounded by green fields. Fish with golden scales and eyes
+of pearls played in the clear water. In the centre, in a small silver
+skiff, rowed a man, whom the soldiers recognised as the fool.
+
+They remained some time looking at this miracle, and then ran off to
+tell the king. Now when the king heard thereof he was so anxious to
+possess the lake, or rather the waistband that produced the lake, that
+he sent a whole battalion of soldiers to take the fool prisoner.
+
+This time they managed to get hold of him while he was asleep, but as
+they were about to tie his hands he turned his hat round and said:
+
+  "O Magic Helmet, never thou
+    Dost want for powder nor shot,
+  Allay my fears and fire now
+    Just where I point. Fail not."
+
+Instantly a hundred bullets whistled through the air, amid clouds of
+smoke and loud reports. Many of the soldiers fell dead, others took
+refuge in the wood, whence they returned to the king to give an
+account of what had taken place.
+
+Whereupon the king flew into a violent rage, furious that he had as
+yet failed to take the fool. But his wish to possess the feast-giving
+tablecloth, the magic wand, the lake-forming sash, and above all the
+helmet with twenty-four horns, was stronger than ever.
+
+Having reflected for some days on the best ways and means to attain
+his object, he resolved to try the effect of kindness, and sent for
+the fool's mother.
+
+"Tell your son, the fool," said his majesty to the woman, "that my
+charming daughter and I send greeting, and that we shall consider it
+an honour if he will come here and show us the marvellous things he
+possesses. Should he feel inclined to make me a present of them, I
+will give him half my kingdom and will make him my heir. You may also
+say that the princess, my daughter, will choose him for her husband."
+
+The good woman hastened home to her son, whom she advised to accept
+the king's invitation and show him his treasures. The fool wound the
+waistband round his loins, put the helmet on his head, hid the
+tablecloth in his breast, took his magic wand in his hand, and started
+off to go to the court.
+
+The king was not there on his arrival, but he was received by the
+paladin, who saluted him courteously. Music played, and the troops did
+him military honours--in fact, he was treated far better than he had
+expected. On being presented to the king he took off his helmet, and
+bowing low, said: "O king, I am come to lay at the foot of your throne
+my tablecloth, waistband, wand, and helmet. In return for these gifts
+I beg that your favour may be shown to the most humble of your
+subjects."
+
+"Tell me then, fool, what price you want for these goods?"
+
+"Not money, sire, a fool of my sort cares very little about money. Has
+not the king promised my mother that he will give me in exchange the
+half of his kingdom, and the hand of his daughter in marriage? These
+are the gifts I claim."
+
+After these words the paladin was filled with envy at the good fortune
+of the fool, and made a sign for the guards to enter. The soldiers
+seized the poor fellow, dragged him out into the courtyard, and they
+killed him treacherously to the sound of drums and trumpets, after
+which they covered him over with earth.
+
+Now it happened that when the soldiers stabbed him his blood spurted
+out, and some of the drops fell beneath the princess's window. The
+maiden wept bitterly at the sight, watering the blood-stained ground
+with her tears. And lo! marvellous to relate, an apple-tree grew out
+of the blood-sprinkled earth. And it grew so rapidly that its branches
+soon touched the windows of her rooms; by noon it was covered with
+blossom, while at eventide ripe red apples hung thereon. As the
+princess was admiring them she noticed that one of the apples
+trembled, and when she touched it, it fell into the bosom of her
+dress. This took her fancy, and she held it in her hand.
+
+Meanwhile the sun had set, night had fallen, and every one in the
+palace was asleep, except the guard, the paladin, and the princess.
+The guard, sword in hand, patrolled up and down, for it was his duty.
+The princess toyed with her pretty little apple, and could not sleep.
+The paladin, who had gone to bed, was aroused by a sound that made his
+blood run cold, for the avenging wand stood before him and began to
+beat him soundly. And although he rushed from the room trying to
+escape from it, it followed him, crying out:
+
+  "False paladin, you worthless man,
+    Do not so envious be;
+  Why act unjustly, when you can
+    Both just and honest be?
+  For others' goods why have you such a liking?
+  You rogue, you thief, be sure I'll keep on striking."
+
+The unhappy man wept and cried for mercy, but the wand still continued
+to strike.
+
+The princess was distressed on hearing these cries of distress, and
+she watered her much-cherished apple with her tears. And, strange to
+tell, the apple grew and changed its shape. Thus continuing to change,
+it suddenly turned into a handsome young man, even the very same who
+had been killed that morning.
+
+"Lovely princess, I salute you," said the fool. "The cunning of the
+paladin caused my death, but with your tears you have restored me to
+life. Your father promised to give you to me: are you willing?"
+
+"If such be the king's wish, I consent," replied she, as she gave him
+her hand with a tender look.
+
+As he spoke the door opened, admitting the helmet, which placed itself
+upon his head; the sash, which wound itself round his waist; the
+tablecloth, which hid itself in one of his pockets; and the avenging
+wand, which placed itself in his hand. Then came the king, all out of
+breath, and wondering what the noise was about. He was amazed to see
+the fool alive again, and even more so that he should be with the
+princess.
+
+The young fellow, fearing the king's wrath, cried out:
+
+  "O marvellous, wonderful, lake-forming Band,
+    For my safety, and not for my fun,
+  Bear us in a boat on thy waves far from land,
+    So that we from our foes need not run."
+
+There was a shimmering in the air, and then everything disappeared,
+while on the lawn before the palace stretched a wide deep lake, in the
+crystal water of which swam little fish with eyes of pearl and scales
+of gold. Far away rowed the princess and the fool in a silver skiff.
+The king stood on the shores of the lake and signed to them to return.
+When they had landed they knelt at his feet and avowed their mutual
+love. Upon which his majesty bestowed his blessing, the lake
+disappeared, and they again found themselves in the princess's
+apartments.
+
+The king called a special meeting of his council, at which he
+explained how things had turned out--that he had made the fool his
+heir, and betrothed him to his daughter, and had put the paladin in
+prison.
+
+The fool gave the king his magic treasures, and told him what words to
+say in each case.
+
+Next day all their wishes were fulfilled. The fool of the family was
+married to the princess, and at the same time received half the
+kingdom, with the promise of succession to the throne. And the wedding
+feast, to which all the rich and noble of the land were invited,
+exceeded in its magnificence and splendour any other festival ever
+seen or heard of.
+
+
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+_Printed by_ BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
+_Edinburgh and London_
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fairy Tales of the Slav Peasants and
+Herdsmen, by Alexander Chodsko
+
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