diff options
Diffstat (limited to '25555-8.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 25555-8.txt | 7922 |
1 files changed, 7922 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/25555-8.txt b/25555-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..115e4d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/25555-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7922 @@ +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 + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FAIRY TALES OF SLAV PEASANTS *** + +***** This file should be named 25555-8.txt or 25555-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/5/5/25555/ + +Produced by Barbara Tozier, Bill Tozier and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |