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diff --git a/old/vifry10.txt b/old/vifry10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bbe745e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/vifry10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12183 @@ +******The Project Gutenberg Etext of The Violet Fairy Book****** +[Edited by Andrew Lang] +#4 in our series of Andrew Lang Large Fairy Books + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. 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FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + +Scanned by Charles Keller for Tina with +OmniPage Professional OCR software +donated by Caere Corporation, 1-800-535-7226. +Contact Mike Lough <Mikel@caere.com> + + + + + +THE VIOLET FAIRY BOOK +Edited by ANDREW LANG + + + + +TO VIOLET MYERS +IS DEDICATED +THE VIOLET FAIRY BOOK + + +PREFACE + + +The Editor takes this opportunity to repeat what he has often +said before, that he is not the author of the stories in the +Fairy Books; that he did not invent them 'out of his own head.' +He is accustomed to being asked, by ladies, 'Have you written +anything else except the Fairy Books?' He is then obliged to +explain that he has NOT written the Fairy Books, but, save these, +has written almost everything else, except hymns, sermons, and +dramatic works. + +The stories in this Violet Fairy Book, as in all the others of +the series, have been translated out of the popular traditional +tales in a number of different languages. These stories are as +old as anything that men have invented. They are narrated by +naked savage women to naked savage children. They have been +inherited by our earliest civilised ancestors, who really +believed that beasts and trees and stones can talk if they +choose, and behave kindly or unkindly. The stories are full of +the oldest ideas of ages when science did not exist, and magic +took the place of science. Anybody who has the curiosity to read +the 'Legendary Australian Tales,' which Mrs. Langloh Parker has +collected from the lips of the Australian savages, will find that +these tales are closely akin to our own. Who were the first +authors of them nobody knows--probably the first men and women. +Eve may have told these tales to amuse Cain and Abel. As people +grew more civilised and had kings and queens, princes and +princesses, these exalted persons generally were chosen as heroes +and heroines. But originally the characters were just 'a man,' +and 'a woman,' and 'a boy,' and 'a girl,' with crowds of beasts, +birds, and fishes, all behaving like human beings. When the +nobles and other people became rich and educated, they forgot the +old stories, but the country people did not, and handed them +down, with changes at pleasure, from generation to generation. +Then learned men collected and printed the country people's +stories, and these we have translated, to amuse children. Their +tastes remain like the tastes of their naked ancestors, thousands +of years ago, and they seem to like fairy tales better than +history, poetry, geography, or arithmetic, just as grown-up +people like novels better than anything else. + +This is the whole truth of the matter. I have said so before, +and I say so again. But nothing will prevent children from +thinking that I invented the stories, or some ladies from being +of the same opinion. But who really invented the stories nobody +knows; it is all so long ago, long before reading and writing +were invented. The first of the stories actually written down, +were written in Egyptian hieroglyphs, or on Babylonian cakes of +clay, three or four thousand years before our time. + +Of the stories in this book, Miss Blackley translated 'Dwarf Long +Nose,' 'The Wonderful Beggars,' 'The Lute Player,' 'Two in a +Sack,' and 'The Fish that swam in the Air.' Mr. W. A. Craigie +translated from the Scandinavian, 'Jasper who herded the Hares.' +Mrs. Lang did the rest. + +Some of the most interesting are from the Roumanion, and three +were previously published in the late Dr. Steere's 'Swahili +Tales.' By the permission of his representatives these three +African stories have here been abridged and simplified for +children. + + +CONTENTS +A Tale of the Tontlawald +The finest Liar in the World +The Story of three Wonderful Beggars +Schippeitaro +The Three Princes and their Beasts +The Goat's Ears of the Emperor Trojan +The Nine Pea-hens and the Golden Apples +The Lute Player +The Grateful Prince +The Child who came from an Egg +Stan Bolovan +The Two Frogs +The Story of a Gazelle +How a Fish swam in the Air and a Hare in the Water +Two in a Sack +The Envious Neighbour +The Fairy of the Dawn +The Enchanted Knife +Jesper who herded the Hares +The Underground Workers +The History of Dwarf Long Nose +The Nunda, Eater of People +The Story of Hassebu +The Maiden with the Wooden Helmet +The Monkey and the Jelly-fish +The Headless Dwarfs +The young Man who would have his Eyes opened +The Boys with the Golden Stars +The Frog +The Princess who was hidden Underground +The Girl who pretended to be a Boy +The Story of Halfman +The Prince who wanted to see the World +Virgililus the Sorcerer +Mogarzea and his Son + + + +A TALE OF THE TONTLAWALD + +Long, long ago there stood in the midst of a country covered with +lakes a vast stretch of moorland called the Tontlawald, on which +no man ever dared set foot. From time to time a few bold spirits +had been drawn by curiosity to its borders, and on their return +had reported that they had caught a glimpse of a ruined house in +a grove of thick trees, and round about it were a crowd of beings +resembling men, swarming over the grass like bees. The men were +as dirty and ragged as gipsies, and there were besides a quantity +of old women and half-naked children. + +One night a peasant who was returning home from a feast wandered +a little farther into the Tontlawald, and came back with the same +story. A countless number of women and children were gathered +round a huge fire, and some were seated on the ground, while +others danced strange dances on the smooth grass. One old crone +had a broad iron ladle in her hand, with which every now and then +she stirred the fire, but the moment she touched the glowing +ashes the children rushed away, shrieking like night owls, and it +was a long while before they ventured to steal back. And besides +all this there had once or twice been seen a little old man with +a long beard creeping out of the forest, carrying a sack bigger +than himself. The women and children ran by his side, weeping +and trying to drag the sack from off his back, but he shook them +off, and went on his way. There was also a tale of a magnificent +black cat as large as a foal, but men could not believe all the +wonders told by the peasant, and it was difficult to make out +what was true and what was false in his story. However, the fact +remained that strange things did happen there, and the King of +Sweden, to whom this part of the country belonged, more than once +gave orders to cut down the haunted wood, but there was no one +with courage enough to obey his commands. At length one man, +bolder than the rest, struck his axe into a tree, but his blow +was followed by a stream of blood and shrieks as of a human +creature in pain. The terrified woodcutter fled as fast as his +legs would carry him, and after that neither orders nor threats +would drive anybody to the enchanted moor. + +A few miles from the Tontlawald was a large village, where dwelt +a peasant who had recently married a young wife. As not +uncommonly happens in such cases, she turned the whole house +upside down, and the two quarrelled and fought all day long. + +By his first wife the peasant had a daughter called Elsa, a good +quiet girl, who only wanted to live in peace, but this her +stepmother would not allow. She beat and cuffed the poor child +from morning till night, but as the stepmother had the whip-hand +of her husband there was no remedy. + +For two years Elsa suffered all this ill-treatment, when one day +she went out with the other village children to pluck +strawberries. Carelessly they wandered on, till at last they +reached the edge of the Tontlawald, where the finest strawberries +grew, making the grass red with their colour. The children flung +themselves down on the ground, and, after eating as many as they +wanted, began to pile up their baskets, when suddenly a cry arose +from one of the older boys: + +'Run, run as fast as you can! We are in the Tontlawald!' + +Quicker than lightning they sprang to their feet, and rushed +madly away, all except Elsa, who had strayed farther than the +rest, and had found a bed of the finest strawberries right under +the trees. Like the others, she heard the boy's cry, but could +not make up her mind to leave the strawberries. + +'After all, what does it matter?' thought she. 'The dwellers in +the Tontlawald cannot be worse than my stepmother'; and looking +up she saw a little black dog with a silver bell on its neck come +barking towards her, followed by a maiden clad all in silk. + +'Be quiet,' said she; then turning to Elsa she added: 'I am so +glad you did not run away with the other children. Stay here +with me and be my friend, and we will play delightful games +together, and every day we will go and gather strawberries. +Nobody will dare to beat you if I tell them not. Come, let us go +to my mother'; and taking Elsa's hand she led her deeper into the +wood, the little black dog jumping up beside them and barking +with pleasure. + +Oh! what wonders and splendours unfolded themselves before +Elsa's astonished eyes! She thought she really must be in +Heaven. Fruit trees and bushes loaded with fruit stood before +them, while birds gayer than the brightest butterfly sat in their +branches and filled the air with their song. And the birds were +not shy, but let the girls take them in their hands, and stroke +their gold and silver feathers. In the centre of the garden was +the dwelling-house, shining with glass and precious stones, and +in the doorway sat a woman in rich garments, who turned to Elsa's +companion and asked: + +'What sort of a guest are you bringing to me?' + +'I found her alone in the wood,' replied her daughter, 'and +brought her back with me for a companion. You will let her +stay?' + +The mother laughed, but said nothing, only she looked Elsa up and +down sharply. Then she told the girl to come near, and stroked +her cheeks and spoke kindly to her, asking if her parents were +alive, and if she really would like to stay with them. Elsa +stooped and kissed her hand, then, kneeling down, buried her face +in the woman's lap, and sobbed out: + +'My mother has lain for many years under the ground. My father +is still alive, but I am nothing to him, and my stepmother beats +me all the day long. I can do nothing right, so let me, I pray +you, stay with you. I will look after the flocks or do any work +you tell me; I will obey your lightest word; only do not, I +entreat you, send me back to her. She will half kill me for not +having come back with the other children.' + +And the woman smiled and answered, 'Well, we will see what we can +do with you,' and, rising, went into the house. + +Then the daughter said to Elsa, 'Fear nothing, my mother will be +your friend. I saw by the way she looked that she would grant +your request when she had thought over it,' and, telling Elsa to +wait, she entered the house to seek her mother. Elsa meanwhile +was tossed about between hope and fear, and felt as if the girl +would never come. + +At last Elsa saw her crossing the grass with a box in her hand. + +'My mother says we may play together to-day, as she wants to make +up her mind what to do about you. But I hope you will stay here +always, as I can't bear you to go away. Have you ever been on +the sea?' + +'The sea?' asked Elsa, staring; 'what is that? I've never heard +of such a thing!' + +'Oh, I'll soon show you,' answered the girl, taking the lid from +the box, and at the very bottom lay a scrap of a cloak, a mussel +shell, and two fish scales. Two drops of water were glistening +on the cloak, and these the girl shook on the ground. In an +instant the garden and lawn and everything else had vanished +utterly, as if the earth had opened and swallowed them up, and as +far as the eye could reach you could see nothing but water, which +seemed at last to touch heaven itself. Only under their feet was +a tiny dry spot. Then the girl placed the mussel shell on the +water and took the fish scales in her hand. The mussel shell +grew bigger and bigger, and turned into a pretty little boat, +which would have held a dozen children. The girls stepped in, +Elsa very cautiously, for which she was much laughed at by her +friend, who used the fish scales for a rudder. The waves rocked +the girls softly, as if they were lying in a cradle, and they +floated on till they met other boats filled with men, singing and +making merry. + +'We must sing you a song in return,' said the girl, but as Elsa +did not know any songs, she had to sing by herself. Elsa could +not understand any of the men's songs, but one word, she noticed, +came over and over again, and that was 'Kisika.' Elsa asked what +it meant, and the girl replied that it was her name. + +It was all so pleasant that they might have stayed there for ever +had not a voice cried out to them, 'Children, it is time for you +to come home!' + +So Kisika took the little box out of her pocket, with the piece +of cloth lying in it, and dipped the cloth in the water, and lo! +they were standing close to a splendid house in the middle of the +garden. Everything round them was dry and firm, and there was no +water anywhere. The mussel shell and the fish scales were put +back in the box, and the girls went in. + +They entered a large hall, where four and twenty richly dressed +women were sitting round a table, looking as if they were about +to attend a wedding. At the head of the table sat the lady of +the house in a golden chair. + +Elsa did not know which way to look, for everything that met her +eyes was more beautiful than she could have dreamed possible. +But she sat down with the rest, and ate some delicious fruit, and +thought she must be in heaven. The guests talked softly, but +their speech was strange to Elsa, and she understood nothing of +what was said. Then the hostess turned round and whispered +something to a maid behind her chair, and the maid left the hall, +and when she came back she brought a little old man with her, who +had a beard longer than himself. He bowed low to the lady and +then stood quietly near the door. + +'Do you see this girl?' said the lady of the house, pointing to +Elsa. 'I wish to adopt her for my daughter. Make me a copy of +her, which we can send to her native village instead of herself.' + +The old man looked Elsa all up and down, as if he was taking her +measure, bowed again to the lady, and left the hall. After +dinner the lady said kindly to Elsa, 'Kisika has begged me to let +you stay with her, and you have told her you would like to live +here. Is that so?' + +At these words Elsa fell on her knees, and kissed the lady's +hands and feet in gratitude for her escape from her cruel +stepmother; but her hostess raised her from the ground and patted +her head, saying, 'All will go well as long as you are a good, +obedient child, and I will take care of you and see that you want +for nothing till you are grown up and can look after yourself. +My waiting-maid, who teaches Kisika all sorts of fine handiwork, +shall teach you too.' + +Not long after the old man came back with a mould full of clay on +his shoulders, and a little covered basket in his left hand. He +put down his mould and his basket on the ground, took up a +handful of clay, and made a doll as large as life. When it was +finished he bored a hole in the doll's breast and put a bit of +bread inside; then, drawing a snake out of the basket, forced it +to enter the hollow body. + +'Now,' he said to the lady, 'all we want is a drop of the +maiden's blood.' + +When she heard this Elsa grew white with horror, for she thought +she was selling her soul to the evil one. + +'Do not be afraid!' the lady hastened to say; 'we do not want +your blood for any bad purpose, but rather to give you freedom +and happiness.' + +Then she took a tiny golden needle, pricked Elsa in the arm, and +gave the needle to the old man, who stuck it into the heart of +the doll. When this was done he placed the figure in the basket, +promising that the next day they should all see what a beautiful +piece of work he had finished. + +When Elsa awoke the next morning in her silken bed, with its soft +white pillows, she saw a beautiful dress lying over the back of a +chair, ready for her to put on. A maid came in to comb out her +long hair, and brought the finest linen for her use; but nothing +gave Elsa so much joy as the little pair of embroidered shoes +that she held in her hand, for the girl had hitherto been forced +to run about barefoot by her cruel stepmother. In her excitement +she never gave a thought to the rough clothes she had worn the +day before, which had disappeared as if by magic during the +night. Who could have taken them? Well, she was to know that +by-and-by. But WE can guess that the doll had been dressed in +them, which was to go back to the village in her stead. By the +time the sun rose the doll had attained her full size, and no one +could have told one girl from the other. Elsa started back when +she met herself as she looked only yesterday. + +'You must not be frightened,' said the lady, when she noticed her +terror; 'this clay figure can do you no harm. It is for your +stepmother, that she may beat it instead of you. Let her flog it +as hard as she will, it can never feel any pain. And if the +wicked woman does not come one day to a better mind your double +will be able at last to give her the punishment she deserves.' + +From this moment Elsa's life was that of the ordinary happy +child, who has been rocked to sleep in her babyhood in a lovely +golden cradle. She had no cares or troubles of any sort, and +every day her tasks became easier, and the years that had gone +before seemed more and more like a bad dream. But the happier +she grew the deeper was her wonder at everything around her, and +the more firmly she was persuaded that some great unknown power +must be at the bottom of it all. + +In the courtyard stood a huge granite block about twenty steps +from the house, and when meal times came round the old man with +the long beard went to the block, drew out a small silver staff, +and struck the stone with it three times, so that the sound could +be heard a long way off. At the third blow, out sprang a large +golden cock, and stood upon the stone. Whenever he crowed and +flapped his wings the rock opened and something came out of it. +First a long table covered with dishes ready laid for the number +of persons who would be seated round it, and this flew into the +house all by itself. + +When the cock crowed for the second time, a number of chairs +appeared, and flew after the table; then wine, apples, and other +fruit, all without trouble to anybody. After everybody had had +enough, the old man struck the rock again. the golden cock +crowed afresh, and back went dishes, table, chairs, and plates +into the middle of the block. + +When, however, it came to the turn of the thirteenth dish, which +nobody ever wanted to eat, a huge black cat ran up, and stood on +the rock close to the cock, while the dish was on his other side. + +There they all remained, till they were joined by the old man. + +He picked up the dish in one hand, tucked the cat under his arm, +told the cock to get on his shoulder, and all four vanished into +the rock. And this wonderful stone contained not only food, but +clothes and everything you could possibly want in the house. + +At first a language was often spoken at meals which was strange +to Elsa, but by the help of the lady and her daughter she began +slowly to understand it, though it was years before she was able +to speak it herself. + +One day she asked Kisika why the thirteenth dish came daily to +the table and was sent daily away untouched, but Kisika knew no +more about it than she did. The girl must, however, have told +her mother what Elsa had said, for a few days later she spoke to +Elsa seriously: + +'Do not worry yourself with useless wondering. You wish to know +why we never eat of the thirteenth dish? That, dear child, is +the dish of hidden blessings, and we cannot taste of it without +bringing our happy life here to an end. And the world would be a +great deal better if men, in their greed, did not seek to snatch +every thing for themselves, instead of leaving something as a +thankoffering to the giver of the blessings. Greed is man's +worst fault.' + +The years passed like the wind for Elsa, and she grew into a +lovely woman, with a knowledge of many things that she would +never have learned in her native village; but Kisika was still +the same young girl that she had been on the day of her first +meeting with Elsa. Each morning they both worked for an hour at +reading and writing, as they had always done, and Elsa was +anxious to learn all she could, but Kisika much preferred +childish games to anything else. If the humour seized her, she +would fling aside her tasks, take her treasure box, and go off to +play in the sea, where no harm ever came to her. + +'What a pity,' she would often say to Elsa, 'that you have grown +so big, you cannot play with me any more.' + +Nine years slipped away in this manner, when one day the lady +called Elsa into her room. Elsa was surprised at the summons, +for it was unusual, and her heart sank, for she feared some evil +threatened her. As she crossed the threshold, she saw that the +lady's cheeks were flushed, and her eyes full of tears, which she +dried hastily, as if she would conceal them from the girl. +'Dearest child,' she began, 'the time has come when we must +part.' + +'Part?' cried Elsa, burying her head in the lady's lap. 'No, +dear lady, that can never be till death parts us. You once +opened your arms to me; you cannot thrust me away now.' + +'Ah, be quiet, child,' replied the lady; 'you do not know what I +would do to make you happy. Now you are a woman, and I have no +right to keep you here. You must return to the world of men, +where joy awaits you.' + +'Dear lady,' entreated Elsa again. 'Do not, I beseech you, send +me from you. I want no other happiness but to live and die +beside you. Make me your waiting maid, or set me to any work you +choose, but do not cast me forth into the world. It would have +been better if you had left me with my stepmother, than first to +have brought me to heaven and then send me back to a worse +place.' + +'Do not talk like that, dear child,' replied the lady; 'you do +not know all that must be done to secure your happiness, however +much it costs me. But it has to be. You are only a common +mortal, who will have to die one day, and you cannot stay here +any longer. Though we have the bodies of men, we are not men at +all, though it is not easy for you to understand why. Some day +or other you will find a husband who has been made expressly for +you, and will live happily with him till death separates you. It +will be very hard for me to part from you, but it has to be, and +you must make up your mind to it.' Then she drew her golden comb +gently through Elsa's hair, and bade her go to bed; but little +sleep had the poor girl! Life seemed to stretch before her like +a dark starless night. + +Now let us look back a moment, and see what had been going on in +Elsa's native village all these years, and how her double had +fared. It is a well-known fact that a bad woman seldom becomes +better as she grows older, and Elsa's stepmother was no exception +to the rule; but as the figure that had taken the girl's place +could feel no pain, the blows that were showered on her night and +day made no difference. If the father ever tried to come to his +daughter's help, his wife turned upon him, and things were rather +worse than before. + +One day the stepmother had given the girl a frightful beating, +and then threatened to kill her outright. Mad with rage, she +seized the figure by the throat with both hands, when out came a +black snake from her mouth and stung the woman's tongue, and she +fell dead without a sound. At night, when the husband came home, +he found his wife lying dead upon the ground, her body all +swollen and disfigured, but the girl was nowhere to be seen. His +screams brought the neighbours from their cottages, but they were +unable to explain how it had all come about. It was true, they +said, that about mid-day they had heard a great noise, but as +that was a matter of daily occurrence they did not think much of +it. The rest of the day all was still, but no one had seen +anything of the daughter. The body of the dead woman was then +prepared for burial, and her tired husband went to bed, rejoicing +in his heart that he had been delivered from the firebrand who +had made his home unpleasant. On the table he saw a slice of +bread lying, and, being hungry, he ate it before going to sleep. + +In the morning he too was found dead, and as swollen as his wife, +for the bread had been placed in the body of the figure by the +old man who made it. A few days later he was placed in the grave +beside his wife, but nothing more was ever heard of their +daughter. + +All night long after her talk with the lady Elsa had wept and +wailed her hard fate in being cast out from her home which she +loved. + +Next morning, when she got up, the lady placed a gold seal ring +on her finger, strung a little golden box on a ribbon, and placed +it round her neck; then she called the old man, and, forcing back +her tears, took leave of Elsa. The girl tried to speak, but +before she could sob out her thanks the old man had touched her +softly on the head three times with his silver staff. In an +instant Elsa knew that she was turning into a bird: wings sprang +from beneath her arms; her feet were the feet of eagles, with +long claws; her nose curved itself into a sharp beak, and +feathers covered her body. Then she soared high in the air, and +floated up towards the clouds, as if she had really been hatched +an eagle. + +For several days she flew steadily south, resting from time to +time when her wings grew tired, for hunger she never felt. And +so it happened that one day she was flying over a dense forest, +and below hounds were barking fiercely, because, not having wings +themselves, she was out of their reach. Suddenly a sharp pain +quivered through her body, and she fell to the ground, pierced by +an arrow. + +When Elsa recovered her senses, she found herself lying under a +bush in her own proper form. What had befallen her, and how she +got there, lay behind her like a bad dream. + +As she was wondering what she should do next the king's son came +riding by, and, seeing Elsa, sprang from his horse, and took her +by the hand, sawing, 'Ah! it was a happy chance that brought me +here this morning. Every night, for half a year, have I dreamed, +dear lady, that I should one day find you in this wood. And +although I have passed through it hundreds of times in vain, I +have never given up hope. To-day I was going in search of a +large eagle that I had shot, and instead of the eagle I have +found--you.' Then he took Elsa on his horse, and rode with her +to the town, where the old king received her graciously. + +A few days later the wedding took place, and as Elsa was +arranging the veil upon her hair fifty carts arrived laden with +beautiful things which the lady of the Tontlawald had sent to +Elsa. And after the king's death Elsa became queen, and when she +was old she told this story. But that was the last that was ever +heard of the Tontlawald. + +[From Ehstnische Marchen.] + + + +THE FINEST LIAR IN THE WORLD + +At the edge of a wood there lived an old man who had only one +son, and one day he called the boy to him and said he wanted some +corn ground, but the youth must be sure never to enter any mill +where the miller was beardless. + +The boy took the corn and set out, and before he had gone very +far he saw a large mill in front of him, with a beardless man +standing in the doorway. + +'Good greeting, beardless one!' cried he. + +'Good greeting, sonny,' replied the man. + +'Could I grind something here?' + +'Yes, certainly! I will finish what I am doing and then you can +grind as long as you like.' + +But suddenly the boy remembered what his father had told him, and +bade farewell to the man, and went further down the river, till +he came to another mill, not knowing that as soon as his back was +turned the beardless man had picked up a bag of corn and run +hastily to the same mill before him. When the boy reached the +second mill, and saw a second beardless man sitting there, he did +not stop, and walked on till he came to a third mill. But this +time also the beardless man had been too clever for him, and had +arrived first by another road. When it happened a fourth time +the boy grew cross, and said to himself, 'It is no good going on; +there seems to be a beardless man in every mill'; and he took his +sack from his back, and made up his mind to grind his corn where +he was. + +The beardless man finished grinding his own corn, and when he had +done he said to the boy, who was beginning to grind his, +'Suppose, sonny, we make a cake of what you have there.' + +Now the boy had been rather uneasy when he recollected his +father's words, but he thought to himself, 'What is done cannot +be undone,' and answered, 'Very well, so let it be.' + +Then the beardless one got up, threw the flour into the tub, and +made a hole in the middle, telling the boy to fetch some water +from the river in his two hands, to mix the cake. When the cake +was ready for baking they put it on the fire, and covered it with +hot ashes, till it was cooked through. Then they leaned it up +against the wall, for it was too big to go into a cupboard, and +the beardless one said to the boy: + +'Look here, sonny: if we share this cake we shall neither of us +have enough. Let us see who can tell the biggest lie, and the +one who lies the best shall have the whole cake.' + +The boy, not knowing what else to do, answered, 'All right; you +begin.' + +So the beardless one began to lie with all his might, and when he +was tired of inventing new lies the boy said to him, 'My good +fellow, if THAT is all you can do it is not much! Listen to me, +and I will tell you a true story. + +'In my youth, when I was an old man, we had a quantity of +beehives. Every morning when I got up I counted them over, and +it was quite easy to number the bees, but I never could reckon +the hives properly. One day, as I was counting the bees, I +discovered that my best bee was missing, and without losing a +moment I saddled a cock and went out to look for him. I traced +him as far as the shore, and knew that he had crossed the sea, +and that I must follow. When I had reached the other side I +found a man had harnessed my bee to a plough, and with his help +was sowing millet seed. + +' "That is my bee!" I shouted. "Where did you get him from?" ' +"Brother," replied the man, "if he is yours, take him." And he +not only gave me back my bee, but a sack of millet seed into the +bargain, because he had made use of my bee. Then I put the bag +on my shoulders, took the saddle from the cock, and placed it on +the back of the bee, which I mounted, leading the cock by a +string, so that he should have a rest. As we were flying home +over the sea one of the strings that held the bag of millet broke +in two, and the sack dropped straight into the ocean. It was +quite lost, of course, and there was no use thinking about it, +and by the time we were safe back again night had come. I then +got down from my bee, and let him loose, that he might get his +supper, gave the cock some hay, and went to sleep myself. But +when I awoke with the sun what a scene met my eyes! During the +night wolves had come and had eaten my bee. And honey lay +ankle-deep in the valley and knee-deep on the hills. Then I +began to consider how I could best collect some, to take home +with me. + +'Now it happened that I had with me a small hatchet, and this I +took to the wood, hoping to meet some animal which I could kill, +whose skin I might turn into a bag. As I entered the forest I +saw two roe-deer hopping on one foot, so I slew them with a +single blow, and made three bags from their skins, all of which I +filled with honey and placed on the back of the cock. At length +I reached home, where I was told that my father had just been +born, and that I must go at once to fetch some holy water to +sprinkle him with. As I went I turned over in my mind if there +was no way for me to get back my millet seed, which had dropped +into the sea, and when I arrived at the place with the holy water +I saw the seed had fallen on fruitful soil, and was growing +before my eyes. And more than that, it was even cut by an +invisible hand, and made into a cake. + +'So I took the cake as well as the holy water, and was flying +back with them over the sea, when there fell a great rain, and +the sea was swollen, and swept away my millet cake. Ah, how +vexed I was at its loss when I was safe on earth again. + +'Suddenly I remembered that my hair was very long. If I stood it +touched the ground, although if I was sitting it only reached my +ears. I seized a knife and cut off a large lock, which I plaited +together, and when night came tied it into a knot, and prepared +to use it for a pillow. But what was I to do for a fire? A +tinder box I had, but no wood. Then it occurred to me that I had +stuck a needle in my clothes, so I took the needle and split it +in pieces, and lit it, then laid myself down by the fire and went +to sleep. But ill-luck still pursued me. While I was sleeping a +spark from the fire lighted on the hair, which was burnt up in a +moment. In despair I threw myself on the ground, and instantly +sank in it as far as my waist. I struggled to get out, but only +fell in further; so I ran to the house, seized a spade, dug +myself out, and took home the holy water. On the way I noticed +that the ripe fields were full of reapers, and suddenly the air +became so frightfully hot that the men dropped down in a faint. +Then I called to them, "Why don't you bring out our mare, which +is as tall as two days, and as broad as half a day, and make a +shade for yourselves?" My father heard what I said and jumped +quickly on the mare, and the reapers worked with a will in the +shadow, while I snatched up a wooden pail to bring them some +water to drink. When I got to the well everything was frozen +hard, so in order to draw some water I had to take off my head +and break the ice with it. As I drew near them, carrying the +water, the reapers all cried out, "Why, what has become of your +head?" I put up my hand and discovered that I really had no head, +and that I must have left it in the well. I ran back to look for +it, but found that meanwhile a fox which was passing by had +pulled my head out of the water, and was tearing at my brains. I +stole cautiously up to him, and gave him such a kick that he +uttered a loud scream, and let fall a parchment on which was +written, "The cake is mine, and the beardless one goes +empty-handed." ' + +With these words the boy rose, took the cake, and went home, +while the beardless one remained behind to swallow his +disappointment. + +[Volksmarchen der Serben.] + + + +THE STORY OF THREE WONDERFUL BEGGARS + +There once lived a merchant whose name was Mark, and whom people +called 'Mark the Rich.' He was a very hard-hearted man, for he +could not bear poor people, and if he caught sight of a beggar +anywhere near his house, he would order the servants to drive him +away, or would set the dogs at him. + +One day three very poor old men came begging to the door, and +just as he was going to let the fierce dogs loose on them, his +little daughter, Anastasia, crept close up to him and said: + +'Dear daddy, let the poor old men sleep here to-night, do--to +please me.' + +Her father could not bear to refuse her, and the three beggars +were allowed to sleep in a loft, and at night, when everyone in +the house was fast asleep, little Anastasia got up, climbed up to +the loft, and peeped in. + +The three old men stood in the middle of the loft, leaning on +their sticks, with their long grey beards flowing down over their +hands, and were talking together in low voices. + +'What news is there?' asked the eldest. + +'In the next village the peasant Ivan has just had his seventh +son. What shall we name him, and what fortune shall we give +him?' said the second. + +The third whispered, 'Call him Vassili, and give him all the +property of the hard-hearted man in whose loft we stand, and who +wanted to drive us from his door.' + +After a little more talk the three made themselves ready and +crept softly away. + +Anastasia, who had heard every word, ran straight to her father, +and told him all. + +Mark was very much surprised; he thought, and thought, and in the +morning he drove to the next village to try and find out if such +a child really had been born. He went first to the priest, and +asked him about the children in his parish. + +'Yesterday,' said the priest, 'a boy was born in the poorest +house in the village. I named the unlucky little thing +"Vassili." He is the seventh son, and the eldest is only seven +years old, and they hardly have a mouthful amongst them all. Who +can be got to stand godfather to such a little beggar boy?' + +The merchant's heart beat fast, and his mind was full of bad +thoughts about that poor little baby. He would be godfather +himself, he said, and he ordered a fine christening feast; so the +child was brought and christened, and Mark was very friendly to +its father. After the ceremony was over he took Ivan aside and +said: + +'Look here, my friend, you are a poor man. How can you afford to +bring up the boy? Give him to me and I'll make something of him, +and I'll give you a present of a thousand crowns. Is that a +bargain?' + +Ivan scratched his head, and thought, and thought, and then he +agreed. Mark counted out the money, wrapped the baby up in a fox +skin, laid it in the sledge beside him, and drove back towards +home. When he had driven some miles he drew up, carried the +child to the edge of a steep precipice and threw it over, +muttering, 'There, now try to take my property!' + +Very soon after this some foreign merchants travelled along that +same road on the way to see Mark and to pay the twelve thousand +crowns which they owed him. + +As they were passing near the precipice they heard a sound of +crying, and on looking over they saw a little green meadow wedged +in between two great heaps of snow, and on the meadow lay a baby +amongst the flowers. + +The merchants picked up the child, wrapped it up carefully, and +drove on. When they saw Mark they told him what a strange thing +they had found. Mark guessed at once that the child must be his +godson, asked to see him, and said: + +'That's a nice little fellow; I should like to keep him. If you +will make him over to me, I will let you off your debt.' + +The merchants were very pleased to make so good a bargain, left +the child with Mark, and drove off. + +At night Mark took the child, put it in a barrel, fastened the +lid tight down, and threw it into the sea. The barrel floated +away to a great distance, and at last it floated close up to a +monastery. The monks were just spreading out their nets to dry +on the shore, when they heard the sound of crying. It seemed to +come from the barrel which was bobbing about near the water's +edge. They drew it to land and opened it, and there was a little +child! When the abbot heard the news, he decided to bring up the +boy, and named him 'Vassili.' + +The boy lived on with the monks, and grew up to be a clever, +gentle, and handsome young man. No one could read, write, or +sing better than he, and he did everything so well that the abbot +made him wardrobe keeper. + +Now, it happened about this time that the merchant, Mark, came to +the monastery in the course of a journey. The monks were very +polite to him and showed him their house and church and all they +had. When he went into the church the choir was singing, and one +voice was so clear and beautiful, that he asked who it belonged +to. Then the abbot told him of the wonderful way in which +Vassili had come to them, and Mark saw clearly that this must be +his godson whom he had twice tried to kill. + +He said to the abbot: 'I can't tell you how much I enjoy that +young man's singing. If he could only come to me I would make +him overseer of all my business. As you say, he is so good and +clever. Do spare him to me. I will make his fortune, and will +present your monastery with twenty thousand crowns.' + +The abbot hesitated a good deal, but he consulted all the other +monks, and at last they decided that they ought not to stand in +the way of Vassili's good fortune. + +Then Mark wrote a letter to his wife and gave it to Vassili to +take to her, and this was what was in the letter: 'When the +bearer of this arrives, take him into the soap factory, and when +you pass near the great boiler, push him in. If you don't obey +my orders I shall be very angry, for this young man is a bad +fellow who is sure to ruin us all if he lives.' + +Vassili had a good voyage, and on landing set off on foot for +Mark's home. On the way he met three beggars, who asked him: +'Where are you going, Vassili?' + +'I am going to the house of Mark the Merchant, and have a letter +for his wife,' replied Vassili. + +'Show us the letter.' + +Vassili handed them the letter. They blew on it and gave it back +to him, saying: 'Now go and give the letter to Mark's wife. You +will not be forsaken.' + +Vassili reached the house and gave the letter. When the mistress +read it she could hardly believe her eyes and called for her +daughter. In the letter was written, quite plainly: 'When you +receive this letter, get ready for a wedding, and let the bearer +be married next day to my daughter, Anastasia. If you don't obey +my orders I shall be very angry.' + +Anastasia saw the bearer of the letter and he pleased her very +much. They dressed Vassili in fine clothes and next day he was +married to Anastasia. + +In due time, Mark returned from his travels. His wife, daughter, +and son-in-law all went out to meet him. When Mark saw Vassili +he flew into a terrible rage with his wife. 'How dared you marry +my daughter without my consent?' he asked. + +'I only carried out your orders,' said she. 'Here is your +letter.' + +Mark read it. It certainly was his handwriting, but by no means +his wishes. + +'Well,' thought he, 'you've escaped me three times, but I think I +shall get the better of you now.' And he waited a month and was +very kind and pleasant to his daughter and her husband. + +At the end of that time he said to Vassili one day, 'I want you +to go for me to my friend the Serpent King, in his beautiful +country at the world's end. Twelve years ago he built a castle +on some land of mine. I want you to ask for the rent for those +twelve years and also to find out from him what has become of my +twelve ships which sailed for his country three years ago.' + +Vassili dared not disobey. He said good-bye to his young wife, +who cried bitterly at parting, hung a bag of biscuits over his +shoulders, and set out. + +I really cannot tell you whether the journey was long or short. +As he tramped along he suddenly heard a voice saying: 'Vassili! +where are you going?' + +Vassili looked about him, and, seeing no one, called out: 'Who +spoke to me?' + +'I did; this old wide-spreading oak. Tell me where you are +going.' + +'I am going to the Serpent King to receive twelve years' rent +from him.' + +'When the time comes, remember me and ask the king: "Rotten to +the roots, half dead but still green, stands the old oak. Is it +to stand much longer on the earth?" ' + +Vassili went on further. He came to a river and got into the +ferryboat. The old ferryman asked: 'Are you going far, my +friend?' + +'I am going to the Serpent King.' + +'Then think of me and say to the king: "For thirty years the +ferryman has rowed to and fro. Will the tired old man have to +row much longer?" ' + +'Very well,' said Vassili; 'I'll ask him.' + +And he walked on. In time he came to a narrow strait of the sea +and across it lay a great whale over whose back people walked and +drove as if it had been a bridge or a road. As he stepped on it +the whale said, 'Do tell me where you are going.' + +'I am going to the Serpent King.' + +And the whale begged: 'Think of me and say to the king: "The +poor whale has been lying three years across the strait, and men +and horses have nearly trampled his back into his ribs. Is he to +lie there much longer?" ' + +'I will remember,' said Vassili, and he went on. + +He walked, and walked, and walked, till he came to a great green +meadow. In the meadow stood a large and splendid castle. Its +white marble walls sparkled in the light, the roof was covered +with mother o' pearl, which shone like a rainbow, and the sun +glowed like fire on the crystal windows. Vassili walked in, and +went from one room to another astonished at all the splendour he +saw. + +When he reached the last room of all, he found a beautiful girl +sitting on a bed. + +As soon as she saw him she said: 'Oh, Vassili, what brings you +to this accursed place?' + +Vassili told her why he had come, and all he had seen and heard +on the way. + +The girl said: 'You have not been sent here to collect rents, +but for your own destruction, and that the serpent may devour +you.' + +She had not time to say more, when the whole castle shook, and a +rustling, hissing, groaning sound was heard. The girl quickly +pushed Vassili into a chest under the bed, locked it and +whispered: 'Listen to what the serpent and I talk about.' + +Then she rose up to receive the Serpent King. + +The monster rushed into the room, and threw itself panting on the +bed, crying: 'I've flown half over the world. I'm tired, VERY +tired, and want to sleep--scratch my head.' + +The beautiful girl sat down near him, stroking his hideous head, +and said in a sweet coaxing voice: 'You know everything in the +world. After you left, I had such a wonderful dream. Will you +tell me what it means?' + +'Out with it then, quick! What was it?' + +'I dreamt I was walking on a wide road, and an oak tree said to +me: "Ask the king this: Rotten at the roots, half dead, and yet +green stands the old oak. Is it to stand much longer on the +earth?" ' + +'It must stand till some one comes and pushes it down with his +foot. Then it will fall, and under its roots will be found more +gold and silver than even Mark the Rich has got.' + +'Then I dreamt I came to a river, and the old ferryman said to +me: "For thirty year's the ferryman has rowed to and fro. Will +the tired old man have to row much longer?" ' + +'That depends on himself. If some one gets into the boat to be +ferried across, the old man has only to push the boat off, and go +his way without looking back. The man in the boat will then have +to take his place.' + +'And at last I dreamt that I was walking over a bridge made of a +whale's back, and the living bridge spoke to me and said: "Here +have I been stretched out these three years, and men and horses +have trampled my back down into my ribs. Must I lie here much +longer?" ' + +'He will have to lie there till he has thrown up the twelve ships +of Mark the Rich which he swallowed. Then he may plunge back +into the sea and heal his back.' + +And the Serpent King closed his eyes, turned round on his other +side, and began to snore so loud that the windows rattled. + +In all haste the lovely girl helped Vassili out of the chest, and +showed him part of his way back. He thanked her very politely, +and hurried off. + +When he reached the strait the whale asked: 'Have you thought of +me?' + +'Yes, as soon as I am on the other side I will tell you what you +want to know.' + +When he was on the other side Vassili said to the whale: 'Throw +up those twelve ships of Mark's which you swallowed three years +ago.' + +The great fish heaved itself up and threw up all the twelve ships +and their crews. Then he shook himself for joy, and plunged into +the sea. + +Vassili went on further till he reached the ferry, where the old +man asked: 'Did you think of me?' + +'Yes, and as soon as you have ferried me across I will tell you +what you want to know.' + +When they had crossed over, Vassili said: 'Let the next man who +comes stay in the boat, but do you step on shore, push the boat +off, and you will be free, and the other man must take your +place. + +Then Vassili went on further still, and soon came to the old oak +tree, pushed it with his foot, and it fell over. There, at the +roots, was more gold and silver than even Mark the Rich had. + +And now the twelve ships which the whale had thrown up came +sailing along and anchored close by. On the deck of the first +ship stood the three beggars whom Vassili had met formerly, and +they said: 'Heaven has blessed you, Vassili.' Then they +vanished away and he never saw them again. + +The sailors carried all the gold and silver into the ship, and +then they set sail for home with Vassili on board. + +Mark was more furious than ever. He had his horses harnessed and +drove off himself to see the Serpent King and to complain of the +way in which he had been betrayed. When he reached the river he +sprang into the ferryboat. The ferryman, however, did not get in +but pushed the boat off. . . . + +Vassili led a good and happy life with his dear wife, and his +kind mother-in-law lived with them. He helped the poor and fed +and clothed the hungry and naked and all Mark's riches became +his. + +For many years Mark has been ferrying people across the river. +His face is wrinkled, his hair and beard are snow white, and his +eyes are dim; but still he rows on. + +[From the Serbian.] + + + +SCHIPPEITARO + +It was the custom in old times that as soon as a Japanese boy +reached manhood he should leave his home and roam through the +land in search of adventures. Sometimes he would meet with a +young man bent on the same business as himself, and then they +would fight in a friendly manner, merely to prove which was the +stronger, but on other occasions the enemy would turn out to be a +robber, who had become the terror of the neighbourhood, and then +the battle was in deadly earnest. + +One day a youth started off from his native village, resolved +never to come back till he had done some great deed that would +make his name famous. But adventures did not seem very plentiful +just then, and he wandered about for a long time without meeting +either with fierce giants or distressed damsels. At last he saw +in the distance a wild mountain, half covered with a dense +forest, and thinking that this promised well at once took the +road that led to it. The difficulties he met with--huge rocks to +be climbed, deep rivers to be crossed, and thorny tracts to be +avoided--only served to make his heart beat quicker, for he was +really brave all through, and not merely when he could not help +himself, like a great many people. But in spite of all his +efforts he could not find his way out of the forest, and he began +to think he should have to pass the night there. Once more he +strained his eyes to see if there was no place in which he could +take shelter, and this time he caught sight of a small chapel in +a little clearing. He hastened quickly towards it, and curling +himself up in a warm corner soon fell asleep. + +Not a sound was heard through the whole forest for some hours, +but at midnight there suddenly arose such a clamour that the +young man, tired as he was, started broad awake in an instant. +Peeping cautiously between the wooden pillars of the chapel, he +saw a troop of hideous cats, dancing furiously, making the night +horrible with their yells. The full moon lighted up the weird +scene, and the young warrior gazed with astonishment, taking +great care to keep still, lest he should be discovered. After +some time he thought that in the midst of all their shrieks he +could make out the words, 'Do not tell Schippeitaro! Keep it +hidden and secret! Do not tell Schippeitaro!' Then, the midnight +hour having passed, they all vanished, and the youth was left +alone. Exhausted by all that had been going on round him, he +flung himself on the ground and slept till the sun rose. + +The moment he woke he felt very hungry, and began to think how he +could get something to eat. So he got up and walked on, and +before he had gone very far was lucky enough to find a little +side-path, where he could trace men's footsteps. He followed the +track, and by-and-by came on some scattered huts, beyond which +lay a village. Delighted at this discovery, he was about to +hasten to the village when he heard a woman's voice weeping and +lamenting, and calling on the men to take pity on her and help +her. The sound of her distress made him forget he was hungry, +and he strode into the hut to find out for himself what was +wrong. But the men whom he asked only shook their heads and told +him it was not a matter in which he could give any help, for all +this sorrow was caused by the Spirit of the Mountain, to whom +every year they were bound to furnish a maiden for him to eat. + +'To-morrow night,' said they, 'the horrible creature will come +for his dinner, and the cries you have heard were uttered by the +girl before you, upon whom the lot has fallen.' + +And when the young man asked if the girl was carried off straight +from her home, they answered no, but that a large cask was set in +the forest chapel, and into this she was fastened. + +As he listened to this story, the young man was filled with a +great longing to rescue the maiden from her dreadful fate. The +mention of the chapel set him thinking of the scene of the +previous night, and he went over all the details again in his +mind. 'Who is Schippeitaro?' he suddenly asked; 'can any of you +tell me?' + +'Schippeitaro is the great dog that belongs to the overseer of +our prince,' said they; 'and he lives not far away.' And they +began to laugh at the question, which seemed to them so odd and +useless. + +The young man did not laugh with them, but instead left the hut +and went straight to the owner of the dog, whom he begged to lend +him the animal just for one night. Schippeitaro's master was not +at all willing to give him in charge to a man of whom he knew +nothing, but in the end he consented, and the youth led the dog +away, promising faithfully to return him next day to his master. +He next hurried to the hut where the maiden lived, and entreated +her parents to shut her up safely in a closet, after which he +took Schippeitaro to the cask, and fastened him into it. In the +evening he knew that the cask would be placed in the chapel, so +he hid himself there and waited. + +At midnight, when the full moon appeared above the top of the +mountain, the cats again filled the chapel and shrieked and +yelled and danced as before. But this time they had in their +midst a huge black cat who seemed to be their king, and whom the +young man guessed to be the Spirit of the Mountain. The monster +looked eagerly about him, and his eyes sparkled with joy when he +saw the cask. He bounded high into the air with delight and +uttered cries of pleasure; then he drew near and undid the bolts. + +But instead of fastening his teeth in the neck of a beautiful +maiden, Schippeitaro's teeth were fastened in HIM, and the youth +ran up and cut off his head with his sword. The other cats were +so astonished at the turn things had taken that they forgot to +run away, and the young man and Schippeitaro between them killed +several more before they thought of escaping. + +At sunrise the brave dog was taken back to his master, and from +that time the mountain girls were safe, and every year a feast +was held in memory of the young warrior and the dog Schippeitaro. + +[Japanische Marchen.] + + + +THE THREE PRINCES AND THEIR BEASTS (LITHUANIAN FAIRY TALE) + +Once on a time there were three princes, who had a step-sister. +One day they all set out hunting together. When they had gone +some way through a thick wood they came on a great grey wolf with +three cubs. Just as they were going to shoot, the wolf spoke and +said, 'Do not shoot me, and I will give each of you one of my +young ones. It will be a faithful friend to you.' + +So the princes went on their way, and a little wolf followed each +of them. + +Soon after they came on a lioness with three cubs. And she too +begged them not to shoot her, and she would give each of them a +cub. And so it happened with a fox, a hare, a boar, and a bear, +till each prince had quite a following of young beasts padding +along behind him. + +Towards evening they came to a clearing in the wood, where three +birches grew at the crossing of three roads. The eldest prince +took an arrow, and shot it into the trunk of one of the birch +trees. Turning to his brothers he said: + +'Let each of us mark one of these trees before we part on +different ways. When any one of us comes back to this place, he +must walk round the trees of the other two, and if he sees blood +flowing from the mark in the tree he will know that that brother +is dead, but if milk flows he will know that his brother is +alive.' + +So each of the princes did as the eldest brother had said, and +when the three birches were marked by their arrows they turned to +their step-sister and asked her with which of them she meant to +live. + +'With the eldest,' she answered. Then the brothers separated +from each other, and each of them set out down a different road, +followed by their beasts. And the step-sister went with the +eldest prince. + +After they had gone a little way along the road they came into a +forest, and in one of the deepest glades they suddenly found +themselves opposite a castle in which there lived a band of +robbers. The prince walked up to the door and knocked. The +moment it was opened the beasts rushed in, and each seized on a +robber, killed him, and dragged the body down to the cellar. +Now, one of the robbers was not really killed, only badly +wounded, but he lay quite still and pretended to be dead like the +others. Then the prince and his step-sister entered the castle +and took up their abode in it. + +The next morning the prince went out hunting. Before leaving he +told his step-sister that she might go into every room in the +house except into the cave where the dead robbers lay. But as +soon as his back was turned she forgot what he had said, and +having wandered through all the other rooms she went down to the +cellar and opened the door. As soon as she looked in the robber +who had only pretended to be dead sat up and said to her: + +'Don't be afraid. Do what I tell you, and I will be your friend. + +If you marry me you will be much happier with me than with your +brother. But you must first go into the sitting-room and look in +the cupboard. There you will find three bottles. In one of them +there is a healing ointment which you must put on my chin to heal +the wound; then if I drink the contents of the second bottle it +will make me well, and the third bottle will make me stronger +than I ever was before. Then, when your brother comes back from +the wood with his beasts you must go to him and say, "Brother, +you are very strong. If I were to fasten your thumbs behind your +back with a stout silk cord, could you wrench yourself free?" +And when you see that he cannot do it, call me.' + +When the brother came home, the step-sister did as the robber had +told her, and fastened her brother's thumbs behind his back. But +with one wrench he set himself free, and said to her, 'Sister, +that cord is not strong enough for me.' + +The next day he went back to the wood with his beasts, and the +robber told her that she must take a much stouter cord to bind +his thumbs with. But again he freed himself, though not so +easily as the first time, and he said to his sister: + +'Even that cord is not strong enough.' + +The third day, on his return from the wood he consented to have +his strength tested for the last time. So she took a very strong +cord of silk, which she had prepared by the robber's advice, and +this time, though the prince pulled and tugged with all his +might, he could not break the cord. So he called to her and +said: 'Sister, this time the cord is so strong I cannot break +it. Come and unfasten it for me.' + +But instead of coming she called to the robber, who rushed into +the room brandishing a knife, with which he prepared to attack +the prince. + +But the prince spoke and said: + +'Have patience for one minute. I would like before I die to blow +three blasts on my hunting horn--one in this room, one on the +stairs, and one in the courtyard.' + +So the robber consented, and the prince blew the horn. At the +first blast, the fox, which was asleep in the cage in the +courtyard, awoke, and knew that his master needed help. So he +awoke the wolf by flicking him across the eyes with his brush. +Then they awoke the lion, who sprang against the door of the cage +with might and main, so that it fell in splinters on the ground, +and the beasts were free. Rushing through the court to their +master's aid, the fox gnawed the cord in two that bound the +prince's thumbs behind his back, and the lion flung himself on +the robber, and when he had killed him and torn him in pieces +each of the beasts carried off a bone. + +Then the prince turned to the step-sister and said: + +'I will not kill you, but I will leave you here to repent.' And +he fastened her with a chain to the wall, and put a great bowl in +front of her and said, 'I will not see you again till you have +filled this bowl with your tears.' + +So saying, he called his beasts, and set out on his travels. +When he had gone a little way he came to an inn. Everyone in the +inn seemed so sad that he asked them what was the matter. + +'Ah,' replied they, 'to-day our king's daughter is to die. She +is to be handed over to a dreadful nine-headed dragon.' + +Then the prince said: 'Why should she die? I am very strong, I +will save her.' + +And he set out to the sea-shore, where the dragon was to meet the +princess. And as he waited with his beasts round him a great +procession came along, accompanying the unfortunate princess: +and when the shore was reached all the people left her, and +returned sadly to their houses. But the prince remained, and +soon he saw a movement in the water a long way off. As it came +nearer, he knew what it was, for skimming swiftly along the +waters came a monster dragon with nine heads. Then the prince +took counsel with his beasts, and as the dragon approached the +shore the fox drew his brush through the water and blinded the +dragon by scattering the salt water in his eyes, while the bear +and the lion threw up more water with their paws, so that the +monster was bewildered and could see nothing. Then the prince +rushed forward with his sword and killed the dragon, and the +beasts tore the body in pieces. + +Then the princess turned to the prince and thanked him for +delivering her from the dragon, and she said to him: + +'Step into this carriage with me, and we will drive back to my +father's palace.' And she gave him a ring and half of her +handkerchief. But on the way back the coachman and footman spoke +to one another and said: + +'Why should we drive this stranger back to the palace? Let us +kill him, and then we can say to the king that we slew the dragon +and saved the princess, and one of us shall marry her.' + +So they killed the prince, and left him dead on the roadside. +And the faithful beasts came round the dead body and wept, and +wondered what they should do. Then suddenly the wolf had an +idea, and he started off into the wood, where he found an ox, +which he straightway killed. Then he called the fox, and told +him to mount guard over the dead ox, and if a bird came past and +tried to peck at the flesh he was to catch it and bring it to the +lion. Soon after a crow flew past, and began to peck at the dead +ox. In a moment the fox had caught it and brought it to the +lion. Then the lion said to the crow: + +'We will not kill you if you will promise to fly to the town +where there are three wells of healing and to bring back water +from them in your beak to make this dead man alive.' + +So the crow flew away, and she filled her beak at the well of +healing, the well of strength, and the well of swiftness, and she +flew back to the dead prince and dropped the water from her beak +upon his lips, and he was healed, and could sit up and walk. + +Then he set out for the town, accompanied by his faithful beasts. + +And when they reached the king's palace they found that +preparations for a great feast were being made, for the princess +was to marry the coachman. + +So the prince walked into the palace, and went straight up to the +coachman and said: 'What token have you got that you killed the +dragon and won the hand of the princess? I have her token +here--this ring and half her handkerchief.' + +And when the king saw these tokens he knew that the prince was +speaking the truth. So the coachman was bound in chains and +thrown into prison, and the prince was married to the princess +and rewarded with half the kingdom. + +One day, soon after his marriage, the prince was walking through +the woods in the evening, followed by his faithful beasts. +Darkness came on, and he lost his way, and wandered about among +the trees looking for the path that would lead him back to the +palace. As he walked he saw the light of a fire, and making his +way to it he found an old woman raking sticks and dried leaves +together, and burning them in a glade of the wood. + +As he was very tired, and the night was very dark, the prince +determined not to wander further. So he asked the old woman if +he might spend the night beside her fire. + +'Of course you may,' she answered. 'But I am afraid of your +beasts. Let me hit them with my rod, and then I shall not be +afraid of them.' + +'Very well,' said the prince, 'I don't mind'; and she stretched +out her rod and hit the beasts, and in one moment they were +turned into stone, and so was the prince. + +Now soon after this the prince's youngest brother came to the +cross-roads with the three birches, where the brothers had parted +from each other when they set out on their wanderings. +Remembering what they had agreed to do, he walked round the two +trees, and when he saw that blood oozed from the cut in the +eldest prince's tree he knew that his brother must be dead. So +he set out, followed by his beasts, and came to the town over +which his brother had ruled, and where the princess he had +married lived. And when he came into the town all the people +were in great sorrow because their prince had disappeared. + +But when they saw his youngest brother, and the beasts following +him, they thought it was their own prince, and they rejoiced +greatly, and told him how they had sought him everywhere. Then +they led him to the king, and he too thought that it was his +son-in-law. But the princess knew that he was not her husband, +and she begged him to go out into the woods with his beasts, and +to look for his brother till he found him. + +So the youngest prince set out to look for his brother, and he +too lost his way in the wood and night overtook him. Then he +came to the clearing among the trees, where the fire was burning +and where the old woman was raking sticks and leaves into the +flames. And he asked her if he might spend the night beside her +fire, as it was too late and too dark to go back to the town. + +And she answered: 'Certainly you may. But I am afraid of your +beasts. May I give them a stroke with my rod, then I shall not +be afraid of them.' + +And he said she might, for he did not know that she was a witch. +So she stretched out her rod, and in a moment the beasts and +their master were turned into stone. + +It happened soon after that the second brother returned from his +wanderings and came to the cross-roads where the three birches +grew. As he went round the trees he saw that blood poured from +the cuts in the bark of two of the trees. Then he wept and said: + +'Alas! both my brothers are dead.' And he too set out towards +the town in which his brother had ruled, and his faithful beasts +followed him. When he entered the town, all the people thought +it was their own prince come back to them, and they gathered +round him, as they had gathered round his youngest brother, and +asked him where he had been and why he had not returned. And +they led him to the king's palace, but the princess knew that he +was not her husband. So when they were alone together she +besought him to go and seek for his brother and bring him home. +Calling his beasts round him, he set out and wandered through the +woods. And he put his ear down to the earth, to listen if he +could hear the sound of his brother's beasts. And it seemed to +him as if he heard a faint sound far off, but he did not know +from what direction it came. So he blew on his hunting horn and +listened again. And again he heard the sound, and this time it +seemed to come from the direction of a fire burning in the wood. +So he went towards the fire, and there the old woman was raking +sticks and leaves into the embers. And he asked her if he might +spend the night beside her fire. But she told him she was afraid +of his beasts, and he must first allow her to give each of them a +stroke with her rod. + +But he answered her: + +'Certainly not. I am their master, and no one shall strike them +but I myself. Give me the rod'; and he touched the fox with it, +and in a moment it was turned into stone. Then he knew that the +old woman was a witch, and he turned to her and said: + +'Unless you restore my brothers and their beasts back to life at +once, my lion will tear you in pieces.' + +Then the witch was terrified, and taking a young oak tree she +burnt it into white ashes, and sprinkled the ashes on the stones +that stood around. And in a moment the two princes stood before +their brother, and their beasts stood round them. + +Then the three princes set off together to the town. And the +king did not know which was his son-in-law, but the princess knew +which was her husband, and there were great rejoicings throughout +the land. + + + +THE GOAT'S EARS OF THE EMPEROR TROJAN + +Once upon a time there lived an emperor whose name was Trojan, +and he had ears like a goat. Every morning, when he was shaved, +he asked if the man saw anything odd about him, and as each fresh +barber always replied that the emperor had goat's ears, he was at +once ordered to be put to death. + +Now after this state of things had lasted a good while, there was +hardly a barber left in the town that could shave the emperor, +and it came to be the turn of the Master of the Company of +Barbers to go up to the palace. But, unluckily, at the very +moment that he should have set out, the master fell suddenly ill, +and told one of his apprentices that he must go in his stead. + +When the youth was taken to the emperor's bedroom, he was asked +why he had come and not his master. The young man replied that +the master was ill, and there was no one but himself who could be +trusted with the honour. The emperor was satisfied with the +answer, and sat down, and let a sheet of fine linen be put round +him. Directly the young barber began his work, he, like the +rest, remarked the goat's ears of the emperor, but when he had +finished and the emperor asked his usual question as to whether +the youth had noticed anything odd about him, the young man +replied calmly, 'No, nothing at all.' This pleased the emperor +so much that he gave him twelve ducats, and said, 'Henceforth you +shall come every day to shave me.' + +So when the apprentice returned home, and the master inquired how +he had got on with the emperor, the young man answered, 'Oh, very +well, and he says I am to shave him every day, and he has given +me these twelve ducats'; but he said nothing about the goat's +ears of the emperor. + +From this time the apprentice went regularly up to the palace, +receiving each morning twelve ducats in payment. But after a +while, his secret, which he had carefully kept, burnt within him, +and he longed to tell it to somebody. His master saw there was +something on his mind, and asked what it was. The youth replied +that he had been tormenting himself for some months, and should +never feel easy until some one shared his secret. + +'Well, trust me,' said the master, 'I will keep it to myself; or, +if you do not like to do that, confess it to your pastor, or go +into some field outside the town and dig a hole, and, after you +have dug it, kneel down and whisper your secret three times into +the hole. Then put back the earth and come away.' + +The apprentice thought that this seemed the best plan, and that +very afternoon went to a meadow outside the town, dug a deep +hole, then knelt and whispered to it three times over, 'The +Emperor Trojan has goat's ears.' And as he said so a great +burden seemed to roll off him, and he shovelled the earth +carefully back and ran lightly home. + +Weeks passed away, and there sprang up in the hole an elder tree +which had three stems, all as straight as poplars. Some +shepherds, tending their flocks near by, noticed the tree growing +there, and one of them cut down a stem to make flutes of; but, +directly he began to play, the flute would do nothing but sing: +'The Emperor Trojan has goat's ears.' Of course, it was not long +before the whole town knew of this wonderful flute and what it +said; and, at last, the news reached the emperor in his palace. +He instantly sent for the apprentice and said to him: + +'What have you been saying about me to all my people?' + +The culprit tried to defend himself by saying that he had never +told anyone what he had noticed; but the emperor, instead of +listening, only drew his sword from its sheath, which so +frightened the poor fellow that he confessed exactly what he had +done, and how he had whispered the truth three times to the +earth, and how in that very place an elder tree had sprung up, +and flutes had been cut from it, which would only repeat the +words he had said. Then the emperor commanded his coach to be +made ready, and he took the youth with him, and they drove to the +spot, for he wished to see for himself whether the young man's +confession was true; but when they reached the place only one +stem was left. So the emperor desired his attendants to cut him +a flute from the remaining stem, and, when it was ready, he +ordered his chamberlain to play on it. But no tune could the +chamberlain play, though he was the best flute player about the +court--nothing came but the words, 'The Emperor Trojan has goat's +ears.' Then the emperor knew that even the earth gave up its +secrets, and he granted the young man his life, but he never +allowed him to be his barber any more. + +[Volksmarchen der Serben.] + + + +THE NINE PEA-HENS AND THE GOLDEN APPLES + +Once upon a time there stood before the palace of an emperor a +golden apple tree, which blossomed and bore fruit each night. +But every morning the fruit was gone, and the boughs were bare of +blossom, without anyone being able to discover who was the thief. + +At last the emperor said to his eldest son, 'If only I could +prevent those robbers from stealing my fruit, how happy I should +be!' + +And his son replied, 'I will sit up to-night and watch the tree, +and I shall soon see who it is!' + +So directly it grew dark the young man went and hid himself near +the apple tree to begin his watch, but the apples had scarcely +begun to ripen before he fell asleep, and when he awoke at +sunrise the apples were gone. He felt very much ashamed of +himself, and went with lagging feet to tell his father! + +Of course, though the eldest son had failed, the second made sure +that he would do better, and set out gaily at nightfall to watch +the apple tree. But no sooner had he lain himself down than his +eyes grew heavy, and when the sunbeams roused him from his +slumbers there was not an apple left on the tree. + +Next came the turn of the youngest son, who made himself a +comfortable bed under the apple tree, and prepared himself to +sleep. Towards midnight he awoke, and sat up to look at the +tree. And behold! the apples were beginning to ripen, and lit +up the whole palace with their brightness. At the same moment +nine golden pea-hens flew swiftly through the air, and while +eight alighted upon the boughs laden with fruit, the ninth +fluttered to the ground where the prince lay, and instantly was +changed into a beautiful maiden, more beautiful far than any lady +in the emperor's court. The prince at once fell in love with +her, and they talked together for some time, till the maiden said +her sisters had finished plucking the apples, and now they must +all go home again. The prince, however, begged her so hard to +leave him a little of the fruit that the maiden gave him two +apples, one for himself and one for his father. Then she changed +herself back into a pea-hen, and the whole nine flew away. + +As soon as the sun rose the prince entered the palace, and held +out the apple to his father, who was rejoiced to see it, and +praised his youngest son heartily for his cleverness. That +evening the prince returned to the apple tree, and everything +passed as before, and so it happened for several nights. At +length the other brothers grew angry at seeing that he never came +back without bringing two golden apples with him, and they went +to consult an old witch, who promised to spy after him, and +discover how he managed to get the apples. So, when the evening +came, the old woman hid herself under the tree and waited for the +prince. Before long he arrived and laid down on his bed, and was +soon fast asleep. Towards midnight there was a rush of wings, +and the eight pea-hens settled on the tree, while the ninth +became a maiden, and ran to greet the prince. Then the witch +stretched out her hand, and cut off a lock of the maiden's hair, +and in an instant the girl sprang up, a pea-hen once more, spread +her wings and flew away, while her sisters, who were busily +stripping the boughs, flew after her. + +When he had recovered from his surprise at the unexpected +disappearance of the maiden, the prince exclaimed, 'What can be +the matter?' and, looking about him, discovered the old witch +hidden under the bed. He dragged her out, and in his fury called +his guards, and ordered them to put her to death as fast as +possible. But that did no good as far as the pea-hens went. +They never came back any more, though the prince returned to the +tree every night, and wept his heart out for his lost love. This +went on for some time, till the prince could bear it no longer, +and made up his mind he would search the world through for her. +In vain his father tried to persuade him that his task was +hopeless, and that other girls were to be found as beautiful as +this one. The prince would listen to nothing, and, accompanied +by only one servant, set out on his quest. + +After travelling for many days, he arrived at length before a +large gate, and through the bars he could see the streets of a +town, and even the palace. The prince tried to pass in, but the +way was barred by the keeper of the gate, who wanted to know who +he was, why he was there, and how he had learnt the way, and he +was not allowed to enter unless the empress herself came and gave +him leave. A message was sent to her, and when she stood at the +gate the prince thought he had lost his wits, for there was the +maiden he had left his home to seek. And she hastened to him, +and took his hand, and drew him into the palace. In a few days +they were married, and the prince forgot his father and his +brothers, and made up his mind that he would live and die in the +castle. + +One morning the empress told him that she was going to take a +walk by herself, and that she would leave the keys of twelve +cellars to his care. 'If you wish to enter the first eleven +cellars,' said she, 'you can; but beware of even unlocking the +door of the twelfth, or it will be the worse for you.' + +The prince, who was left alone in the castle, soon got tired of +being by himself, and began to look about for something to amuse +him. + +'What CAN there be in that twelfth cellar,' he thought to +himself, 'which I must not see?' And he went downstairs and +unlocked the doors, one after the other. When he got to the +twelfth he paused, but his curiosity was too much for him, and in +another instant the key was turned and the cellar lay open before +him. It was empty, save for a large cask, bound with iron hoops, +and out of the cask a voice was saying entreatingly, 'For +goodness' sake, brother, fetch me some water; I am dying of +thirst!' + +The prince, who was very tender-hearted, brought some water at +once, and pushed it through a hole in the barrel; and as he did +so one of the iron hoops burst. + +He was turning away, when a voice cried the second time, +'Brother, for pity's sake fetch me some water; I'm dying of +thirst!' + +So the prince went back, and brought some more water, and again a +hoop sprang. + +And for the third time the voice still called for water; and when +water was given it the last hoop was rent, the cask fell in +pieces, and out flew a dragon, who snatched up the empress just +as she was returning from her walk, and carried her off. Some +servants who saw what had happened came rushing to the prince, +and the poor young man went nearly mad when he heard the result +of his own folly, and could only cry out that he would follow the +dragon to the ends of the earth, until he got his wife again. + +For months and months he wandered about, first in this direction +and then in that, without finding any traces of the dragon or his +captive. At last he came to a stream, and as he stopped for a +moment to look at it he noticed a little fish lying on the bank, +beating its tail convulsively, in a vain effort to get back into +the water. + +'Oh, for pity's sake, my brother,' shrieked the little creature, +'help me, and put me back into the river, and I will repay you +some day. Take one of my scales, and when you are in danger +twist it in your fingers, and I will come!' + +The prince picked up the fish and threw it into the water; then +he took off one of its scales, as he had been told, and put it in +his pocket, carefully wrapped in a cloth. Then he went on his +way till, some miles further down the road, he found a fox caught +in a trap. + +'Oh! be a brother to me!' called the fox, 'and free me from this +trap, and I will help you when you are in need. Pull out one of +my hairs, and when you are in danger twist it in your fingers, +and I will come.' + +So the prince unfastened the trap, pulled out one of the fox's +hairs, and continued his journey. And as he was going over the +mountain he passed a wolf entangled in a snare, who begged to be +set at liberty. + +'Only deliver me from death,' he said, 'and you will never be +sorry for it. Take a lock of my fur, and when you need me twist +it in your fingers.' And the prince undid the snare and let the +wolf go. + +For a long time he walked on, without having any more adventures, +till at length he met a man travelling on the same road. + +'Oh, brother!' asked the prince, 'tell me, if you can, where the +dragon-emperor lives?' + +The man told him where he would find the palace, and how long it +would take him to get there, and the prince thanked him, and +followed his directions, till that same evening he reached the +town where the dragon-emperor lived. When he entered the +palace, to his great joy he found his wife sitting alone in a +vast hall, and they began hastily to invent plans for her escape. + +There was no time to waste, as the dragon might return directly, +so they took two horses out of the stable, and rode away at +lightning speed. Hardly were they out of sight of the palace +than the dragon came home and found that his prisoner had flown. +He sent at once for his talking horse, and said to him: + +'Give me your advice; what shall I do--have my supper as usual, +or set out in pursuit of them?' + +'Eat your supper with a free mind first,' answered the horse, +'and follow them afterwards.' + +So the dragon ate till it was past mid-day, and when he could eat +no more he mounted his horse and set out after the fugitives. In +a short time he had come up with them, and as he snatched the +empress out of her saddle he said to the prince: + +'This time I will forgive you, because you brought me the water +when I was in the cask; but beware how you return here, or you +will pay for it with your life.' + +Half mad with grief, the prince rode sadly on a little further, +hardly knowing what he was doing. Then he could bear it no +longer and turned back to the palace, in spite of the dragon's +threats. Again the empress was sitting alone, and once more they +began to think of a scheme by which they could escape the +dragon's power. + +'Ask the dragon when he comes home,' said the prince, 'where he +got that wonderful horse from, and then you can tell me, and I +will try to find another like it.' + +Then, fearing to meet his enemy, he stole out of the castle. + +Soon after the dragon came home, and the empress sat down near +him, and began to coax and flatter him into a good humour, and at +last she said: + +'But tell me about that wonderful horse you were riding +yesterday. There cannot be another like it in the whole world. +Where did you get it from?' + +And he answered: + +'The way I got it is a way which no one else can take. On the +top of a high mountain dwells an old woman, who has in her +stables twelve horses, each one more beautiful than the other. +And in one corner is a thin, wretched-looking animal whom no one +would glance at a second time, but he is in reality the best of +the lot. He is twin brother to my own horse, and can fly as high +as the clouds themselves. But no one can ever get this horse +without first serving the old woman for three whole days. And +besides the horses she has a foal and its mother, and the man who +serves her must look after them for three whole days, and if he +does not let them run away he will in the end get the choice of +any horse as a present from the old woman. But if he fails to +keep the foal and its mother safe on any one of the three nights +his head will pay.' + +The next day the prince watched till the dragon left the house, +and then he crept in to the empress, who told him all she had +learnt from her gaoler. The prince at once determined to seek +the old woman on the top of the mountain, and lost no time in +setting out. It was a long and steep climb, but at last he found +her, and with a low bow he began: + +'Good greeting to you, little mother!' + +'Good greeting to you, my son! What are you doing here?' + +'I wish to become your servant,' answered he. + +'So you shall,' said the old woman. 'If you can take care of my +mare for three days I will give you a horse for wages, but if you +let her stray you will lose your head'; and as she spoke she led +him into a courtyard surrounded with palings, and on every post a +man's head was stuck. One post only was empty, and as they +passed it cried out: + +'Woman, give me the head I am waiting for!' + +The old woman made no answer, but turned to the prince and said: + +'Look! all those men took service with me, on the same +conditions as you, but not one was able to guard the mare!' + +But the prince did not waver, and declared he would abide by his +words. + +When evening came he led the mare out of the stable and mounted +her, and the colt ran behind. He managed to keep his seat for a +long time, in spite of all her efforts to throw him, but at +length he grew so weary that he fell fast asleep, and when he +woke he found himself sitting on a log, with the halter in his +hands. He jumped up in terror, but the mare was nowhere to be +seen, and he started with a beating heart in search of her. He +had gone some way without a single trace to guide him, when he +came to a little river. The sight of the water brought back to +his mind the fish whom he had saved from death, and he hastily +drew the scale from his pocket. It had hardly touched his +fingers when the fish appeared in the stream beside him. + +'What is it, my brother?' asked the fish anxiously. + +'The old woman's mare strayed last night, and I don't know where +to look for her.' + +'Oh, I can tell you that: she has changed herself into a big +fish, and her foal into a little one. But strike the water with +the halter and say, "Come here, O mare of the mountain witch!" +and she will come.' + +The prince did as he was bid, and the mare and her foal stood +before him. Then he put the halter round her neck, and rode her +home, the foal always trotting behind them. The old woman was at +the door to receive them, and gave the prince some food while she +led the mare back to the stable. + +'You should have gone among the fishes,' cried the old woman, +striking the animal with a stick. + +'I did go among the fishes,' replied the mare; 'but they are no +friends of mine, for they betrayed me at once.' + +'Well, go among the foxes this time,' said she, and returned to +the house, not knowing that the prince had overheard her. + +So when it began to grow dark the prince mounted the mare for the +second time and rode into the meadows, and the foal trotted +behind its mother. Again he managed to stick on till midnight: +then a sleep overtook him that he could not battle against, and +when he woke up he found himself, as before, sitting on the log, +with the halter in his hands. He gave a shriek of dismay, and +sprang up in search of the wanderers. As he went he suddenly +remembered the words that the old woman had said to the mare, and +he drew out the fox hair and twisted it in his fingers. + +'What is it, my brother?' asked the fox, who instantly appeared +before him. + +'The old witch's mare has run away from me, and I do not know +where to look for her.' + +'She is with us,' replied the fox, 'and has changed herself into +a big fox, and her foal into a little one, but strike the ground +with a halter and say, "Come here, O mare of the mountain +witch!"' + +The prince did so, and in a moment the fox became a mare and +stood before him, with the little foal at her heels. He mounted +and rode back, and the old woman placed food on the table, and +led the mare back to the stable. + +'You should have gone to the foxes, as I told you,' said she, +striking the mare with a stick. + +'I did go to the foxes,' replied the mare, 'but they are no +friends of mine and betrayed me.' + +'Well, this time you had better go to the wolves,' said she, not +knowing that the prince had heard all she had been saying. + +The third night the prince mounted the mare and rode her out to +the meadows, with the foal trotting after. He tried hard to keep +awake, but it was of no use, and in the morning there he was +again on the log, grasping the halter. He started to his feet, +and then stopped, for he remembered what the old woman had said, +and pulled out the wolf's grey lock. + +'What is it, my brother?' asked the wolf as it stood before him. + +'The old witch's mare has run away from me,' replied the prince, +'and I don't know where to find her.' + +'Oh, she is with us,' answered the wolf, 'and she has changed +herself into a she-wolf, and the foal into a cub; but strike the +earth here with the halter, and cry, "Come to me, O mare of the +mountain witch." ' + +The prince did as he was bid, and as the hair touched his fingers +the wolf changed back into a mare, with the foal beside her. And +when he had mounted and ridden her home the old woman was on the +steps to receive them, and she set some food before the prince, +but led the mare back to her stable. + +'You should have gone among the wolves,' said she, striking her +with a stick. + +'So I did,' replied the mare, 'but they are no friends of mine +and betrayed me.' + +The old woman made no answer, and left the stable, but the prince +was at the door waiting for her. + +'I have served you well,' said he, 'and now for my reward.' + +'What I promised that will I perform,' answered she. 'Choose one +of these twelve horses; you can have which you like.' + +'Give me, instead, that half-starved creature in the corner,' +asked the prince. 'I prefer him to all those beautiful animals.' + +'You can't really mean what you say?' replied the woman. + +'Yes, I do,' said the prince, and the old woman was forced to let +him have his way. So he took leave of her, and put the halter +round his horse's neck and led him into the forest, where he +rubbed him down till his skin was shining like gold. Then he +mounted, and they flew straight through the air to the dragon's +palace. The empress had been looking for him night and day, and +stole out to meet him, and he swung her on to his saddle, and the +horse flew off again. + +Not long after the dragon came home, and when he found the +empress was missing he said to his horse, 'What shall we do? +Shall we eat and drink, or shall we follow the runaways?' and the +horse replied, 'Whether you eat or don't eat, drink or don't +drink, follow them or stay at home, matters nothing now, for you +can never, never catch them.' + +But the dragon made no reply to the horse's words, but sprang on +his back and set off in chase of the fugitives. And when they +saw him coming they were frightened, and urged the prince's horse +faster and faster, till he said, 'Fear nothing; no harm can +happen to us,' and their hearts grew calm, for they trusted his +wisdom. + +Soon the dragon's horse was heard panting behind, and he cried +out, 'Oh, my brother, do not go so fast! I shall sink to the +earth if I try to keep up with you.' + +And the prince's horse answered, 'Why do you serve a monster like +that? Kick him off, and let him break in pieces on the ground, +and come and join us.' + +And the dragon's horse plunged and reared, and the dragon fell on +a rock, which broke him in pieces. Then the empress mounted his +horse, and rode back with her husband to her kingdom, over which +they ruled for many years. + +[Volksmarchen der Serben.] + + + +THE LUTE PLAYER + +Once upon a time there was a king and queen who lived happily and +comfortably together. They were very fond of each other and had +nothing to worry them, but at last the king grew restless. He +longed to go out into the world, to try his strength in battle +against some enemy and to win all kinds of honour and glory. + +So he called his army together and gave orders to start for a +distant country where a heathen king ruled who ill-treated or +tormented everyone he could lay his hands on. The king then gave +his parting orders and wise advice to his ministers, took a +tender leave of his wife, and set off with his army across the +seas. + +I cannot say whether the voyage was short or long; but at last he +reached the country of the heathen king and marched on, defeating +all who came in his way. But this did not last long, for in time +he came to a mountain pass, where a large army was waiting for +him, who put his soldiers to flight, and took the king himself +prisoner. + +He was carried off to the prison where the heathen king kept his +captives, and now our poor friend had a very bad time indeed. +All night long the prisoners were chained up, and in the morning +they were yoked together like oxen and had to plough the land +till it grew dark. + +This state of things went on for three years before the king +found any means of sending news of himself to his dear queen, but +at last he contrived to send this letter: 'Sell all our castles +and palaces, and put all our treasures in pawn and come and +deliver me out of this horrible prison.' + +The queen received the letter, read it, and wept bitterly as she +said to herself, 'How can I deliver my dearest husband? If I go +myself and the heathen king sees me he will just take me to be +one of his wives. If I were to send one of the ministers!--but I +hardly know if I can depend on them.' + +She thought, and thought, and at last an idea came into her head. + +She cut off all her beautiful long brown hair and dressed herself +in boy's clothes. Then she took her lute and, without saying +anything to anyone, she went forth into the wide world. + +She travelled through many lands and saw many cities, and went +through many hardships before she got to the town where the +heathen king lived. When she got there she walked all round the +palace and at the back she saw the prison. Then she went into +the great court in front of the palace, and taking her lute in +her hand, she began to play so beautifully that one felt as +though one could never hear enough. + +After she had played for some time she began to sing, and her +voice was sweeter than the lark's: + + 'I come from my own country far + Into this foreign land, + Of all I own I take alone + My sweet lute in my hand. + + 'Oh! who will thank me for my song, + Reward my simple lay? + Like lover's sighs it still shall rise + To greet thee day by day. + + 'I sing of blooming flowers + Made sweet by sun and rain; + Of all the bliss of love's first kiss, + And parting's cruel pain. + + 'Of the sad captive's longing + Within his prison wall, + Of hearts that sigh when none are nigh + To answer to their call. + + 'My song begs for your pity, + And gifts from out your store, + And as I play my gentle lay + I linger near your door. + + 'And if you hear my singing + Within your palace, sire, + Oh! give, I pray, this happy day, + To me my heart's desire.' + +No sooner had the heathen king heard this touching song sung by +such a lovely voice, than he had the singer brought before him. + +'Welcome, O lute player,' said he. 'Where do you come from?' + +'My country, sire, is far away across many seas. For years I +have been wandering about the world and gaining my living by my +music.' + +'Stay here then a few days, and when you wish to leave I will +give you what you ask for in your song--your heart's desire.' + +So the lute player stayed on in the palace and sang and played +almost all day long to the king, who could never tire of +listening and almost forgot to eat or drink or to torment people. + +He cared for nothing but the music, and nodded his head as he +declared, 'That's something like playing and singing. It makes +me feel as if some gentle hand had lifted every care and sorrow +from me.' + +After three days the lute player came to take leave of the king. + +'Well,' said the king, 'what do you desire as your reward?' + +'Sire, give me one of your prisoners. You have so many in your +prison, and I should be glad of a companion on my journeys. When +I hear his happy voice as I travel along I shall think of you and +thank you.' + +'Come along then,' said the king, 'choose whom you will.' And he +took the lute player through the prison himself. + +The queen walked about amongst the prisoners, and at length she +picked out her husband and took him with her on her journey. +They were long on their way, but he never found out who she was, +and she led him nearer and nearer to his own country. + +When they reached the frontier the prisoner said: + +'Let me go now, kind lad; I am no common prisoner, but the king +of this country. Let me go free and ask what you will as your +reward.' + +'Do not speak of reward,' answered the lute player. 'Go in +peace.' + +'Then come with me, dear boy, and be my guest.' + +'When the proper time comes I shall be at your palace,' was the +reply, and so they parted. + +The queen took a short way home, got there before the king and +changed her dress. + +An hour later all the people in the palace were running to and +fro and crying out: 'Our king has come back! Our king has +returned to us.' + +The king greeted every one very kindly, but he would not so much +as look at the queen. + +Then he called all his council and ministers together and said to +them: + +'See what sort of a wife I have. Here she is falling on my neck, +but when I was pining in prison and sent her word of it she did +nothing to help me.' + +And his council answered with one voice, 'Sire, when news was +brought from you the queen disappeared and no one knew where she +went. She only returned to-day.' + +Then the king was very angry and cried, 'Judge my faithless wife! + +Never would you have seen your king again, if a young lute player +had not delivered him. I shall remember him with love and +gratitude as long as I live.' + +Whilst the king was sitting with his council, the queen found +time to disguise herself. She took her lute, and slipping into +the court in front of the palace she sang, clear and sweet: + + 'I sing the captive's longing + Within his prison wall, + Of hearts that sigh when none are nigh + To answer to their call. + + 'My song begs for your pity, + And gifts from out your store, + And as I play my gentle lay + I linger near your door. + + 'And if you hear my singing + Within your palace, sire, + Oh! give, I pray, this happy day, + To me my heart's desire.' + +As soon as the king heard this song he ran out to meet the lute +player, took him by the hand and led him into the palace. + +'Here,' he cried, 'is the boy who released me from my prison. +And now, my true friend, I will indeed give you your heart's +desire.' + +'I am sure you will not be less generous than the heathen king +was, sire. I ask of you what I asked and obtained from him. But +this time I don't mean to give up what I get. I want +YOU--yourself!' + +And as she spoke she threw off her long cloak and everyone saw it +was the queen. + +Who can tell how happy the king was? In the joy of his heart he +gave a great feast to the whole world, and the whole world came +and rejoiced with him for a whole week. + +I was there too, and ate and drank many good things. I sha'n't +forget that feast as long as I live. + +[From the Russian.] + + + +THE GRATEFUL PRINCE + +Once upon a time the king of the Goldland lost himself in a +forest, and try as he would he could not find the way out. As he +was wandering down one path which had looked at first more +hopeful than the rest he saw a man coming towards him. + +'What are you doing here, friend?' asked the stranger; 'darkness +is falling fast, and soon the wild beasts will come from their +lairs to seek for food.' + +'I have lost myself,' answered the king, 'and am trying to get +home.' + +'Then promise me that you will give me the first thing that comes +out of your house, and I will show you the way,' said the +stranger. + +The king did not answer directly, but after awhile he spoke: +'Why should I give away my BEST sporting dog. I can surely find +my way out of the forest as well as this man.' + +So the stranger left him, but the king followed path after path +for three whole days, with no better success than before. He was +almost in despair, when the stranger suddenly appeared, blocking +up his way. + +'Promise you will give me the first thing that comes out of your +house to meet you?' + +But still the king was stiff-necked and would promise nothing. + +For some days longer he wandered up and down the forest, trying +first one path, then another, but his courage at last gave way, +and he sank wearily on the ground under a tree, feeling sure his +last hour had come. Then for the third time the stranger stood +before the king, and said: + +'Why are you such a fool? What can a dog be to you, that you +should give your life for him like this? Just promise me the +reward I want, and I will guide you out of the forest.' + +'Well, my life is worth more than a thousand dogs,' answered the +king, 'the welfare of my kingdom depends on me. I accept your +terms, so take me to my palace.' Scarcely had he uttered the +words than he found himself at the edge of the wood, with the +palace in the dim distance. He made all the haste he could, and +just as he reached the great gates out came the nurse with the +royal baby, who stretched out his arms to his father. The king +shrank back, and ordered the nurse to take the baby away at once. + +Then his great boarhound bounded up to him, but his caresses were +only answered by a violent push. + +When the king's anger was spent, and he was able to think what +was best to be done, he exchanged his baby, a beautiful boy, for +the daughter of a peasant, and the prince lived roughly as the +son of poor people, while the little girl slept in a golden +cradle, under silken sheets. At the end of a year, the stranger +arrived to claim his property, and took away the little girl, +believing her to be the true child of the king. The king was so +delighted with the success of his plan that he ordered a great +feast to be got ready, and gave splendid presents to the foster +parents of his son, so that he might lack nothing. But he did +not dare to bring back the baby, lest the trick should be found +out. The peasants were quite contented with this arrangement, +which gave them food and money in abundance. + +By-and-by the boy grew big and tall, and seemed to lead a happy +life in the house of his foster parents. But a shadow hung over +him which really poisoned most of his pleasure, and that was the +thought of the poor innocent girl who had suffered in his stead, +for his foster father had told him in secret, that he was the +king's son. And the prince determined that when he grew old +enough he would travel all over the world, and never rest till he +had set her free. To become king at the cost of a maiden's life +was too heavy a price to pay. So one day he put on the dress of +a farm servant, threw a sack of peas on his back, and marched +straight into the forest where eighteen years before his father +had lost himself. After he had walked some way he began to cry +loudly: 'Oh, how unlucky I am! Where can I be? Is there no one +to show me the way out of the wood?' + +Then appeared a strange man with a long grey beard, with a +leather bag hanging from his girdle. He nodded cheerfully to the +prince, and said: 'I know this place well, and can lead you out +of it, if you will promise me a good reward.' + +'What can a beggar such as I promise you?' answered the prince. +'I have nothing to give you save my life; even the coat on my +back belongs to my master, whom I serve for my keep and my +clothes.' + +The stranger looked at the sack of peas, and said, 'But you must +possess something; you are carrying this sack, which seems to be +very heavy.' + +'It is full of peas,' was the reply. 'My old aunt died last +night, without leaving money enough to buy peas to give the +watchers, as is the custom throughout the country. I have +borrowed these peas from my master, and thought to take a short +cut across the forest; but I have lost myself, as you see.' + +'Then you are an orphan?' asked the stranger. 'Why should you +not enter my service? I want a sharp fellow in the house, and +you please me.' + +'Why not, indeed, if we can strike a bargain?' said the other. +'I was born a peasant, and strange bread is always bitter, so it +is the same to me whom I serve! What wages will you give me?' + +'Every day fresh food, meat twice a week, butter and vegetables, +your summer and winter clothes, and a portion of land for your +own use.' + +'I shall be satisfied with that,' said the youth. 'Somebody else +will have to bury my aunt. I will go with you!' + +Now this bargain seemed to please the old fellow so much that he +spun round like a top, and sang so loud that the whole wood rang +with his voice. Then he set out with his companion, and +chattered so fast that he never noticed that his new servant kept +dropping peas out of the sack. At night they slept under a fig +tree, and when the sun rose started on their way. About noon +they came to a large stone, and here the old fellow stopped, +looked carefully round, gave a sharp whistle, and stamped three +times on the ground with his left foot. Suddenly there appeared +under the stone a secret door, which led to what looked like the +mouth of a cave. The old fellow seized the youth by the arm, and +said roughly, 'Follow me!' + +Thick darkness surrounded them, yet it seemed to the prince as if +their path led into still deeper depths. After a long while he +thought he saw a glimmer of light, but the light was neither that +of the sun nor of the moon. He looked eagerly at it, but found +it was only a kind of pale cloud, which was all the light this +strange underworld could boast. Earth and water, trees and +plants, birds and beasts, each was different from those he had +seen before; but what most struck terror into his heart was the +absolute stillness that reigned everywhere. Not a rustle or a +sound could be heard. Here and there he noticed a bird sitting +on a branch, with head erect and swelling throat, but his ear +caught nothing. The dogs opened their mouths as if to bark, the +toiling oxen seemed about to bellow, but neither bark nor bellow +reached the prince. The water flowed noiselessly over the +pebbles, the wind bowed the tops of the trees, flies and chafers +darted about, without breaking the silence. The old greybeard +uttered no word, and when his companion tried to ask him the +meaning of it all he felt that his voice died in his throat. + +How long this fearful stillness lasted I do not know, but the +prince gradually felt his heart turning to ice, his hair stood up +like bristles, and a cold chill was creeping down his spine, when +at last--oh, ecstasy!--a faint noise broke on his straining ears, +and this life of shadows suddenly became real. It sounded as if +a troop of horses were ploughing their way over a moor. + +Then the greybeard opened his mouth, and said: 'The kettle is +boiling; we are expected at home.' + +They walked on a little further, till the prince thought he heard +the grinding of a saw-mill, as if dozens of saws were working +together, but his guide observed, 'The grandmother is sleeping +soundly; listen how she snores.' + +When they had climbed a hill which lay before them the prince saw +in the distance the house of his master, but it was so surrounded +with buildings of all kinds that the place looked more like a +village or even a small town. They reached it at last, and found +an empty kennel standing in front of the gate. 'Creep inside +this,' said the master, 'and wait while I go in and see my +grandmother. Like all very old people, she is very obstinate, +and cannot bear fresh faces about her.' + +The prince crept tremblingly into the kennel, and began to regret +the daring which had brought him into this scrape. + +By-and-by the master came back, and called him from his +hiding-place. Something had put out his temper, for with a frown +he said, 'Watch carefully our ways in the house, and beware of +making any mistake, or it will go ill with you. Keep your eyes +and ears open, and your mouth shut, obey without questions. Be +grateful if you will, but never speak unless you are spoken to.' + +When the prince stepped over the threshold he caught sight of a +maiden of wonderful beauty, with brown eyes and fair curly hair. +'Well!' the young man said to himself, 'if the old fellow has +many daughters like that I should not mind being his son-in-law. +This one is just what I admire'; and he watched her lay the +table, bring in the food, and take her seat by the fire as if she +had never noticed that a strange man was present. Then she took +out a needle and thread, and began to darn her stockings. The +master sat at table alone, and invited neither his new servant +nor the maid to eat with him. Neither was the old grandmother +anywhere to be seen. His appetite was tremendous: he soon +cleared all the dishes, and ate enough to satisfy a dozen men. +When at last he could eat no more he said to the girl, 'Now you +can pick up the pieces, and take what is left in the iron pot for +your own dinner, but give the bones to the dog.' + +The prince did not at all like the idea of dining off scraps, +which he helped the girl to pick up, but, after all, he found +that there was plenty to eat, and that the food was very good. +During the meal he stole many glances at the maiden, and would +even have spoken to her, but she gave him no encouragement. +Every time he opened his mouth for the purpose she looked at him +sternly, as if to say, 'Silence,' so he could only let his eyes +speak for him. Besides, the master was stretched on a bench by +the oven after his huge meal, and would have heard everything. + +After supper that night, the old man said to the prince, 'For two +days you may rest from the fatigues of the journey, and look +about the house. But the day after to-morrow you must come with +me, and I will point out the work you have to do. The maid will +show you where you are to sleep.' + +The prince thought, from this, he had leave to speak, but his +master turned on him with a face of thunder and exclaimed: + +'You dog of a servant! If you disobey the laws of the house you +will soon find yourself a head shorter! Hold your tongue, and +leave me in peace.' + +The girl made a sign to him to follow her, and, throwing open a +door, nodded to him to go in. He would have lingered a moment, +for he thought she looked sad, but dared not do so, for fear of +the old man's anger. + +'It is impossible that she can be his daughter!' he said to +himself, 'for she has a kind heart. I am quite sure she must be +the same girl who was brought here instead of me, so I am bound +to risk my head in this mad adventure.' He got into bed, but it +was long before he fell asleep, and even then his dreams gave him +no rest. He seemed to be surrounded by dangers, and it was only +the power of the maiden who helped him through it all. + +When he woke his first thoughts were for the girl, whom he found +hard at work. He drew water from the well and carried it to the +house for her, kindled the fire under the iron pot, and, in fact, +did everything that came into his head that could be of any use +to her. In the afternoon he went out, in order to learn +something of his new home, and wondered greatly not to come +across the old grandmother. In his rambles he came to the +farmyard, where a beautiful white horse had a stall to itself; in +another was a black cow with two white-faced calves, while the +clucking of geese, ducks, and hens reached him from a distance. + +Breakfast, dinner, and supper were as savoury as before, and the +prince would have been quite content with his quarters had it not +been for the difficulty of keeping silence in the presence of the +maiden. On the evening of the second day he went, as he had been +told, to receive his orders for the following morning. + +'I am going to set you something very easy to do to-morrow,' +said the old man when his servant entered. 'Take this scythe and +cut as much grass as the white horse will want for its day's +feed, and clean out its stall. If I come back and find the +manger empty it will go ill with you. So beware!' + +The prince left the room, rejoicing in his heart, and saying to +himself, 'Well, I shall soon get through that! If I have never +yet handled either the plough or the scythe, at least I have +often watched the country people work them, and know how easy it +is.' + +He was just going to open his door, when the maiden glided softly +past and whispered in his ear: 'What task has he set you?' + +'For to-morrow,' answered the prince, 'it is really nothing at +all! Just to cut hay for the horse, and to clean out his stall!' + +'Oh, luckless being!' sighed the girl; 'how will you ever get +through with it. The white horse, who is our master's +grandmother, is always hungry: it takes twenty men always mowing +to keep it in food for one day, and another twenty to clean out +its stall. How, then, do you expect to do it all by yourself? +But listen to me, and do what I tell you. It is your only +chance. When you have filled the manger as full as it will hold +you must weave a strong plait of the rushes which grow among the +meadow hay, and cut a thick peg of stout wood, and be sure that +the horse sees what you are doing. Then it will ask you what it +is for, and you will say, 'With this plait I intend to bind up +your mouth so that you cannot eat any more, and with this peg I +am going to keep you still in one spot, so that you cannot +scatter your corn and water all over the place!' After these +words the maiden went away as softly as she had come. + +Early the next morning he set to work. His scythe danced through +the grass much more easily than he had hoped, and soon he had +enough to fill the manger. He put it in the crib, and returned +with a second supply, when to his horror he found the crib empty. + +Then he knew that without the maiden's advice he would certainly +have been lost, and began to put it into practice. He took out +the rushes which had somehow got mixed up with the hay, and +plaited them quickly. + +'My son, what are you doing?' asked the horse wonderingly. + +'Oh, nothing!' replied he. 'Just weaving a chin strap to bind +your jaws together, in case you might wish to eat any more!' + +The white horse sighed deeply when it heard this, and made up its +mind to be content with what it had eaten. + +The youth next began to clean out the stall, and the horse knew +it had found a master; and by mid-day there was still fodder in +the manger, and the place was as clean as a new pin. He had +barely finished when in walked the old man, who stood astonished +at the door. + +'Is it really you who have been clever enough to do that?' he +asked. 'Or has some one else given you a hint?' + +'Oh, I have had no help,' replied the prince, 'except what my +poor weak head could give me.' + +The old man frowned, and went away, and the prince rejoiced that +everything had turned out so well. + +In the evening his master said, 'To-morrow I have no special task +to set you, but as the girl has a great deal to do in the house +you must milk the black cow for her. But take care you milk her +dry, or it may be the worse for you.' + +'Well,' thought the prince as he went away, 'unless there is some +trick behind, this does not sound very hard. I have never milked +a cow before, but I have good strong fingers.' + +He was very sleepy, and was just going toward his room, when the +maiden came to him and asked: 'What is your task to-morrow?' + +'I am to help you,' he answered, 'and have nothing to do all day, +except to milk the black cow dry.' + +'Oh, you are unlucky,' cried she. 'If you were to try from +morning till night you couldn't do it. There is only one way of +escaping the danger, and that is, when you go to milk her, take +with you a pan of burning coals and a pair of tongs. Place the +pan on the floor of the stall, and the tongs on the fire, and +blow with all your might, till the coals burn brightly. The +black cow will ask you what is the meaning of all this, and you +must answer what I will whisper to you.' And she stood on +tip-toe and whispered something in his ear, and then went away. + +The dawn had scarcely reddened the sky when the prince jumped out +of bed, and, with the pan of coals in one hand and the milk pail +in the other, went straight to the cow's stall, and began to do +exactly as the maiden had told him the evening before. + +The black cow watched him with surprise for some time, and then +said: 'What are you doing, sonny?' + +'Oh, nothing,' answered he; 'I am only heating a pair of tongs in +case you may not feel inclined to give as much milk as I want.' + +The cow sighed deeply, and looked at the milkman with fear, but +he took no notice, and milked briskly into the pail, till the cow +ran dry. + +Just at that moment the old man entered the stable, and sat down +to milk the cow himself, but not a drop of milk could he get. +'Have you really managed it all yourself, or did somebody help +you?' + +'I have nobody to help me,' answered the prince, 'but my own poor +head.' The old man got up from his seat and went away. + +That night, when the prince went to his master to hear what his +next day's work was to be, the old man said: 'I have a little +hay-stack out in the meadow which must be brought in to dry. +To-morrow you will have to stack it all in the shed, and, as you +value your life, be careful not to leave the smallest strand +behind.' The prince was overjoyed to hear he had nothing worse +to do. + +'To carry a little hay-rick requires no great skill,' thought he, +'and it will give me no trouble, for the horse will have to draw +it in. I am certainly not going to spare the old grandmother.' + +By-and-by the maiden stole up to ask what task he had for the +next day. + +The young man laughed, and said: 'It appears that I have got to +learn all kinds of farmer's work. To-morrow I have to carry a +hay-rick, and leave not a stalk in the meadow, and that is my +whole day's work!' + +'Oh, you unlucky creature!' cried she; 'and how do you think you +are to do it. If you had all the men in the world to help you, +you could not clear off this one little hay-rick in a week. The +instant you have thrown down the hay at the top, it will take +root again from below. But listen to what I say. You must steal +out at daybreak to-morrow and bring out the white horse and some +good strong ropes. Then get on the hay-stack, put the ropes +round it, and harness the horse to the ropes. When you are +ready, climb up the hay-stack and begin to count one, two, three. + +The horse will ask you what you are counting, and you must be +sure to answer what I whisper to you.' + +So the maiden whispered something in his ear, and left the room. +And the prince knew nothing better to do than to get into bed. + +He slept soundly, and it was still almost dark when he got up and +proceeded to carry out the instructions given him by the girl. +First he chose some stout ropes, and then he led the horse out of +the stable and rode it to the hay-stack, which was made up of +fifty cartloads, so that it could hardly be called 'a little +one.' The prince did all that the maiden had told him, and when +at last he was seated on top of the rick, and had counted up to +twenty, he heard the horse ask in amazement: 'What are you +counting up there, my son?' + +'Oh, nothing,' said he, 'I was just amusing myself with counting +the packs of wolves in the forest, but there are really so many +of them that I don't think I should ever be done.' + +The word 'wolf' was hardly out of his mouth than the white horse +was off like the wind, so that in the twinkling of an eye it had +reached the shed, dragging the hay-stack behind it. The master +was dumb with surprise as he came in after breakfast and found +his man's day's work quite done. + +'Was it really you who were so clever?' asked he. 'Or did some +one give you good advice?' + +'Oh, I have only myself to take counsel with,' said the prince, +and the old man went away, shaking his head. + +Late in the evening the prince went to his master to learn what +he was to do next day. + +'To-morrow,' said the old man, 'you must bring the white-headed +calf to the meadow, and, as you value your life, take care it +does not escape from you.' + +The prince answered nothing, but thought, 'Well, most peasants of +nineteen have got a whole herd to look after, so surely I can +manage one.' And he went towards his room, where the maiden met +him. + +'To morrow I have got an idiot's work,' said he; 'nothing but to +take the white-headed calf to the meadow.' + +'Oh, you unlucky being!' sighed she. 'Do you know that this calf +is so swift that in a single day he can run three times round the +world? Take heed to what I tell you. Bind one end of this silk +thread to the left fore-leg of the calf, and the other end to the +little toe of your left foot, so that the calf will never be able +to leave your side, whether you walk, stand, or lie.' After this +the prince went to bed and slept soundly. + +The next morning he did exactly what the maiden had told him, and +led the calf with the silken thread to the meadow, where it stuck +to his side like a faithful dog. + +By sunset, it was back again in its stall, and then came the +master and said, with a frown, 'Were you really so clever +yourself, or did somebody tell you what to do?' + +'Oh, I have only my own poor head,' answered the prince, and the +old man went away growling, 'I don't believe a word of it! I am +sure you have found some clever friend!' + +In the evening he called the prince and said: 'To- morrow I have +no work for you, but when I wake you must come before my bed, and +give me your hand in greeting.' + +The young man wondered at this strange freak, and went laughing +in search of the maiden. + +'Ah, it is no laughing matter,' sighed she. 'He means to eat +you, and there is only one way in which I can help you. You must +heat an iron shovel red hot, and hold it out to him instead of +your hand.' + +So next morning he wakened very early, and had heated the shovel +before the old man was awake. At length he heard him calling, +'You lazy fellow, where are you? Come and wish me good morning.' + +But when the prince entered with the red-hot shovel his master +only said, 'I am very ill to-day, and too weak even to touch your +hand. You must return this evening, when I may be better.' + +The prince loitered about all day, and in the evening went back +to the old man's room. He was received in the most; friendly +manner, and, to his surprise, his master exclaimed, 'I am very +well satisfied with you. Come to me at dawn and bring the maiden +with you. I know you have long loved each other, and I wish to +make you man and wife.' + +The young man nearly jumped into the air for joy, but, +remembering the rules of the house, he managed to keep still. +When he told the maiden, he saw to his astonishment that she had +become as white as a sheet, and she was quite dumb. + +'The old man has found out who was your counsellor,' she said +when she could speak, 'and he means to destroy us both.' We must +escape somehow, or else we shall be lost. Take an axe, and cut +off the head of the calf with one blow. With a second, split its +head in two, and in its brain you will see a bright red ball. +Bring that to me. Meanwhile, I will do what is needful here. + +And the prince thought to himself, 'Better kill the calf than be +killed ourselves. If we can once escape, we will go back home. +The peas which I strewed about must have sprouted, so that we +shall not miss the way.' + +Then he went into the stall, and with one blow of the axe killed +the calf, and with the second split its brain. In an instant the +place was filled with light, as the red ball fell from the brain +of the calf. The prince picked it up, and, wrapping it round +with a thick cloth, hid it in his bosom. Mercifully, the cow +slept through it all, or by her cries she would have awakened the +master. + +He looked round, and at the door stood the maiden, holding a +little bundle in her arms. + +'Where is the ball?' she asked. + +'Here,' answered he. + +'We must lose no time in escaping,' she went on, and uncovered a +tiny bit of the shining ball, to light them on their way. + +As the prince had expected the peas had taken root, and grown +into a little hedge, so that they were sure they would not lose +the path. As they fled, the girl told him that she had overheard +a conversation between the old man and his grandmother, saying +that she was a king's daughter, whom the old fellow had obtained +by cunning from her parents. The prince, who knew all about the +affair, was silent, though he was glad from his heart that it +had fallen to his lot to set her free. So they went on till the +day began to dawn. + +The old man slept very late that morning, and rubbed his eyes +till he was properly awake. Then he remembered that very soon +the couple were to present themselves before him. After waiting +and waiting till quite a long time had passed, he said to +himself, with a grin, 'Well, they are not in much hurry to be +married,' and waited again. + +At last he grew a little uneasy, and cried loudly, 'Man and maid! +what has become of you?' + +After repeating this many times, he became quite frightened, but, +call as he would, neither man nor maid appeared. At last he +jumped angrily out of bed to go in search of the culprits, but +only found an empty house, and beds that had never been slept in. + +Then he went straight to the stable, where the sight of the dead +calf told him all. Swearing loudly, he opened the door of the +third stall quickly, and cried to his goblin servants to go and +chase the fugitives. 'Bring them to me, however you may find +them, for have them I must!' he said. So spake the old man, and +the servants fled like the wind. + +The runaways were crossing a great plain, when the maiden +stopped. 'Something has happened!' she said. 'The ball moves in +my hand, and I'm sure we are being followed!' and behind them +they saw a black cloud flying before the wind. Then the maiden +turned the ball thrice in her hand, and cried, + + 'Listen to me, my ball, my ball. + Be quick and change me into a brook, + And my lover into a little fish.' + +And in an instant there was a brook with a fish swimming in it. +The goblins arrived just after, but, seeing nobody, waited for a +little, then hurried home, leaving the brook and the fish +undisturbed. When they were quite out of sight, the brook and +the fish returned to their usual shapes and proceeded on their +journey. + +When the goblins, tired and with empty hands, returned, their +master inquired what they had seen, and if nothing strange had +befallen them. + +'Nothing,' said they; 'the plain was quite empty, save for a +brook and a fish swimming in it.' + +'Idiots!' roared the master; 'of course it was they!' And dashing +open the door of the fifth stall, he told the goblins inside that +they must go and drink up the brook, and catch the fish. And the +goblins jumped up, and flew like the wind. + +The young pair had almost reached the edge of the wood, when the +maiden stopped again. 'Something has happened,' said she. 'The +ball is moving in my hand,' and looking round she beheld a cloud +flying towards them, large and blacker than the first, and +striped with red. 'Those are our pursuers,' cried she, and +turning the ball three times in her hand she spoke to it thus: + + 'Listen to me, my ball, my ball. + Be quick and change us both. + Me into a wild rose bush, + And him into a rose on my stem.' + +And in the twinkling of an eye it was done. Only just in time +too, for the goblins were close at hand, and looked round eagerly +for the stream and the fish. But neither stream nor fish was to +be seen; nothing but a rose bush. So they went sorrowing home, +and when they were out of sight the rose bush and rose returned +to their proper shapes and walked all the faster for the little +rest they had had. + +'Well, did you find them?' asked the old man when his goblins +came back. + +'No,' replied the leader of the goblins, 'we found neither brook +nor fish in the desert.' + +'And did you find nothing else at all?' + +'Oh, nothing but a rose tree on the edge of a wood, with a rose +hanging on it.' + +'Idiots!' cried he. 'Why, that was they.' And he threw open the +door of the seventh stall, where his mightiest goblins were +locked in. 'Bring them to me, however you find them, dead or +alive!' thundered he, 'for I will have them! Tear up the rose +tree and the roots too, and don't leave anything behind, however +strange it may be!' + +The fugitives were resting in the shade of a wood, and were +refreshing themselves with food and drink. Suddenly the maiden +looked up. 'Something has happened,' said she. 'The ball has +nearly jumped out of my bosom! Some one is certainly following +us, and the danger is near, but the trees hide our enemies from +us.' + +As she spoke she took the ball in her hand, and said: + + 'Listen to me, my ball, my ball. + Be quick and change me into a breeze, + And make my lover into a midge.' + +An instant, and the girl was dissolved into thin air, while the +prince darted about like a midge. The next moment a crowd of +goblins rushed up, and looked about in search of something +strange, for neither a rose bush nor anything else was to be +seen. But they had hardly turned their backs to go home +empty-handed when the prince and the maiden stood on the earth +again. + +'We must make all the haste we can,' said she, 'before the old +man himself comes to seek us, for he will know us under any +disguise.' + +They ran on till they reached such a dark part of the forest +that, if it had not been for the light shed by the ball, they +could not have made their way at all. Worn out and breathless, +they came at length to a large stone, and here the ball began to +move restlessly. The maiden, seeing this, exclaimed: + + 'Listen to me, my ball, my ball. + Roll the stone quickly to one side, + That we may find a door.' + +And in a moment the stone had rolled away, and they had passed +through the door to the world again. + +'Now we are safe,' cried she. 'Here the old wizard has no more +power over us, and we can guard ourselves from his spells. But, +my friend, we have to part! You will return to your parents, and +I must go in search of mine.' + +'No! no!' exclaimed the prince. 'I will never part from you. +You must come with me and be my wife. We have gone through many +troubles together, and now we will share our joys. The maiden +resisted his words for some time, but at last she went with him. + +In the forest they met a woodcutter, who told them that in the +palace, as well as in all the land, there had been great sorrow +over the loss of the prince, and many years had now passed away +during which they had found no traces of him. So, by the help of +the magic ball, the maiden managed that he should put on the same +clothes that he had been wearing at the time he had vanished, so +that his father might know him more quickly. She herself stayed +behind in a peasant's hut, so that father and son might meet +alone. + +But the father was no longer there, for the loss of his son had +killed him; and on his deathbed he confessed to his people how he +had contrived that the old wizard should carry away a peasant's +child instead of the prince, wherefore this punishment had fallen +upon him. + +The prince wept bitterly when he heard this news, for he had +loved his father well, and for three days he ate and drank +nothing. But on the fourth day he stood in the presence of his +people as their new king, and, calling his councillors, he told +them all the strange things that had befallen him, and how the +maiden had borne him safe through all. + +And the councillors cried with one voice, 'Let her be your wife, +and our liege lady.' + +And that is the end of the story. + +[Ehstnische Marchen.] + + + +THE CHILD WHO CAME FROM AN EGG + +Once upon a time there lived a queen whose heart was sore because +she had no children. She was sad enough when her husband was at +home with her, but when he was away she would see nobody, but sat +and wept all day long. + +Now it happened that a war broke out with the king of a +neighbouring country, and the queen was left in the palace alone. + +She was so unhappy that she felt as if the walls would stifle +her, so she wandered out into the garden, and threw herself down +on a grassy bank, under the shade of a lime tree. She had been +there for some time, when a rustle among the leaves caused her to +look up, and she saw an old woman limping on her crutches towards +the stream that flowed through the grounds. + +When she had quenched her thirst, she came straight up to the +queen, and said to her: 'Do not take it evil, noble lady, that I +dare to speak to you, and do not be afraid of me, for it may be +that I shall bring you good luck.' + +The queen looked at her doubtfully, and answered: 'You do not +seem as if you had been very lucky yourself, or to have much good +fortune to spare for anyone else.' + +'Under rough bark lies smooth wood and sweet kernel,' replied the +old woman. 'Let me see your hand, that I may read the future.' + +The queen held out her hand, and the old woman examined its lines +closely. Then she said, 'Your heart is heavy with two sorrows, +one old and one new. The new sorrow is for your husband, who is +fighting far away from you; but, believe me, he is well, and will +soon bring you joyful news. But your other sorrow is much older +than this. Your happiness is spoilt because you have no +children.' At these words the queen became scarlet, and tried to +draw away her hand, but the old woman said: + +'Have a little patience, for there are some things I want to see +more clearly.' + +'But who are you?' asked the queen, 'for you seem to be able to +read my heart.' + +'Never mind my name,' answered she, 'but rejoice that it is +permitted to me to show you a way to lessen your grief. You +must, however, promise to do exactly what I tell you, if any good +is to come of it.' + +'Oh, I will obey you exactly,' cried the queen, 'and if you can +help me you shall have in return anything you ask for.' + +The old woman stood thinking for a little: then she drew +something from the folds of her dress, and, undoing a number of +wrappings, brought out a tiny basket made of birch-bark. She +held it out to the queen, saying, 'In the basket you will find a +bird's egg. This you must be careful to keep in a warm place for +three months, when it will turn into a doll. Lay the doll in a +basket lined with soft wool, and leave it alone, for it will not +need any food, and by-and-by you will find it has grown to be the +size of a baby. Then you will have a baby of your own, and you +must put it by the side of the other child, and bring your +husband to see his son and daughter. The boy you will bring up +yourself, but you must entrust the little girl to a nurse. When +the time comes to have them christened you will invite me to be +godmother to the princess, and this is how you must send the +invitation. Hidden in the cradle, you will find a goose's wing: +throw this out of the window, and I will be with you directly; +but be sure you tell no one of all the things that have befallen +you.' + +The queen was about to reply, but the old woman was already +limping away, and before she had gone two steps she had turned +into a young girl, who moved so quickly that she seemed rather to +fly than to walk. The queen, watching this transformation, could +hardly believe her eyes, and would have taken it all for a dream, +had it not been for the basket which she held in her hand. +Feeling a different being from the poor sad woman who had +wandered into the garden so short a time before, she hastened to +her room, and felt carefully in the basket for the egg. There it +was, a tiny thing of soft blue with little green spots, and she +took it out and kept it in her bosom, which was the warmest place +she could think of. + +A fortnight after the old woman had paid her visit, the king came +home, having conquered his enemies. At this proof that the old +woman had spoken truth, the queen's heart bounded, for she now +had fresh hopes that the rest of the prophecy might be fulfilled. + +She cherished the basket and the egg as her chiefest treasures, +and had a golden case made for the basket, so that when the time +came to lay the egg in it, it might not risk any harm. + +Three months passed, and, as the old woman had bidden her, the +queen took the egg from her bosom, and laid it snugly amidst the +warm woollen folds. The next morning she went to look at it, and +the first thing she saw was the broken eggshell, and a little +doll lying among the pieces. Then she felt happy at last, and +leaving the doll in peace to grow, waited, as she had been told, +for a baby of her own to lay beside it. + +In course of time, this came also, and the queen took the little +girl out of the basket, and placed it with her son in a golden +cradle which glittered with precious stones. Next she sent for +the king, who nearly went mad with joy at the sight of the +children. + +Soon there came a day when the whole court was ordered to be +present at the christening of the royal babies, and when all was +ready the queen softly opened the window a little, and let the +goose wing fly out. The guests were coming thick and fast, when +suddenly there drove up a splendid coach drawn by six +cream-coloured horses, and out of it stepped a young lady dressed +in garments that shone like the sun. Her face could not be seen, +for a veil covered her head, but as she came up to the place +where the queen was standing with the babies she drew the veil +aside, and everyone was dazzled with her beauty. She took the +little girl in her arms, and holding it up before the assembled +company announced that henceforward it would be known by the name +of Dotterine--a name which no one understood but the queen, who +knew that the baby had come from the yolk of an egg. The boy was +called Willem. + +After the feast was over and the guests were going away, the +godmother laid the baby in the cradle, and said to the queen, +'Whenever the baby goes to sleep, be sure you lay the basket +beside her, and leave the eggshells in it. As long as you do +that, no evil can come to her; so guard this treasure as the +apple of your eye, and teach your daughter to do so likewise.' +Then, kissing the baby three times, she mounted her coach and +drove away. + +The children throve well, and Dotterine's nurse loved her as if +she were the baby's real mother. Every day the little girl +seemed to grow prettier, and people used to say she would soon be +as beautiful as her godmother, but no one knew, except the nurse, +that at night, when the child slept, a strange and lovely lady +bent over her. At length she told the queen what she had seen, +but they determined to keep it as a secret between themselves. + +The twins were by this time nearly two years old, when the queen +was taken suddenly ill. All the best doctors in the country were +sent for, but it was no use, for there is no cure for death. The +queen knew she was dying, and sent for Dotterine and her nurse, +who had now become her lady-in-waiting. To her, as her most +faithful servant, she gave the lucky basket in charge, and +besought her to treasure it carefully. 'When my daughter,' said +the queen, 'is ten years old, you are to hand it over to her, but +warn her solemnly that her whole future happiness depends on the +way she guards it. About my son, I have no fears. He is the +heir of the kingdom, and his father will look after him.' The +lady-in-waiting promised to carry out the queen's directions, and +above all to keep the affair a secret. And that same morning the +queen died. + +After some years the king married again, but he did not love his +second wife as he had done his first, and had only married her +for reasons of ambition. She hated her step-children, and the +king, seeing this, kept them out of the way, under the care of +Dotterine's old nurse. But if they ever strayed across the path +of the queen, she would kick them out of her sight like dogs. + +On Dotterine's tenth birthday her nurse handed her over the +cradle, and repeated to her her mother's dying words; but the +child was too young to understand the value of such a gift, and +at first thought little about it. + +Two more years slipped by, when one day during the king's absence +the stepmother found Dotterine sitting under a lime tree. She +fell as usual into a passion, and beat the child so badly that +Dotterine went staggering to her own room. Her nurse was not +there, but suddenly, as she stood weeping, her eyes fell upon the +golden case in which lay the precious basket. She thought it +might contain something to amuse her, and looked eagerly inside, +but nothing was there save a handful of wool and two empty +eggshells. Very much disappointed, she lifted the wool, and +there lay the goose's wing. 'What old rubbish,' said the child +to herself, and, turning, threw the wing out of the open window. + +In a moment a beautiful lady stood beside her. 'Do not be +afraid,' said the lady, stroking Dotterine's head. 'I am your +godmother, and have come to pay you a visit. Your red eyes tell +me that you are unhappy. I know that your stepmother is very +unkind to you, but be brave and patient, and better days will +come. She will have no power over you when you are grown up, and +no one else can hurt you either, if only you are careful never to +part from your basket, or to lose the eggshells that are in it. +Make a silken case for the little basket, and hide it away in +your dress night and day and you will be safe from your +stepmother and anyone that tries to harm you. But if you should +happen to find yourself in any difficulty, and cannot tell what +to do, take the goose's wing from the basket, and throw it out of +the window, and in a moment I will come to help you. Now come +into the garden, that I may talk to you under the lime trees, +where no one can hear us.' + +They had so much to say to each other, that the sun was already +setting when the godmother had ended all the good advice she +wished to give the child, and saw it was time for her to be +going. 'Hand me the basket,' said she, 'for you must have some +supper. I cannot let you go hungry to bed.' + +Then, bending over the basket, she whispered some magic words, +and instantly a table covered with fruits and cakes stood on the +ground before them. When they had finished eating, the godmother +led the child back, and on the way taught her the words she must +say to the basket when she wanted it to give her something. + +In a few years more, Dotterine was a grown-up young lady, and +those who saw her thought that the world did not contain so +lovely a girl. + +About this time a terrible war broke out, and the king and his +army were beaten back and back, till at length they had to retire +into the town, and make ready for a siege. It lasted so long +that food began to fail, and even in the palace there was not +enough to eat. + +So one morning Dotterine, who had had neither supper nor +breakfast, and was feeling very hungry, let her wing fly away. +She was so weak and miserable, that directly her godmother +appeared she burst into tears, and could not speak for some time. + +'Do not cry so, dear child,' said the godmother. 'I will carry +you away from all this, but the others I must leave to take their +chance.' Then, bidding Dotterine follow her, she passed through +the gates of the town, and through the army outside, and nobody +stopped them, or seemed to see them. + +The next day the town surrendered, and the king and all his +courtiers were taken prisoners, but in the confusion his son +managed to make his escape. The queen had already met her death +from a spear carelessly thrown. + +As soon as Dotterine and her godmother were clear of the enemy, +Dotterine took off her own clothes, and put on those of a +peasant, and in order to disguise her better her godmother +changed her face completely. 'When better times come,' her +protectress said cheerfully, 'and you want to look like yourself +again, you have only to whisper the words I have taught you into +the basket, and say you would like to have your own face once +more, and it will be all right in a moment. But you will have to +endure a little longer yet.' Then, warning her once more to take +care of the basket, the lady bade the girl farewell. + +For many days Dotterine wandered from one place to another +without finding shelter, and though the food which she got from +the basket prevented her from starving, she was glad enough to +take service in a peasant's house till brighter days dawned. At +first the work she had to do seemed very difficult, but either +she was wonderfully quick in learning, or else the basket may +have secretly helped her. Anyhow at the end of three days she +could do everything as well as if she had cleaned pots and swept +rooms all her life. + +One morning Dotterine was busy scouring a wooden tub, when a +noble lady happened to pass through the village. The girl's +bright face as she stood in the front of the door with her tub +attracted the lady, and she stopped and called the girl to come +and speak to her. + +'Would you not like to come and enter my service?' she asked. + +'Very much,' replied Dotterine, 'if my present mistress will +allow me.' + +'Oh, I will settle that,' answered the lady; and so she did, and +the same day they set out for the lady's house, Dotterine sitting +beside the coachman. + +Six months went by, and then came the joyful news that the king's +son had collected an army and had defeated the usurper who had +taken his father's place, but at the same moment Dotterine +learned that the old king had died in captivity. The girl wept +bitterly for his loss, but in secrecy, as she had told her +mistress nothing about her past life. + +At the end of a year of mourning, the young king let it be known +that he intended to marry, and commanded all the maidens in the +kingdom to come to a feast, so that he might choose a wife from +among them. For weeks all the mothers and all the daughters in +the land were busy preparing beautiful dresses and trying new +ways of putting up their hair, and the three lovely daughters of +Dotterine's mistress were as much excited as the rest. The girl +was clever with her fingers, and was occupied all day with +getting ready their smart clothes, but at night when she went to +bed she always dreamed that her godmother bent over her and said, +'Dress your young ladies for the feast, and when they have +started follow them yourself. Nobody will be so fine as you.' + +When the great day came, Dotterine could hardly contain herself, +and when she had dressed her young mistresses and seen them +depart with their mother she flung herself on her bed, and burst +into tears. Then she seemed to hear a voice whisper to her, +'Look in your basket, and you will find in it everything that you +need.' + +Dotterine did not want to be told twice! Up she jumped, seized +her basket, and repeated the magic words, and behold! there lay +a dress on the bed, shining as a star. She put it on with +fingers that trembled with joy, and, looking in the glass, was +struck dumb at her own beauty. She went downstairs, and in front +of the door stood a fine carriage, into which she stepped and was +driven away like the wind. + +The king's palace was a long way off, yet it seemed only a few +minutes before Dotterine drew up at the great gates. She was +just going to alight, when she suddenly remembered she had left +her basket behind her. What was she to do? Go back and fetch +it, lest some ill-fortune should befall her, or enter the palace +and trust to chance that nothing evil would happen? But before +she could decide, a little swallow flew up with the basket in its +beak, and the girl was happy again. + +The feast was already at its height, and the hall was brilliant +with youth and beauty, when the door was flung wide and Dotterine +entered, making all the other maidens look pale and dim beside +her. Their hopes faded as they gazed, but their mothers +whispered together, saying, 'Surely this is our lost princess!' + +The young king did not know her again, but he never left her side +nor took his eyes from her. And at midnight a strange thing +happened. A thick cloud suddenly filled the hall, so that for a +moment all was dark. Then the mist suddenly grew bright, and +Dotterine's godmother was seen standing there. + +'This,' she said, turning to the king, 'is the girl whom you have +always believed to be your sister, and who vanished during the +siege. She is not your sister at all, but the daughter of the +king of a neighbouring country, who was given to your mother to +bring up, to save her from the hands of a wizard.' + +Then she vanished, and was never seen again, nor the +wonder-working basket either; but now that Dotterine's troubles +were over she could get on without them, and she and the young +king lived happily together till the end of their days. + +[Ehstnische Marchen.] + + + +STAN BOLOVAN + +Once upon a time what happened did happen, and if it had not +happened this story would never have been told. + +On the outskirts of a village just where the oxen were turned out +to pasture, and the pigs roamed about burrowing with their noses +among the roots of the trees, there stood a small house. In the +house lived a man who had a wife, and the wife was sad all day +long. + +'Dear wife, what is wrong with you that you hang your head like a +drooping rosebud?' asked her husband one morning. 'You have +everything you want; why cannot you be merry like other women?' + +'Leave me alone, and do not seek to know the reason,' replied +she, bursting into tears, and the man thought that it was no time +to question her, and went away to his work. + +He could not, however, forget all about it, and a few days after +he inquired again the reason of her sadness, but only got the +same reply. At length he felt he could bear it no longer, and +tried a third time, and then his wife turned and answered him. + +'Good gracious!' cried she, 'why cannot you let things be as they +are? If I were to tell you, you would become just as wretched as +myself. If you would only believe, it is far better for you to +know nothing.' + +But no man yet was ever content with such an answer. The more +you beg him not to inquire, the greater is his curiosity to learn +the whole. + +'Well, if you MUST know,' said the wife at last, 'I will tell +you. There is no luck in this house--no luck at all!' + +'Is not your cow the best milker in all the village? Are not +your trees as full of fruit as your hives are full of bees? Has +anyone cornfields like ours? Really you talk nonsense when you +say things like that!' + +'Yes, all that you say is true, but we have no children.' + +Then Stan understood, and when a man once understands and has his +eyes opened it is no longer well with him. From that day the +little house in the outskirts contained an unhappy man as well as +an unhappy woman. And at the sight of her husband's misery the +woman became more wretched than ever. + +And so matters went on for some time. + +Some weeks had passed, and Stan thought he would consult a wise +man who lived a day's journey from his own house. The wise man +was sitting before his door when he came up, and Stan fell on his +knees before him. 'Give me children, my lord, give me children.' + +'Take care what you are asking,' replied the wise man. 'Will not +children be a burden to you? Are you rich enough to feed and +clothe them?' + +'Only give them to me, my lord, and I will manage somehow!' and +at a sign from the wise man Stan went his way. + +He reached home that evening tired and dusty, but with hope in +his heart. As he drew near his house a sound of voices struck +upon his ear, and he looked up to see the whole place full of +children. Children in the garden, children in the yard, children +looking out of every window--it seemed to the man as if all the +children in the world must be gathered there. And none was +bigger than the other, but each was smaller than the other, and +every one was more noisy and more impudent and more daring than +the rest, and Stan gazed and grew cold with horror as he realised +that they all belonged to him. + +'Good gracious! how many there are! how many!' he muttered to +himself. + +'Oh, but not one too many,' smiled his wife, coming up with a +crowd more children clinging to her skirts. + +But even she found that it was not so easy to look after a +hundred children, and when a few days had passed and they had +eaten up all the food there was in the house, they began to cry, +'Father! I am hungry--I am hungry,' till Stan scratched his head +and wondered what he was to do next. It was not that he thought +there were too many children, for his life had seemed more full +of joy since they appeared, but now it came to the point he did +not know how he was to feed them. The cow had ceased to give +milk, and it was too early for the fruit trees to ripen. + +'Do you know, old woman!' said he one day to his wife, 'I must go +out into the world and try to bring back food somehow, though I +cannot tell where it is to come from.' + +To the hungry man any road is long, and then there was always the +thought that he had to satisfy a hundred greedy children as well +as himself. + +Stan wandered, and wandered, and wandered, till he reached to the +end of the world, where that which is, is mingled with that which +is not, and there he saw, a little way off, a sheepfold, with +seven sheep in it. In the shadow of some trees lay the rest of +the flock. + +Stan crept up, hoping that he might manage to decoy some of them +away quietly, and drive them home for food for his family, but he +soon found this could not be. For at midnight he heard a rushing +noise, and through the air flew a dragon, who drove apart a ram, +a sheep, and a lamb, and three fine cattle that were lying down +close by. And besides these he took the milk of seventy-seven +sheep, and carried it home to his old mother, that she might +bathe in it and grow young again. And this happened every night. + +The shepherd bewailed himself in vain: the dragon only laughed, +and Stan saw that this was not the place to get food for his +family. + +But though he quite understood that it was almost hopeless to +fight against such a powerful monster, yet the thought of the +hungry children at home clung to him like a burr, and would not +be shaken off, and at last he said to the shepherd, 'What will +you give me if I rid you of the dragon?' + +'One of every three rams, one of every three sheep, one of every +three lambs,' answered the herd. + +'It is a bargain,' replied Stan, though at the moment he did not +know how, supposing he DID come off the victor, he would ever be +able to drive so large a flock home. + +However, that matter could be settled later. At present night +was not far off, and he must consider how best to fight with the +dragon. + +Just at midnight, a horrible feeling that was new and strange to +him came over Stan--a feeling that he could not put into words +even to himself, but which almost forced him to give up the +battle and take the shortest road home again. He half turned; +then he remembered the children, and turned back. + +'You or I,' said Stan to himself, and took up his position on the +edge of the flock. + +'Stop!' he suddenly cried, as the air was filled with a rushing +noise, and the dragon came dashing past. + +'Dear me!' exclaimed the dragon, looking round. 'Who are you, +and where do you come from?' + +'I am Stan Bolovan, who eats rocks all night, and in the day +feeds on the flowers of the mountain; and if you meddle with +those sheep I will carve a cross on your back.' + +When the dragon heard these words he stood quite still in the +middle of the road, for he knew he had met with his match. + +'But you will have to fight me first,' he said in a trembling +voice, for when you faced him properly he was not brave at all. + +'I fight you?' replied Stan, 'why I could slay you with one +breath!' Then, stooping to pick up a large cheese which lay at +his feet, he added, 'Go and get a stone like this out of the +river, so that we may lose no time in seeing who is the best +man.' + +The dragon did as Stan bade him, and brought back a stone out of +the brook. + +'Can you get buttermilk out of your stone?' asked Stan. + +The dragon picked up his stone with one hand, and squeezed it +till it fell into powder, but no buttermilk flowed from it. 'Of +course I can't!' he said, half angrily. + +'Well, if you can't, I can,' answered Stan, and he pressed the +cheese till buttermilk flowed through his fingers. + +When the dragon saw that, he thought it was time he made the best +of his way home again, but Stan stood in his path. + +'We have still some accounts to settle,' said he, 'about what you +have been doing here,' and the poor dragon was too frightened to +stir, lest Stan should slay him at one breath and bury him among +the flowers in the mountain pastures. + +'Listen to me,' he said at last. 'I see you are a very useful +person, and my mother has need of a fellow like you. Suppose you +enter her service for three days, which are as long as one of +your years, and she will pay you each day seven sacks full of +ducats.' + +Three times seven sacks full of ducats! The offer was very +tempting, and Stan could not resist it. He did not waste words, +but nodded to the dragon, and they started along the road. + +It was a long, long way, but when they came to the end they found +the dragon's mother, who was as old as time itself, expecting +them. Stan saw her eyes shining like lamps from afar, and when +they entered the house they beheld a huge kettle standing on the +fire, filled with milk. When the old mother found that her son +had arrived empty-handed she grew very angry, and fire and flame +darted from her nostrils, but before she could speak the dragon +turned to Stan. + +'Stay here,' said he, 'and wait for me; I am going to explain +things to my mother.' + +Stan was already repenting bitterly that he had ever come to such +a place, but, since he was there, there was nothing for it but to +take everything quietly, and not show that he was afraid. + +'Listen, mother,' said the dragon as soon as they were alone, 'I +have brought this man in order to get rid of him. He is a +terrific fellow who eats rocks, and can press buttermilk out of a +stone,' and he told her all that had happened the night before. + +'Oh, just leave him to me!' she said. 'I have never yet let a +man slip through my fingers.' So Stan had to stay and do the old +mother service. + +The next day she told him that he and her son should try which +was the strongest, and she took down a huge club, bound seven +times with iron. + +The dragon picked it up as if it had been a feather, and, after +whirling it round his head, flung it lightly three miles away, +telling Stan to beat that if he could. + +They walked to the spot where the club lay. Stan stooped and +felt it; then a great fear came over him, for he knew that he and +all his children together would never lift that club from the +ground. + +'What are you doing?' asked the dragon. + +'I was thinking what a beautiful club it was, and what a pity it +is that it should cause your death.' + +'How do you mean--my death?' asked the dragon. + +'Only that I am afraid that if I throw it you will never see +another dawn. You don't know how strong I am!' + +'Oh, never mind that be quick and throw.' + +'If you are really in earnest, let us go and feast for three +days: that will at any rate give you three extra days of life.' + +Stan spoke so calmly that this time the dragon began to get a +little frightened, though he did not quite believe that things +would be as bad as Stan said. + +They returned to the house, took all the food that could be found +in the old mother's larder, and carried it back to the place +where the club was lying. Then Stan seated himself on the sack +of provisions, and remained quietly watching the setting moon. + +'What are you doing?' asked the dragon. + +'Waiting till the moon gets out of my way.' + +'What do you mean? I don't understand.' + +'Don't you see that the moon is exactly in my way? But of +course, if you like, I will throw the club into the moon.' + +At these words the dragon grew uncomfortable for the second time. + +He prized the club, which had been left him by his grandfather, +very highly, and had no desire that it should be lost in the +moon. + +'I'll tell you what,' he said, after thinking a little. 'Don't +throw the club at all. I will throw it a second time, and that +will do just as well.' + +'No, certainly not!' replied Stan. 'Just wait till the moon +sets.' + +But the dragon, in dread lest Stan should fulfil his threats, +tried what bribes could do, and in the end had to promise Stan +seven sacks of ducats before he was suffered to throw back the +club himself. + +'Oh, dear me, that is indeed a strong man,' said the dragon, +turning to his mother. 'Would you believe that I have had the +greatest difficulty in preventing him from throwing the club into +the moon?' + +Then the old woman grew uncomfortable too! Only to think of it! +It was no joke to throw things into the moon! So no more was +heard of the club, and the next day they had all something else +to think about. + +'Go and fetch me water!' said the mother, when the morning broke, +and gave them twelve buffalo skins with the order to keep filling +them till night. + +They set out at once for the brook, and in the twinkling of an +eye the dragon had filled the whole twelve, carried them into the +house, and brought them back to Stan. Stan was tired: he could +scarcely lift the buckets when they were empty, and he shuddered +to think of what would happen when they were full. But he only +took an old knife out of his pocket and began to scratch up the +earth near the brook. + +'What are you doing there? How are you going to carry the water +into the house?' asked the dragon. + +'How? Dear me, that is easy enough! I shall just take the +brook!' + +At these words the dragon's jaw dropped. This was the last thing +that had ever entered his head, for the brook had been as it was +since the days of his grandfather. + +'I'll tell you what!' he said. 'Let me carry your skins for +you.' + +'Most certainly not,' answered Stan, going on with his digging, +and the dragon, in dread lest he should fulfil his threat, tried +what bribes would do, and in the end had again to promise seven +sacks of ducats before Stan would agree to leave the brook alone +and let him carry the water into the house. + +On the third day the old mother sent Stan into the forest for +wood, and, as usual, the dragon went with him. + +Before you could count three he had pulled up more trees than +Stan could have cut down in a lifetime, and had arranged them +neatly in rows. When the dragon had finished, Stan began to look +about him, and, choosing the biggest of the trees, he climbed up +it, and, breaking off a long rope of wild vine, bound the top of +the tree to the one next it. And so he did to a whole line of +trees. + +'What are you doing there?' asked the dragon. + +'You can see for yourself,' answered Stan, going quietly on with +his work. + +'Why are you tying the trees together?' + +'Not to give myself unnecessary work; when I pull up one, all the +others will come up too.' + +'But how will you carry them home?' + +'Dear me! don't you understand that I am going to take the whole +forest back with me?' said Stan, tying two other trees as he +spoke. + +'I'll tell you what,' cried the dragon, trembling with fear at +the thought of such a thing; 'let me carry the wood for you, and +you shall have seven times seven sacks full of ducats.' + +'You are a good fellow, and I agree to your proposal,' answered +Stan, and the dragon carried the wood. + +Now the three days' service which were to be reckoned as a year +were over, and the only thing that disturbed Stan was, how to get +all those ducats back to his home! + +In the evening the dragon and his mother had a long talk, but +Stan heard every word through a crack in the ceiling. + +'Woe be to us, mother,' said the dragon; 'this man will soon get +us into his power. Give him his money, and let us be rid of +him.' + +But the old mother was fond of money, and did not like this. + +'Listen to me,' said she; 'you must murder him this very night.' + +'I am afraid,' answered he. + +'There is nothing to fear,' replied the old mother. 'When he is +asleep take the club, and hit him on the head with it. It is +easily done.' + +And so it would have been, had not Stan heard all about it. And +when the dragon and his mother had put out their lights, he took +the pigs' trough and filled it with earth, and placed it in his +bed, and covered it with clothes. Then he hid himself +underneath, and began to snore loudly. + +Very soon the dragon stole softly into the room, and gave a +tremendous blow on the spot where Stan's head should have been. +Stan groaned loudly from under the bed, and the dragon went away +as softly as he had come. Directly he had closed the door, Stan +lifted out the pigs' trough, and lay down himself, after making +everything clean and tidy, but he was wise enough not to shut his +eyes that night. + +The next morning he came into the room when the dragon and his +mother were having their breakfast. + +'Good morning,' said he. + +'Good morning. How did you sleep?' + +'Oh, very well, but I dreamed that a flea had bitten me, and I +seem to feel it still.' + +The dragon and his mother looked at each other. 'Do you hear +that?' whispered he. 'He talks of a flea. I broke my club on +his head.' + +This time the mother grew as frightened as her son. There was +nothing to be done with a man like this, and she made all haste +to fill the sacks with ducats, so as to get rid of Stan as soon +as possible. But on his side Stan was trembling like an aspen, +as he could not lift even one sack from the ground. So he stood +still and looked at them. + +'What are you standing there for?' asked the dragon. + +'Oh, I was standing here because it has just occurred to me that +I should like to stay in your service for another year. I am +ashamed that when I get home they should see I have brought back +so little. I know that they will cry out, "Just look at Stan +Bolovan, who in one year has grown as weak as a dragon." ' + +Here a shriek of dismay was heard both from the dragon and his +mother, who declared they would give him seven or even seven +times seven the number of sacks if he would only go away. + +'I'll tell you what!' said Stan at last. 'I see you don't want +me to stay, and I should be very sorry to make myself +disagreeable. I will go at once, but only on condition that you +shall carry the money home yourself, so that I may not be put to +shame before my friends.' + +The words were hardly out of his mouth before the dragon had +snatched up the sacks and piled them on his back. Then he and +Stan set forth. + +The way, though really not far, was yet too long for Stan, but at +length he heard his children's voices, and stopped short. He did +not wish the dragon to know where he lived, lest some day he +should come to take back his treasure. Was there nothing he +could say to get rid of the monster? Suddenly an idea came into +Stan's head, and he turned round. + +'I hardly know what to do,' said he. 'I have a hundred children, +and I am afraid they may do you harm, as they are always ready +for a fight. However, I will do my best to protect you.' + +A hundred children! That was indeed no joke! The dragon let +fall the sacks from terror, and then picked them up again. But +the children, who had had nothing to eat since their father had +left them, came rushing towards him, waving knives in their right +hands and forks in their left, and crying, 'Give us dragon's +flesh; we will have dragon's flesh.' + +At this dreadful sight the dragon waited no longer: he flung +down his sacks where he stood and took flight as fast as he +could, so terrified at the fate that awaited him that from that +day he has never dared to show his face in the world again. + +[Adapted from Rumanische Marchen.] + + + +THE TWO FROGS + +Once upon a time in the country of Japan there lived two frogs, +one of whom made his home in a ditch near the town of Osaka, on +the sea coast, while the other dwelt in a clear little stream +which ran through the city of Kioto. At such a great distance +apart, they had never even heard of each other; but, funnily +enough, the idea came into both their heads at once that they +should like to see a little of the world, and the frog who lived +at Kioto wanted to visit Osaka, and the frog who lived at Osaka +wished to go to Kioto, where the great Mikado had his palace. + +So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the +road that led from Kioto to Osaka, one from one end and the other +from the other. The journey was more tiring than they expected, +for they did not know much about travelling, and half way between +the two towns there arose a mountain which had to be climbed. It +took them a long time and a great many hops to reach the top, but +there they were at last, and what was the surprise of each to see +another frog before him! They looked at each other for a moment +without speaking, and then fell into conversation, explaining the +cause of their meeting so far from their homes. It was +delightful to find that they both felt the same wish--to learn a +little more of their native country--and as there was no sort of +hurry they stretched themselves out in a cool, damp place, and +agreed that they would have a good rest before they parted to go +their ways. + +'What a pity we are not bigger,' said the Osaka frog; 'for then +we could see both towns from here, and tell if it is worth our +while going on.' + +'Oh, that is easily managed,' returned the Kioto frog. 'We have +only got to stand up on our hind legs, and hold on to each other, +and then we can each look at the town he is travelling to.' + +This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped +up and put his front paws on the shoulders of his friend, who had +risen also. There they both stood, stretching themselves as high +as they could, and holding each other tightly, so that they might +not fall down. The Kioto frog turned his nose towards Osaka, and +the Osaka frog turned his nose towards Kioto; but the foolish +things forgot that when they stood up their great eyes lay in the +backs of their heads, and that though their noses might point to +the places to which they wanted to go their eyes beheld the +places from which they had come. + +'Dear me!' cried the Osaka frog, 'Kioto is exactly like Osaka. +It is certainly not worth such a long journey. I shall go home!' + +'If I had had any idea that Osaka was only a copy of Kioto I +should never have travelled all this way,' exclaimed the frog +from Kioto, and as he spoke he took his hands from his friend's +shoulders, and they both fell down on the grass. Then they took +a polite farewell of each other, and set off for home again, and +to the end of their lives they believed that Osaka and Kioto, +which are as different to look at as two towns can be, were as +like as two peas. + +[Japanische Marchen.] + + + +THE STORY OF A GAZELLE + +Once upon a time there lived a man who wasted all his money, and +grew so poor that his only food was a few grains of corn, which +he scratched like a fowl from out of a dust-heap. + +One day he was scratching as usual among a dust-heap in the +street, hoping to find something for breakfast, when his eye fell +upon a small silver coin, called an eighth, which he greedily +snatched up. 'Now I can have a proper meal,' he thought, and +after drinking some water at a well he lay down and slept so long +that it was sunrise before he woke again. Then he jumped up and +returned to the dust-heap. 'For who knows,' he said to himself, +'whether I may not have some good luck again.' + +As he was walking down the road, he saw a man coming towards him, +carrying a cage made of twigs. 'Hi! you fellow!' called he, +'what have you got inside there?' + +'Gazelles,' replied the man. + +'Bring them here, for I should like to see them.' + +As he spoke, some men who were standing by began to laugh, saying +to the man with the cage: 'You had better take care how you +bargain with him, for he has nothing at all except what he picks +up from a dust-heap, and if he can't feed himself, will he be +able to feed a gazelle?' + +But the man with the cage made answer: 'Since I started from my +home in the country, fifty people at the least have called me to +show them my gazelles, and was there one among them who cared to +buy? It is the custom for a trader in merchandise to be summoned +hither and thither, and who knows where one may find a buyer?' +And he took up his cage and went towards the scratcher of +dust-heaps, and the men went with him. + +'What do you ask for your gazelles?' said the beggar. 'Will you +let me have one for an eighth?' + +And the man with the cage took out a gazelle, and held it out, +saying, 'Take this one, master!' + +And the beggar took it and carried it to the dust-heap, where he +scratched carefully till he found a few grains of corn, which he +divided with his gazelle. This he did night and morning, till +five days went by. + +Then, as he slept, the gazelle woke him, saying, 'Master.' + +And the man answered, 'How is it that I see a wonder?' + +'What wonder?' asked the gazelle. + +'Why, that you, a gazelle, should be able to speak, for, from the +beginning, my father and mother and all the people that are in +the world have never told me of a talking gazelle.' + +'Never mind that,' said the gazelle, 'but listen to what I say! +First, I took you for my master. Second, you gave for me all you +had in the world. I cannot run away from you, but give me, I +pray you, leave to go every morning and seek food for myself, and +every evening I will come back to you. What you find in the +dust-heaps is not enough for both of us.' + +'Go, then,' answered the master; and the gazelle went. + +When the sun had set, the gazelle came back, and the poor man was +very glad, and they lay down and slept side by side. + +In the morning it said to him, 'I am going away to feed.' + +And the man replied, 'Go, my son,' but he felt very lonely +without his gazelle, and set out sooner than usual for the +dust-heap where he generally found most corn. And glad he was +when the evening came, and he could return home. He lay on the +grass chewing tobacco, when the gazelle trotted up. + +'Good evening, my master; how have you fared all day? I have +been resting in the shade in a place where there is sweet grass +when I am hungry, and fresh water when I am thirsty, and a soft +breeze to fan me in the heat. It is far away in the forest, and +no one knows of it but me, and to-morrow I shall go again.' + +So for five days the gazelle set off at daybreak for this cool +spot, but on the fifth day it came to a place where the grass was +bitter, and it did not like it, and scratched, hoping to tear +away the bad blades. But, instead, it saw something lying in the +earth, which turned out to be a diamond, very large and bright. +'Oh, ho!' said the gazelle to itself, 'perhaps now I can do +something for my master who bought me with all the money he had; +but I must be careful or they will say he has stolen it. I had +better take it myself to some great rich man, and see what it +will do for me.' + +Directly the gazelle had come to this conclusion, it picked up +the diamond in its mouth, and went on and on and on through the +forest, but found no place where a rich man was likely to dwell. +For two more days it ran, from dawn to dark, till at last early +one morning it caught sight of a large town, which gave it fresh +courage. + +The people were standing about the streets doing their marketing, +when the gazelle bounded past, the diamond flashing as it ran. +They called after it, but it took no notice till it reached the +palace, where the sultan was sitting, enjoying the cool air. And +the gazelle galloped up to him, and laid the diamond at his feet. + +The sultan looked first at the diamond and next at the gazelle; +then he ordered his attendants to bring cushions and a carpet, +that the gazelle might rest itself after its long journey. And +he likewise ordered milk to be brought, and rice, that it might +eat and drink and be refreshed. + +And when the gazelle was rested, the sultan said to it: 'Give me +the news you have come with.' + +And the gazelle answered: 'I am come with this diamond, which is +a pledge from my master the Sultan Darai. He has heard you have +a daughter, and sends you this small token, and begs you will +give her to him to wife.' + +And the sultan said: 'I am content. The wife is his wife, the +family is his family, the slave is his slave. Let him come to me +empty-handed, I am content.' + +When the sultan had ended, the gazelle rose, and said: 'Master, +farewell; I go back to our town, and in eight days, or it may be +in eleven days, we shall arrive as your guests.' + +And the sultan answered: 'So let it be.' + +All this time the poor man far away had been mourning and weeping +for his gazelle, which he thought had run away from him for ever. + +And when it came in at the door he rushed to embrace it with such +joy that he would not allow it a chance to speak. + +'Be still, master, and don't cry,' said the gazelle at last; 'let +us sleep now, and in the morning, when I go, follow me.' + +With the first ray of dawn they got up and went into the forest, +and on the fifth day, as they were resting near a stream, the +gazelle gave its master a sound beating, and then bade him stay +where he was till it returned. And the gazelle ran off, and +about ten o'clock it came near the sultan's palace, where the +road was all lined with soldiers who were there to do honour to +Sultan Darai. And directly they caught sight of the gazelle in +the distance one of the soldiers ran on and said, 'Sultan Darai +is coming: I have seen the gazelle.' + +Then the sultan rose up, and called his whole court to follow +him, and went out to meet the gazelle, who, bounding up to him, +gave him greeting. The sultan answered politely, and inquired +where it had left its master, whom it had promised to bring back. + +'Alas!' replied the gazelle, 'he is lying in the forest, for on +our way here we were met by robbers, who, after beating and +robbing him, took away all his clothes. And he is now hiding +under a bush, lest a passing stranger might see him.' + +The sultan, on hearing what had happened to his future +son-in-law, turned his horse and rode to the palace, and bade a +groom to harness the best horse in the stable and order a woman +slave to bring a bag of clothes, such as a man might want, out of +the chest; and he chose out a tunic and a turban and a sash for +the waist, and fetched himself a gold-hilted sword, and a dagger +and a pair of sandals, and a stick of sweet-smelling wood. + +'Now,' said he to the gazelle, 'take these things with the +soldiers to the sultan, that he may be able to come.' + +And the gazelle answered: 'Can I take those soldiers to go and +put my master to shame as he lies there naked? I am enough by +myself, my lord.' + +'How will you be enough,' asked the sultan, 'to manage this horse +and all these clothes?' + +'Oh, that is easily done,' replied the gazelle. 'Fasten the +horse to my neck and tie the clothes to the back of the horse, +and be sure they are fixed firmly, as I shall go faster than he +does.' + +Everything was carried out as the gazelle had ordered, and when +all was ready it said to the sultan: 'Farewell, my lord, I am +going.' + +'Farewell, gazelle,' answered the sultan; 'when shall we see you +again?' + +'To-morrow about five,' replied the gazelle, and, giving a tug to +the horse's rein, they set off at a gallop. + +The sultan watched them till they were out of sight: then he +said to his attendants, 'That gazelle comes from gentle hands, +from the house of a sultan, and that is what makes it so +different from other gazelles.' And in the eyes of the sultan +the gazelle became a person of consequence. + +Meanwhile the gazelle ran on till it came to the place where its +master was seated, and his heart laughed when he saw the gazelle. + +And the gazelle said to him, 'Get up, my master, and bathe in the +stream!' and when the man had bathed it said again, 'Now rub +yourself well with earth, and rub your teeth well with sand to +make them bright and shining.' And when this was done it said, +'The sun has gone down behind the hills; it is time for us to +go': so it went and brought the clothes from the back of the +horse, and the man put them on and was well pleased. + +'Master!' said the gazelle when the man was ready, 'be sure that +where we are going you keep silence, except for giving greetings +and asking for news. Leave all the talking to me. I have +provided you with a wife, and have made her presents of clothes +and turbans and rare and precious things, so it is needless for +you to speak.' + +'Very good, I will be silent,' replied the man as he mounted the +horse. 'You have given all this; it is you who are the master, +and I who am the slave, and I will obey you in all things.' + +'So they went their way, and they went and went till the gazelle +saw in the distance the palace of the sultan. Then it said, +'Master, that is the house we are going to, and you are not a +poor man any longer: even your name is new.' + +'What IS my name, eh, my father?' asked the man. + +'Sultan Darai,' said the gazelle. + +Very soon some soldiers came to meet them, while others ran off +to tell the sultan of their approach. And the sultan set off at +once, and the viziers and the emirs, and the judges, and the rich +men of the city, all followed him. + +Directly the gazelle saw them coming, it said to its master: +'Your father-in-law is coming to meet you; that is he in the +middle, wearing a mantle of sky-blue. Get off your horse and go +to greet him.' + +And Sultan Darai leapt from his horse, and so did the other +sultan, and they gave their hands to one another and kissed each +other, and went together into the palace. + +The next morning the gazelle went to the rooms of the sultan, and +said to him: 'My lord, we want you to marry us our wife, for the +soul of Sultan Darai is eager.' + +'The wife is ready, so call the priest,' answered he, and when +the ceremony was over a cannon was fired and music was played, +and within the palace there was feasting. + +'Master,' said the gazelle the following morning, 'I am setting +out on a journey, and I shall not be back for seven days, and +perhaps not then. But be careful not to leave the house till I +come.' + +And the master answered, 'I will not leave the house.' + +And it went to the sultan of the country and said to him: 'My +lord, Sultan Darai has sent me to his town to get the house in +order. It will take me seven days, and if I am not back in seven +days he will not leave the palace till I return.' + +'Very good,' said the sultan. + +And it went and it went through the forest and wilderness, till +it arrived at a town full of fine houses. At the end of the +chief road was a great house, beautiful exceedingly, built of +sapphire and turquoise and marbles. 'That,' thought the gazelle, +'is the house for my master, and I will call up my courage and go +and look at the people who are in it, if any people there are. +For in this town have I as yet seen no people. If I die, I die, +and if I live, I live. Here can I think of no plan, so if +anything is to kill me, it will kill me.' + +Then it knocked twice at the door, and cried 'Open,' but no one +answered. And it cried again, and a voice replied: + +'Who are you that are crying "Open"?' + +And the gazelle said, 'It is I, great mistress, your grandchild.' + +'If you are my grandchild,' returned the voice, 'go back whence +you came. Don't come and die here, and bring me to my death as +well.' + +'Open, mistress, I entreat, I have something to say to you.' + +'Grandchild,' replied she, 'I fear to put your life in danger, +and my own too.' + +'Oh, mistress, my life will not be lost, nor yours either; open, +I pray you.' So she opened the door. + +'What is the news where you come from, my grandson,' asked she. + +'Great lady, where I come from it is well, and with you it is +well.' + +'Ah, my son, here it is not well at all. If you seek a way to +die, or if you have not yet seen death, then is to-day the day +for you to know what dying is.' + +'If I am to know it, I shall know it,' replied the gazelle; 'but +tell me, who is the lord of this house?' + +And she said: 'Ah, father! in this house is much wealth, and +much people, and much food, and many horses. And the lord of it +all is an exceeding great and wonderful snake.' + +'Oh!' cried the gazelle when he heard this; 'tell me how I can +get at the snake to kill him?' + +'My son,' returned the old woman, 'do not say words like these; +you risk both our lives. He has put me here all by myself, and I +have to cook his food. When the great snake is coming there +springs up a wind, and blows the dust about, and this goes on +till the great snake glides into the courtyard and calls for his +dinner, which must always be ready for him in those big pots. He +eats till he has had enough, and then drinks a whole tankful of +water. After that he goes away. Every second day he comes, when +the sun is over the house. And he has seven heads. How then can +you be a match for him, my son?' + +'Mind your own business, mother,' answered the gazelle, 'and +don't mind other people's! Has this snake a sword?' + +'He has a sword, and a sharp one too. It cuts like a dash of +lightning.' + +'Give it to me, mother!' said the gazelle, and she unhooked the +sword from the wall, as she was bidden. 'You must be quick,' she +said, 'for he may be here at any moment. Hark! is not that the +wind rising? He has come!' + +They were silent, but the old woman peeped from behind a curtain, +and saw the snake busy at the pots which she had placed ready for +him in the courtyard. And after he had done eating and drinking +he came to the door: + +'You old body!' he cried; 'what smell is that I smell inside that +is not the smell of every day?' + +'Oh, master!' answered she, 'I am alone, as I always am! But +to-day, after many days, I have sprinkled fresh scent all over +me, and it is that which you smell. What else could it be, +master?' + +All this time the gazelle had been standing close to the door, +holding the sword in one of its front paws. And as the snake put +one of his heads through the hole that he had made so as to get +in and out comfortably, it cut it of so clean that the snake +really did not feel it. The second blow was not quite so +straight, for the snake said to himself, 'Who is that who is +trying to scratch me?' and stretched out his third head to see; +but no sooner was the neck through the hole than the head went +rolling to join the rest. + +When six of his heads were gone the snake lashed his tail with +such fury that the gazelle and the old woman could not see each +other for the dust he made. And the gazelle said to him, 'You +have climbed all sorts of trees, but this you can't climb,' and +as the seventh head came darting through it went rolling to join +the rest. + +Then the sword fell rattling on the ground, for the gazelle had +fainted. + +The old woman shrieked with delight when she saw her enemy was +dead, and ran to bring water to the gazelle, and fanned it, and +put it where the wind could blow on it, till it grew better and +gave a sneeze. And the heart of the old woman was glad, and she +gave it more water, till by-and-by the gazelle got up. + +'Show me this house,' it said, 'from beginning to end, from top +to bottom, from inside to out.' + +So she arose and showed the gazelle rooms full of gold and +precious things, and other rooms full of slaves. 'They are all +yours, goods and slaves,' said she. + +But the gazelle answered, 'You must keep them safe till I call my +master.' + +For two days it lay and rested in the house, and fed on milk and +rice, and on the third day it bade the old woman farewell and +started back to its master. + +And when he heard that the gazelle was at the door he felt like a +man who has found the time when all prayers are granted, and he +rose and kissed it, saying: 'My father, you have been a long +time; you have left sorrow with me. I cannot eat, I cannot +drink, I cannot laugh; my heart felt no smile at anything, +because of thinking of you.' + +And the gazelle answered: 'I am well, and where I come from it +is well, and I wish that after four days you would take your wife +and go home.' + +And he said: 'It is for you to speak. Where you go, I will +follow.' + +'Then I shall go to your father-in-law and tell him this news.' + +'Go, my son.' + +So the gazelle went to the father-in-law and said: 'I am sent by +my master to come and tell you that after four days he will go +away with his wife to his own home.' + +'Must he really go so quickly? We have not yet sat much +together, I and Sultan Darai, nor have we yet talked much +together, nor have we yet ridden out together, nor have we eaten +together; yet it is fourteen days since he came.' + +But the gazelle replied: 'My lord, you cannot help it, for he +wishes to go home, and nothing will stop him.' + +'Very good,' said the sultan, and he called all the people who +were in the town, and commanded that the day his daughter left +the palace ladies and guards were to attend her on her way. + +And at the end of four days a great company of ladies and slaves +and horses went forth to escort the wife of Sultan Darai to her +new home. They rode all day, and when the sun sank behind the +hills they rested, and ate of the food the gazelle gave them, and +lay down to sleep. And they journeyed on for many days, and they +all, nobles and slaves, loved the gazelle with a great love-- +more than they loved the Sultan Darai. + +At last one day signs of houses appeared, far, far off. And +those who saw cried out, 'Gazelle!' + +And it answered, 'Ah, my mistresses, that is the house of Sultan +Darai.' + +At this news the women rejoiced much, and the slaves rejoiced +much, and in the space of two hours they came to the gates, and +the gazelle bade them all stay behind, and it went on to the +house with Sultan Darai. + +When the old woman saw them coming through the courtyard she +jumped and shouted for joy, and as the gazelle drew near she +seized it in her arms, and kissed it. The gazelle did not like +this, and said to her: 'Old woman, leave me alone; the one to be +carried is my master, and the one to be kissed is my master.' + +And she answered, 'Forgive me, my son. I did not know this was +our master,' and she threw open all the doors so that the master +might see everything that the rooms and storehouses contained. +Sultan Darai looked about him, and at length he said: + +'Unfasten those horses that are tied up, and let loose those +people that are bound. And let some sweep, and some spread the +beds, and some cook, and some draw water, and some come out and +receive the mistress.' + +And when the sultana and her ladies and her slaves entered the +house, and saw the rich stuffs it was hung with, and the +beautiful rice that was prepared for them to eat, they cried: +'Ah, you gazelle, we have seen great houses, we have seen people, +we have heard of things. But this house, and you, such as you +are, we have never seen or heard of.' + +After a few days, the ladies said they wished to go home again. +The gazelle begged them hard to stay, but finding they would not, +it brought many gifts, and gave some to the ladies and some to +their slaves. And they all thought the gazelle greater a +thousand times than its master, Sultan Darai. + +The gazelle and its master remained in the house many weeks, and +one day it said to the old woman, 'I came with my master to this +place, and I have done many things for my master, good things, +and till to-day he has never asked me: "Well, my gazelle, how +did you get this house? Who is the owner of it? And this town, +were there no people in it?" All good things I have done for the +master, and he has not one day done me any good thing. But +people say, "If you want to do any one good, don't do him good +only, do him evil also, and there will be peace between you." +So, mother, I have done: I want to see the favours I have done +to my master, that he may do me the like.' + +'Good,' replied the old woman, and they went to bed. + +In the morning, when light came, the gazelle was sick in its +stomach and feverish, and its legs ached. And it said 'Mother!' + +And she answered, 'Here, my son?' + +And it said, 'Go and tell my master upstairs the gazelle is very +ill.' + +'Very good, my son; and if he should ask me what is the matter, +what am I to say?' + +'Tell him all my body aches badly; I have no single part without +pain.' + +The old woman went upstairs, and she found the mistress and +master sitting on a couch of marble spread with soft cushions, +and they asked her, 'Well, old woman, what do you want?' + +'To tell the master the gazelle is ill,' said she. + +'What is the matter?' asked the wife. + +'All its body pains; there is no part without pain.' + +'Well, what can I do? Make some gruel of red millet, and give to +it.' + +But his wife stared and said: 'Oh, master, do you tell her to +make the gazelle gruel out of red millet, which a horse would not +eat? Eh, master, that is not well.' + +But he answered, 'Oh, you are mad! Rice is only kept for +people.' + +'Eh, master, this is not like a gazelle. It is the apple of your +eye. If sand got into that, it would trouble you.' + +'My wife, your tongue is long,' and he left the room. + +The old woman saw she had spoken vainly, and went back weeping to +the gazelle. And when the gazelle saw her it said, 'Mother, what +is it, and why do you cry? If it be good, give me the answer; +and if it be bad, give me the answer.' + +But still the old woman would not speak, and the gazelle prayed +her to let it know the words of the master. At last she said: +'I went upstairs and found the mistress and the master sitting on +a couch, and he asked me what I wanted, and I told him that you, +his slave, were ill. And his wife asked what was the matter, and +I told her that there was not a part of your body without pain. +And the master told me to take some red millet and make you +gruel, but the mistress said, 'Eh, master, the gazelle is the +apple of your eye; you have no child, this gazelle is like your +child; so this gazelle is not one to be done evil to. This is a +gazelle in form, but not a gazelle in heart; he is in all things +better than a gentleman, be he who he may.' + +And he answered her, 'Silly chatterer, your words are many. I +know its price; I bought it for an eighth. What loss will it be +to me?' + +The gazelle kept silence for a few moments. Then it said, 'The +elders said, "One that does good like a mother," and I have done +him good, and I have got this that the elders said. But go up +again to the master, and tell him the gazelle is very ill, and it +has not drunk the gruel of red millet.' + +So the old woman returned, and found the master and the mistress +drinking coffee. And when he heard what the gazelle had said, he +cried: 'Hold your peace, old woman, and stay your feet and close +your eyes, and stop your ears with wax; and if the gazelle bids +you come to me, say your legs are bent, and you cannot walk; and +if it begs you to listen, say your ears are stopped with wax; and +if it wishes to talk, reply that your tongue has got a hook in +it.' + +The heart of the old woman wept as she heard such words, because +she saw that when the gazelle first came to that town it was +ready to sell its life to buy wealth for its master. Then it +happened to get both life and wealth, but now it had no honour +with its master. + +And tears sprung likewise to the eyes of the sultan's wife, and +she said, 'I am sorry for you, my husband, that you should deal +so wickedly with that gazelle'; but he only answered, 'Old woman, +pay no heed to the talk of the mistress: tell it to perish out +of the way. I cannot sleep, I cannot eat, I cannot drink, for +the worry of that gazelle. Shall a creature that I bought for an +eighth trouble me from morning till night? Not so, old woman!' + +The old woman went downstairs, and there lay the gazelle, blood +flowing from its nostrils. And she took it in her arms and said, +'My son, the good you did is lost; there remains only patience.' + +And it said, 'Mother, I shall die, for my soul is full of anger +and bitterness. My face is ashamed, that I should have done good +to my master, and that he should repay me with evil.' It paused +for a moment, and then went on, 'Mother, of the goods that are in +this house, what do I eat? I might have every day half a +basinful, and would my master be any the poorer? But did not the +elders say, "He that does good like a mother!" ' + +And it said, 'Go and tell my master that the gazelle is nearer +death than life.' + +So she went, and spoke as the gazelle had bidden her; but he +answered, 'I have told you to trouble me no more.' + +But his wife's heart was sore, and she said to him: 'Ah, master, +what has the gazelle done to you? How has he failed you? The +things you do to him are not good, and you will draw on yourself +the hatred of the people. For this gazelle is loved by all, by +small and great, by women and men. Ah, my husband! I thought +you had great wisdom, and you have not even a little!' + +But he answered, 'You are mad, my wife.' + +The old woman stayed no longer, and went back to the gazelle, +followed secretly by the mistress, who called a maidservant and +bade her take some milk and rice and cook it for the gazelle. + +'Take also this cloth,' she said, 'to cover it with, and this +pillow for its head. And if the gazelle wants more, let it ask +me, and not its master. And if it will, I will send it in a +litter to my father, and he will nurse it till it is well.' + +And the maidservant did as her mistress bade her, and said what +her mistress had told her to say, but the gazelle made no answer, +but turned over on its side and died quietly. + +When the news spread abroad, there was much weeping among the +people, and Sultan Darai arose in wrath, and cried, 'You weep for +that gazelle as if you wept for me! And, after all, what is it +but a gazelle, that I bought for an eighth?' + +But his wife answered, 'Master, we looked upon that gazelle as we +looked upon you. It was the gazelle who came to ask me of my +father, it was the gazelle who brought me from my father, and I +was given in charge to the gazelle by my father.' + +And when the people heard her they lifted up their voices and +spoke: + +'We never saw you, we saw the gazelle. It was the gazelle who +met with trouble here, it was the gazelle who met with rest here. + +So, then, when such an one departs from this world we weep for +ourselves, we do not weep for the gazelle.' + +And they said furthermore: + +'The gazelle did you much good, and if anyone says he could have +done more for you he is a liar! Therefore, to us who have done +you no good, what treatment will you give? The gazelle has died +from bitterness of soul, and you ordered your slaves to throw it +into the well. Ah! leave us alone that we may weep.' + +But Sultan Darai would not heed their words, and the dead gazelle +was thrown into the well. + +When the mistress heard of it, she sent three slaves, mounted on +donkeys, with a letter to her father the sultan, and when the +sultan had read the letter he bowed his head and wept, like a man +who had lost his mother. And he commanded horses to be saddled, +and called the governor and the judges and all the rich men, and +said: + +'Come now with me; let us go and bury it.' + +Night and day they travelled, till the sultan came to the well +where the gazelle had been thrown. And it was a large well, +built round a rock, with room for many people; and the sultan +entered, and the judges and the rich men followed him. And when +he saw the gazelle lying there he wept afresh, and took it in his +arms and carried it away. + +When the three slaves went and told their mistress what the +sultan had done, and how all the people were weeping, she +answered: + +'I too have eaten no food, neither have I drunk water, since the +day the gazelle died. I have not spoken, and I have not +laughed.' + +The sultan took the gazelle and buried it, and ordered the people +to wear mourning for it, so there was great mourning throughout +the city. + +Now after the days of mourning were at an end, the wife was +sleeping at her husband's side, and in her sleep she dreamed that +she was once more in her father's house, and when she woke up it +was no dream. + +And the man dreamed that he was on the dust-heap, scratching. +And when he woke, behold! that also was no dream, but the truth. + +[Swahili Tales.] + + + +HOW A FISH SWAM IN THE AIR AND A HARE IN THE WATER. + +Once upon a time an old man and his wife lived together in a +little village. They might have been happy if only the old woman +had had the sense to hold her tongue at proper times. But +anything which might happen indoors, or any bit of news which her +husband might bring in when he had been anywhere, had to be told +at once to the whole village, and these tales were repeated and +altered till it often happened that much mischief was made, and +the old man's back paid for it. + +One day, he drove to the forest. When he reached the edge of it +he got out of his cart and walked beside it. Suddenly he stepped +on such a soft spot that his foot sank in the earth. + +'What can this be?' thought he. 'I'll dig a bit and see.' + +So he dug and dug, and at last he came on a little pot full of +gold and silver. + +'Oh, what luck! Now, if only I knew how I could take this +treasure home with me----but I can never hope to hide it from my +wife, and once she knows of it she'll tell all the world, and +then I shall get into trouble.' + +He sat down and thought over the matter a long time, and at last +he made a plan. He covered up the pot again with earth and +twigs, and drove on into the town, where he bought a live pike +and a live hare in the market. + +Then he drove back to the forest and hung the pike up at the very +top of a tree, and tied up the hare in a fishing net and fastened +it on the edge of a little stream, not troubling himself to think +how unpleasant such a wet spot was likely to be to the hare. + +Then he got into his cart and trotted merrily home. + +'Wife!' cried he, the moment he got indoors. 'You can't think +what a piece of good luck has come our way.' + +'What, what, dear husband? Do tell me all about it at once.' + +'No, no, you'll just go off and tell everyone.' + +'No, indeed! How can you think such things! For shame! If you +like I will swear never to----' + +'Oh, well! if you are really in earnest then, listen.' + +And he whispered in her ear: 'I've found a pot full of gold and +silver in the forest! Hush!----' + +'And why didn't you bring it back?' + +'Because we'll drive there together and bring it carefully back +between us.' + +So the man and his wife drove to the forest. + +As they were driving along the man said: + +'What strange things one hears, wife! I was told only the other +day that fish will now live and thrive in the tree tops and that +some wild animals spend their time in the water. Well! well! +times are certainly changed.' + +'Why, you must be crazy, husband! Dear, dear, what nonsense +people do talk sometimes.' + +'Nonsense, indeed! Why, just look. Bless my soul, if there +isn't a fish, a real pike I do believe, up in that tree.' + +'Gracious!' cried his wife. 'How did a pike get there? It IS a +pike--you needn't attempt to say it's not. Can people have said +true----' + +But the man only shook his head and shrugged his shoulders and +opened his mouth and gaped as if he really could not believe his +own eyes. + +'What are you standing staring at there, stupid?' said his wife. +'Climb up the tree quick and catch the pike, and we'll cook it +for dinner.' + +The man climbed up the tree and brought down the pike, and they +drove on. + +When they got near the stream he drew up. + +'What are you staring at again?' asked his wife impatiently. +'Drive on, can't you?' + +'Why, I seem to see something moving in that net I set. I must +just go and see what it is.' + +He ran to it, and when he had looked in it he called to his wife: + +'Just look! Here is actually a four-footed creature caught in +the net. I do believe it's a hare.' + +'Good heavens!' cried his wife. 'How did the hare get into your +net? It IS a hare, so you needn't say it isn't. After all, +people must have said the truth----' + +But her husband only shook his head and shrugged his shoulders as +if he could not believe his own eyes. + +'Now what are you standing there for, stupid?' cried his wife. +'Take up the hare. A nice fat hare is a dinner for a feast day.' + +The old man caught up the hare, and they drove on to the place +where the treasure was buried. They swept the twigs away, dug up +the earth, took out the pot, and drove home again with it. + +And now the old couple had plenty of money and were cheery and +comfortable. But the wife was very foolish. Every day she asked +a lot of people to dinner and feasted them, till her husband grew +quite impatient. He tried to reason with her, but she would not +listen. + +'You've got no right to lecture me!' said she. 'We found the +treasure together, and together we will spend it.' + +Her husband took patience, but at length he said to her: 'You +may do as you please, but I sha'n't give you another penny.' + +The old woman was very angry. 'Oh, what a good-for-nothing +fellow to want to spend all the money himself! But just wait a +bit and see what I shall do.' + +Off she went to the governor to complain of her husband. + +'Oh, my lord, protect me from my husband! Ever since he found +the treasure there is no bearing him. He only eats and drinks, +and won't work, and he keeps all the money to himself.' + +The governor took pity on the woman, and ordered his chief +secretary to look into the matter. + +The secretary called the elders of the village together, and went +with them to the man's house. + +'The governor,' said he, 'desires you to give all that treasure +you found into my care.' + +The man shrugged his shoulders and said: 'What treasure? I know +nothing about a treasure.' + +'How? You know nothing? Why your wife has complained of you. +Don't attempt to tell lies. If you don't hand over all the money +at once you will be tried for daring to raise treasure without +giving due notice to the governor about it.' + +'Pardon me, your excellency, but what sort of treasure was it +supposed to have been? My wife must have dreamt of it, and you +gentlemen have listened to her nonsense.' + +'Nonsense, indeed,' broke in his wife. 'A kettle full of gold +and silver, do you call that nonsense?' + +'You are not in your right mind, dear wife. Sir, I beg your +pardon. Ask her how it all happened, and if she convinces you +I'll pay for it with my life.' + +'This is how it all happened, Mr. Secretary,' cried the wife. +'We were driving through the forest, and we saw a pike up in the +top of a tree----' + +'What, a PIKE?' shouted the secretary. 'Do you think you may +joke with me, pray?' + +'Indeed, I'm not joking, Mr. Secretary! I'm speaking the bare +truth.' + +'Now you see, gentlemen,' said her husband, 'how far you can +trust her, when she chatters like this.' + +'Chatter, indeed? I!! Perhaps you have forgotten, too, how we +found a live hare in the river?' + +Everyone roared with laughter; even the secretary smiled and +stroked his beard, and the man said: + +'Come, come, wife, everyone is laughing at you. You see for +yourself, gentlemen, how far you can believe her.' + +'Yes, indeed,' said the village elders, 'it is certainly the +first time we have heard that hares thrive in the water or fish +among the tree tops.' + +The secretary could make nothing of it all, and drove back to the +town. The old woman was so laughed at that she had to hold her +tongue and obey her husband ever after, and the man bought wares +with part of the treasure and moved into the town, where he +opened a shop, and prospered, and spent the rest of his days in +peace. + + + +TWO IN A SACK + +What a life that poor man led with his wife, to be sure! Not a +day passed without her scolding him and calling him names, and +indeed sometimes she would take the broom from behind the stove +and beat him with it. He had no peace or comfort at all, and +really hardly knew how to bear it. + +One day, when his wife had been particularly unkind and had +beaten him black and blue, he strolled slowly into the fields, +and as he could not endure to be idle he spread out his nets. + +What kind of bird do you think he caught in his net? He caught +a crane, and the crane said, 'Let me go free, and I'll show +myself grateful.' + +The man answered, 'No, my dear fellow. I shall take you home, +and then perhaps my wife won't scold me so much.' + +Said the crane: 'You had better come with me to my house,' and +so they went to the crane's house. + +When they got there, what do you think the crane took from the +wall? He took down a sack, and he said: + +'Two out of a sack!' + +Instantly two pretty lads sprang out of the sack. They brought +in oak tables, which they spread with silken covers, and placed +all sorts of delicious dishes and refreshing drinks on them. The +man had never seen anything so beautiful in his life, and he was +delighted. + +Then the crane said to him, 'Now take this sack to your wife.' + +The man thanked him warmly, took the sack, and set out. + +His home was a good long way off, and as it was growing dark, and +he was feeling tired, he stopped to rest at his cousin's house by +the way. + +The cousin had three daughters, who laid out a tempting supper, +but the man would eat nothing, and said to his cousin, 'Your +supper is bad.' + +'Oh, make the best of it,' said she, but the man only said: +'Clear away!' and taking out his sack he cried, as the crane had +taught him: + +'Two out of the sack!' + +And out came the two pretty boys, who quickly brought in the oak +tables, spread the silken covers, and laid out all sorts of +delicious dishes and refreshing drinks. + +Never in their lives had the cousin and her daughters seen such a +supper, and they were delighted and astonished at it. But the +cousin quietly made up her mind to steal the sack, so she called +to her daughters: 'Go quickly and heat the bathroom: I am sure +our dear guest would like to have a bath before he goes to bed.' + +When the man was safe in the bathroom she told her daughters to +make a sack exactly like his, as quickly as possible. Then she +changed the two sacks, and hid the man's sack away. + +The man enjoyed his bath, slept soundly, and set off early next +morning, taking what he believed to be the sack the crane had +given him. + +All the way home he felt in such good spirits that he sang and +whistled as he walked through the wood, and never noticed how the +birds were twittering and laughing at him. + +As soon as he saw his house he began to shout from a distance, +'Hallo! old woman! Come out and meet me!' + +His wife screamed back: 'You come here, and I'll give you a good +thrashing with the poker!' + +The man walked into the house, hung his sack on a nail, and said, +as the crane had taught him: + +'Two out of the sack!' + +But not a soul came out of the sack. + +Then he said again, exactly as the crane had taught him: + +'Two out of the sack!' + +His wife, hearing him chattering goodness knows what, took up her +wet broom and swept the ground all about him. + +The man took flight and rushed oft into the field, and there he +found the crane marching proudly about, and to him he told his +tale. + +'Come back to my house,' said the crane, and so they went to the +crane's house, and as soon as they got there, what did the crane +take down from the wall? Why, he took down a sack, and he said: + +'Two out of the sack!' + +And instantly two pretty lads sprang out of the sack, brought in +oak tables, on which they laid silken covers, and spread all +sorts of delicious dishes and refreshing drinks on them. + +'Take this sack,' said the crane. + +The man thanked him heartily, took the sack, and went. He had a +long way to walk, and as he presently got hungry, he said to the +sack, as the crane had taught him: + +'Two out of the sack!' + +And instantly two rough men with thick sticks crept out of the +bag and began to beat him well, crying as they did so: + + 'Don't boast to your cousins of what you have got, + One--two-- + Or you'll find you will catch it uncommonly hot, + One--two--' + +And they beat on till the man panted out: + +'Two into the sack.' + +The words were hardly out of his mouth, when the two crept back +into the sack. + +Then the man shouldered the sack, and went off straight to his +cousin's house. He hung the sack up on a nail, and said: +'Please have the bathroom heated, cousin.' + +The cousin heated the bathroom, and the man went into it, but he +neither washed nor rubbed himself, he just sat there and waited. + +Meantime his cousin felt hungry, so she called her daughters, and +all four sat down to table. Then the mother said: + +'Two out of the sack.' + +Instantly two rough men crept out of the sack, and began to beat +the cousin as they cried: + 'Greedy pack! Thievish pack! + + One--two-- + Give the peasant back his sack! + + One--two--' + +And they went on beating till the woman called to her eldest +daughter: 'Go and fetch your cousin from the bathroom. Tell him +these two ruffians are beating me black and blue.' + +'I've not finished rubbing myself yet,' said the peasant. + +And the two ruffians kept on beating as they sang: + + 'Greedy pack! Thievish pack! + One--two-- + Give the peasant back his sack! + + One--two--' + +Then the woman sent her second daughter and said: 'Quick, quick, +get him to come to me.' + +'I'm just washing my head,' said the man. + +Then she sent the youngest girl, and he said: 'I've not done +drying myself.' + +At last the woman could hold out no longer, and sent him the sack +she had stolen. + +NOW he had quite finished his bath, and as he left the bathroom +he cried: + +'Two into the sack.' + +And the two crept back at once into the sack. + +Then the man took both sacks, the good and the bad one, and went +away home. + +When he was near the house he shouted: 'Hallo, old woman, come +and meet me!' + +His wife only screamed out: + +'You broomstick, come here! Your back shall pay for this.' + +The man went into the cottage, hung his sack on a nail, and said, +as the crane had taught him: + +'Two out of the sack.' + +Instantly two pretty lads sprang out of the sack, brought in oak +tables, laid silken covers on them, and spread them with all +sorts of delicious dishes and refreshing drinks. + +The woman ate and drank, and praised her husband. + +'Well, now, old man, I won't beat you any more,' said she. + +When they had done eating, the man carried off the good sack, and +put it away in his store-room, but hung the bad sack up on the +nail. Then he lounged up and down in the yard. + +Meantime his wife became thirsty. She looked with longing eyes +at the sack, and at last she said, as her husband had done: + +'Two out of the sack.' + +And at once the two rogues with their big sticks crept out of the +sack, and began to belabour her as they sang: + + 'Would you beat your husband true? + + Don't cry so! + Now we'll beat you black and blue! + Oh! Oh!' + +The woman screamed out: 'Old man, old man! Come here, quick! +Here are two ruffians pommelling me fit to break my bones.' + +Her husband only strolled up and down and laughed, as he said: +'Yes, they'll beat you well, old lady.' + +And the two thumped away and sang again: + + 'Blows will hurt, remember, crone, + We mean you well, we mean you well; + In future leave the stick alone, + + For how it hurts, you now can tell, + One--two--' + +At last her husband took pity on her, and cried: + +'Two into the sack.' + +He had hardly said the words before they were back in the sack +again. + +From this time the man and his wife lived so happily together +that it was a pleasure to see them, and so the story has an end. + +[From Russiche Marchen.] + + + +THE ENVIOUS NEIGHBOUR + +Long, long ago an old couple lived in a village, and, as they had +no children to love and care for, they gave all their affection +to a little dog. He was a pretty little creature, and instead of +growing spoilt and disagreeable at not getting everything he +wanted, as even children will do sometimes, the dog was grateful +to them for their kindness, and never left their side, whether +they were in the house or out of it. + +One day the old man was working in his garden, with his dog, as +usual, close by. The morning was hot, and at last he put down +his spade and wiped his wet forehead, noticing, as he did so, +that the animal was snuffling and scratching at a spot a little +way off. There was nothing very strange in this, as all dogs are +fond of scratching, and he went on quietly with his digging, when +the dog ran up to his master, barking loudly, and back again to +the place where he had been scratching. This he did several +times, till the old man wondered what could be the matter, and, +picking up the spade, followed where the dog led him. The dog +was so delighted at his success that he jumped round, barking +loudly, till the noise brought the old woman out of the house. + +Curious to know if the dog had really found anything, the husband +began to dig, and very soon the spade struck against something. +He stooped down and pulled out a large box, filled quite full +with shining gold pieces. The box was so heavy that the old +woman had to help to carry it home, and you may guess what a +supper the dog had that night! Now that he had made them rich, +they gave him every day all that a dog likes best to eat, and the +cushions on which he lay were fit for a prince. + +The story of the dog and his treasure soon became known, and a +neighbour whose garden was next the old people's grew so envious +of their good luck that he could neither eat nor sleep. As the +dog had discovered a treasure once, this foolish man thought he +must be able to discover one always, and begged the old couple to +lend him their pet for a little while, so that he might be made +rich also. + +'How can you ask such a thing?' answered the old man indignantly. + +'You know how much we love him, and that he is never out of our +sight for five minutes.' + +But the envious neighbour would not heed his words, and came +daily with the same request, till at last the old people, who +could not bear to say no to anyone, promised to lend the dog, +just for a night or two. No sooner did the man get hold of the +dog than he turned him into the garden, but the dog did nothing +but race about, and the man was forced to wait with what patience +he could. + +The next morning the man opened the house door, and the dog +bounded joyfully into the garden, and, running up to the foot of +a tree, began to scratch wildly. The man called loudly to his +wife to bring a spade, and followed the dog, as he longed to +catch the first glimpse of the expected treasure. But when he +had dug up the ground, what did he find? Why, nothing but a +parcel of old bones, which smelt so badly that he could not stay +there a moment longer. And his heart was filled with rage +against the dog who had played him this trick, and he seized a +pickaxe and killed it on the spot, before he knew what he was +doing. When he remembered that he would have to go with his +story to the old man and his wife he was rather frightened, but +there was nothing to be gained by putting it off, so he pulled a +very long face and went to his neighbour's garden. + +'Your dog,' said he, pretending to weep, 'has suddenly fallen +down dead, though I took every care of him, and gave him +everything he could wish for. And I thought I had better come +straight and tell you.' + +Weeping bitterly, the old man went to fetch the body of his +favourite, and brought it home and buried it under the fig-tree +where he had found the treasure. From morning till night he and +his wife mourned over their loss, and nothing could comfort them. + +At length, one night when he was asleep, he dreamt that the dog +appeared to him and told him to cut down the fig-tree over his +grave, and out of its wood to make a mortar. But when the old +man woke and thought of his dream he did not feel at all inclined +to cut down the tree, which bore well every year, and consulted +his wife about it. The woman did not hesitate a moment, and said +that after what had happened before, the dog's advice must +certainly be obeyed, so the tree was felled, and a beautiful +mortar made from it. And when the season came for the rice crop +to be gathered the mortar was taken down from its shelf, and the +grains placed in it for pounding, when, lo and behold! in a +twinkling of an eye, they all turned into gold pieces. At the +sight of all this gold the hearts of the old people were glad, +and once more they blessed their faithful dog. + +But it was not long before this story also came to the ears of +their envious neighbour, and he lost no time in going to the old +people and asking if they happened to have a mortar which they +could lend him. The old man did not at all like parting with his +precious treasure, but he never could say no, so the neighbour +went off with the mortar under his arm. + +The moment he got into his own house he took a great handful of +rice, and began to shell off the husks, with the help of his +wife. But, instead of the gold pieces for which they looked, the +rice turned into berries with such a horrible smell that they +were obliged to run away, after smashing the mortar in a rage and +setting fire to the bits. + +The old people next door were naturally very much put out when +they learned the fate of their mortar, and were not at all +comforted by the explanations and excuses made by their +neighbour. But that night the dog again appeared in a dream to +his master, and told him that he must go and collect the ashes of +the burnt mortar and bring them home. Then, when he heard that +the Daimio, or great lord to whom this part of the country +belonged, was expected at the capital, he was to carry the ashes +to the high road, through which the procession would have to +pass. And as soon as it was in sight he was to climb up all the +cherry-trees and sprinkle the ashes on them, and they would soon +blossom as they had never blossomed before. + +This time the old man did not wait to consult his wife as to +whether he was to do what his dog had told him, but directly he +got up he went to his neighbour's house and collected the ashes +of the burnt mortar. He put them carefully in a china vase, and +carried it to the high road, Sitting down on a seat till the +Daimio should pass. The cherry-trees were bare, for it was the +season when small pots of them were sold to rich people, who kept +them in hot places, so that they might blossom early and decorate +their rooms. As to the trees in the open air, no one would ever +think of looking for the tiniest bud for more than a month yet. +The old man had not been waiting very long before he saw a cloud +of dust in the far distance, and knew that it must be the +procession of the Daimio. On they came, every man dressed in his +finest clothes, and the crowd that was lining the road bowed +their faces to the ground as they went by. Only the old man did +not bow himself, and the great lord saw this, and bade one of his +courtiers, in anger, go and inquire why he had disobeyed the +ancient customs. But before the messenger could reach him the +old man had climbed the nearest tree and scattered his ashes far +and wide, and in an instant the white flowers had flashed into +life, and the heart of the Daimio rejoiced, and he gave rich +presents to the old man, whom he sent for to his castle. + +We may be sure that in a very little while the envious neighbour +had heard this also, and his bosom was filled with hate. He +hastened to the place where he had burned the mortar, collected a +few of the ashes which the old man had left behind, and took them +to the road, hoping that his luck might be as good as the old +man's, or perhaps even better. His heart beat with pleasure when +he caught the first glimpses of the Daimio's train, and he held +himself ready for the right moment. As the Daimio drew near he +flung a great handful of ashes over the trees, but no buds or +flowers followed the action: instead, the ashes were all blown +back into the eyes of the Daimio and his warriors, till they +cried out from pain. Then the prince ordered the evil-doer to be +seized and bound and thrown into prison, where he was kept for +many months. By the time he was set free everybody in his native +village had found out his wickedness, and they would not let him +live there any longer; and as he would not leave off his evil +ways he soon went from bad to worse, and came to a miserable end. + +[Japanische Marchen.] + + + +THE FAIRY OF THE DAWN + +Once upon a time what should happen DID happen; and if it had not +happened this tale would never have been told. + +There was once an emperor, very great and mighty, and he ruled +over an empire so large that no one knew where it began and where +it ended. But if nobody could tell the exact extent of his +sovereignty everybody was aware that the emperor's right eye +laughed, while his left eye wept. One or two men of valour had +the courage to go and ask him the reason of this strange fact, +but he only laughed and said nothing; and the reason of the +deadly enmity between his two eyes was a secret only known to the +monarch himself. + +And all the while the emperor's sons were growing up. And such +sons! All three like the morning stars in the sky! + +Florea, the eldest, was so tall and broad-shouldered that no man +in the kingdom could approach him. + +Costan, the second, was quite different. Small of stature, and +slightly built, he had a strong arm and stronger wrist. + +Petru, the third and youngest, was tall and thin, more like a +girl than a boy. He spoke very little, but laughed and sang, +sang and laughed, from morning till night. He was very seldom +serious, but then he had a way when he was thinking of stroking +his hair over his forehead, which made him look old enough to sit +in his father's council! + +'You are grown up, Florea,' said Petru one day to his eldest +brother; 'do go and ask father why one eye laughs and the other +weeps.' + +But Florea would not go. He had learnt by experience that this +question always put the emperor in a rage. + +Petru next went to Costan, but did not succeed any better with +him. + +'Well, well, as everyone else is afraid, I suppose I must do it +myself,' observed Petru at length. No sooner said than done; the +boy went straight to his father and put his question. + +'May you go blind!' exclaimed the emperor in wrath; 'what +business is it of yours?' and boxed Petru's ears soundly. + +Petru returned to his brothers, and told them what had befallen +him; but not long after it struck him that his father's left eye +seemed to weep less, and the right to laugh more. + +'I wonder if it has anything to do with my question,' thought he. + +'I'll try again! After all, what do two boxes on the ear +matter?' + +So he put his question for the second time, and had the same +answer; but the left eye only wept now and then, while the right +eye looked ten years younger. + +'It really MUST be true,' thought Petru. 'Now I know what I have +to do. I shall have to go on putting that question, and getting +boxes on the ear, till both eyes laugh together.' + +No sooner said than done. Petru never, never forswore himself. + +'Petru, my dear boy,' cried the emperor, both his eyes laughing +together, 'I see you have got this on the brain. Well, I will +let you into the secret. My right eye laughs when I look at my +three sons, and see how strong and handsome you all are, and the +other eye weeps because I fear that after I die you will not be +able to keep the empire together, and to protect it from its +enemies. But if you can bring me water from the spring of the +Fairy of the Dawn, to bathe my eyes, then they will laugh for +evermore; for I shall know that my sons are brave enough to +overcome any foe.' + +Thus spoke the emperor, and Petru picked up his hat and went to +find his brothers. + +The three young men took counsel together, and talked the subject +well over, as brothers should do. And the end of it was that +Florea, as the eldest, went to the stables, chose the best and +handsomest horse they contained, saddled him, and took leave of +the court. + +'I am starting at once,' said he to his brothers, 'and if after a +year, a month, a week, and a day I have not returned with the +water from the spring of the Fairy of the Dawn, you, Costan, had +better come after me.' So saying he disappeared round a corner +of the palace. + +For three days and three nights he never drew rein. Like a +spirit the horse flew over mountains and valleys till he came to +the borders of the empire. Here was a deep, deep trench that +girdled it the whole way round, and there was only a single +bridge by which the trench could be crossed. Florea made +instantly for the bridge, and there pulled up to look around him +once more, to take leave of his native land Then he turned, but +before him was standing a dragon--oh! SUCH a dragon!--a dragon +with three heads and three horrible faces, all with their mouths +wide open, one jaw reaching to heaven and the other to earth. + +At this awful sight Florea did not wait to give battle. He put +spurs to his horse and dashed off, WHERE he neither knew nor +cared. + +The dragon heaved a sigh and vanished without leaving a trace +behind him. + +A week went by. Florea did not return home. Two passed; and +nothing was heard of him. After a month Costan began to haunt +the stables and to look out a horse for himself. And the moment +the year, the month, the week, and the day were over Costan +mounted his horse and took leave of his youngest brother. + +'If I fail, then you come,' said he, and followed the path that +Florea had taken. + +The dragon on the bridge was more fearful and his three heads +more terrible than before, and the young hero rode away still +faster than his brother had done. + +Nothing more was heard either of him or Florea; and Petru +remained alone. + +'I must go after my brothers,' said Petru one day to his father. + +'Go, then,' said his father, 'and may you have better luck than +they'; and he bade farewell to Petru, who rode straight to the +borders of the kingdom. + +The dragon on the bridge was yet more dreadful than the one +Florea and Costan had seen, for this one had seven heads instead +of only three. + +Petru stopped for a moment when he caught sight of this terrible +creature. Then he found his voice. + +'Get out of the way!' cried he. 'Get out of the way!' he +repeated again, as the dragon did not move. 'Get out of the +way!' and with this last summons he drew his sword and rushed +upon him. In an instant the heavens seemed to darken round him +and he was surrounded by fire--fire to right of him, fire to left +of him, fire to front of him, fire to rear of him; nothing but +fire whichever way he looked, for the dragon's seven heads were +vomiting flame. + +The horse neighed and reared at the horrible sight, and Petru +could not use the sword he had in readiness. + +'Be quiet! this won't do!' he said, dismounting hastily, but +holding the bridle firmly in his left hand and grasping his sword +in his right. + +But even so he got on no better, for he could see nothing but +fire and smoke. + +'There is no help for it; I must go back and get a better horse,' +said he, and mounted again and rode homewards. + +At the gate of the palace his nurse, old Birscha, was waiting for +him eagerly. + +'Ah, Petru, my son, I knew you would have to come back,' she +cried. 'You did not set about the matter properly.' + +'How ought I to have set about it?' asked Petru, half angrily, +half sadly. + +'Look here, my boy,' replied old Birscha. 'You can never reach +the spring of the Fairy of the Dawn unless you ride the horse +which your father, the emperor, rode in his youth. Go and ask +where it is to be found, and then mount it and be off with you.' + +Petru thanked her heartily for her advice, and went at once to +make inquiries about the horse. + +'By the light of my eyes!' exclaimed the emperor when Petru had +put his question. 'Who has told you anything about that? It +must have been that old witch of a Birscha? Have you lost your +wits? Fifty years have passed since I was young, and who knows +where the bones of my horse may be rotting, or whether a scrap of +his reins still lie in his stall? I have forgotten all about +him long ago.' + +Petru turned away in anger, and went back to his old nurse. + +'Do not be cast down,' she said with a smile; 'if that is how the +affair stands all will go well. Go and fetch the scrap of the +reins; I shall soon know what must be done.' + +The place was full of saddles, bridles, and bits of leather. +Petru picked out the oldest, and blackest, and most decayed pair +of reins, and brought them to the old woman, who murmured +something over them and sprinkled them with incense, and held +them out to the young man. + +'Take the reins,' said she, 'and strike them violently against +the pillars of the house.' + +Petru did what he was told, and scarcely had the reins touched +the pillars when something happened-- HOW I have no idea--that +made Petru stare with surprise. A horse stood before him--a +horse whose equal in beauty the world had never seen; with a +saddle on him of gold and precious stones, and with such a +dazzling bridle you hardly dared to look at it, lest you should +lose your sight. A splendid horse, a splendid saddle, and a +splendid bridle, all ready for the splendid young prince! + +'Jump on the back of the brown horse,' said the old woman, and +she turned round and went into the house. + +The moment Petru was seated on the horse he felt his arm three +times as strong as before, and even his heart felt braver. + +'Sit firmly in the saddle, my lord, for we have a long way to go +and no time to waste,' said the brown horse, and Petru soon saw +that they were riding as no man and horse had ever ridden before. + +On the bridge stood a dragon, but not the same one as he had +tried to fight with, for this dragon had twelve heads, each more +hideous and shooting forth more terrible flames than the other. +But, horrible though he was, he had met his match. Petru showed +no fear, but rolled up his sleeves, that his arms might be free. + +'Get out of the way!' he said when he had done, but the dragon's +heads only breathed forth more flames and smoke. Petru wasted no +more words, but drew his sword and prepared to throw himself on +the bridge. + +'Stop a moment; be careful, my lord,' put in the horse, 'and be +sure you do what I tell you. Dig your spurs in my body up to the +rowel, draw your sword, and keep yourself ready, for we shall +have to leap over both bridge and dragon. When you see that we +are right above the dragon cut off his biggest head, wipe the +blood off the sword, and put it back clean in the sheath before +we touch earth again.' + +So Petru dug in his spurs, drew his sword, cut of the head, wiped +the blood, and put the sword back in the sheath before the +horse's hoofs touched the ground again. + +And in this fashion they passed the bridge. + +'But we have got to go further still,' said Petru, after he had +taken a farewell glance at his native land. + +'Yes, forwards,' answered the horse; 'but you must tell me, my +lord, at what speed you wish to go. Like the wind? Like +thought? Like desire? or like a curse?' + +Petru looked about him, up at the heavens and down again to the +earth. A desert lay spread out before him, whose aspect made his +hair stand on end. + +'We will ride at different speeds,' said he, 'not so fast as to +grow tired nor so slow as to waste time.' + +And so they rode, one day like the wind, the next like thought, +the third and fourth like desire and like a curse, till they +reached the borders of the desert. + +'Now walk, so that I may look about, and see what I have never +seen before,' said Petru, rubbing his eyes like one who wakes +from sleep, or like him who beholds something so strange that it +seems as if . . . Before Petru lay a wood made of copper, with +copper trees and copper leaves, with bushes and flowers of copper +also. + +Petru stood and stared as a man does when he sees something that +he has never seen, and of which he has never heard. + +Then he rode right into the wood. On each side of the way the +rows of flowers began to praise Petru, and to try and persuade +him to pick some of them and make himself a wreath. + +'Take me, for I am lovely, and can give strength to whoever +plucks me,' said one. + +'No, take me, for whoever wears me in his hat will be loved by +the most beautiful woman in the world,' pleaded the second; and +then one after another bestirred itself, each more charming than +the last, all promising, in soft sweet voices, wonderful things +to Petru, if only he would pick them. + +Petru was not deaf to their persuasion, and was just stooping to +pick one when the horse sprang to one side. + +'Why don't you stay still?' asked Petru roughly. + +'Do not pick the flowers; it will bring you bad luck; answered +the horse. + +'Why should it do that?' + +'These flowers are under a curse. Whoever plucks them must fight +the Welwa[1] of the woods.' + +[1] A goblin. + +'What kind of a goblin is the Welwa?' + +'Oh, do leave me in peace! But listen. Look at the flowers as +much as you like, but pick none,' and the horse walked on slowly. + +Petru knew by experience that he would do well to attend to the +horse's advice, so he made a great effort and tore his mind away +from the flowers. + +But in vain! If a man is fated to be unlucky, unlucky he will +be, whatever he may do! + +The flowers went on beseeching him, and his heart grew ever +weaker and weaker. + +'What must come will come,' said Petru at length; 'at any rate I +shall see the Welwa of the woods, what she is like, and which way +I had best fight her. If she is ordained to be the cause of my +death, well, then it will be so; but if not I shall conquer her +though she were twelve hundred Welwas,' and once more he stooped +down to gather the flowers. + +'You have done very wrong,' said the horse sadly. 'But it can't +be helped now. Get yourself ready for battle, for here is the +Welwa!' + +Hardly had he done speaking, scarcely had Petru twisted his +wreath, when a soft breeze arose on all sides at once. Out of +the breeze came a storm wind, and the storm wind swelled and +swelled till everything around was blotted out in darkness, and +darkness covered them as with a thick cloak, while the earth +swayed and shook under their feet. + +'Are you afraid?' asked the horse, shaking his mane. + +'Not yet,' replied Petru stoutly, though cold shivers were +running down his back. 'What must come will come, whatever it +is.' + +'Don't be afraid,' said the horse. 'I will help you. Take the +bridle from my neck, and try to catch the Welwa with it.' + +The words were hardly spoken, and Petru had no time even to +unbuckle the bridle, when the Welwa herself stood before him; and +Petru could not bear to look at her, so horrible was she. + +She had not exactly a head, yet neither was she without one. She +did not fly through the air, but neither did she walk upon the +earth. She had a mane like a horse, horns like a deer, a face +like a bear, eyes like a polecat; while her body had something of +each. And that was the Welwa. + +Petru planted himself firmly in his stirrups, and began to lay +about him with his sword, but could feel nothing. + +A day and a night went by, and the fight was still undecided, but +at last the Welwa began to pant for breath. + +'Let us wait a little and rest,' gasped she. + +Petru stopped and lowered his sword. + +'You must not stop an instant,' said the horse, and Petru +gathered up all his strength, and laid about him harder than +ever. + +The Welwa gave a neigh like a horse and a howl like a wolf, and +threw herself afresh on Petru. For another day and night the +battle raged more furiously than before. And Petru grew so +exhausted he could scarcely move his arm. + +'Let us wait a little and rest,' cried the Welwa for the second +time, 'for I see you are as weary as I am.' + +'You must not stop an instant,' said the horse. + +And Petru went on fighting, though he barely had strength to move +his arm. But the Welwa had ceased to throw herself upon him, and +began to deliver her blows cautiously, as if she had no longer +power to strike. + +And on the third day they were still fighting, but as the morning +sky began to redden Petru somehow managed--how I cannot tell--to +throw the bridle over the head of the tired Welwa. In a moment, +from the Welwa sprang a horse--the most beautiful horse in the +world. + +'Sweet be your life, for you have delivered me from my +enchantment,' said he, and began to rub his nose against his +brother's. And he told Petru all his story, and how he had been +bewitched for many years. + +So Petru tied the Welwa to his own horse and rode on. Where did +he ride? That I cannot tell you, but he rode on fast till he +got out of the copper wood. + +'Stay still, and let me look about, and see what I never have +seen before,' said Petru again to his horse. For in front of him +stretched a forest that was far more wonderful, as it was made of +glistening trees and shining flowers. It was the silver wood. + +As before, the flowers began to beg the young man to gather them. + +'Do not pluck them,' warned the Welwa, trotting beside him, 'for +my brother is seven times stronger than I'; but though Petru knew +by experience what this meant, it was no use, and after a +moment's hesitation he began to gather the flowers, and to twist +himself a wreath. + +Then the storm wind howled louder, the earth trembled more +violently, and the night grew darker, than the first time, and +the Welwa of the silver wood came rushing on with seven times the +speed of the other. For three days and three nights they fought, +but at last Petru cast the bridle over the head of the second +Welwa. + +'Sweet be your life, for you have delivered me from enchantment,' +said the second Welwa, and they all journeyed on as before. + +But soon they came to a gold wood more lovely far than the other +two, and again Petru's companions pleaded with him to ride +through it quickly, and to leave the flowers alone. But Petru +turned a deaf ear to all they said, and before he had woven his +golden crown he felt that something terrible, that he could not +see, was coming near him right out of the earth. He drew his +sword and made himself ready for the fight. 'I will die!' cried +he, 'or he shall have my bridle over his head.' + +He had hardly said the words when a thick fog wrapped itself +around him, and so thick was it that he could not see his own +hand, or hear the sound of his voice. For a day and a night he +fought with his sword, without ever once seeing his enemy, then +suddenly the fog began to lighten. By dawn of the second day it +had vanished altogether, and the sun shone brightly in the +heavens. It seemed to Petru that he had been born again. + +And the Welwa? She had vanished. + +'You had better take breath now you can, for the fight will have +to begin all over again,' said the horse. + +'What was it?' asked Petru. + +'It was the Welwa,' replied the horse, 'changed into a fog +'Listen! She is coming!' + +And Petru had hardly drawn a long breath when he felt something +approaching from the side, though what he could not tell. A +river, yet not a river, for it seemed not to flow over the earth, +but to go where it liked, and to leave no trace of its passage. + +'Woe be to me!' cried Petru, frightened at last. + +'Beware, and never stand still,' called the brown horse, and more +he could not say, for the water was choking him. + +The battle began anew. For a day and a night Petru fought on, +without knowing at whom or what he struck. At dawn on the +second, he felt that both his feet were lame. + +'Now I am done for,' thought he, and his blows fell thicker and +harder in his desperation. And the sun came out and the water +disappeared, without his knowing how or when. + +'Take breath,' said the horse, 'for you have no time to lose. +The Welwa will return in a moment.' + +Petru made no reply, only wondered how, exhausted as he was, he +should ever be able to carry on the fight. But he settled +himself in his saddle, grasped his sword, and waited. + +And then something came to him--WHAT I cannot tell you. Perhaps, +in his dreams, a man may see a creature which has what it has not +got, and has not got what it has. At least, that was what the +Welwa seemed like to Petru. She flew with her feet, and walked +with her wings; her head was in her back, and her tail was on top +of her body; her eyes were in her neck, and her neck in her +forehead, and how to describe her further I do not know. + +Petru felt for a moment as if he was wrapped in a garment of +fear; then he shook himself and took heart, and fought as he had +never yet fought before. + +As the day wore on, his strength began to fail, and when darkness +fell he could hardly keep his eyes open. By midnight he knew he +was no longer on his horse, but standing on the ground, though he +could not have told how he got there. When the grey light of +morning came, he was past standing on his feet, but fought now +upon his knees. + +'Make one more struggle; it is nearly over now,' said the horse, +seeing that Petru's strength was waning fast. + +Petru wiped the sweat from his brow with his gauntlet, and with a +desperate effort rose to his feet. + +'Strike the Welwa on the mouth with the bridle,' said the horse, +and Petru did it. + +The Welwa uttered a neigh so loud that Petru thought he would be +deaf for life, and then, though she too was nearly spent, flung +herself upon her enemy; but Petru was on the watch and threw the +bridle over her head, as she rushed on, so that when the day +broke there were three horses trotting beside him. + +'May your wife be the most beautiful of women,' said the Welwa, +'for you have delivered me from my enchantment.' So the four +horses galloped fast, and by nightfall they were at the borders +of the golden forest. + +Then Petru began to think of the crowns that he wore, and what +they had cost him. + +'After all, what do I want with so many? I will keep the best,' +he said to himself; and taking off first the copper crown and +then the silver, he threw them away. + +'Stay!' cried the horse, 'do not throw them away! Perhaps we +shall find them of use. Get down and pick them up.' So Petru +got down and picked them up, and they all went on. + +In the evening, when the sun is getting low, and all the midges +are beginning to bite, Peter saw a wide heath stretching before +him. + +At the same instant the horse stood still of itself. + +'What is the matter?' asked Petru. + +'I am afraid that something evil will happen to us,' answered the +horse. + +'But why should it?' + +'We are going to enter the kingdom of the goddess Mittwoch,[2] +and the further we ride into it the colder we shall get. But all +along the road there are huge fires, and I dread lest you should +stop and warm yourself at them.' + +[2] In German 'Mittwoch,' the feminine form of Mercury. + +'And why should I not warm myself?' + +'Something fearful will happen to you if you do,' replied the +horse sadly. + +'Well, forward!' cried Petru lightly, 'and if I have to bear +cold, I must bear it!' + +With every step they went into the kingdom of Mittwoch, the air +grew colder and more icy, till even the marrow in their bones was +frozen. But Petru was no coward; the fight he had gone through +had strengthened his powers of endurance, and he stood the test +bravely. + +Along the road on each side were great fires, with men standing +by them, who spoke pleasantly to Petru as he went by, and invited +him to join them. The breath froze in his mouth, but he took no +notice, only bade his horse ride on the faster. + +How long Petru may have waged battle silently with the cold one +cannot tell, for everybody knows that the kingdom of Mittwoch is +not to be crossed in a day, but he struggled on, though the +frozen rocks burst around, and though his teeth chattered, and +even his eyelids were frozen. + +At length they reached the dwelling of Mittwoch herself, and, +jumping from his horse, Petru threw the reins over his horse's +neck and entered the hut. + +'Good-day, little mother!' said he. + +'Very well, thank you, my frozen friend!' + +Petru laughed, and waited for her to speak. + +'You have borne yourself bravely,' went on the goddess, tapping +him on the shoulder. 'Now you shall have your reward,' and she +opened an iron chest, out of which she took a little box. + +'Look!' said she; 'this little box has been lying here for ages, +waiting for the man who could win his way through the Ice +Kingdom. Take it, and treasure it, for some day it may help you. + +If you open it, it will tell you anything you want, and give you +news of your fatherland.' + +Petru thanked her gratefully for her gift, mounted his horse, and +rode away. + +When he was some distance from the hut, he opened the casket. + +'What are your commands?' asked a voice inside. + +'Give me news of my father,' he replied, rather nervously. + +'He is sitting in council with his nobles,' answered the casket. + +'Is he well?' + +'Not particularly, for he is furiously angry.' + +'What has angered him?' + +'Your brothers Costan and Florea,' replied the casket. 'It seems +to me they are trying to rule him and the kingdom as well, and +the old man says they are not fit to do it.' + +'Push on, good horse, for we have no time to lose!' cried Petru; +then he shut up the box, and put it in his pocket. + +They rushed on as fast as ghosts, as whirlwinds, as vampires when +they hunt at midnight, and how long they rode no man can tell, +for the way is far. + +'Stop! I have some advice to give you,' said the horse at last. + +'What is it?' asked Petru. + +'You have known what it is to suffer cold; you will have to +endure heat, such as you have never dreamed of. Be as brave now +as you were then. Let no one tempt you to try to cool yourself, +or evil will befall you.' + +'Forwards!' answered Petru. 'Do not worry yourself. If I have +escaped without being frozen, there is no chance of my melting.' + +'Why not? This is a heat that will melt the marrow in your +bones--a heat that is only to be felt in the kingdom of the +Goddess of Thunder.'[3] + +[3] In the German 'Donnerstag'--the day of the Thunder God, i.e. +Jupiter. + +And it WAS hot. The very iron of the horse's shoes began to +melt, but Petru gave no heed. The sweat ran down his face, but +he dried it with his gauntlet. What heat could be he never knew +before, and on the way, not a stone's throw from the road, lay +the most delicious valleys, full of shady trees and bubbling +streams. When Petru looked at them his heart burned within him, +and his mouth grew parched. And standing among the flowers were +lovely maidens who called to him in soft voices, till he had to +shut his eyes against their spells. + +'Come, my hero, come and rest; the heat will kill you,' said +they. + +Petru shook his head and said nothing, for he had lost the power +of speech. + +Long he rode in this awful state, how long none can tell. +Suddenly the heat seemed to become less, and, in the distance, he +saw a little hut on a hill. This was the dwelling of the Goddess +of Thunder, and when he drew rein at her door the goddess herself +came out to meet him. + +She welcomed him, and kindly invited him in, and bade him tell +her all his adventures. So Petru told her all that had happened +to him, and why he was there, and then took farewell of her, as +he had no time to lose. 'For,' he said, 'who knows how far the +Fairy of the Dawn may yet be?' + +'Stay for one moment, for I have a word of advice to give you. +You are about to enter the kingdom of Venus;[4] go and tell her, +as a message from me, that I hope she will not tempt you to +delay. On your way back, come to me again, and I will give you +something that may be of use to you.' + +[4] 'Vineri ' is Friday, and also 'Venus.' + +So Petru mounted his horse, and had hardly ridden three steps +when he found himself in a new country. Here it was neither hot +nor cold, but the air was warm and soft like spring, though the +way ran through a heath covered with sand and thistles. + +'What can that be?' asked Petru, when he saw a long, long way +off, at the very end of the heath, something resembling a house. + +'That is the house of the goddess Venus,' replied the horse, 'and +if we ride hard we may reach it before dark'; and he darted off +like an arrow, so that as twilight fell they found themselves +nearing the house. Petru's heart leaped at the sight, for all +the way along he had been followed by a crowd of shadowy figures +who danced about him from right to left, and from back to front, +and Petru, though a brave man, felt now and then a thrill of +fear. + +'They won't hurt you,' said the horse; 'they are just the +daughters of the whirlwind amusing themselves while they are +waiting for the ogre of the moon.' + +Then he stopped in front of the house, and Petru jumped off and +went to the door. + +'Do not be in such a hurry,' cried the horse. 'There are several +things I must tell you first. You cannot enter the house of the +goddess Venus like that. She is always watched and guarded by +the whirlwind.' + +'What am I to do then?' + +'Take the copper wreath, and go with it to that little hill over +there. When you reach it, say to yourself, "Were there ever such +lovely maidens! such angels! such fairy souls!" Then hold the +wreath high in the air and cry, "Oh! if I knew whether any one +would accept this wreath from me . . . if I knew! if I knew!" +and throw the wreath from you!' + +'And why should I do all this?' said Petru. + +'Ask no questions, but go and do it,' replied the horse. And +Petru did. + +Scarcely had he flung away the copper wreath than the whirlwind +flung himself upon it, and tore it in pieces. + +Then Petru turned once more to the horse. + +'Stop!' cried the horse again. 'I have other things to tell you. + +Take the silver wreath and knock at the windows of the goddess +Venus. When she says, "Who is there?" answer that you have come +on foot and lost your way on the heath. She will then tell you +to go your way back again; but take care not to stir from the +spot. Instead, be sure you say to her, "No, indeed I shall do +nothing of the sort, as from my childhood I have heard stories of +the beauty of the goddess Venus, and it was not for nothing that +I had shoes made of leather with soles of steel, and have +travelled for nine years and nine months, and have won in battle +the silver wreath, which I hope you may allow me to give you, and +have done and suffered everything to be where I now am." This is +what you must say. What happens after is your affair.' + +Petru asked no more, but went towards the house. + +By this time it was pitch dark, and there was only the ray of +light that streamed through the windows to guide him, and at the +sound of his footsteps two dogs began to bark loudly. + +'Which of those dogs is barking? Is he tired of life?' asked +the goddess Venus. + +'It is I, O goddess!' replied Petru, rather timidly. 'I have +lost my way on the heath, and do not know where I am to sleep +this night.' + +'Where did you leave your horse?' asked the goddess sharply. + +Petru did not answer. He was not sure if he was to lie, or +whether he had better tell the truth. + +'Go away, my son, there is no place for you here,' replied she, +drawing back from the window. + +Then Petru repeated hastily what the horse had told him to say, +and no sooner had he done so than the goddess opened the window, +and in gentle tones she asked him: + +'Let me see this wreath, my son,' and Petru held it out to her. + +'Come into the house,' went on the goddess; 'do not fear the +dogs, they always know my will.' And so they did, for as the +young man passed they wagged their tails to him. + +'Good evening,' said Petru as he entered the house, and, seating +himself near the fire, listened comfortably to whatever the +goddess might choose to talk about, which was for the most part +the wickedness of men, with whom she was evidently very angry. +But Petru agreed with her in everything, as he had been taught +was only polite. + +But was anybody ever so old as she! I do not know why Petru +devoured her so with his eyes, unless it was to count the +wrinkles on her face; but if so he would have had to live seven +lives, and each life seven times the length of an ordinary one, +before he could have reckoned them up. + +But Venus was joyful in her heart when she saw Petru's eyes fixed +upon her. + +'Nothing was that is, and the world was not a world when I was +born,' said she. 'When I grew up and the world came into being, +everyone thought I was the most beautiful girl that ever was +seen, though many hated me for it. But every hundred years there +came a wrinkle on my face. And now I am old.' Then she went on +to tell Petru that she was the daughter of an emperor, and their +nearest neighbour was the Fairy of the Dawn, with whom she had a +violent quarrel, and with that she broke out into loud abuse of +her. + +Petru did not know what to do. He listened in silence for the +most part, but now and then he would say, 'Yes, yes, you must +have been badly treated,' just for politeness' sake; what more +could he do? + +'I will give you a task to perform, for you are brave, and will +carry it through,' continued Venus, when she had talked a long +time, and both of them were getting sleepy. 'Close to the +Fairy's house is a well, and whoever drinks from it will blossom +again like a rose. Bring me a flagon of it, and I will do +anything to prove my gratitude. It is not easy! no one knows +that better than I do! The kingdom is guarded on every side by +wild beasts and horrible dragons; but I will tell you more about +that, and I also have something to give you.' Then she rose and +lifted the lid of an iron-bound chest, and took out of it a very +tiny flute. + +'Do you see this?' she asked. 'An old man gave it to me when I +was young: whoever listens to this flute goes to sleep, and +nothing can wake him. Take it and play on it as long as you +remain in the kingdom of the Fairy of the Dawn, and you will be +safe. + +At this, Petru told her that he had another task to fulfil at the +well of the Fairy of the Dawn, and Venus was still better pleased +when she heard his tale. + +So Petru bade her good-night, put the flute in its case, and laid +himself down in the lowest chamber to sleep. + +Before the dawn he was awake again, and his first care was to +give to each of his horses as much corn as he could eat, and then +to lead them to the well to water. Then he dressed himself and +made ready to start. + +'Stop,' cried Venus from her window, 'I have still a piece of +advice to give you. Leave one of your horses here, and only take +three. Ride slowly till you get to the fairy's kingdom, then +dismount and go on foot. When you return, see that all your +three horses remain on the road, while you walk. But above all +beware never to look the Fairy of the Dawn in the face, for she +has eyes that will bewitch you, and glances that will befool you. + +She is hideous, more hideous than anything you can imagine, with +owl's eyes, foxy face, and cat's claws. Do you hear? do you +hear? Be sure you never look at her.' + +Petru thanked her, and managed to get off at last. + +Far, far away, where the heavens touch the earth, where the stars +kiss the flowers, a soft red light was seen, such as the sky +sometimes has in spring, only lovelier, more wonderful. + +That light was behind the palace of the Fairy of the Dawn, and it +took Petru two days and nights through flowery meadows to reach +it. And besides, it was neither hot nor cold, bright nor dark, +but something of them all, and Petru did not find the way a step +too long. + +After some time Petru saw something white rise up out of the red +of the sky, and when he drew nearer he saw it was a castle, and +so splendid that his eyes were dazzled when they looked at it. +He did not know there was such a beautiful castle in the world. + +But no time was to be lost, so he shook himself, jumped down from +his horse, and, leaving him on the dewy grass, began to play on +his flute as he walked along. + +He had hardly gone many steps when he stumbled over a huge giant, +who had been lulled to sleep by the music. This was one of the +guards of the castle! As he lay there on his back, he seemed so +big that in spite of Petru's haste he stopped to measure him. + +The further went Petru, the more strange and terrible were the +sights he saw--lions, tigers, dragons with seven heads, all +stretched out in the sun fast asleep. It is needless to say what +the dragons were like, for nowadays everyone knows, and dragons +are not things to joke about. Petru ran through them like the +wind. Was it haste or fear that spurred him on? + +At last he came to a river, but let nobody think for a moment +that this river was like other rivers? Instead of water, there +flowed milk, and the bottom was of precious stones and pearls, +instead of sand and pebbles. And it ran neither fast nor slow, +but both fast and slow together. And the river flowed round the +castle, and on its banks slept lions with iron teeth and claws; +and beyond were gardens such as only the Fairy of the Dawn can +have, and on the flowers slept a fairy! All this saw Petru from +the other side. + +But how was he to get over? To be sure there was a bridge, but, +even if it had not been guarded by sleeping lions, it was plainly +not meant for man to walk on. Who could tell what it was made +of? It looked like soft little woolly clouds! + +So he stood thinking what was to be done, for get across he must. + +After a while, he determined to take the risk, and strode back to +the sleeping giant. 'Wake up, my brave man!' he cried, giving +him a shake. + +The giant woke and stretched out his hand to pick up Petru, just +as we should catch a fly. But Petru played on his flute, and the +giant fell back again. Petru tried this three times, and when he +was satisfied that the giant was really in his power he took out +a handkerchief, bound the two little fingers of the giant +together, drew his sword, and cried for the fourth time, 'Wake +up, my brave man.' + +When the giant saw the trick which had been played on him he said +to Petru. 'Do you call this a fair fight? Fight according to +rules, if you really are a hero!' + +'I will by-and-by, but first I want to ask you a question! Will +you swear that you will carry me over the river if I fight +honourably with you?' And the giant swore. + +When his hands were freed, the giant flung himself upon Petru, +hoping to crush him by his weight. But he had met his match. It +was not yesterday, nor the day before, that Petru had fought his +first battle, and he bore himself bravely. + +For three days and three nights the battle raged, and sometimes +one had the upper hand, and sometimes the other, till at length +they both lay struggling on the ground, but Petru was on top, +with the point of his sword at the giant's throat. + +'Let me go! let me go!' shrieked he. 'I own that I am beaten!' + +'Will you take me over the river?' asked Petru. + +'I will,' gasped the giant. + +'What shall I do to you if you break your word?' + +'Kill me, any way you like! But let me live now.' + +'Very well,' said Petru, and he bound the giant's left hand to +his right foot, tied one handkerchief round his mouth to prevent +him crying out, and another round his eyes, and led him to the +river. + +Once they had reached the bank he stretched one leg over to the +other side, and, catching up Petru in the palm of his hand, set +him down on the further shore. + +'That is all right,' said Petru. Then he played a few notes on +his flute, and the giant went to sleep again. Even the fairies +who had been bathing a little lower down heard the music and fell +asleep among the flowers on the bank. Petru saw them as he +passed, and thought, 'If they are so beautiful, why should the +Fairy of the Dawn be so ugly?' But he dared not linger, and +pushed on. + +And now he was in the wonderful gardens, which seemed more +wonderful still than they had done from afar. But Petru could +see no faded flowers, nor any birds, as he hastened through them +to the castle. No one was there to bar his way, for all were +asleep. Even the leaves had ceased to move. + +He passed through the courtyard, and entered the castle itself. + +What he beheld there need not be told, for all the world knows +that the palace of the Fairy of the Dawn is no ordinary place. +Gold and precious stones were as common as wood with us, and the +stables where the horses of the sun were kept were more splendid +than the palace of the greatest emperor in the world. + +Petru went up the stairs and walked quickly through +eight-and-forty rooms, hung with silken stuffs, and all empty. +In the forty-ninth he found the Fairy of the Dawn herself. + +In the middle of this room, which was as large as a church, Petru +saw the celebrated well that he had come so far to seek. It was +a well just like other wells, and it seemed strange that the +Fairy of the Dawn should have it in her own chamber; yet anyone +could tell it had been there for hundreds of years. And by the +well slept the Fairy of the Dawn--the Fairy of the Dawn--herself! + +And as Petru looked at her the magic flute dropped by his side, +and he held his breath. + +Near the well was a table, on which stood bread made with does' +milk, and a flagon of wine. It was the bread of strength and the +wine of youth, and Petru longed for them. He looked once at the +bread and once at the wine, and then at the Fairy of the Dawn, +still sleeping on her silken cushions. + +As he looked a mist came over his senses. The fairy opened her +eyes slowly and looked at Petru, who lost his head still further; +but he just managed to remember his flute, and a few notes of it +sent the Fairy to sleep again, and he kissed her thrice. Then he +stooped and laid his golden wreath upon her forehead, ate a piece +of the bread and drank a cupful of the wine of youth, and this he +did three times over. Then he filled a flask with water from the +well, and vanished swiftly. + +As he passed through the garden it seemed quite different from +what it was before. The flowers were lovelier, the streams ran +quicker, the sunbeams shone brighter, and the fairies seemed +gayer. And all this had been caused by the three kisses Petru +had given the Fairy of the Dawn. + +He passed everything safely by, and was soon seated in his saddle +again. Faster than the wind, faster than thought, faster than +longing, faster than hatred rode Petru. At length he dismounted, +and, leaving his horses at the roadside, went on foot to the +house of Venus. + +The goddess Venus knew that he was coming, and went to meet him, +bearing with her white bread and red wine. + +'Welcome back, my prince,' said she. + +'Good day, and many thanks,' replied the young man, holding out +the flask containing the magic water. She received it with joy, +and after a short rest Petru set forth, for he had no time to +lose. + +He stopped a few minutes, as he had promised, with the Goddess of +Thunder, and was taking a hasty farewell of her, when she called +him back. + +'Stay, I have a warning to give you,' said she. 'Beware of your +life; make friends with no man; do not ride fast, or let the +water go out of your hand; believe no one, and flee flattering +tongues. Go, and take care, for the way is long, the world is +bad, and you hold something very precious. But I will give you +this cloth to help you. It is not much to look at, but it is +enchanted, and whoever carries it will never be struck by +lightning, pierced by a lance, or smitten with a sword, and the +arrows will glance off his body.' + +Petru thanked her and rode off, and, taking out his treasure box, +inquired how matters were going at home. Not well, it said. The +emperor was blind altogether now, and Florea and Costan had +besought him to give the government of the kingdom into their +hands; but he would not, saying that he did not mean to resign +the government till he had washed his eyes from the well of the +Fairy of the Dawn. Then the brothers had gone to consult old +Birscha, who told them that Petru was already on his way home +bearing the water. They had set out to meet him, and would try +to take the magic water from him, and then claim as their reward +the government of the emperor. + +'You are lying!' cried Petru angrily, throwing the box on the +ground, where it broke into a thousand pieces. + +It was not long before he began to catch glimpses of his native +land, and he drew rein near a bridge, the better to look at it. +He was still gazing, when he heard a sound in the distance as if +some one was calling hit by his name. + +'You, Petru!' it said. + +'On! on!' cried the horse; 'it will fare ill with you if you +stop.' + +'No, let us stop, and see who and what it is!' answered Petru, +turning his horse round, and coming face to face with his two +brothers. He had forgotten the warning given him by the Goddess +of Thunder, and when Costan and Florea drew near with soft and +flattering words he jumped straight off his horse, and rushed to +embrace them. He had a thousand questions to ask, and a thousand +things to tell. But his brown horse stood sadly hanging his +head. + +'Petru, my dear brother,' at length said Florea, 'would it not be +better if we carried the water for you? Some one might try to +take it from you on the road, while no one would suspect us.' + +'So it would,' added Costan. 'Florea speaks well.' But Petru +shook his head, and told them what the Goddess of Thunder had +said, and about the cloth she had given him. And both brothers +understood there was only one way in which they could kill him. + +At a stone's throw from where they stood ran a rushing stream, +with clear deep pools. + +'Don't you feel thirsty, Costan?' asked Florea, winking at him. + +'Yes,' replied Costan, understanding directly what was wanted. +'Come, Petru, let us drink now we have the chance, and then we +will set out on our way home. It is a good thing you have us +with you, to protect you from harm.' + +The horse neighed, and Petru knew what it meant, and did not go +with his brothers. + +No, he went home to his father, and cured his blindness; and as +for his brothers, they never returned again. + +[From Rumanische Marchen.] + + + +THE ENCHANTED KNIFE + +Once upon a time there lived a young man who vowed that he would +never marry any girl who had not royal blood in her veins. One +day he plucked up all his courage and went to the palace to ask +the emperor for his daughter. The emperor was not much pleased +at the thought of such a match for his only child, but being very +polite, he only said: + +'Very well, my son, if you can win the princess you shall have +her, and the conditions are these. In eight days you must manage +to tame and bring to me three horses that have never felt a +master. The first is pure white, the second a foxy-red with a +black head, the third coal black with a white head and feet. And +besides that, you must also bring as a present to the empress, my +wife, as much gold as the three horses can carry.' + +The young man listened in dismay to these words, but with an +effort he thanked the emperor for his kindness and left the +palace, wondering how he was to fulfil the task allotted to him. +Luckily for him, the emperor's daughter had overheard everything +her father had said, and peeping through a curtain had seen the +youth, and thought him handsomer than anyone she had ever beheld. + +So returning hastily to her own room, she wrote him a letter +which she gave to a trusty servant to deliver, begging her wooer +to come to her rooms early the next day, and to undertake nothing +without her advice, if he ever wished her to be his wife. + +That night, when her father was asleep, she crept softly into his +chamber and took out an enchanted knife from the chest where he +kept his treasures, and hid it carefully in a safe place before +she went to bed. + +The sun had hardly risen the following morning when the +princess's nurse brought the young man to her apartments. +Neither spoke for some minutes, but stood holding each other's +hands for joy, till at last they both cried out that nothing but +death should part them. Then the maiden said: + +'Take my horse, and ride straight through the wood towards the +sunset till you come to a hill with three peaks. When you get +there, turn first to the right and then to the left, and you will +find yourself in a sun meadow, where many horses are feeding. +Out of these you must pick out the three described to you by my +father. If they prove shy, and refuse to let you get near them, +draw out your knife, and let the sun shine on it so that the +whole meadow is lit up by its rays, and the horses will then +approach you of their own accord, and will let you lead them +away. When you have them safely, look about till you see a +cypress tree, whose roots are of brass, whose boughs are of +silver, and whose leaves are of gold. Go to it, and cut away the +roots with your knife, and you will come to countless bags of +gold. Load the horses with all they can carry, and return to my +father, and tell him that you have done your task, and can claim +me for your wife.' + +The princess had finished all she had to say, and now it depended +on the young man to do his part. He hid the knife in the folds +of his girdle, mounted his horse, and rode off in search of the +meadow. This he found without much difficulty, but the horses +were all so shy that they galloped away directly he approached +them. Then he drew his knife, and held it up towards the sun, +and directly there shone such a glory that the whole meadow was +bathed in it. From all sides the horses rushed pressing round, +and each one that passed him fell on its knees to do him honour. + +But he only chose from them all the three that the emperor had +described. These he secured by a silken rope to his own horse, +and then looked about for the cypress tree. It was standing by +itself in one corner, and in a moment he was beside it, tearing +away the earth with his knife. Deeper and deeper he dug, till +far down, below the roots of brass, his knife struck upon the +buried treasure, which lay heaped up in bags all around. With a +great effort he lifted them from their hiding place, and laid +them one by one on his horses' backs, and when they could carry +no more he led them back to the emperor. And when the emperor +saw him, he wondered, but never guessed how it was the young man +had been too clever for him, till the betrothal ceremony was +over. Then he asked his newly made son-in-law what dowry he +would require with his bride. To which the bridegroom made +answer, 'Noble emperor! all I desire is that I may have your +daughter for my wife, and enjoy for ever the use of your +enchanted knife.' + +[Volksmarchen der Serben.] + + + +JESPER WHO HERDED THE HARES + +There was once a king who ruled over a kingdom somewhere between +sunrise and sunset. It was as small as kingdoms usually were in +old times, and when the king went up to the roof of his palace +and took a look round he could see to the ends of it in every +direction. But as it was all his own, he was very proud of it, +and often wondered how it would get along without him. He had +only one child, and that was a daughter, so he foresaw that she +must be provided with a husband who would be fit to be king after +him. Where to find one rich enough and clever enough to be a +suitable match for the princess was what troubled him, and often +kept him awake at night. + +At last he devised a plan. He made a proclamation over all his +kingdom (and asked his nearest neighbours to publish it in theirs +as well) that whoever could bring him a dozen of the finest +pearls the king had ever seen, and could perform certain tasks +that would be set him, should have his daughter in marriage and +in due time succeed to the throne. The pearls, he thought, could +only be brought by a very wealthy man, and the tasks would +require unusual talents to accomplish them. + +There were plenty who tried to fulfil the terms which the king +proposed. Rich merchants and foreign princes presented +themselves one after the other, so that some days the number of +them was quite annoying; but, though they could all produce +magnificent pearls, not one of them could perform even the +simplest of the tasks set them. Some turned up, too, who were +mere adventurers, and tried to deceive the old king with +imitation pearls; but he was not to be taken in so easily, and +they were soon sent about their business. At the end of several +weeks the stream of suitors began to fall off, and still there +was no prospect of a suitable son-in-law. + +Now it so happened that in a little corner of the king's +dominions, beside the sea, there lived a poor fisher, who had +three sons, and their names were Peter, Paul, and Jesper. Peter +and Paul were grown men, while Jesper was just coming to manhood. + +The two elder brothers were much bigger and stronger than the +youngest, but Jesper was far the cleverest of the three, though +neither Peter nor Paul would admit this. It was a fact, however, +as we shall see in the course of our story. + +One day the fisherman went out fishing, and among his catch for +the day he brought home three dozen oysters. When these were +opened, every shell was found to contain a large and beautiful +pearl. Hereupon the three brothers, at one and the same moment, +fell upon the idea of offering themselves as suitors for the +princess. After some discussion, it was agreed that the pearls +should be divided by lot, and that each should have his chance in +the order of his age: of course, if the oldest was successful +the other two would be saved the trouble of trying. + +Next morning Peter put his pearls in a little basket, and set off +for the king's palace. He had not gone far on his way when he +came upon the King of the Ants and the King of the Beetles, who, +with their armies behind them, were facing each other and +preparing for battle. + +'Come and help me,' said the King of the Ants; 'the beetles are +too big for us. I may help you some day in return.' + +'I have no time to waste on other people's affairs,' said Peter; +'just fight away as best you can;' and with that he walked off +and left them. + +A little further on the way he met an old woman. + +'Good morning, young man,' said she; 'you are early astir. What +have you got in your basket?' + +'Cinders,' said Peter promptly, and walked on, adding to himself, +'Take that for being so inquisitive.' + +'Very well, cinders be it,' the old woman called after him, but +he pretended not to hear her. + +Very soon he reached the palace, and was at once brought before +the king. When he took the cover off the basket, the king and +all his courtiers said with one voice that these were the finest +pearls they had ever seen, and they could not take their eyes off +them. But then a strange thing happened: the pearls began to +lose their whiteness and grew quite dim in colour; then they grew +blacker and blacker till at last they were just like so many +cinders. Peter was so amazed that he could say nothing for +himself, but the king said quite enough for both, and Peter was +glad to get away home again as fast as his legs would carry him. +To his father and brothers, however, he gave no account of his +attempt, except that it had been a failure. + +Next day Paul set out to try his luck. He soon came upon the +King of the Ants and the King of the Beetles, who with their +armies had encamped on the field of battle all night, and were +ready to begin the fight again. + +'Come and help me,' said the King of the Ants; 'we got the worst +of it yesterday. I may help you some day in return.' + +'I don't care though you get the worst of it to-day too,' said +Paul. 'I have more important business on hand than mixing myself +up in your quarrels.' + +So he walked on, and presently the same old woman met him. 'Good +morning,' said she; 'what have YOU got in your basket?' + +'Cinders,' said Paul, who was quite as insolent as his brother, +and quite as anxious to teach other people good manners. + +'Very well, cinders be it,' the old woman shouted after him, but +Paul neither looked back nor answered her. He thought more of +what she said, however, after his pearls also turned to cinders +before the eyes of king and court: then he lost no time in +getting home again, and was very sulky when asked how he had +succeeded. + +The third day came, and with it came Jesper's turn to try his +fortune. He got up and had his breakfast, while Peter and Paul +lay in bed and made rude remarks, telling him that he would come +back quicker than he went, for if they had failed it could not be +supposed that he would succeed. Jesper made no reply, but put +his pearls in the little basket and walked off. + +The King of the Ants and the King of the Beetles were again +marshalling their hosts, but the ants were greatly reduced in +numbers, and had little hope of holding out that day. + +'Come and help us,' said their king to Jesper, 'or we shall be +completely defeated. I may help you some day in return.' + +Now Jesper had always heard the ants spoken of as clever and +industrious little creatures, while he never heard anyone say a +good word for the beetles, so he agreed to give the wished-for +help. At the first charge he made, the ranks of the beetles +broke and fled in dismay, and those escaped best that were +nearest a hole, and could get into it before Jesper's boots came +down upon them. In a few minutes the ants had the field all to +themselves; and their king made quite an eloquent speech to +Jesper, thanking him for the service he had done them, and +promising to assist him in any difficulty. + +'Just call on me when you want me,' he said, 'where-ever you +are. I'm never far away from anywhere, and if I can possibly +help you, I shall not fail to do it.' + +Jesper was inclined to laugh at this, but he kept a grave face, +said he would remember the offer, and walked on. At a turn of +the road he suddenly came upon the old woman. 'Good morning,' +said she; 'what have YOU got in your basket?' + +'Pearls,' said Jesper; 'I'm going to the palace to win the +princess with them.' And in case she might not believe him, he +lifted the cover and let her see them. + +'Beautiful,' said the old woman; 'very beautiful indeed; but they +will go a very little way towards winning the princess, unless +you can also perform the tasks that are set you. However,' she +said, 'I see you have brought something with you to eat. Won't +you give that to me: you are sure to get a good dinner at the +palace.' + +'Yes, of course,' said Jesper, 'I hadn't thought of that'; and he +handed over the whole of his lunch to the old woman. + +He had already taken a few steps on the way again, when the old +woman called him back. + +'Here,' she said; 'take this whistle in return for your lunch. +It isn't much to look at, but if you blow it, anything that you +have lost or that has been taken from you will find its way back +to you in a moment.' + +Jesper thanked her for the whistle, though he did not see of what +use it was to be to him just then, and held on his way to the +palace. + +When Jesper presented his pearls to the king there were +exclamations of wonder and delight from everyone who saw them. +It was not pleasant, however, to discover that Jesper was a mere +fisher-lad; that wasn't the kind of son-in-law that the king had +expected, and he said so to the queen. + +'Never mind,' said she, 'you can easily set him such tasks as he +will never be able to perform: we shall soon get rid of him.' + +'Yes, of course,' said the king; 'really I forget things +nowadays, with all the bustle we have had of late.' + +That day Jesper dined with the king and queen and their nobles, +and at night was put into a bedroom grander than anything of the +kind he had ever seen. It was all so new to him that he could +not sleep a wink, especially as he was always wondering what kind +of tasks would be set him to do, and whether he would be able to +perform them. In spite of the softness of the bed, he was very +glad when morning came at last. + +After breakfast was over, the king said to Jesper, 'Just come +with me, and I'll show you what you must do first.' He led him +out to the barn, and there in the middle of the floor was a large +pile of grain. 'Here,' said the king, 'you have a mixed heap of +wheat, barley, oats, and rye, a sackful of each. By an hour +before sunset you must have these sorted out into four heaps, and +if a single grain is found to be in a wrong heap you have no +further chance of marrying my daughter. I shall lock the door, +so that no one can get in to assist you, and I shall return at +the appointed time to see how you have succeeded.' + +The king walked off, and Jesper looked in despair at the task +before him. Then he sat down and tried what he could do at it, +but it was soon very clear that single- handed he could never +hope to accomplish it in the time. Assistance was out of the +question--unless, he suddenly thought--unless the King of the +Ants could help. On him he began to call, and before many +minutes had passed that royal personage made his appearance. +Jesper explained the trouble he was in. + +'Is that all?' said the ant; 'we shall soon put that to rights.' +He gave the royal signal, and in a minute or two a stream of ants +came pouring into the barn, who under the king's orders set to +work to separate the grain into the proper heaps. + +Jesper watched them for a while, but through the continual +movement of the little creatures, and his not having slept during +the previous night, he soon fell sound asleep. When he woke +again, the king had just come into the barn, and was amazed to +find that not only was the task accomplished, but that Jesper had +found time to take a nap as well. + +'Wonderful,' said he; 'I couldn't have believed it possible. +However, the hardest is yet to come, as you will see to-morrow.' + +Jesper thought so too when the next day's task was set before +him. The king's gamekeepers had caught a hundred live hares, +which were to be let loose in a large meadow, and there Jesper +must herd them all day, and bring them safely home in the +evening: if even one were missing, he must give up all thought +of marrying the princess. Before he had quite grasped the fact +that this was an impossible task, the keepers had opened the +sacks in which the hares were brought to the field, and, with a +whisk of the short tail and a flap of the long ears, each one of +the hundred flew in a different direction. + +'Now,' said the king, 'as he walked away, 'let's see what your +cleverness can do here.' + +Jesper stared round him in bewilderment, and having nothing +better to do with his hands, thrust them into his pockets, as he +was in the habit of doing. Here he found something which turned +out to be the whistle given to him by the old woman. He +remembered what she had said about the virtues of the whistle, +but was rather doubtful whether its powers would extend to a +hundred hares, each of which had gone in a different direction +and might be several miles distant by this time. However, he +blew the whistle, and in a few minutes the hares came bounding +through the hedge on all the four sides of the field, and before +long were all sitting round him in a circle. After that, Jesper +allowed them to run about as they pleased, so long as they stayed +in the field. + +The king had told one of the keepers to hang about for a little +and see what became of Jesper, not doubting, however, that as +soon as he saw the coast clear he would use his legs to the best +advantage, and never show face at the palace again. It was +therefore with great surprise and annoyance that he now learned +of the mysterious return of the hares and the likelihood of +Jesper carrying out his task with success. + +'One of them must be got out of his hands by hook or crook,' said +he. 'I'll go and see the queen about it; she's good at devising +plans.' + +A little later, a girl in a shabby dress came into the field and +walked up to Jesper. + +'Do give me one of those hares,' she said; 'we have just got +visitors who are going to stay to dinner, and there's nothing we +can give them to eat.' + +'I can't,' said Jesper. 'For one thing, they're not mine; for +another, a great deal depends on my having them all here in the +evening.' + +But the girl (and she was a very pretty girl, though so shabbily +dressed) begged so hard for one of them that at last he said: + +'Very well; give me a kiss and you shall have one of them.' + +He could see that she didn't quite care for this, but she +consented to the bargain, and gave him the kiss, and went away +with a hare in her apron. Scarcely had she got outside the +field, however, when Jesper blew his whistle, and immediately the +hare wriggled out of its prison like an eel, and went back to its +master at the top of its speed. + +Not long after this the hare-herd had another visit. This time +it was a stout old woman in the dress of a peasant, who also was +after a hare to provide a dinner for unexpected visitors. Jesper +again refused, but the old lady was so pressing, and would take +no refusal, that at last he said: + +'Very well, you shall have a hare, and pay nothing for it either, +if you will only walk round me on tiptoe, look up to the sky, and +cackle like a hen.' + +'Fie,' said she; 'what a ridiculous thing to ask anyone to do; +just think what the neighbours would say if they saw me. They +would think I had taken leave of my senses.' + +'Just as you like,' said Jesper; 'you know best whether you want +the hare or not.' + +There was no help for it, and a pretty figure the old lady made +in carrying out her task; the cackling wasn't very well done, but +Jesper said it would do, and gave her the hare. As soon as she +had left the field, the whistle was sounded again, and back came +long-legs-and-ears at a marvellous speed. + +The next to appear on the same errand was a fat old fellow in the +dress of a groom: it was the royal livery he wore, and he +plainly thought a good deal of himself. + +'Young man,' said he, 'I want one of those hares; name your +price, but I MUST have one of them.' + +'All right,' said Jesper; 'you can have one at an easy rate. +Just stand on your head, whack your heels together, and cry +"Hurrah," and the hare is yours.' + +'Eh, what!' said the old fellow; 'ME stand on my head, what an +idea!' + +'Oh, very well,' said Jesper, 'you needn't unless you like, you +know; but then you won't get the hare.' + +It went very much against the grain, one could see, but after +some efforts the old fellow had his head on the grass and his +heels in the air; the whacking and the 'Hurrah' were rather +feeble, but Jesper was not very exacting, and the hare was handed +over. Of course, it wasn't long in coming back again, like the +others. + +Evening came, and home came Jesper with the hundred hares behind +him. Great was the wonder over all the palace, and the king and +queen seemed very much put out, but it was noticed that the +princess actually smiled to Jesper. + +'Well, well,' said the king; 'you have done that very well +indeed. If you are as successful with a little task which I +shall give you to-morrow we shall consider the matter settled, +and you shall marry the princess.' + +Next day it was announced that the task would be performed in the +great hall of the palace, and everyone was invited to come and +witness it. The king and queen sat on their thrones, with the +princess beside them, and the lords and ladies were all round the +hall. At a sign from the king, two servants carried in a large +empty tub, which they set down in the open space before the +throne, and Jesper was told to stand beside it. + +'Now,' said the king, 'you must tell us as many undoubted truths +as will fill that tub, or you can't have the princess.' + +'But how are we to know when the tub is full?' said Jesper. + +'Don't you trouble about that,' said the king; 'that's my part of +the business.' + +This seemed to everybody present rather unfair, but no one liked +to be the first to say so, and Jesper had to put the best face he +could on the matter, and begin his story. + +'Yesterday,' he said, 'when I was herding the hares, there came +to me a girl, in a shabby dress, and begged me to give her one of +them. She got the hare, but she had to give me a kiss for it; +AND THAT GIRL WAS THE PRINCESS. Isn't that true?' said he, +looking at her. + +The princess blushed and looked very uncomfortable, but had to +admit that it was true. + +'That hasn't filled much of the tub,' said the king. 'Go on +again.' + +'After that,' said Jesper, 'a stout old woman, in a peasant's +dress, came and begged for a hare. Before she got it, she had to +walk round me on tiptoe, turn up her eyes, and cackle like a hen; +AND THAT OLD WOMAN WAS THE QUEEN. Isn't that true, now?' + +The queen turned very red and hot, but couldn't deny it. + +'H-m,' said the king; 'that is something, but the tub isn't full +yet.' To the queen he whispered, 'I didn't think you would be +such a fool.' + +'What did YOU do?' she whispered in return. + +'Do you suppose I would do anything for HIM?' said the king, and +then hurriedly ordered Jesper to go on. + +'In the next place,' said Jesper, 'there came a fat old fellow on +the same errand. He was very proud and dignified, but in order +to get the hare he actually stood on his head, whacked his heels +together, and cried "Hurrah"; and that old fellow was the----' + +'Stop, stop,' shouted the king; 'you needn't say another word; +the tub is full.' Then all the court applauded, and the king and +queen accepted Jesper as their son-in- law, and the princess was +very well pleased, for by this time she had quite fallen in love +with him, because he was so handsome and so clever. When the old +king got time to think over it, he was quite convinced that his +kingdom would be safe in Jesper's hands if he looked after the +people as well as he herded the hares. + +[Scandinavian.] + + + +THE UNDERGROUND WORKERS + +On a bitter night somewhere between Christmas and the New Year, a +man set out to walk to the neighbouring village. It was not many +miles off, but the snow was so thick that there were no roads, or +walls, or hedges left to guide him, and very soon he lost his way +altogether, and was glad to get shelter from the wind behind a +thick juniper tree. Here he resolved to spend the night, +thinking that when the sun rose he would be able to see his path +again. + +So he tucked his legs snugly under him like a hedgehog, rolled +himself up in his sheepskin, and went to sleep. How long he +slept, I cannot tell you, but after awhile he became aware that +some one was gently shaking him, while a stranger whispered, 'My +good man, get up! If you lie there any more, you will be buried +in the snow, and no one will ever know what became of you.' + +The sleeper slowly raised his head from his furs, and opened his +heavy eyes. Near him stood a long thin man, holding in his hand +a young fir tree taller than himself. 'Come with me,' said the +man, 'a little way off we have made a large fire, and you will +rest far better there than out upon this moor.' The sleeper did +not wait to be asked twice, but rose at once and followed the +stranger. The snow was falling so fast that he could not see +three steps in front of him, till the stranger waved his staff, +when the drifts parted before them. Very soon they reached a +wood, and saw the friendly glow of a fire. + +'What is your name?' asked the stranger, suddenly turning round. + +'I am called Hans, the son of Long Hans,' said the peasant. + +In front of the fire three men were sitting clothed in white, +just as if it was summer, and for about thirty feet all round +winter had been banished. The moss was dry and the plants green, +while the grass seemed all alive with the hum of bees and +cockchafers. But above the noise the son of Long Hans could hear +the whistling of the wind and the crackling of the branches as +they fell beneath the weight of the snow. + +'Well! you son of Long Hans, isn't this more comfortable than +your juniper bush?' laughed the stranger, and for answer Hans +replied he could not thank his friend enough for having brought +him here, and, throwing off his sheepskin, rolled it up as a +pillow. Then, after a hot drink which warmed both their hearts, +they lay down on the ground. The stranger talked for a little to +the other men in a language Hans did not understand, and after +listening for a short time he once more fell asleep. + +When he awoke, neither wood nor fire was to be seen, and he did +not know where he was. He rubbed his eyes, and began to recall +the events of the night, thinking he must have been dreaming; but +for all that, he could not make out how he came to be in this +place. + +Suddenly a loud noise struck on his ear, and he felt the earth +tremble beneath his feet. Hans listened for a moment, then +resolved to go towards the place where the sound came from, +hoping he might come across some human being. He found himself +at length at the mouth of a rocky cave in which a fire seemed +burning. He entered, and saw a huge forge, and a crowd of men in +front of it, blowing bellows and wielding hammers, and to each +anvil were seven men, and a set of more comical smiths could not +be found if you searched all the world through! Their heads were +bigger than their little bodies, and their hammers twice the size +of themselves, but the strongest men on earth could not have +handled their iron clubs more stoutly or given lustier blows. + +The little blacksmiths were clad in leather aprons, which covered +them from their necks to their feet in front, and left their +backs naked. On a high stool against the wall sat the man with +the pinewood staff, watching sharply the way the little fellows +did their work, and near him stood a large can, from which every +now and then the workers would come and take a drink. The master +no longer wore the white garments of the day before, but a black +jerkin, held in its place by a leathern girdle with huge clasps. + +From time to time he would give his workmen a sign with his +staff, for it was useless to speak amid such a noise. + +If any of them had noticed that there was a stranger present they +took no heed of him, but went on with what they were doing. +After some hours' hard labour came the time for rest, and they +all flung their hammers to the ground and trooped out of the +cave. + +Then the master got down from his seat and said to Hans: + +'I saw you come in, but the work was pressing, and I could not +stop to speak to you. To-day you must be my guest, and I will +show you something of the way in which I live. Wait here for a +moment, while I lay aside these dirty clothes.' With these words +he unlocked a door in the cave, and bade Hans pass in before him. + +Oh, what riches and treasures met Hans' astonished eyes! Gold +and silver bars lay piled on the floor, and glittered so that you +could not look at them! Hans thought he would count them for +fun, and had already reached the five hundred and seventieth when +his host returned and cried, laughing: + +'Do not try to count them, it would take too long; choose some of +the bars from the heap, as I should like to make you a present of +them.' + +Hans did not wait to be asked twice, and stooped to pick up a bar +of gold, but though he put forth all his strength he could not +even move it with both hands, still less lift it off the ground. + +'Why, you have no more power than a flea,' laughed the host; 'you +will have to content yourself with feasting your eyes upon them!' + +So he bade Hans follow him through other rooms, till they entered +one bigger than a church, filled, like the rest, with gold and +silver. Hans wondered to see these vast riches, which might have +bought all the kingdoms of the world, and lay buried, useless, he +thought, to anyone. + +'What is the reason,' he asked of his guide, 'that you gather up +these treasures here, where they can do good to nobody? If they +fell into the hands of men, everyone would be rich, and none need +work or suffer hunger.' + +'And it is exactly for that reason,' answered he, 'that I must +keep these riches out of their way. The whole world would sink +to idleness if men were not forced to earn their daily bread. It +is only through work and care that man can ever hope to be good +for anything.' + +Hans stared at these words, and at last he begged that his host +would tell him what use it was to anybody that this gold and +silver should lie mouldering there, and the owner of it be +continually trying to increase his treasure, which already +overflowed his store rooms. + +'I am not really a man,' replied his guide, 'though I have the +outward form of one, but one of those beings to whom is given the +care of the world. It is my task and that of my workmen to +prepare under the earth the gold and silver, a small portion of +which finds its way every year to the upper world, but only just +enough to help them carry on their business. To none comes +wealth without trouble: we must first dig out the gold and mix +the grains with earth, clay, and sand. Then, after long and hard +seeking, it will be found in this state, by those who have good +luck or much patience. But, my friend, the hour of dinner is at +hand. If you wish to remain in this place, and feast your eyes +on this gold, then stay till I call you.' + +In his absence Hans wandered from one treasure chamber to +another, sometimes trying to break off a little lump of gold, but +never able to do it. After awhile his host came back, but so +changed that Hans could not believe it was really he. His silken +clothes were of the brightest flame colour, richly trimmed with +gold fringes and lace; a golden girdle was round his waist, while +his head was encircled with a crown of gold, and precious stones +twinkled about him like stars in a winter's night, and in place +of his wooden stick he held a finely worked golden staff. + +The lord of all this treasure locked the doors and put the keys +in his pocket, then led Hans into another room, where dinner was +laid for them. Table and seats were all of silver, while the +dishes and plates were of solid gold. Directly they sat down, a +dozen little servants appeared to wait on them, which they did so +cleverly and so quickly that Hans could hardly believe they had +no wings. As they did not reach as high as the table, they were +often obliged to jump and hop right on to the top to get at the +dishes. Everything was new to Hans, and though he was rather +bewildered he enjoyed himself very much, especially when the man +with the golden crown began to tell him many things he had never +heard of before. + +'Between Christmas and the New Year,' said he, 'I often amuse +myself by wandering about the earth watching the doings of men +and learning something about them. But as far as I have seen and +heard I cannot speak well of them. The greater part of them are +always quarrelling and complaining of each other's faults, while +nobody thinks of his own.' + +Hans tried to deny the truth of these words, but he could not do +it, and sat silent, hardly listening to what his friend was +saying. Then he went to sleep in his chair, and knew nothing of +what was happening. + +Wonderful dreams came to him during his sleep, where the bars of +gold continually hovered before his eyes. He felt stronger than +he had ever felt during his waking moments, and lifted two bars +quite easily on to his back. He did this so often that at length +his strength seemed exhausted, and he sank almost breathless on +the ground. Then he heard the sound of cheerful voices, and the +song of the blacksmiths as they blew their bellows--he even felt +as if he saw the sparks flashing before his eyes. Stretching +himself, he awoke slowly, and here he was in the green forest, +and instead of the glow of the fire in the underworld the sun was +streaming on him, and he sat up wondering why he felt so strange. + +At length his memory came back to him, and as he called to mind +all the wonderful things he had seen he tried in vain to make +them agree with those that happen every day. After thinking it +over till he was nearly mad, he tried at last to believe that one +night between Christmas and the New Year he had met a stranger in +the forest, and had slept all night in his company before a big +fire; the next day they had dined together, and had drunk a great +deal more than was good for them--in short, he had spent two +whole days revelling with another man. But here, with the full +tide of summer around him, he could hardly accept his own +explanation, and felt that he must have been the plaything or +sport of some magician. + +Near him, in the full sunlight, were the traces of a dead fire, +and when he drew close to it he saw that what he had taken for +ashes was really fine silver dust, and that the half burnt +firewood was made of gold. + +Oh, how lucky Hans thought himself; but where should he get a +sack to carry his treasure home before anyone else found it? +But necessity is the mother of invention: Hans threw off his fur +coat, gathered up the silver ashes so carefully in it that none +remained behind, laid the gold sticks on top, and tied up the bag +thus made with his girdle, so that nothing should fall out. The +load was not, in point of fact, very heavy, although it seemed so +to his imagination, and he moved slowly along till he found a +safe hiding-place for it. + +In this way Hans suddenly became rich--rich enough to buy a +property of his own. But being a prudent man, he finally decided +that it would be best for him to leave his old neighbourhood and +look for a home in a distant part of the country, where nobody +knew anything about him. It did not take him long to find what +he wanted, and after he had paid for it there was plenty of money +left over. When he was settled, he married a pretty girl who +lived near by, and had some children, to whom on his death-bed he +told the story of the lord of the underworld, and how he had made +Hans rich. + +[Ehstnische Marchen.] + + + +THE HISTORY OF DWARF LONG NOSE + +It is a great mistake to think that fairies, witches, magicians, +and such people lived only in Eastern countries and in such times +as those of the Caliph Haroun Al-Raschid. Fairies and their +like belong to every country and every age, and no doubt we +should see plenty of them now--if we only knew how. + +In a large town in Germany there lived, some couple of hundred +years ago, a cobbler and his wife. They were poor and +hard-working. The man sat all day in a little stall at the +street corner and mended any shoes that were brought him. His +wife sold the fruit and vegetables they grew in their garden in +the Market Place, and as she was always neat and clean and her +goods were temptingly spread out she had plenty of customers. + +The couple had one boy called Jem. A handsome, pleasant-faced +boy of twelve, and tall for his age. He used to sit by his +mother in the market and would carry home what people bought from +her, for which they often gave him a pretty flower, or a slice of +cake, or even some small coin. + +One day Jem and his mother sat as usual in the Market Place with +plenty of nice herbs and vegetables spread out on the board, and +in some smaller baskets early pears, apples, and apricots. Jem +cried his wares at the top of his voice: + +'This way, gentlemen! See these lovely cabbages and these fresh +herbs! Early apples, ladies; early pears and apricots, and all +cheap. Come, buy, buy!' + +As he cried an old woman came across the Market Place. She +looked very torn and ragged, and had a small sharp face, all +wrinkled, with red eyes, and a thin hooked nose which nearly met +her chin. She leant on a tall stick and limped and shuffled and +stumbled along as if she were going to fall on her nose at any +moment. + +In this fashion she came along till she got to the stall where +Jem and his mother were, and there she stopped. + +'Are you Hannah the herb seller?' she asked in a croaky voice as +her head shook to and fro. + +'Yes, I am,' was the answer. 'Can I serve you?' + +'We'll see; we'll see! Let me look at those herbs. I wonder if +you've got what I want,' said the old woman as she thrust a pair +of hideous brown hands into the herb basket, and began turning +over all the neatly packed herbs with her skinny fingers, often +holding them up to her nose and sniffing at them. + +The cobbler's wife felt much disgusted at seeing her wares +treated like this, but she dared not speak. When the old hag had +turned over the whole basket she muttered, 'Bad stuff, bad stuff; +much better fifty years ago--all bad.' + +This made Jem very angry + +'You are a very rude old woman,' he cried out. 'First you mess +all our nice herbs about with your horrid brown fingers and sniff +at them with your long nose till no one else will care to buy +them, and then you say it's all bad stuff, though the duke's cook +himself buys all his herbs from us.' + +The old woman looked sharply at the saucy boy, laughed +unpleasantly, and said: + +'So you don't like my long nose, sonny? Well, you shall have +one yourself, right down to your chin.' + +As she spoke she shuffled towards the hamper of cabbages, took up +one after another, squeezed them hard, and threw them back, +muttering again, 'Bad stuff, bad stuff.' + +'Don't waggle your head in that horrid way,' begged Jem +anxiously. 'Your neck is as thin as a cabbage-stalk, and it +might easily break and your head fall into the basket, and then +who would buy anything?' + +'Don't you like thin necks?' laughed the old woman. 'Then you +sha'n't have any, but a head stuck close between your shoulders +so that it may be quite sure not to fall off.' + +'Don't talk such nonsense to the child,' said the mother at last. + +'If you wish to buy, please make haste, as you are keeping other +customers away.' + +'Very well, I will do as you ask,' said the old woman, with an +angry look. 'I will buy these six cabbages, but, as you see, I +can only walk with my stick and can carry nothing. Let your boy +carry them home for me and I'll pay him for his trouble.' + +The little fellow didn't like this, and began to cry, for he was +afraid of the old woman, but his mother ordered him to go, for +she thought it wrong not to help such a weakly old creature; so, +still crying, he gathered the cabbages into a basket and followed +the old woman across the Market Place. + +It took her more than half an hour to get to a distant part of +the little town, but at last she stopped in front of a small +tumble-down house. She drew a rusty old hook from her pocket and +stuck it into a little hole in the door, which suddenly flew +open. How surprised Jem was when they went in! The house was +splendidly furnished, the walls and ceiling of marble, the +furniture of ebony inlaid with gold and precious stones, the +floor of such smooth slippery glass that the little fellow +tumbled down more than once. + +The old woman took out a silver whistle and blew it till the +sound rang through the house. Immediately a lot of guinea pigs +came running down the stairs, but Jem thought it rather odd that +they all walked on their hind legs, wore nutshells for shoes, and +men's clothes, whilst even their hats were put on in the newest +fashion. + +'Where are my slippers, lazy crew?' cried the old woman, and hit +about with her stick. 'How long am I to stand waiting here?' + +They rushed upstairs again and returned with a pair of cocoa nuts +lined with leather, which she put on her feet. Now all limping +and shuffling was at an end. She threw away her stick and walked +briskly across the glass floor, drawing little Jem after her. At +last she paused in a room which looked almost like a kitchen, it +was so full of pots and pans, but the tables were of mahogany and +the sofas and chairs covered with the richest stuffs. + +'Sit down,' said the old woman pleasantly, and she pushed Jem +into a corner of a sofa and put a table close in front of him. +'Sit down, you've had a long walk and a heavy load to carry, and +I must give you something for your trouble. Wait a bit, and I'll +give you some nice soup, which you'll remember as long as you +live.' + +So saying, she whistled again. First came in guinea pigs in +men's clothing. They had tied on large kitchen aprons, and in +their belts were stuck carving knives and sauce ladles and such +things. After them hopped in a number of squirrels. They too +walked on their hind legs, wore full Turkish trousers, and little +green velvet caps on their heads. They seemed to be the +scullions, for they clambered up the walls and brought down pots +and pans, eggs, flour, butter, and herbs, which they carried to +the stove. Here the old woman was bustling about, and Jem could +see that she was cooking something very special for him. At last +the broth began to bubble and boil, and she drew off the saucepan +and poured its contents into a silver bowl, which she set before +Jem. + +'There, my boy,' said she, 'eat this soup and then you'll have +everything which pleased you so much about me. And you shall be +a clever cook too, but the real herb--no, the REAL herb you'll +never find. Why had your mother not got it in her basket?' + +The child could not think what she was talking about, but he +quite understood the soup, which tasted most delicious. His +mother had often given him nice things, but nothing had ever +seemed so good as this. The smell of the herbs and spices rose +from the bowl, and the soup tasted both sweet and sharp at the +same time, and was very strong. As he was finishing it the +guinea pigs lit some Arabian incense, which gradually filled the +room with clouds of blue vapour. They grew thicker and thicker +and the scent nearly overpowered the boy. He reminded himself +that he must get back to his mother, but whenever he tried to +rouse himself to go he sank back again drowsily, and at last he +fell sound asleep in the corner of the sofa. + +Strange dreams came to him. He thought the old woman took off +all his clothes and wrapped him up in a squirrel skin, and that +he went about with the other squirrels and guinea pigs, who were +all very pleasant and well mannered, and waited on the old woman. + +First he learned to clean her cocoa-nut shoes with oil and to rub +them up. Then he learnt to catch the little sun moths and rub +them through the finest sieves, and the flour from them he made +into soft bread for the toothless old woman. + +In this way he passed from one kind of service to another, +spending a year in each, till in the fourth year he was promoted +to the kitchen. Here he worked his way up from under-scullion to +head-pastrycook, and reached the greatest perfection. He could +make all the most difficult dishes, and two hundred different +kinds of patties, soup flavoured with every sort of herb--he had +learnt it all, and learnt it well and quickly. + +When he had lived seven years with the old woman she ordered him +one day, as she was going out, to kill and pluck a chicken, stuff +it with herbs, and have it very nicely roasted by the time she +got back. He did this quite according to rule. He wrung the +chicken's neck, plunged it into boiling water, carefully plucked +out all the feathers, and rubbed the skin nice and smooth. Then +he went to fetch the herbs to stuff it with. In the store-room +he noticed a half-opened cupboard which he did not remember +having seen before. He peeped in and saw a lot of baskets from +which came a strong and pleasant smell. He opened one and found +a very uncommon herb in it. The stems and leaves were a bluish +green, and above them was a little flower of a deep bright red, +edged with yellow. He gazed at the flower, smelt it, and found +it gave the same strong strange perfume which came from the soup +the old woman had made him. But the smell was so sharp that he +began to sneeze again and again, and at last--he woke up! + +There he lay on the old woman's sofa and stared about him in +surprise. 'Well, what odd dreams one does have to be sure!' he +said to himself. 'Why, I could have sworn I had been a squirrel, +a companion of guinea pigs and such creatures, and had become a +great cook, too. How mother will laugh when I tell her! But +won't she scold me, though, for sleeping away here in a strange +house, instead of helping her at market!' + +He jumped up and prepared to go: all his limbs still seemed +quite stiff with his long sleep, especially his neck, for he +could not move his head easily, and he laughed at his own +stupidity at being still so drowsy that he kept knocking his nose +against the wall or cupboards. The squirrels and guinea pigs ran +whimpering after him, as though they would like to go too, and he +begged them to come when he reached the door, but they all turned +and ran quickly back into the house again. + +The part of the town was out of the way, and Jem did not know the +many narrow streets in it and was puzzled by their windings and +by the crowd of people, who seemed excited about some show. From +what he heard, he fancied they were going to see a dwarf, for he +heard them call out: 'Just look at the ugly dwarf!' 'What a long +nose he has, and see how his head is stuck in between his +shoulders, and only look at his ugly brown hands!' If he had not +been in such a hurry to get back to his mother, he would have +gone too, for he loved shows with giants and dwarfs and the like. + +He was quite puzzled when he reached the market-place. There +sat his mother, with a good deal of fruit still in her baskets, +so he felt he could not have slept so very long, but it struck +him that she was sad, for she did not call to the passers-by, but +sat with her head resting on her hand, and as he came nearer he +thought she looked paler than usual. + +He hesitated what to do, but at last he slipped behind her, laid +a hand on her arm, and said: 'Mammy, what's the matter? Are +you angry with me?' + +She turned round quickly and jumped up with a cry of horror. + +'What do you want, you hideous dwarf?' she cried; 'get away; I +can't bear such tricks.' + +'But, mother dear, what's the matter with you?' repeated Jem, +quite frightened. 'You can't be well. Why do you want to drive +your son away?' + +'I have said already, get away,' replied Hannah, quite angrily. +'You won't get anything out of me by your games, you +monstrosity.' + +'Oh dear, oh dear! she must be wandering in her mind,' murmured +the lad to himself. 'How can I manage to get her home? Dearest +mother, do look at me close. Can't you see I am your own son +Jem?' + +'Well, did you ever hear such impudence?' asked Hannah, turning +to a neighbour. 'Just see that frightful dwarf--would you +believe that he wants me to think he is my son Jem?' + +Then all the market women came round and talked all together and +scolded as hard as they could, and said what a shame it was to +make game of Mrs. Hannah, who had never got over the loss of her +beautiful boy, who had been stolen from her seven years ago, and +they threatened to fall upon Jem and scratch him well if he did +not go away at once. + +Poor Jem did not know what to make of it all. He was sure he had +gone to market with his mother only that morning, had helped to +set out the stall, had gone to the old woman's house, where he +had some soup and a little nap, and now, when he came back, they +were all talking of seven years. And they called him a horrid +dwarf! Why, what had happened to him? When he found that his +mother would really have nothing to do with him he turned away +with tears in his eyes, and went sadly down the street towards +his father's stall. + +'Now I'll see whether he will know me,' thought he. 'I'll stand +by the door and talk to him.' + +When he got to the stall he stood in the doorway and looked in. +The cobbler was so busy at work that he did not see him for some +time, but, happening to look up, he caught sight of his visitor, +and letting shoes, thread, and everything fall to the ground, he +cried with horror: 'Good heavens! what is that?' + +'Good evening, master,' said the boy, as he stepped in. 'How do +you do?' + +'Very ill, little sir, replied the father, to Jem's surprise, for +he did not seem to know him. 'Business does not go well. I am +all alone, and am getting old, and a workman is costly.' + +'But haven't you a son who could learn your trade by degrees?' +asked Jem. + +'I had one: he was called Jem, and would have been a tall sturdy +lad of twenty by this time, and able to help me well. Why, when +he was only twelve he was quite sharp and quick, and had learnt +many little things, and a good-looking boy too, and pleasant, so +that customers were taken by him. Well, well! so goes the +world!' + +'But where is your son?' asked Jem, with a trembling voice. + +'Heaven only knows!' replied the man; 'seven years ago he was +stolen from the market-place, and we have heard no more of him.' + +'SEVEN YEARS AGO!' cried Jem, with horror. + +'Yes, indeed, seven years ago, though it seems but yesterday that +my wife came back howling and crying, and saying the child had +not come back all day. I always thought and said that something +of the kind would happen. Jem was a beautiful boy, and everyone +made much of him, and my wife was so proud of him, and liked him +to carry the vegetables and things to grand folks' houses, where +he was petted and made much of. But I used to say, "Take +care--the town is large, there are plenty of bad people in +it--keep a sharp eye on Jem." And so it happened; for one day an +old woman came and bought a lot of things--more than she could +carry; so my wife, being a kindly soul, lent her the boy, and--we +have never seen him since.' + +'And that was seven years ago, you say?' + +'Yes, seven years: we had him cried--we went from house to +house. Many knew the pretty boy, and were fond of him, but it +was all in vain. No one seemed to know the old woman who bought +the vegetables either; only one old woman, who is ninety years +old, said it might have been the fairy Herbaline, who came into +the town once in every fifty years to buy things.' + +As his father spoke, things grew clearer to Jem's mind, and he +saw now that he had not been dreaming, but had really served the +old woman seven years in the shape of a squirrel. As he thought +it over rage filled his heart. Seven years of his youth had been +stolen from him, and what had he got in return? To learn to rub +up cocoa nuts, and to polish glass floors, and to be taught +cooking by guinea pigs! He stood there thinking, till at last +his father asked him: + +'Is there anything I can do for you, young gentleman? Shall I +make you a pair of slippers, or perhaps' with a smile--'a case +for your nose?' + +'What have you to do with my nose?' asked Jem. 'And why should I +want a case for it?' + +'Well, everyone to his taste,' replied the cobbler; 'but I must +say if I had such a nose I would have a nice red leather cover +made for it. Here is a nice piece; and think what a protection +it would be to you. As it is, you must be constantly knocking up +against things.' + +The lad was dumb with fright. He felt his nose. It was thick, +and quite two hands long. So, then, the old woman had changed +his shape, and that was why his own mother did not know him, and +called him a horrid dwarf! + +'Master,' said he, 'have you got a glass that I could see myself +in?' + +'Young gentleman,' was the answer, 'your appearance is hardly one +to be vain of, and there is no need to waste your time looking in +a glass. Besides, I have none here, and if you must have one you +had better ask Urban the barber, who lives over the way, to lend +you his. Good morning.' + +So saying, he gently pushed Jem into the street, shut the door, +and went back to his work. + +Jem stepped across to the barber, whom he had known in old days. + +'Good morning, Urban,' said he; 'may I look at myself in your +glass for a moment?' + +'With pleasure,' said the barber, laughing, and all the people in +his shop fell to laughing also. 'You are a pretty youth, with +your swan-like neck and white hands and small nose. No wonder +you are rather vain; but look as long as you like at yourself.' + +So spoke the barber, and a titter ran round the room. Meantime +Jem had stepped up to the mirror, and stood gazing sadly at his +reflection. Tears came to his eyes. + +'No wonder you did not know your child again, dear mother,' +thought he; 'he wasn't like this when you were so proud of his +looks.' + +His eyes had grown quite small, like pigs' eyes, his nose was +huge and hung down over his mouth and chin, his throat seemed to +have disappeared altogether, and his head was fixed stiffly +between his shoulders. He was no taller than he had been seven +years ago, when he was not much more than twelve years old, but +he made up in breadth, and his back and chest had grown into +lumps like two great sacks. His legs were small and spindly, but +his arms were as large as those of a well-grown man, with large +brown hands, and long skinny fingers. + +Then he remembered the morning when he had first seen the old +woman, and her threats to him, and without saying a word he left +the barber's shop. + +He determined to go again to his mother, and found her still in +the market-place. He begged her to listen quietly to him, and he +reminded her of the day when he went away with the old woman, and +of many things in his childhood, and told her how the fairy had +bewitched him, and he had served her seven years. Hannah did not +know what to think--the story was so strange; and it seemed +impossible to think her pretty boy and this hideous dwarf were +the same. At last she decided to go and talk to her husband +about it. She gathered up her baskets, told Jem to follow her, +and went straight to the cobbler's stall. + +'Look here,' said she, 'this creature says he is our lost son. +He has been telling me how he was stolen seven years ago, and +bewitched by a fairy.' + +'Indeed!' interrupted the cobbler angrily. 'Did he tell you +this? Wait a minute, you rascal! Why I told him all about it +myself only an hour ago, and then he goes off to humbug you. So +you were bewitched, my son were you? Wait a bit, and I'll +bewitch you!' + +So saying, he caught up a bundle of straps, and hit out at Jem so +hard that he ran off crying. + +The poor little dwarf roamed about all the rest of the day +without food or drink, and at night was glad to lie down and +sleep on the steps of a church. He woke next morning with the +first rays of light, and began to think what he could do to earn +a living. Suddenly he remembered that he was an excellent cook, +and he determined to look out for a place. + +As soon as it was quite daylight he set out for the palace, for +he knew that the grand duke who reigned over the country was fond +of good things. + +When he reached the palace all the servants crowded about him, +and made fun of him, and at last their shouts and laughter grew +so loud that the head steward rushed out, crying, 'For goodness +sake, be quiet, can't you. Don't you know his highness is still +asleep?' + +Some of the servants ran off at once, and others pointed out Jem. + +Indeed, the steward found it hard to keep himself from laughing +at the comic sight, but he ordered the servants off and led the +dwarf into his own room. + +When he heard him ask for a place as cook, he said: 'You make +some mistake, my lad. I think you want to be the grand duke's +dwarf, don't you?' + +'No, sir,' replied Jem. 'I am an experienced cook, and if you +will kindly take me to the head cook he may find me of some use.' + +'Well, as you will; but believe me, you would have an easier +place as the grand ducal dwarf.' + +So saying, the head steward led him to the head cook's room. + +'Sir,' asked Jem, as he bowed till his nose nearly touched the +floor, 'do you want an experienced cook?' + +The head cook looked him over from head to foot, and burst out +laughing. + +'You a cook! Do you suppose our cooking stoves are so low that +you can look into any saucepan on them? Oh, my dear little +fellow, whoever sent you to me wanted to make fun of you.' + +But the dwarf was not to be put off. + +'What matters an extra egg or two, or a little butter or flour +and spice more or less, in such a house as this?' said he. 'Name +any dish you wish to have cooked, and give me the materials I ask +for, and you shall see.' + +He said much more, and at last persuaded the head cook to give +him a trial. + +They went into the kitchen--a huge place with at least twenty +fireplaces, always alight. A little stream of clear water ran +through the room, and live fish were kept at one end of it. +Everything in the kitchen was of the best and most beautiful +kind, and swarms of cooks and scullions were busy preparing +dishes. + +When the head cook came in with Jem everyone stood quite still. + +'What has his highness ordered for luncheon?' asked the head +cook. + +'Sir, his highness has graciously ordered a Danish soup and red +Hamburg dumplings.' + +'Good,' said the head cook. 'Have you heard, and do you feel +equal to making these dishes? Not that you will be able to make +the dumplings, for they are a secret receipt.' + +'Is that all!' said Jem, who had often made both dishes. +'Nothing easier. Let me have some eggs, a piece of wild boar, +and such and such roots and herbs for the soup; and as for the +dumplings,' he added in a low voice to the head cook, 'I shall +want four different kinds of meat, some wine, a duck's marrow, +some ginger, and a herb called heal-well.' + +'Why,' cried the astonished cook, 'where did you learn cooking? +Yes, those are the exact materials, but we never used the herb +heal-well, which, I am sure, must be an improvement.' + +And now Jem was allowed to try his hand. He could not nearly +reach up to the kitchen range, but by putting a wide plank on two +chairs he managed very well. All the cooks stood round to look +on, and could not help admiring the quick, clever way in which he +set to work. At last, when all was ready, Jem ordered the two +dishes to be put on the fire till he gave the word. Then he +began to count: 'One, two, three,' till he got to five hundred +when he cried, 'Now!' The saucepans were taken off, and he +invited the head cook to taste. + +The first cook took a golden spoon, washed and wiped it, and +handed it to the head cook, who solemnly approached, tasted the +dishes, and smacked his lips over them. 'First rate, indeed!' he +exclaimed. 'You certainly are a master of the art, little +fellow, and the herb heal-well gives a particular relish.' + +As he was speaking, the duke's valet came to say that his +highness was ready for luncheon, and it was served at once in +silver dishes. The head cook took Jem to his own room, but had +hardly had time to question him before he was ordered to go at +once to the grand duke. He hurried on his best clothes and +followed the messenger. + +The grand duke was looking much pleased. He had emptied the +dishes, and was wiping his mouth as the head cook came in. 'Who +cooked my luncheon to-day?' asked he. 'I must say your dumplings +are always very good; but I don't think I ever tasted anything so +delicious as they were to-day. Who made them?' + +'It is a strange story, your highness,' said the cook, and told +him the whole matter, which surprised the duke so much that he +sent for the dwarf and asked him many questions. Of course, Jem +could not say he had been turned into a squirrel, but he said he +was without parents and had been taught cooking by an old woman. + +'If you will stay with me,' said the grand duke, 'you shall have +fifty ducats a year, besides a new coat and a couple of pairs of +trousers. You must undertake to cook my luncheon yourself and to +direct what I shall have for dinner, and you shall be called +assistant head cook.' + +Jem bowed to the ground, and promised to obey his new master in +all things. + +He lost no time in setting to work, and everyone rejoiced at +having him in the kitchen, for the duke was not a patient man, +and had been known to throw plates and dishes at his cooks and +servants if the things served were not quite to his taste. Now +all was changed. He never even grumbled at anything, had five +meals instead of three, thought everything delicious, and grew +fatter daily. + +And so Jem lived on for two years, much respected and considered, +and only saddened when he thought of his parents. One day passed +much like another till the following incident happened. + +Dwarf Long Nose--as he was always called--made a practice of +doing his marketing as much as possible himself, and whenever +time allowed went to the market to buy his poultry and fruit. +One morning he was in the goose market, looking for some nice fat +geese. No one thought of laughing at his appearance now; he was +known as the duke's special body cook, and every goose-woman +felt honoured if his nose turned her way. + +He noticed one woman sitting apart with a number of geese, but +not crying or praising them like the rest. He went up to her, +felt and weighed her geese, and, finding them very good, bought +three and the cage to put them in, hoisted them on his broad +shoulders, and set off on his way back. + +As he went, it struck him that two of the geese were gobbling and +screaming as geese do, but the third sat quite still, only +heaving a deep sigh now and then, like a human being. 'That +goose is ill,' said he; 'I must make haste to kill and dress +her.' + +But the goose answered him quite distinctly: + + 'Squeeze too tight + And I'll bite, + If my neck a twist you gave + I'd bring you to an early grave.' + +Quite frightened, the dwarf set down the cage, and the goose +gazed at him with sad wise-looking eyes and sighed again. + +'Good gracious!' said Long Nose. 'So you can speak, Mistress +Goose. I never should have thought it! Well, don't be anxious. +I know better than to hurt so rare a bird. But I could bet you +were not always in this plumage--wasn't I a squirrel myself for a +time?' + +'You are right,' said the goose, 'in supposing I was not born in +this horrid shape. Ah! no one ever thought that Mimi, the +daughter of the great Weatherbold, would be killed for the ducal +table.' + +'Be quite easy, Mistress Mimi,' comforted Jem. 'As sure as I'm +an honest man and assistant head cook to his highness, no one +shall harm you. I will make a hutch for you in my own rooms, and +you shall be well fed, and I'll come and talk to you as much as I +can. I'll tell all the other cooks that I am fattening up a +goose on very special food for the grand duke, and at the first +good opportunity I will set you free.' + +The goose thanked him with tears in her eyes, and the dwarf kept +his word. He killed the other two geese for dinner, but built a +little shed for Mimi in one of his rooms, under the pretence of +fattening her under his own eye. He spent all his spare time +talking to her and comforting her, and fed her on all the +daintiest dishes. They confided their histories to each other, +and Jem learnt that the goose was the daughter of the wizard +Weatherbold, who lived on the island of Gothland. He fell out +with an old fairy, who got the better of him by cunning and +treachery, and to revenge herself turned his daughter into a +goose and carried her off to this distant place. When Long Nose +told her his story she said: + +'I know a little of these matters, and what you say shows me that +you are under a herb enchantment--that is to say, that if you can +find the herb whose smell woke you up the spell would be broken.' + +This was but small comfort for Jem, for how and where was he to +find the herb? + +About this time the grand duke had a visit from a neighbouring +prince, a friend of his. He sent for Long Nose and said to him: + +'Now is the time to show what you can really do. This prince who +is staying with me has better dinners than any one except myself, +and is a great judge of cooking. As long as he is here you must +take care that my table shall be served in a manner to surprise +him constantly. At the same time, on pain of my displeasure, +take care that no dish shall appear twice. Get everything you +wish and spare nothing. If you want to melt down gold and +precious stones, do so. I would rather be a poor man than have +to blush before him.' + +The dwarf bowed and answered: + +'Your highness shall be obeyed. I will do all in my power to +please you and the prince.' + +From this time the little cook was hardly seen except in the +kitchen, where, surrounded by his helpers, he gave orders, baked, +stewed, flavoured and dished up all manner of dishes. + +The prince had been a fortnight with the grand duke, and enjoyed +himself mightily. They ate five times a day, and the duke had +every reason to be content with the dwarf's talents, for he saw +how pleased his guest looked. On the fifteenth day the duke sent +for the dwarf and presented him to the prince. + +'You are a wonderful cook,' said the prince, 'and you certainly +know what is good. All the time I have been here you have never +repeated a dish, and all were excellent. But tell me why you +have never served the queen of all dishes, a Suzeraine Pasty?' + +The dwarf felt frightened, for he had never heard of this Queen +of Pasties before. But he did not lose his presence of mind, and +replied: + +'I have waited, hoping that your highness' visit here would last +some time, for I proposed to celebrate the last day of your stay +with this truly royal dish.' + +'Indeed,' laughed the grand duke; 'then I suppose you would have +waited for the day of my death to treat me to it, for you have +never sent it up to me yet. However, you will have to invent +some other farewell dish, for the pasty must be on my table +to-morrow.' + +'As your highness pleases,' said the dwarf, and took leave. + +But it did not please HIM at all. The moment of disgrace seemed +at hand, for he had no idea how to make this pasty. He went to +his rooms very sad. As he sat there lost in thought the goose +Mimi, who was left free to walk about, came up to him and asked +what was the matter? When she heard she said: + +'Cheer up, my friend. I know the dish quite well: we often had +it at home, and I can guess pretty well how it was made.' Then +she told him what to put in, adding: 'I think that will be all +right, and if some trifle is left out perhaps they won't find it +out.' + +Sure enough, next day a magnificent pasty all wreathed round with +flowers was placed on the table. Jem himself put on his best +clothes and went into the dining hall. As he entered the head +carver was in the act of cutting up the pie and helping the duke +and his guests. The grand duke took a large mouthful and threw +up his eyes as he swallowed it. + +'Oh! oh! this may well be called the Queen of Pasties, and at +the same time my dwarf must be called the king of cooks. Don't +you think so, dear friend?' + +The prince took several small pieces, tasted and examined +carefully, and then said with a mysterious and sarcastic smile: + +'The dish is very nicely made, but the Suzeraine is not quite +complete--as I expected.' + +The grand duke flew into a rage. + +'Dog of a cook,' he shouted; 'how dare you serve me so? I've a +good mind to chop off your great head as a punishment.' + +'For mercy's sake, don't, your highness! I made the pasty +according to the best rules; nothing has been left out. Ask the +prince what else I should have put in.' + +The prince laughed. 'I was sure you could not make this dish as +well as my cook, friend Long Nose. Know, then, that a herb is +wanting called Relish, which is not known in this country, but +which gives the pasty its peculiar flavour, and without which +your master will never taste it to perfection.' + +The grand duke was more furious than ever. + +'But I WILL taste it to perfection,' he roared. 'Either the +pasty must be made properly to-morrow or this rascal's head shall +come off. Go, scoundrel, I give you twenty-four hours respite.' + +The poor dwarf hurried back to his room, and poured out his grief +to the goose. + +'Oh, is that all,' said she, 'then I can help you, for my father +taught me to know all plants and herbs. Luckily this is a new +moon just now, for the herb only springs up at such times. But +tell me, are there chestnut trees near the palace?' + +'Oh, yes!' cried Long Nose, much relieved; 'near the lake--only a +couple of hundred yards from the palace--is a large clump of +them. But why do you ask?' + +'Because the herb only grows near the roots of chestnut trees,' +replied Mimi; 'so let us lose no time in finding it. Take me +under your arm and put me down out of doors, and I'll hunt for +it.' + +He did as she bade, and as soon as they were in the garden put +her on the ground, when she waddled off as fast as she could +towards the lake, Jem hurrying after her with an anxious heart, +for he knew that his life depended on her success. The goose +hunted everywhere, but in vain. She searched under each chestnut +tree, turning every blade of grass with her bill--nothing to be +seen, and evening was drawing on! + +Suddenly the dwarf noticed a big old tree standing alone on the +other side of the lake. 'Look,' cried he, 'let us try our luck +there.' + +The goose fluttered and skipped in front, and he ran after as +fast as his little legs could carry him. The tree cast a wide +shadow, and it was almost dark beneath it, but suddenly the goose +stood still, flapped her wings with joy, and plucked something, +which she held out to her astonished friend, saying: 'There it +is, and there is more growing here, so you will have no lack of +it.' + +The dwarf stood gazing at the plant. It gave out a strong sweet +scent, which reminded him of the day of his enchantment. The +stems and leaves were a bluish green, and it bore a dark, bright +red flower with a yellow edge. + +'What a wonder!' cried Long Nose. 'I do believe this is the very +herb which changed me from a squirrel into my present miserable +form. Shall I try an experiment?' + +'Not yet,' said the goose. 'Take a good handful of the herb with +you, and let us go to your rooms. We will collect all your money +and clothes together, and then we will test the powers of the +herb.' + +So they went back to Jem's rooms, and here he gathered together +some fifty ducats he had saved, his clothes and shoes, and tied +them all up in a bundle. Then he plunged his face into the bunch +of herbs, and drew in their perfume. + +As he did so, all his limbs began to crack and stretch; he felt +his head rising above his shoulders; he glanced down at his nose, +and saw it grow smaller and smaller; his chest and back grew +flat, and his legs grew long. + +The goose looked on in amazement. 'Oh, how big and how beautiful +you are!' she cried. 'Thank heaven, you are quite changed.' + +Jem folded his hands in thanks, as his heart swelled with +gratitude. But his joy did not make him forget all he owed to +his friend Mimi. + +'I owe you my life and my release,' he said, 'for without you I +should never have regained my natural shape, and, indeed, would +soon have been beheaded. I will now take you back to your +father, who will certainly know how to disenchant you.' + +The goose accepted his offer with joy, and they managed to slip +out of the palace unnoticed by anyone. + +They got through the journey without accident, and the wizard +soon released his daughter, and loaded Jem with thanks and +valuable presents. He lost no time in hastening back to his +native town, and his parents were very ready to recognise the +handsome, well-made young man as their long-lost son. With the +money given him by the wizard he opened a shop, which prospered +well, and he lived long and happily. + +I must not forget to mention that much disturbance was caused in +the palace by Jem's sudden disappearance, for when the grand duke +sent orders next day to behead the dwarf, if he had not found the +necessary herbs, the dwarf was not to be found. The prince +hinted that the duke had allowed his cook to escape, and had +therefore broken his word. The matter ended in a great war +between the two princes, which was known in history as the 'Herb +War.' After many battles and much loss of life, a peace was at +last concluded, and this peace became known as the 'Pasty Peace,' +because at the banquet given in its honour the prince's cook +dished up the Queen of Pasties--the Suzeraine--and the grand +duke declared it to be quite excellent. + + + +THE NUNDA, EATER OF PEOPLE + +Once upon a time there lived a sultan who loved his garden +dearly, and planted it with trees and flowers and fruits from all +parts of the world. He went to see them three times every day: +first at seven o'clock, when he got up, then at three, and lastly +at half-past five. There was no plant and no vegetable which +escaped his eye, but he lingered longest of all before his one +date tree. + +Now the sultan had seven sons. Six of them he was proud of, for +they were strong and manly, but the youngest he disliked, for he +spent all his time among the women of the house. The sultan had +talked to him, and he paid no heed; and he had beaten him, and he +paid no heed; and he had tied him up, and he paid no heed, till +at last his father grew tired of trying to make him change his +ways, and let him alone. + +Time passed, and one day the sultan, to his great joy, saw signs +of fruit on his date tree. And he told his vizir, 'My date tree +is bearing;' and he told the officers, 'My date tree is bearing;' +and he told the judges, 'My date tree is bearing;' and he told +all the rich men of the town. + +He waited patiently for some days till the dates were nearly +ripe, and then he called his six sons, and said: 'One of you +must watch the date tree till the dates are ripe, for if it is +not watched the slaves will steal them, and I shall not have any +for another year.' + +And the eldest son answered, 'I will go, father,' and he went. + +The first thing the youth did was to summon his slaves, and bid +them beat drums all night under the date tree, for he feared to +fall asleep. So the slaves beat the drums, and the young man +danced till four o'clock, and then it grew so cold he could dance +no longer, and one of the slaves said to him: 'It is getting +light; the tree is safe; lie down, master, and go to sleep.' + +So he lay down and slept, and his slaves slept likewise. + +A few minutes went by, and a bird flew down from a neighbouring +thicket, and ate all the dates, without leaving a single one. +And when the tree was stripped bare, the bird went as it had +come. Soon after, one of the slaves woke up and looked for the +dates, but there were no dates to see. Then he ran to the young +man and shook him, saying: + +'Your father set you to watch the tree, and you have not watched, +and the dates have all been eaten by a bird.' + +The lad jumped up and ran to the tree to see for himself, but +there was not a date anywhere. And he cried aloud, 'What am I to +say to my father? Shall I tell him that the dates have been +stolen, or that a great rain fell and a great storm blew? But +he will send me to gather them up and bring them to him, and +there are none to bring! Shall I tell him that Bedouins drove me +away, and when I returned there were no dates? And he will +answer, "You had slaves, did they not fight with the Bedouins?" +It is the truth that will be best, and that will I tell him.' + +Then he went straight to his father, and found him sitting in his +verandah with his five sons round him; and the lad bowed his +head. + +'Give me the news from the garden,' said the sultan. + +And the youth answered, 'The dates have all been eaten by some +bird: there is not one left.' + +The sultan was silent for a moment: then he asked, 'Where were +you when the bird came?' + +The lad answered: 'I watched the date tree till the cocks were +crowing and it was getting light; then I lay down for a little, +and I slept. When I woke a slave was standing over me, and he +said, "There is not one date left on the tree!" And I went to +the date tree, and saw it was true; and that is what I have to +tell you.' + +And the sultan replied, 'A son like you is only good for eating +and sleeping. I have no use for you. Go your way, and when my +date tree bears again, I will send another son; perhaps he will +watch better.' + +So he waited many months, till the tree was covered with more +dates than any tree had ever borne before. When they were near +ripening he sent one of his sons to the garden: saying, 'My son, +I am longing to taste those dates: go and watch over them, for +to-day's sun will bring them to perfection.' + +And the lad answered: 'My father, I am going now, and to-morrow, +when the sun has passed the hour of seven, bid a slave come and +gather the dates.' + +'Good,' said the sultan. + +The youth went to the tree, and lay down and slept. And about +midnight he arose to look at the tree, and the dates were all +there--beautiful dates, swinging in bunches. + +'Ah, my father will have a feast, indeed,' thought he. 'What a +fool my brother was not to take more heed! Now he is in +disgrace, and we know him no more. Well, I will watch till the +bird comes. I should like to see what manner of bird it is.' + +And he sat and read till the cocks crew and it grew light, and +the dates were still on the tree. + +'Oh my father will have his dates; they are all safe now,' he +thought to himself. 'I will make myself comfortable against this +tree,' and he leaned against the trunk, and sleep came on him, +and the bird flew down and ate all the dates. + +When the sun rose, the head-man came and looked for the dates, +and there were no dates. And he woke the young man, and said to +him, 'Look at the tree.' + +And the young man looked, and there were no dates. And his ears +were stopped, and his legs trembled, and his tongue grew heavy at +the thought of the sultan. His slave became frightened as he +looked at him, and asked, 'My master, what is it?' + +He answered, 'I have no pain anywhere, but I am ill everywhere. +My whole body is well, and my whole body is sick I fear my +father, for did I not say to him, "To-morrow at seven you shall +taste the dates"? And he will drive me away, as he drove away +my brother! I will go away myself, before he sends me.' + +Then he got up and took a road that led straight past the palace, +but he had not walked many steps before he met a man carrying a +large silver dish, covered with a white cloth to cover the dates. + +And the young man said, 'The dates are not ripe yet; you must +return to-morrow.' + +And the slave went with him to the palace, where the sultan was +sitting with his four sons. + +'Good greeting, master!' said the youth. + +And the sultan answered, 'Have you seen the man I sent?' + +'I have, master; but the dates are not yet ripe.' + +But the sultan did not believe his words, and said; 'This second +year I have eaten no dates, because of my sons. Go your ways, +you are my son no longer!' + +And the sultan looked at the four sons that were left him, and +promised rich gifts to whichever of them would bring him the +dates from the tree. But year by year passed, and he never got +them. One son tried to keep himself awake with playing cards; +another mounted a horse and rode round and round the tree, while +the two others, whom their father as a last hope sent together, +lit bonfires. But whatever they did, the result was always the +same. Towards dawn they fell asleep, and the bird ate the dates +on the tree. + +The sixth year had come, and the dates on the tree were thicker +than ever. And the head-man went to the palace and told the +sultan what he had seen. But the sultan only shook his head, and +said sadly, 'What is that to me? I have had seven sons, yet for +five years a bird has devoured my dates; and this year it will be +the same as ever.' + +Now the youngest son was sitting in the kitchen, as was his +custom, when he heard his father say those words. And he rose +up, and went to his father, and knelt before him. 'Father, this +year you shall eat dates,' cried he. 'And on the tree are five +great bunches, and each bunch I will give to a separate nation, +for the nations in the town are five. This time, I will watch +the date tree myself.' But his father and his mother laughed +heartily, and thought his words idle talk. + +One day, news was brought to the sultan that the dates were ripe, +and he ordered one of his men to go and watch the tree. His son, +who happened to be standing by, heard the order, and he said: + +'How is it that you have bidden a man to watch the tree, when I, +your son, am left?' + +And his father answered, 'Ah, six were of no use, and where they +failed, will you succeed?' + +But the boy replied: 'Have patience to-day, and let me go, and +to-morrow you shall see whether I bring you dates or not.' + +'Let the child go, Master,' said his wife; 'perhaps we shall eat +the dates--or perhaps we shall not--but let him go.' + +And the sultan answered: 'I do not refuse to let him go, but my +heart distrusts him. His brothers all promised fair, and what +did they do?' + +But the boy entreated, saying, 'Father, if you and I and mother +be alive to-morrow, you shall eat the dates.' + +'Go then,' said his father. + +When the boy reached the garden, he told the slaves to leave him, +and to return home themselves and sleep. When he was alone, he +laid himself down and slept fast till one o'clock, when he arose, +and sat opposite the date tree. Then he took some Indian corn +out of one fold of his dress, and some sandy grit out of another. + +And he chewed the corn till he felt he was growing sleepy, and +then he put some grit into his mouth, and that kept him awake +till the bird came. + +It looked about at first without seeing him, and whispering to +itself, 'There is no one here,' fluttered lightly on to the tree +and stretched out his beak for the dates. Then the boy stole +softly up, and caught it by the wing. + +The bird turned and flew quickly away, but the boy never let go, +not even when they soared high into the air. + +'Son of Adam,' the bird said when the tops of the mountains +looked small below them, 'if you fall, you will be dead long +before you reach the ground, so go your way, and let me go mine.' + +But the boy answered, 'Wherever you go, I will go with you. You +cannot get rid of me.' + +'I did not eat your dates,' persisted the bird, 'and the day is +dawning. Leave me to go my way.' + +But again the boy answered him: 'My six brothers are hateful to +my father because you came and stole the dates, and to-day my +father shall see you, and my brothers shall see you, and all the +people of the town, great and small, shall see you. And my +father's heart will rejoice.' + +'Well, if you will not leave me, I will throw you off,' said the +bird. + +So it flew up higher still--so high that the earth shone like one +of the other stars. + +'How much of you will be left if you fall from here?' asked the +bird. + +'If I die, I die,' said the boy, 'but I will not leave you.' + +And the bird saw it was no use talking, and went down to the +earth again. + +'Here you are at home, so let me go my way,' it begged once more; +'or at least make a covenant with me.' + +'What covenant?' said the boy. + +'Save me from the sun,' replied the bird, 'and I will save you +from rain.' + +'How can you do that, and how can I tell if I can trust you?' + +'Pull a feather from my tail, and put it in the fire, and if you +want me I will come to you, wherever I am.' + +And the boy answered, 'Well, I agree; go your way.' + +'Farewell, my friend. When you call me, if it is from the depths +of the sea, I will come.' + +The lad watched the bird out of sight; then he went straight to +the date tree. And when he saw the dates his heart was glad, and +his body felt stronger and his eyes brighter than before. And he +laughed out loud with joy, and said to himself, 'This is MY luck, +mine, Sit-in-the-kitchen! Farewell, date tree, I am going to +lie down. What ate you will eat you no more.' + +The sun was high in the sky before the head-man, whose business +it was, came to look at the date tree, expecting to find it +stripped of all its fruit, but when he saw the dates so thick +that they almost hid the leaves he ran back to his house, and +beat a big drum till everybody came running, and even the little +children wanted to know what had happened. + +'What is it? What is it, head-man?' cried they. + +'Ah, it is not a son that the master has, but a lion! This day +Sit-in-the-kitchen has uncovered his face before his father!' + +'But how, head-man?' + +'To day the people may eat the dates.' + +'Is it true, head-man?' + +'Oh yes, it is true, but let him sleep till each man has brought +forth a present. He who has fowls, let him take fowls; he who +has a goat, let him take a goat; he who has rice, let him take +rice.' And the people did as he had said. + +Then they took the drum, and went to the tree where the boy lay +sleeping. + +And they picked him up, and carried him away, with horns and +clarionets and drums, with clappings of hands and shrieks of joy, +straight to his father's house. + +When his father heard the noise and saw the baskets made of green +leaves, brimming over with dates, and his son borne high on the +necks of slaves, his heart leaped, and he said to himself 'To-day +at last I shall eat dates.' And he called his wife to see what +her son had done, and ordered his soldiers to take the boy and +bring him to his father. + +'What news, my son?' said he. + +'News? I have no news, except that if you will open your mouth +you shall see what dates taste like.' And he plucked a date, and +put it into his father's mouth. + +'Ah! You are indeed my son,' cried the sultan. 'You do not take +after those fools, those good-for-nothings. But, tell me, what +did you do with the bird, for it was you, and you only who +watched for it?' + +'Yes, it was I who watched for it and who saw it. And it will +not come again, neither for its life, nor for your life, nor for +the lives of your children.' + +'Oh, once I had six sons, and now I have only one. It is you, +whom I called a fool, who have given me the dates: as for the +others, I want none of them.' + +But his wife rose up and went to him, and said, 'Master, do not, +I pray you, reject them,' and she entreated long, till the sultan +granted her prayer, for she loved the six elder ones more than +her last one. + +So they all lived quietly at home, till the sultan's cat went and +caught a calf. And the owner of the calf went and told the +sultan, but he answered, 'The cat is mine, and the calf mine,' +and the man dared not complain further. + +Two days after, the cat caught a cow, and the sultan was told, +'Master, the cat has caught a cow,' but he only said, 'It was my +cow and my cat.' + +And the cat waited a few days, and then it caught a donkey, and +they told the sultan, 'Master, the cat has caught a donkey,' and +he said, 'My cat and my donkey.' Next it was a horse, and after +that a camel, and when the sultan was told he said, 'You don't +like this cat, and want me to kill it. And I shall not kill it. +Let it eat the camel: let it even eat a man.' + +And it waited till the next day, and caught some one's child. +And the sultan was told, 'The cat has caught a child.' And he +said, 'The cat is mine and the child mine.' Then it caught a +grown-up man. + +After that the cat left the town and took up its abode in a +thicket near the road. So if any one passed, going for water, it +devoured him. If it saw a cow going to feed, it devoured him. +If it saw a goat, it devoured him. Whatever went along that road +the cat caught and ate. + +Then the people went to the sultan in a body, and told him of all +the misdeeds of that cat. But he answered as before, 'The cat is +mine and the people are mine.' And no man dared kill the cat, +which grew bolder and bolder, and at last came into the town to +look for its prey. + +One day, the sultan said to his six sons, 'I am going into the +country, to see how the wheat is growing, and you shall come with +me.' They went on merrily along the road, till they came to a +thicket, when out sprang the cat, and killed three of the sons. + +'The cat! The cat!' shrieked the soldiers who were with him. +And this time the sultan said: + +'Seek for it and kill it. It is no longer a cat, but a demon!' + +And the soldiers answered him, 'Did we not tell you, master, what +the cat was doing, and did you not say, "My cat and my people"?' + +And he answered: 'True, I said it.' + +Now the youngest son had not gone with the rest, but had stayed +at home with his mother; and when he heard that his brothers had +been killed by the cat he said, 'Let me go, that it may slay me +also.' His mother entreated him not to leave her, but he would +not listen, and he took his sword and a spear and some rice +cakes, and went after the cat, which by this time had run of to a +great distance. + +The lad spent many days hunting the cat, which now bore the name +of 'The Nunda, eater of people,' but though he killed many wild +animals he saw no trace of the enemy he was hunting for. There +was no beast, however fierce, that he was afraid of, till at last +his father and mother begged him to give up the chase after the +Nunda. + +But he answered: 'What I have said, I cannot take back. If I am +to die, then I die, but every day I must go and seek for the +Nunda.' + +And again his father offered him what he would, even the crown +itself, but the boy would hear nothing, and went on his way. + +Many times his slaves came and told him, 'We have seen +footprints, and to-day we shall behold the Nunda.' But the +footprints never turned out to be those of the Nunda. They +wandered far through deserts and through forests, and at length +came to the foot of a great hill. And something in the boy's +soul whispered that here was the end of all their seeking, and +to-day they would find the Nunda. + +But before they began to climb the mountain the boy ordered his +slaves to cook some rice, and they rubbed the stick to make a +fire, and when the fire was kindled they cooked the rice and ate +it. Then they began their climb. + +Suddenly, when they had almost reached the top, a slave who was +on in front cried: + +'Master! Master!' And the boy pushed on to where the slave +stood, and the slave said: + +'Cast your eyes down to the foot of the mountain.' And the boy +looked, and his soul told him it was the Nunda. + +And he crept down with his spear in his hand, and then he stopped +and gazed below him. + +'This MUST be the real Nunda,' thought he. 'My mother told me +its ears were small, and this one's are small. She told me it +was broad and not long, and this is broad and not long. She told +me it had spots like a civet-cat, and this has spots like a +civet-cat.' + +Then he left the Nunda lying asleep at the foot of the mountain, +and went back to his slaves. + +'We will feast to-day,' he said; 'make cakes of batter, and bring +water,' and they ate and drank. And when they had finished he +bade them hide the rest of the food in the thicket, that if they +slew the Nunda they might return and eat and sleep before going +back to the town. And the slaves did as he bade them. + +It was now afternoon, and the lad said: 'It is time we went +after the Nunda.' And they went till they reached the bottom and +came to a great forest which lay between them and the Nunda. + +Here the lad stopped, and ordered every slave that wore two +cloths to cast one away and tuck up the other between his legs. +'For,' said he, 'the wood is not a little one. Perhaps we may be +caught by the thorns, or perhaps we may have to run before the +Nunda, and the cloth might bind our legs, and cause us to fall +before it.' + +And they answered, 'Good, master,' and did as he bade them. Then +they crawled on their hands and knees to where the Nunda lay +asleep. + +Noiselessly they crept along till they were quite close to it; +then, at a sign from the boy, they threw their spears. The Nunda +did not stir: the spears had done their work, but a great fear +seized them all, and they ran away and climbed the mountain. + +The sun was setting when they reached the top, and glad they were +to take out the fruit and the cakes and the water which they had +hidden away, and sit down and rest themselves. And after they +had eaten and were filled, they lay down and slept till morning. + +When the dawn broke they rose up and cooked more rice, and drank +more water. After that they walked all round the back of the +mountain to the place where they had left the Nunda, and they saw +it stretched out where they had found it, stiff and dead. And +they took it up and carried it back to the town, singing as they +went, 'He has killed the Nunda, the eater of people.' + +And when his father heard the news, and that his son was come, +and was bringing the Nunda with him, he felt that the man did not +dwell on the earth whose joy was greater than his. And the +people bowed down to the boy and gave him presents, and loved +him, because he had delivered them from the bondage of fear, and +had slain the Nunda. + +[Adapted from Swahili Tales.] + + + +THE STORY OF HASSEBU + +Once upon a time there lived a poor woman who had only one child, +and he was a little boy called Hassebu. When he ceased to be a +baby, and his mother thought it was time for him to learn to +read, she sent him to school. And, after he had done with +school, he was put into a shop to learn how to make clothes, and +did not learn; and he was put to do silversmith's work, and did +not learn; and whatsoever he was taught, he did not learn it. +His mother never wished him to do anything he did not like, so +she said: 'Well, stay at home, my son.' And he stayed at home, +eating and sleeping. + +One day the boy said to his mother: 'What was my father's +business?' + +'He was a very learned doctor,' answered she. + +'Where, then, are his books?' asked Hassebu. + +'Many days have passed, and I have thought nothing of them. But +look inside and see if they are there.' So Hassebu looked, and +saw they were eaten by insects, all but one book, which he took +away and read. + +He was sitting at home one morning poring over the medicine book, +when some neighbours came by and said to his mother: 'Give us +this boy, that we may go together to cut wood.' For wood-cutting +was their trade, and they loaded several donkeys with the wood, +and sold it in the town. + +And his mother answered, 'Very well; to-morrow I will buy him a +donkey, and you can all go together.' + +So the donkey was bought, and the neighbours came, and they +worked hard all day, and in the evening they brought the wood +back into the town, and sold it for a good sum of money. And for +six days they went and did the like, but on the seventh it +rained, and the wood-cutters ran and hid in the rocks, all but +Hassebu, who did not mind wetting, and stayed where he was. + +While he was sitting in the place where the wood-cutters had +left him, he took up a stone that lay near him, and idly dropped +it on the ground. It rang with a hollow sound, and he called to +his companions, and said, 'Come here and listen; the ground seems +hollow!' + +'Knock again!' cried they. And he knocked and listened. + +'Let us dig,' said the boy. And they dug, and found a large pit +like a well, filled with honey up to the brim. + +'This is better than firewood,' said they; 'it will bring us more +money. And as you have found it, Hassebu, it is you who must go +inside and dip out the honey and give to us, and we will take it +to the town and sell it, and will divide the money with you.' + +The following day each man brought every bowl and vessel he could +find at home, and Hassebu filled them all with honey. And this +he did every day for three months. + +At the end of that time the honey was very nearly finished, and +there was only a little left, quite at the bottom, and that was +very deep down, so deep that it seemed as if it must be right in +the middle of the earth. Seeing this, the men said to Hassebu, +'We will put a rope under your arms, and let you down, so that +you may scrape up all the honey that is left, and when you have +done we will lower the rope again, and you shall make it fast, +and we will draw you up.' + +'Very well,' answered the boy, and he went down, and he scraped +and scraped till there was not so much honey left as would cover +the point of a needle. 'Now I am ready!' he cried; but they +consulted together and said, 'Let us leave him there inside the +pit, and take his share of the money, and we will tell his +mother, "Your son was caught by a lion and carried off into the +forest, and we tried to follow him, but could not." ' + +Then they arose and went into the town and told his mother as +they had agreed, and she wept much and made her mourning for many +months. And when the men were dividing the money, one said, 'Let +us send a little to our friend's mother,' and they sent some to +her; and every day one took her rice, and one oil; one took her +meat, and one took her cloth, every day. + +It did not take long for Hassebu to find out that his companions +had left him to die in the pit, but he had a brave heart, and +hoped that he might be able to find a way out for himself. So he +at once began to explore the pit and found it ran back a long way +underground. And by night he slept, and by day he took a little +of the honey he had gathered and ate it; and so many days passed +by. + +One morning, while he was sitting on a rock having his breakfast, +a large scorpion dropped down at his feet, and he took a stone +and killed it, fearing it would sting him. Then suddenly the +thought darted into his head, 'This scorpion must have come from +somewhere! Perhaps there is a hole. I will go and look for it,' +and he felt all round the walls of the pit till he found a very +little hole in the roof of the pit, with a tiny glimmer of light +at the far end of it. Then his heart felt glad, and he took out +his knife and dug and dug, till the little hole became a big one, +and he could wriggle himself through. And when he had got +outside, he saw a large open space in front of him, and a path +leading out of it. + +He went along the path, on and on, till he reached a large house, +with a golden door standing open. Inside was a great hall, and +in the middle of the hall a throne set with precious stones and a +sofa spread with the softest cushions. And he went in and lay +down on it, and fell fast asleep, for he had wandered far. + +By-and-by there was a sound of people coming through the +courtyard, and the measured tramp of soldiers. This was the King +of the Snakes coming in state to his palace. + +They entered the hall, but all stopped in surprise at finding a +man lying on the king's own bed. The soldiers wished to kill him +at once, but the king said, 'Leave him alone, put me on a chair,' +and the soldiers who were carrying him knelt on the floor, and he +slid from their shoulders on to a chair. When he was comfortably +seated, he turned to his soldiers, and bade them wake the +stranger gently. And they woke him, and he sat up and saw many +snakes all round him, and one of them very beautiful, decked in +royal robes. + +'Who are you?' asked Hassebu. + +'I am the King of the Snakes,' was the reply, 'and this is my +palace. And will you tell me who you are, and where you come +from?' + +'My name is Hassebu, but whence I come I know not, nor whither I +go.' + +'Then stay for a little with me,' said the king, and he bade his +soldiers bring water from the spring and fruits from the forest, +and to set them before the guest. + +For some days Hassebu rested and feasted in the palace of the +King of the Snakes, and then he began to long for his mother and +his own country. So he said to the King of the Snakes, 'Send me +home, I pray.' + +But the King of the Snakes answered, 'When you go home, you will +do me evil!' + +'I will do you no evil,' replied Hassebu; 'send me home, I pray.' + +But the king said, 'I know it. If I send you home, you will come +back, and kill me. I dare not do it.' But Hassebu begged so +hard that at last the king said, 'Swear that when you get home +you will not go to bathe where many people are gathered.' And +Hassebu swore, and the king ordered his soldiers to take Hassebu +in sight of his native city. Then he went straight to his +mother's house, and the heart of his mother was glad. + +Now the Sultan of the city was very ill, and all the wise men +said that the only thing to cure him was the flesh of the King of +the Snakes, and that the only man who could get it was a man with +a strange mark on his chest. So the Vizir had set people to +watch at the public baths, to see if such a man came there. + +For three days Hassebu remembered his promise to the King of the +Snakes, and did not go near the baths; then came a morning so hot +he could hardly breathe, and he forgot all about it. + +The moment he had slipped off his robe he was taken before the +Vizir, who said to him, 'Lead us to the place where the King of +the Snakes lives.' + +'I do not know it!' answered he, but the Vizir did not believe +him, and had him bound and beaten till his back was all torn. + +Then Hassebu cried, 'Loose me, that I may take you.' + +They went together a long, long way, till they reached the palace +of the King of the Snakes. + +And Hassebu said to the King: 'It was not I: look at my back +and you will see how they drove me to it.' + +'Who has beaten you like this?' asked the King. + +'It was the Vizir,' replied Hassebu. + +'Then I am already dead,' said the King sadly, 'but you must +carry me there yourself.' + +So Hassebu carried him. And on the way the King said, 'When I +arrive, I shall be killed, and my flesh will be cooked. But take +some of the water that I am boiled in, and put it in a bottle and +lay it on one side. The Vizir will tell you to drink it, but be +careful not to do so. Then take some more of the water, and +drink it, and you will become a great physician, and the third +supply you will give to the Sultan. And when the Vizir comes to +you and asks, "Did you drink what I gave you?" you must answer, +"I did, and this is for you," and he will drink it and die! and +your soul will rest.' + +And they went their way into the town, and all happened as the +King of the Snakes had said. + +And the Sultan loved Hassebu, who became a great physician, and +cured many sick people. But he was always sorry for the poor +King of the Snakes. + +[Adapted from Swahili Tales,] + + + +THE MAIDEN WITH THE WOODEN HELMET + +In a little village in the country of Japan there lived long, +long ago a man and his wife. For many years they were happy and +prosperous, but bad times came, and at last nothing was left them +but their daughter, who was as beautiful as the morning. The +neighbours were very kind, and would have done anything they +could to help their poor friends, but the old couple felt that +since everything had changed they would rather go elsewhere, so +one day they set off to bury themselves in the country, taking +their daughter with them. + +Now the mother and daughter had plenty to do in keeping the house +clean and looking after the garden, but the man would sit for +hours together gazing straight in front of him, and thinking of +the riches that once were his. Each day he grew more and more +wretched, till at length he took to his bed and never got up +again. + +His wife and daughter wept bitterly for his loss, and it was many +months before they could take pleasure in anything. Then one +morning the mother suddenly looked at the girl, and found that +she had grown still more lovely than before. Once her heart +would have been glad at the sight, but now that they two were +alone in the world she feared some harm might come of it. So, +like a good mother, she tried to teach her daughter all she knew, +and to bring her up to be always busy, so that she would never +have time to think about herself. And the girl was a good girl, +and listened to all her mother's lessons, and so the years passed +away. + +At last one wet spring the mother caught cold, and though in the +beginning she did not pay much attention to it, she gradually +grew more and more ill, and knew that she had not long to live. +Then she called her daughter and told her that very soon she +would be alone in the world; that she must take care of herself, +as there would be no one to take care of her. And because it was +more difficult for beautiful women to pass unheeded than for +others, she bade her fetch a wooden helmet out of the next room, +and put it on her head, and pull it low down over her brows, so +that nearly the whole of her face should lie in its shadow. The +girl did as she was bid, and her beauty was so hidden beneath the +wooden cap, which covered up all her hair, that she might have +gone through any crowd, and no one would have looked twice at +her. And when she saw this the heart of the mother was at rest, +and she lay back in her bed and died. + +The girl wept for many days, but by-and-by she felt that, being +alone in the world, she must go and get work, for she had only +herself to depend upon. There was none to be got by staying +where she was, so she made her clothes into a bundle, and walked +over the hills till she reached the house of the man who owned +the fields in that part of the country. And she took service +with him and laboured for him early and late, and every night +when she went to bed she was at peace, for she had not forgotten +one thing that she had promised her mother; and, however hot the +sun might be, she always kept the wooden helmet on her head, and +the people gave her the nickname of Hatschihime. + +In spite, however, of all her care the fame of her beauty spread +abroad: many of the impudent young men that are always to be +found in the world stole softly up behind her while she was at +work, and tried to lift off the wooden helmet. But the girl +would have nothing to say to them, and only bade them be off; +then they began to talk to her, but she never answered them, and +went on with what she was doing, though her wages were low and +food not very plentiful. Still she could manage to live, and +that was enough. + +One day her master happened to pass through the field where she +was working, and was struck by her industry and stopped to watch +her. After a while he put one or two questions to her, and then +led her into his house, and told her that henceforward her only +duty should be to tend his sick wife. From this time the girl +felt as if all her troubles were ended, but the worst of them was +yet to come. + +Not very long after Hatschihime had become maid to the sick +woman, the eldest son of the house returned home from Kioto, +where he had been studying all sorts of things. He was tired of +the splendours of the town and its pleasures, and was glad enough +to be back in the green country, among the peach-blossoms and +sweet flowers. Strolling about in the early morning, he caught +sight of the girl with the odd wooden helmet on her head, and +immediately he went to his mother to ask who she was, and where +she came from, and why she wore that strange thing over her face. + +His mother answered that it was a whim, and nobody could persuade +her to lay it aside; whereat the young man laughed, but kept his +thoughts to himself. + +One hot day, however, he happened to be going towards home when +he caught sight of his mother's waiting maid kneeling by a little +stream that flowed through the garden, splashing some water over +her face. The helmet was pushed on one side, and as the youth +stood watching from behind a tree he had a glimpse of the girl's +great beauty; and he determined that no one else should be his +wife. But when he told his family of his resolve to marry her +they were very angry, and made up all sorts of wicked stories +about her. However, they might have spared themselves the +trouble, as he knew it was only idle talk. 'I have merely to +remain firm,' thought he, 'and they will have to give in.' It +was such a good match for the girl that it never occurred to +anyone that she would refuse the young man, but so it was. It +would not be right, she felt, to make a quarrel in the house, and +though in secret she wept bitterly, for a long while, nothing +would make her change her mind. At length one night her mother +appeared to her in a dream, and bade her marry the young man. So +the next time he asked her--as he did nearly every day--to his +surprise and joy she consented. The parents then saw they had +better make the best of a bad business, and set about making the +grand preparations suitable to the occasion. Of course the +neighbours said a great many ill-natured things about the wooden +helmet, but the bridegroom was too happy to care, and only +laughed at them. + +When everything was ready for the feast, and the bride was +dressed in the most beautiful embroidered dress to be found in +Japan, the maids took hold of the helmet to lift it off her head, +so that they might do her hair in the latest fashion. But the +helmet would not come, and the harder they pulled, the faster it +seemed to be, till the poor girl yelled with pain. Hearing her +cries the bridegroom ran in and soothed her, and declared that +she should be married in the helmet, as she could not be married +without. Then the ceremonies began, and the bridal pair sat +together, and the cup of wine was brought them, out of which they +had to drink. And when they had drunk it all, and the cup was +empty, a wonderful thing happened. The helmet suddenly burst +with a loud noise, and fell in pieces on the ground; and as they +all turned to look they found the floor covered with precious +stones which had fallen out of it. But the guests were less +astonished at the brilliancy of the diamonds than at the beauty +of the bride, which was beyond anything they had ever seen or +heard of. The night was passed in singing and dancing, and then +the bride and bridegroom went to their own house, where they +lived till they died, and had many children, who were famous +throughout Japan for their goodness and beauty. + +[Japanische Marchen.] + + + +THE MONKEY AND THE JELLY-FISH + +Children must often have wondered why jelly-fishes have no +shells, like so many of the creatures that are washed up every +day on the beach. In old times this was not so; the jelly-fish +had as hard a shell as any of them, but he lost it through his +own fault, as may be seen in this story. + +The sea-queen Otohime, whom you read of in the story of +Uraschimatoro, grew suddenly very ill. The swiftest messengers +were sent hurrying to fetch the best doctors from every country +under the sea, but it was all of no use; the queen grew rapidly +worse instead of better. Everyone had almost given up hope, when +one day a doctor arrived who was cleverer than the rest, and said +that the only thing that would cure her was the liver of an ape. +Now apes do not dwell under the sea, so a council of the wisest +heads in the nation was called to consider the question how a +liver could be obtained. At length it was decided that the +turtle, whose prudence was well known, should swim to land and +contrive to catch a living ape and bring him safely to the ocean +kingdom. + +It was easy enough for the council to entrust this mission to the +turtle, but not at all so easy for him to fulfil it. However he +swam to a part of the coast that was covered with tall trees, +where he thought the apes were likely to be; for he was old, and +had seen many things. It was some time before he caught sight of +any monkeys, and he often grew tired with watching for them, so +that one hot day he fell fast asleep, in spite of all his efforts +to keep awake. By-and-by some apes, who had been peeping at him +from the tops of the trees, where they had been carefully hidden +from the turtle's eyes, stole noiselessly down, and stood round +staring at him, for they had never seen a turtle before, and did +not know what to make of it. At last one young monkey, bolder +than the rest, stooped down and stroked the shining shell that +the strange new creature wore on its back. The movement, gentle +though it was, woke the turtle. With one sweep he seized the +monkey's hand in his mouth, and held it tight, in spite of every +effort to pull it away. The other apes, seeing that the turtle +was not to be trifled with, ran off, leaving their young brother +to his fate. + +Then the turtle said to the monkey, 'If you will be quiet, and do +what I tell you, I won't hurt you. But you must get on my back +and come with me.' + +The monkey, seeing there was no help for it, did as he was bid; +indeed he could not have resisted, as his hand was still in the +turtle's mouth. + +Delighted at having secured his prize, the turtle hastened back +to the shore and plunged quickly into the water. He swam faster +than he had ever done before, and soon reached the royal palace. +Shouts of joy broke forth from the attendants when he was seen +approaching, and some of them ran to tell the queen that the +monkey was there, and that before long she would be as well as +ever she was. In fact, so great was their relief that they gave +the monkey such a kind welcome, and were so anxious to make him +happy and comfortable, that he soon forgot all the fears that had +beset him as to his fate, and was generally quite at his ease, +though every now and then a fit of home-sickness would come over +him, and he would hide himself in some dark corner till it had +passed away. + +It was during one of these attacks of sadness that a jelly-fish +happened to swim by. At that time jelly-fishes had shells. At +the sight of the gay and lively monkey crouching under a tall +rock, with his eyes closed and his head bent, the jelly-fish was +filled with pity, and stopped, saying, 'Ah, poor fellow, no +wonder you weep; a few days more, and they will come and kill you +and give your liver to the queen to eat.' + +The monkey shrank back horrified at these words and asked the +jelly-fish what crime he had committed that deserved death. + +'Oh, none at all,' replied the jelly-fish, 'but your liver is the +only thing that will cure our queen, and how can we get at it +without killing you? You had better submit to your fate, and +make no noise about it, for though I pity you from my heart there +is no way of helping you.' Then he went away, leaving the ape +cold with horror. + +At first he felt as if his liver was already being taken from his +body, but soon he began to wonder if there was no means of +escaping this terrible death, and at length he invented a plan +which he thought would do. For a few days he pretended to be gay +and happy as before, but when the sun went in, and rain fell in +torrents, he wept and howled from dawn to dark, till the turtle, +who was his head keeper, heard him, and came to see what was the +matter. Then the monkey told him that before he left home he had +hung his liver out on a bush to dry, and if it was always going +to rain like this it would become quite useless. And the rogue +made such a fuss and moaning that he would have melted a heart of +stone, and nothing would content him but that somebody should +carry him back to land and let him fetch his liver again. + +The queen's councillors were not the wisest of people, and they +decided between them that the turtle should take the monkey back +to his native land and allow him to get his liver off the bush, +but desired the turtle not to lose sight of his charge for a +single moment. The monkey knew this, but trusted to his power of +beguiling the turtle when the time came, and mounted on his back +with feelings of joy, which he was, however, careful to conceal. +They set out, and in a few hours were wandering about the forest +where the ape had first been caught, and when the monkey saw his +family peering out from the tree tops, he swung himself up by the +nearest branch, just managing to save his hind leg from being +seized by the turtle. He told them all the dreadful things that +had happened to him, and gave a war cry which brought the rest of +the tribe from the neighbouring hills. At a word from him they +rushed in a body to the unfortunate turtle, threw him on his +back, and tore off the shield that covered his body. Then with +mocking words they hunted him to the shore, and into the sea, +which he was only too thankful to reach alive. Faint and +exhausted he entered the queen's palace for the cold of the water +struck upon his naked body, and made him feel ill and miserable. +But wretched though he was, he had to appear before the queen's +advisers and tell them all that had befallen him, and how he had +suffered the monkey to escape. But, as sometimes happens, the +turtle was allowed to go scot-free, and had his shell given back +to him, and all the punishment fell on the poor jelly-fish, who +was condemned by the queen to go shieldless for ever after. + +[Japanische Marchen.] + + + +THE HEADLESS DWARFS + +There was once a minister who spent his whole time in trying to +find a servant who would undertake to ring the church bells at +midnight, in addition to all his other duties. + +Of course it was not everyone who cared to get up in the middle +of the night, when he had been working hard all day; still, a +good many had agreed to do it. But the strange thing was that no +sooner had the servant set forth to perform his task than he +disappeared, as if the earth had swallowed him up. No bells were +rung, and no ringer ever came back. The minister did his best to +keep the matter secret, but it leaked out for all that, and the +end of it was that no one would enter his service. Indeed, there +were even those who whispered that the minister himself had +murdered the missing men! + +It was to no purpose that Sunday after Sunday the minister gave +out from his pulpit that double wages would be paid to anyone +that would fulfil the sacred duty of ringing the bells of the +church. No one took the slightest notice of any offer he might +make, and the poor man was in despair, when one day, as he was +standing at his house door, a youth known in the village as +Clever Hans came up to him. 'I am tired of living with a miser +who will not give me enough to eat and drink,' said he, 'and I am +ready to do all you want.' 'Very good, my son,' replied the +minister, 'you shall have the chance of proving your courage this +very night. To-morrow we will settle what your wages are to be.' + +Hans was quite content with this proposal, and went straight into +the kitchen to begin his work, not knowing that his new master +was quite as stingy as his old one. In the hope that his +presence might be a restraint upon them, the minister used to sit +at the table during his servants' meals, and would exhort them to +drink much and often, thinking that they would not be able to eat +as well, and beef was dearer than beer. But in Hans he had met +his match, and the minister soon found to his cost that in his +case at any rate a full cup did not mean an empty plate. + +About an hour before midnight, Hans entered the church and locked +the door behind him, but what was his surprise when, in place of +the darkness and silence he expected, he found the church +brilliantly lighted, and a crowd of people sitting round a table +playing cards. Hans felt no fear at this strange sight, or was +prudent enough to hide it if he did, and, going up to the table, +sat down amongst the players. One of them looked up and asked, +'My friend, what are you doing here?' and Hans gazed at him for a +moment, then laughed and answered, 'Well, if anybody has a right +to put that question, it is I! And if _I_ do not put it, it will +certainly be wiser for you not to do so!' + +Then he picked up some cards, and played with the unknown men as +if he had known them all his life. The luck was on his side, and +soon the money of the other gamblers found its way from their +pockets into his. On the stroke of midnight the cock crew, and +in an instant lights, table, cards, and people all had vanished, +and Hans was left alone. + +He groped about for some time, till he found the staircase in the +tower, and then began to feel his way up the steps. + +On the first landing a glimmer of light came through a slit in +the wall, and he saw a tiny man sitting there, without a head. +'Ho! ho! my little fellow, what are you doing there?' asked +Hans, and, without waiting for an answer, gave him a kick which +sent him flying down the stairs. Then he climbed higher still, +and finding as he went dumb watchers sitting on every landing, +treated them as he had done the first. + +At last he reached the top, and as he paused for a moment to look +round him he saw another headless man cowering in the very bell +itself, waiting till Hans should seize the bell-pull in order to +strike him a blow with the clapper, which would soon have made an +end of him. + +'Stop, my little friend!' cried Hans. 'That is not part of the +bargain! Perhaps you saw how your comrades walked down stairs, +and you are going after them. But as you are in the highest +place you shall make a more dignified exit, and follow them +through the window!' + +With these words he began to climb the ladder, in order to take +the little man from the bell and carry out his threat. + +At this the dwarf cried out imploringly, 'Oh, brother! spare my +life, and I promise that neither I nor my comrades will ever +trouble you any more. I am small and weak, but who knows whether +some day I shall not be able to reward you.' + +'You wretched little shrimp,' replied Hans, 'a great deal of good +your gratitude is likely to do me! But as I happen to be feeling +in a cheerful mood to-night I will let you have your life. But +take care how you come across me again, or you may not escape so +easily!' + +The headless man thanked him humbly, slid hastily down the bell +rope, and ran down the steps of the tower as if he had left a +fire behind him. Then Hans began to ring lustily. + +When the minister heard the sound of the midnight bells he +wondered greatly, but rejoiced that he had at last found some one +to whom he could trust this duty. Hans rang the bells for some +time, then went to the hay-loft, and fell fast asleep. + +Now it was the custom of the minister to get up very early, and +to go round to make sure that the men were all at their work. +This morning everyone was in his place except Hans, and no one +knew anything about him. Nine o'clock came, and no Hans, but +when eleven struck the minister began to fear that he had +vanished like the ringers who had gone before him. When, +however, the servants all gathered round the table for dinner, +Hans at last made his appearance stretching himself and yawning. + +'Where have you been all this time?' asked the minister. + +'Asleep,' said Hans. + +'Asleep!' exclaimed the minister in astonishment. 'You don't +mean to tell me that you can go on sleeping till mid-day?' + +'That is exactly what I do mean,' replied Hans. 'If one works in +the night one must sleep in the day, just as if one works in the +day one sleeps in the night. If you can find somebody else to +ring the bells at midnight I am ready to begin work at dawn; but +if you want me to ring them I must go on sleeping till noon at +the very earliest.' + +The minister tried to argue the point with him, but at length the +following agreement was come to. Hans was to give up the +ringing, and was to work like the rest from sunrise to sunset, +with the exception of an hour after breakfast and an hour after +dinner, when he might go to sleep. 'But, of course,' added the +minister carelessly, 'it may happen now and then, especially in +winter, when the days are short, that you will have to work a +little longer, to get something finished.' + +'Not at all!' answered Hans. 'Unless I were to leave off work +earlier in summer, I will not do a stroke more than I have +promised, and that is from dawn to dark; so you know what you +have to expect.' + +A few weeks later the minister was asked to attend a christening +in the neighbouring town. He bade Hans come with him, but, as +the town was only a few hours' ride from where he lived, the +minister was much surprised to see Hans come forth laden with a +bag containing food. + +'What are you taking that for?' asked the minister. 'We shall be +there before dark.' + +'Who knows?' replied Hans. 'Many things may happen to delay our +journey, and I need not remind you of our contract that the +moment the sun sets I cease to be your servant. If we don't +reach the town while it is still daylight I shall leave you to +shift for yourself.' + +The minister thought he was joking, and made no further remark. +But when they had left the village behind them, and had ridden a +few miles, they found that snow had fallen during the night, and +had been blown by the wind into drifts. This hindered their +progress, and by the time they had entered the thick wood which +lay between them and their destination the sun was already +touching the tops of the trees. The horses ploughed their way +slowly through the deep soft snow and as they went Hans kept +turning to look at the sun, which lay at their backs. + +'Is there anything behind you?' asked the minister. 'Or what is +it you are always turning round for?' + +'I turn round because I have no eyes in the back of my neck,' +said Hans. + +'Cease talking nonsense,' replied the minister, 'and give all +your mind to getting us to the town before nightfall.' + +Hans did not answer, but rode on steadily, though every now and +then he cast a glance over his shoulder. + +When they arrived in the middle of the wood the sun sank +altogether. Then Hans reined up his horse, took his knapsack, +and jumped out of the sledge. + +'What are you doing? Are you mad?' asked the minister, but +Hans answered quietly, 'The sun is set and my work is over, and I +am going to camp here for the night.' + +In vain the master prayed and threatened, and promised Hans a +large reward if he would only drive him on. The young man was +not to be moved. + +'Are you not ashamed to urge me to break my word?' said he. 'If +you want to reach the town to-night you must go alone. The hour +of my freedom has struck, and I cannot go with you.' + +'My good Hans,' entreated the minister, 'I really ought not to +leave you here. Consider what danger you would be in! Yonder, +as you see, a gallows is set up, and two evil-doers are hanging +on it. You could not possibly sleep with such ghastly +neighbours.' + +'Why not?' asked Hans. 'Those gallows birds hang high in the +air, and my camp will be on the ground; we shall have nothing to +do with each other.' As he spoke, he turned his back on the +minister, and went his way. + +There was no help for it, and the minister had to push on by +himself, if he expected to arrive in time for the christening. +His friends were much surprised to see him drive up without a +coachman, and thought some accident had happened. But when he +told them of his conversation with Hans they did not know which +was the most foolish, master or man. + +It would have mattered little to Hans had he known what they were +saying or thinking of him. He satisfied his hunger with the food +he had in his knapsack, lit his pipe, pitched his tent under the +boughs of a tree, wrapped himself in his furs, and went sound +asleep. After some hours, he was awakened by a sudden noise, and +sat up and looked about him. The moon was shining brightly above +his head, and close by stood two headless dwarfs, talking +angrily. At the sight of Hans the little dwarfs cried out: + +'It is he! It is he!' and one of them stepping nearer +exclaimed, 'Ah, my old friend! it is a lucky chance that has +brought us here. My bones still ache from my fall down the steps +of the tower. I dare say you have not forgotten that night! Now +it is the turn of your bones. Hi! comrades, make haste! make +haste!' + +Like a swarm of midges, a host of tiny headless creatures seemed +to spring straight out of the ground, and every one was armed +with a club. Although they were so small, yet there were such +numbers of them and they struck so hard that even a strong man +could do nothing against them. Hans thought his last hour was +come, when just as the fight was at the hottest another little +dwarf arrived on the scene. + +'Hold, comrades!' he shouted, turning to the attacking party. +'This man once did me a service, and I am his debtor. When I was +in his power he granted me my life. And even if he did throw you +downstairs, well, a warm bath soon cured your bruises, so you +must just forgive him and go quietly home.' + +The headless dwarfs listened to his words and disappeared as +suddenly as they had come. As soon as Hans recovered himself a +little he looked at his rescuer, and saw he was the dwarf he had +found seated in the church bell. + +'Ah!' said the dwarf, seating himself quietly under the tree. +'You laughed at me when I told you that some day I might do you a +good turn. Now you see I was right, and perhaps you will learn +for the future not to despise any creature, however small.' + +'I thank you from my heart,' answered Hans. 'My bones are still +sore from their blows, and had it not been for you I should +indeed have fared badly.' + +'I have almost paid my debt,' went on the little man, 'but as you +have suffered already, I will do more, and give you a piece of +information. You need not remain any longer in the service of +that stingy minister, but when you get home to-morrow go at once +to the north corner of the church, and there you will find a +large stone built into the wall, but not cemented like the rest. +The day after to-morrow the moon is full, and at midnight you +must go to the spot and get the stone out of the wall with a +pickaxe. Under the stone lies a great treasure, which has been +hidden there in time of war. Besides church plate, you will find +bags of money, which have been lying in this place for over a +hundred years, and no one knows to whom it all belongs. A third +of this money you must give to the poor, but the rest you may +keep for yourself.' As he finished, the cocks in the village +crowed, and the little man was nowhere to be seen. Hans found +that his limbs no longer pained him, and lay for some time +thinking of the hidden treasure. Towards morning he fell asleep. + +The sun was high in the heavens when his master returned from the +town. + +'Hans,' said he, 'what a fool you were not to come with me +yesterday! I was well feasted and entertained, and I have money +in my pocket into the bargain,' he went on, rattling some coins +while he spoke, to make Hans understand how much he had lost. + +'Ah, sir,' replied Hans calmly, 'in order to have gained so much +money you must have lain awake all night, but I have earned a +hundred times that amount while I was sleeping soundly.' + +'How did you manage that?' asked the minister eagerly, but Hans +answered, 'It is only fools who boast of their farthings; wise +men take care to hide their crowns.' + +They drove home, and Hans neglected none of his duties, but put +up the horses and gave them their food before going to the church +corner, where he found the loose stone, exactly in the place +described by the dwarf. Then he returned to his work. + +The first night of the full moon, when the whole village was +asleep, he stole out, armed with a pickaxe, and with much +difficulty succeeded in dislodging the stone from its place. +Sure enough, there was the hole, and in the hole lay the +treasure, exactly as the little man had said. + +The following Sunday he handed over the third part to the village +poor, and informed the minister that he wished to break his bond +of service. As, however, he did not claim any wages, the +minister made no objections, but allowed him to do as he wished. +So Hans went his way, bought himself a large house, and married a +young wife, and lived happily and prosperously to the end of his +days. + +[Ehstnische Marchen.] + + + +THE YOUNG MAN WHO WOULD HAVE HIS EYES OPENED + +Once upon a time there lived a youth who was never happy unless +he was prying into something that other people knew nothing +about. After he had learned to understand the language of birds +and beasts, he discovered accidentally that a great deal took +place under cover of night which mortal eyes never saw. From +that moment he felt he could not rest till these hidden secrets +were laid bare to him, and he spent his whole time wandering from +one wizard to another, begging them to open his eyes, but found +none to help him. At length he reached an old magician called +Mana, whose learning was greater than that of the rest, and who +could tell him all he wanted to know. But when the old man had +listened attentively to him, he said, warningly: + +'My son, do not follow after empty knowledge, which will not +bring you happiness, but rather evil. Much is hidden from the +eyes of men, because did they know everything their hearts would +no longer be at peace. Knowledge kills joy, therefore think well +what you are doing, or some day you will repent. But if you will +not take my advice, then truly I can show you the secrets of the +night. Only you will need more than a man's courage to bear the +sight.' + +He stopped and looked at the young man, who nodded his head, and +then the wizard continued, 'To-morrow night you must go to the +place where, once in seven years, the serpent-king gives a great +feast to his whole court. In front of him stands a golden bowl +filled with goats' milk, and if you can manage to dip a piece of +bread in this milk, and eat it before you are obliged to fly, you +will understand all the secrets of the night that are hidden from +other men. It is lucky for you that the serpent-king's feast +happens to fall this year, otherwise you would have had long to +wait for it. But take care to be quick and bold, or it will be +the worse for you.' + +The young man thanked the wizard for his counsel, and went his +way firmly resolved to carry out his purpose, even if he paid for +it with his life; and when night came he set out for a wide, +lonely moor, where the serpent-king held his feast. With +sharpened eyes, he looked eagerly all round him, but could see +nothing but a multitude of small hillocks, that lay motionless +under the moonlight. He crouched behind a bush for some time, +till he felt that midnight could not be far off, when suddenly +there arose in the middle of the moor a brilliant glow, as if a +star was shining over one of the hillocks. At the same moment +all the hillocks began to writhe and to crawl, and from each one +came hundreds of serpents and made straight for the glow, where +they knew they should find their king. When they reached the +hillock where he dwelt, which was higher and broader than the +rest, and had a bright light hanging over the top, they coiled +themselves up and waited. The whirr and confusion from all the +serpent-houses were so great that the youth did not dare to +advance one step, but remained where he was, watching intently +all that went on; but at last he began to take courage, and moved +on softly step by step. + +What he saw was creepier than creepy, and surpassed all he had +ever dreamt of. Thousands of snakes, big and little and of every +colour, were gathered together in one great cluster round a huge +serpent, whose body was as thick as a beam, and which had on its +head a golden crown, from which the light sprang. Their hissings +and darting tongues so terrified the young man that his heart +sank, and he felt he should never have courage to push on to +certain death, when suddenly he caught sight of the golden bowl +in front of the serpent-king, and knew that if he lost this +chance it would never come back. So, with his hair standing on +end and his blood frozen in his veins, he crept forwards. Oh! +what a noise and a whirr rose afresh among the serpents. +Thousands of heads were reared, and tongues were stretched out to +sting the intruder to death, but happily for him their bodies +were so closely entwined one in the other that they could not +disentangle themselves quickly. Like lightning he seized a bit +of bread, dipped it in the bowl, and put it in his mouth, then +dashed away as if fire was pursuing him. On he flew as if a +whole army of foes were at his heels, and he seemed to hear the +noise of their approach growing nearer and nearer. At length his +breath failed him, and he threw himself almost senseless on the +turf. While he lay there dreadful dreams haunted him. He +thought that the serpent-king with the fiery crown had twined +himself round him, and was crushing out his life. With a loud +shriek he sprang up to do battle with his enemy, when he saw that +it was rays of the sun which had wakened him. He rubbed his eyes +and looked all round, but nothing could he see of the foes of the +past night, and the moor where he had run into such danger must +be at least a mile away. But it was no dream that he had run +hard and far, or that he had drunk of the magic goats' milk. And +when he felt his limbs, and found them whole, his joy was great +that he had come through such perils with a sound skin. + +After the fatigues and terrors of the night, he lay still till +mid-day, but he made up his mind he would go that very evening +into the forest to try what the goats' milk could really do for +him, and if he would now be able to understand all that had been +a mystery to him. And once in the forest his doubts were set at +rest, for he saw what no mortal eyes had ever seen before. +Beneath the trees were golden pavilions, with flags of silver all +brightly lighted up. He was still wondering why the pavilions +were there, when a noise was heard among the trees, as if the +wind had suddenly got up, and on all sides beautiful maidens +stepped from the trees into the bright light of the moon. These +were the wood-nymphs, daughters of the earth-mother, who came +every night to hold their dances, in the forest. The young man, +watching from his hiding place, wished he had a hundred eyes in +his head, for two were not nearly enough for the sight before +him, the dances lasting till the first streaks of dawn. Then a +silvery veil seemed to be drawn over the ladies, and they +vanished from sight. But the young man remained where he was +till the sun was high in the heavens, and then went home. + +He felt that day to be endless, and counted the minutes till +night should come, and he might return to the forest. But when +at last he got there he found neither pavilions nor nymphs, and +though he went back many nights after he never saw them again. +Still, he thought about them night and day, and ceased to care +about anything else in the world, and was sick to the end of his +life with longing for that beautiful vision. And that was the +way he learned that the wizard had spoken truly when he said, +'Blindness is man's highest good.' + +[Ehstnische Marchen.] + + + +THE BOYS WITH THE GOLDEN STARS + +Once upon a time what happened did happen: and if it had not +happened, you would never have heard this story. + +Well, once upon a time there lived an emperor who had half a +world all to himself to rule over, and in this world dwelt an old +herd and his wife and their three daughters, Anna, Stana, and +Laptitza. + +Anna, the eldest, was so beautiful that when she took the sheep +to pasture they forgot to eat as long as she was walking with +them. Stana, the second, was so beautiful that when she was +driving the flock the wolves protected the sheep. But Laptitza, +the youngest, with a skin as white as the foam on the milk, and +with hair as soft as the finest lamb's wool, was as beautiful as +both her sisters put together--as beautiful as she alone could +be. + +One summer day, when the rays of the sun were pouring down on the +earth, the three sisters went to the wood on the outskirts of the +mountain to pick strawberries. As they were looking about to +find where the largest berries grew they heard the tramp of +horses approaching, so loud that you would have thought a whole +army was riding by. But it was only the emperor going to hunt +with his friends and attendants. + +They were all fine handsome young men, who sat their horses as if +they were part of them, but the finest and handsomest of all was +the young emperor himself. + +As they drew near the three sisters, and marked their beauty, +they checked their horses and rode slowly by. + +'Listen, sisters!' said Anna, as they passed on. 'If one of +those young men should make me his wife, I would bake him a loaf +of bread which should keep him young and brave for ever.' + +'And if I,' said Stana, 'should be the one chosen, I would weave +my husband a shirt which will keep him unscathed when he fights +with dragons; when he goes through water he will never even be +wet; or if through fire, it will not scorch him.' + +'And I,' said Laptitza, 'will give the man who chooses me two +boys, twins, each with a golden star on his forehead, as bright +as those in the sky.' + +And though they spoke low the young men heard, and turned their +horses' heads. + +'I take you at your word, and mine shall you be, most lovely of +empresses!' cried the emperor, and swung Laptitza and her +strawberries on the horse before him. + +'And I will have you,' 'And I you,' exclaimed two of his friends, +and they all rode back to the palace together. + +The following morning the marriage ceremony took place, and for +three days and three nights there was nothing but feasting over +the whole kingdom. And when the rejoicings were over the news +was in everybody's mouth that Anna had sent for corn, and had +made the loaf of which she had spoken at the strawberry beds. +And then more days and nights passed, and this rumour was +succeeded by another one--that Stana had procured some flax, and +had dried it, and combed it, and spun it into linen, and sewed it +herself into the shirt of which she had spoken over the +strawberry beds. + +Now the emperor had a stepmother, and she had a daughter by her +first husband, who lived with her in the palace. The girl's +mother had always believed that her daughter would be empress, +and not the 'Milkwhite Maiden,' the child of a mere shepherd. So +she hated the girl with all her heart, and only bided her time to +do her ill. + +But she could do nothing as long as the emperor remained with his +wife night and day, and she began to wonder what she could do to +get him away from her. + +At last, when everything else had failed, she managed to make her +brother, who was king of the neighbouring country, declare war +against the emperor, and besiege some of the frontier towns with +a large army. This time her scheme was successful. The young +emperor sprang up in wrath the moment he heard the news, and +vowed that nothing, not even his wife, should hinder his giving +them battle. And hastily assembling whatever soldiers happened +to be at hand he set off at once to meet the enemy. The other +king had not reckoned on the swiftness of his movements, and was +not ready to receive him. The emperor fell on him when he was +off his guard, and routed his army completely. Then when victory +was won, and the terms of peace hastily drawn up, he rode home as +fast as his horse would carry him, and reached the palace on the +third day. + +But early that morning, when the stars were growing pale in the +sky, two little boys with golden hair and stars on their +foreheads were born to Laptitza. And the stepmother, who was +watching, took them away, and dug a hole in the corner of the +palace, under the windows of the emperor, and put them in it, +while in their stead she placed two little puppies. + +The emperor came into the palace, and when they told him the news +he went straight to Laptitza's room. No words were needed; he +saw with his own eyes that Laptitza had not kept the promise she +had made at the strawberry beds, and, though it nearly broke his +heart, he must give orders for her punishment. + +So he went out sadly and told his guards that the empress was to +be buried in the earth up to her neck, so that everyone might +know what would happen to those who dared to deceive the emperor. + +Not many days after, the stepmother's wish was fulfilled. The +emperor took her daughter to wife, and again the rejoicings +lasted for three days and three nights. + +Let us now see what happened to the two little boys. + +The poor little babies had found no rest even in their graves. +In the place where they had been buried there sprang up two +beautiful young aspens, and the stepmother, who hated the sight +of the trees, which reminded her of her crime, gave orders that +they should be uprooted. But the emperor heard of it, and +forbade the trees to be touched, saying, 'Let them alone; I like +to see them there! They are the finest aspens I have ever +beheld!' + +And the aspens grew as no aspens had ever grown before. In each +day they added a year's growth, and each night they added a +year's growth, and at dawn, when the stars faded out of the sky, +they grew three years' growth in the twinkling of an eye, and +their boughs swept across the palace windows. And when the wind +moved them softly, the emperor would sit and listen to them all +the day long. + +The stepmother knew what it all meant, and her mind never ceased +from trying to invent some way of destroying the trees. It was +not an easy thing, but a woman's will can press milk out of a +stone, and her cunning will overcome heroes. What craft will not +do soft words may attain, and if these do not succeed there still +remains the resource of tears. + +One morning the empress sat on the edge of her husband's bed, and +began to coax him with all sorts of pretty ways. + +It was some time before the bait took, but at length-- even +emperors are only men! + +'Well, well,' he said at last, 'have your way and cut down the +trees; but out of one they shall make a bed for me, and out of +the other, one for you!' + +And with this the empress was forced to be content. The aspens +were cut down next morning, and before night the new bed had been +placed in the emperor's room. + +Now when the emperor lay down in it he seemed as if he had grown +a hundred times heavier than usual, yet he felt a kind of calm +that was quite new to him. But the empress felt as if she was +lying on thorns and nettles, and could not close her eyes. + +When the emperor was fast asleep, the bed began to crack loudly, +and to the empress each crack had a meaning. She felt as if she +were listening to a language which no one but herself could +understand. + +'Is it too heavy for you, little brother?' asked one of the beds. + +'Oh, no, it is not heavy at all,' answered the bed in which the +emperor was sleeping. 'I feel nothing but joy now that my +beloved father rests over me.' + +'It is very heavy for me!' said the other bed, 'for on me lies an +evil soul.' + +And so they talked on till the morning, the empress listening all +the while. + +By daybreak the empress had determined how to get rid of the +beds. She would have two others made exactly like them, and when +the emperor had gone hunting they should be placed in his room. +This was done and the aspen beds were burnt in a large fire, till +only a little heap of ashes was left. + +Yet while they were burning the empress seemed to hear the same +words, which she alone could understand. + +Then she stooped and gathered up the ashes, and scattered them to +the four winds, so that they might blow over fresh lands and +fresh seas, and nothing remain of them. + +But she had not seen that where the fire burnt brightest two +sparks flew up, and, after floating in the air for a few moments, +fell down into the great river that flows through the heart of +the country. Here the sparks had turned into two little fishes +with golden scales, and one was so exactly like the other that +everyone could tell at the first glance that they must be twins. +Early one morning the emperor's fishermen went down to the river +to get some fish for their master's breakfast, and cast their +nets into the stream. As the last star twinkled out of the sky +they drew them in, and among the multitude of fishes lay two with +scales of gold, such as no man had ever looked on. + +They all gathered round and wondered, and after some talk they +decided that they would take the little fishes alive as they +were, and give them as a present to the emperor. + +'Do not take us there, for that is whence we came, and yonder +lies our destruction,' said one of the fishes. + +'But what are we to do with you?' asked the fisherman. + +'Go and collect all the dew that lies on the leaves, and let us +swim in it. Then lay us in the sun, and do not come near us till +the sun's rays shall have dried off the dew,' answered the other +fish. + +The fisherman did as they told him--gathered the dew from the +leaves and let them swim in it, then put them to lie in the sun +till the dew should be all dried up. + +And when he came back, what do you think he saw? Why, two boys, +two beautiful young princes, with hair as golden as the stars on +their foreheads, and each so like the other, that at the first +glance every one would have known them for twins. + +The boys grew fast. In every day they grew a year's growth, and +in every night another year's growth, but at dawn, when the stars +were fading, they grew three years' growth in the twinkling of an +eye. And they grew in other things besides height, too. Thrice +in age, and thrice in wisdom, and thrice in knowledge. And when +three days and three nights had passed they were twelve years in +age, twenty-four in strength, and thirty-six in wisdom. + +'Now take us to our father,' said they. So the fisherman gave +them each a lambskin cap which half covered their faces, and +completely hid their golden hair and the stars on their +foreheads, and led them to the court. + +By the time they arrived there it was midday, and the fisherman +and his charges went up to an official who was standing about. +'We wish to speak with the emperor,' said one of the boys. + +'You must wait until he has finished his dinner,' replied the +porter. + +'No, while he is eating it,' said the second boy, stepping across +the threshold. + +The attendants all ran forward to thrust such impudent youngsters +outside the palace, but the boys slipped through their fingers +like quicksilver, and entered a large hall, where the emperor was +dining, surrounded by his whole court. + +'We desire to enter,' said one of the princes sharply to a +servant who stood near the door. + +'That is quite impossible,' replied the servant. + +'Is it? let us see!' said the second prince, pushing the +servants to right and left. + +But the servants were many, and the princes only two. There was +the noise of a struggle, which reached the emperor's ears. + +'What is the matter?' asked he angrily. + +The princes stopped at the sound of their father's voice. + +'Two boys who want to force their way in,' replied one of the +servants, approaching the emperor. + +'To FORCE their way in? Who dares to use force in my palace? +What boys are they?' said the emperor all in one breath. + +'We know not, O mighty emperor,' answered the servant, 'but they +must surely be akin to you, for they have the strength of lions, +and have scattered the guards at the gate. And they are as proud +as they are strong, for they will not take their caps from their +heads.' + +The emperor, as he listened, grew red with anger. + +'Thrust them out,' cried he. 'Set the dogs after them.' + +'Leave us alone, and we will go quietly,' said the princes, and +stepped backwards, weeping silently at the harsh words. They had +almost reached the gates when a servant ran up to them. + +'The emperor commands you to return,' panted he: 'the empress +wishes to see you.' + +The princes thought a moment: then they went back the way they +had come, and walked straight up to the emperor, their caps still +on their heads. + +He sat at the top of a long table covered with flowers and filled +with guests. And beside him sat the empress, supported by twelve +cushions. When the princes entered one of the cushions fell +down, and there remained only eleven. + +'Take off your caps,' said one of the courtiers. + +'A covered head is among men a sign of honour. We wish to seem +what we are.' + +'Never mind,' said the emperor, whose anger had dropped before +the silvery tones of the boy's voice. 'Stay as you are, but tell +me WHO you are! Where do you come from, and what do you want?' + +'We are twins, two shoots from one stem, which has been broken, +and half lies in the ground and half sits at the head of this +table. We have travelled a long way, we have spoken in the +rustle of the wind, have whispered in the wood, we have sung in +the waters, but now we wish to tell you a story which you know +without knowing it, in the speech of men.' + +And a second cushion fell down. + +'Let them take their silliness home,' said the empress. + +'Oh, no, let them go on,' said the emperor. 'You wished to see +them, but I wish to hear them. Go on, boys, sing me the story.' + +The empress was silent, but the princes began to sing the story +of their lives. + +'There was once an emperor,' began they, and the third cushion +fell down. + +When they reached the warlike expedition of the emperor three of +the cushions fell down at once. + +And when the tale was finished there were no more cushions under +the empress, but the moment that they lifted their caps, and +showed their golden hair and the golden stars, the eyes of the +emperor and of all his guests were bent on them, and they could +hardly bear the power of so many glances. + +And there happened in the end what should have happened in the +beginning. Laptitza sat next her husband at the top of the +table. The stepmother's daughter became the meanest sewing maid +in the palace, the stepmother was tied to a wild horse, and every +one knew and has never forgotten that whoever has a mind turned +to wickedness is sure to end badly. + +[Rumanische Marchen.] + + + +THE FROG + +Once upon a time there was a woman who had three sons. Though +they were peasants they were well off, for the soil on which they +lived was fruitful, and yielded rich crops. One day they all +three told their mother they meant to get married. To which +their mother replied: 'Do as you like, but see that you choose +good housewives, who will look carefully after your affairs; and, +to make certain of this, take with you these three skeins of +flax, and give it to them to spin. Whoever spins the best will +be my favourite daughter-in-law.' + +Now the two eldest sons had already chosen their wives; so they +took the flax from their mother, and carried it off with them, to +have it spun as she had said. But the youngest son was puzzled +what to do with his skein, as he knew no girl (never having +spoken to any) to whom he could give it to be spun. He wandered +hither and thither, asking the girls that he met if they would +undertake the task for him, but at the sight of the flax they +laughed in his face and mocked at him. Then in despair he left +their villages, and went out into the country, and, seating +himself on the bank of a pond began to cry bitterly. + +Suddenly there was a noise close beside him, and a frog jumped +out of the water on to the bank and asked him why he was crying. +The youth told her of his trouble, and how his brothers would +bring home linen spun for them by their promised wives, but that +no one would spin his thread. + +Then the frog answered: 'Do not weep on that account; give me +the thread, and I will spin it for you.' And, having said this, +she took it out of his hand, and flopped back into the water, and +the youth went back, not knowing what would happen next. + +In a short time the two elder brothers came home, and their +mother asked to see the linen which had been woven out of the +skeins of flax she had given them. They all three left the room; +and in a few minutes the two eldest returned, bringing with them +the linen that had been spun by their chosen wives. But the +youngest brother was greatly troubled, for he had nothing to show +for the skein of flax that had been given to him. Sadly he +betook himself to the pond, and sitting down on the bank, began +to weep. + +Flop! and the frog appeared out of the water close beside him. + +'Take this,' she said; 'here is the linen that I have spun for +you.' + +You may imagine how delighted the youth was. She put the linen +into his hands, and he took it straight back to his mother, who +was so pleased with it that she declared she had never seen linen +so beautifully spun, and that it was far finer and whiter than +the webs that the two elder brothers had brought home. + +Then she turned to her sons and said: 'But this is not enough, +my sons, I must have another proof as to what sort of wives you +have chosen. In the house there are three puppies. Each of you +take one, and give it to the woman whom you mean to bring home as +your wife. She must train it and bring it up. Whichever dog +turns out the best, its mistress will be my favourite +daughter-in-law.' + +So the young men set out on their different ways, each taking a +puppy with him. The youngest, not knowing where to go, returned +to the pond, sat down once more on the bank, and began to weep. + +Flop! and close beside him, he saw the frog. 'Why are you +weeping?' she said. Then he told her his difficulty, and that he +did not know to whom he should take the puppy. + +'Give it to me,' she said, 'and I will bring it up for you.' +And, seeing that the youth hesitated, she took the little +creature out of his arms, and disappeared with it into the pond. + +The weeks and months passed, till one day the mother said she +would like to see how the dogs had been trained by her future +daughters-in-law. The two eldest sons departed, and returned +shortly, leading with them two great mastiffs, who growled so +fiercely, and looked so savage, that the mere sight of them made +the mother tremble with fear. + +The youngest son, as was his custom, went to the pond, and called +on the frog to come to his rescue. + +In a minute she was at his side, bringing with her the most +lovely little dog, which she put into his arms. It sat up and +begged with its paws, and went through the prettiest tricks, and +was almost human in the way it understood and did what it was +told. + +In high spirits the youth carried it off to his mother. As soon +as she saw it, she exclaimed: 'This is the most beautiful little +dog I have ever seen. You are indeed fortunate, my son; you have +won a pearl of a wife.' + +Then, turning to the others, she said: 'Here are three shirts; +take them to your chosen wives. Whoever sews the best will be my +favourite daughter-in-law.' + +So the young men set out once more; and again, this time, the +work of the frog was much the best and the neatest. + +This time the mother said: 'Now that I am content with the tests +I gave, I want you to go and fetch home your brides, and I will +prepare the wedding-feast.' + +You may imagine what the youngest brother felt on hearing these +words. Whence was he to fetch a bride? Would the frog be able +to help him in this new difficulty? With bowed head, and +feeling very sad, he sat down on the edge of the pond. + +Flop! and once more the faithful frog was beside him. + +'What is troubling you so much?' she asked him, and then the +youth told her everything. + +'Will you take me for a wife?' she asked. + +'What should I do with you as a wife,' he replied, wondering at +her strange proposal. + +'Once more, will you have me or will you not?' she said. + +'I will neither have you, nor will I refuse you,' said he. + +At this the frog disappeared; and the next minute the youth +beheld a lovely little chariot, drawn by two tiny ponies, +standing on the road. The frog was holding the carriage door +open for him to step in. + +'Come with me,' she said. And he got up and followed her into +the chariot. + +As they drove along the road they met three witches; the first of +them was blind, the second was hunchbacked, and the third had a +large thorn in her throat. When the three witches beheld the +chariot, with the frog seated pompously among the cushions, they +broke into such fits of laughter that the eyelids of the blind +one burst open, and she recovered her sight; the hunchback rolled +about on the ground in merriment till her back became straight, +and in a roar of laughter the thorn fell out of the throat of the +third witch. Their first thought was to reward the frog, who had +unconsciously been the means of curing them of their misfortunes. + +The first witch waved her magic wand over the frog, and changed +her into the loveliest girl that had ever been seen. The second +witch waved the wand over the tiny chariot and ponies, and they +were turned into a beautiful large carriage with prancing horses, +and a coachman on the seat. The third witch gave the girl a +magic purse, filled with money. Having done this, the witches +disappeared, and the youth with his lovely bride drove to his +mother's home. Great was the delight of the mother at her +youngest son's good fortune. A beautiful house was built for +them; she was the favourite daughter-in-law; everything went well +with them, and they lived happily ever after. + +[From the Italian.] + + + +THE PRINCESS WHO WAS HIDDEN UNDERGROUND + +Once there was a king who had great riches, which, when he died, +he divided among his three sons. The two eldest of these lived +in rioting and feasting, and thus wasted and squandered their +father's wealth till nothing remained, and they found themselves +in want and misery. The youngest of the three sons, on the +contrary, made good use of his portion. He married a wife and +soon they had a most beautiful daughter, for whom, when she was +grown up, he caused a great palace to be built underground, and +then killed the architect who had built it. Next he shut up his +daughter inside, and then sent heralds all over the world to make +known that he who should find the king's daughter should have her +to wife. If he were not capable of finding her then he must die. + +Many young men sought to discover her, but all perished in the +attempt. + +After many had met their death thus, there came a young man, +beautiful to behold, and as clever as he was beautiful, who had a +great desire to attempt the enterprise. First he went to a +herdsman, and begged him to hide him in a sheepskin, which had a +golden fleece, and in this disguise to take him to the king. The +shepherd let himself be persuaded so to do, took a skin having a +golden fleece, sewed the young man in it, putting in also food +and drink, and so brought him before the king. + +When the latter saw the golden lamb, he asked the herd: 'Will +you sell me this lamb?' + +But the herd answered: 'No, oh king; I will not sell it; but if +you find pleasure therein, I will be willing to oblige you, and I +will lend it to you, free of charge, for three days, after that +you must give it back to me.' + +This the king agreed to do, and he arose and took the lamb to his +daughter. When he had led it into her palace, and through many +rooms, he came to a shut door. Then he called 'Open, Sartara +Martara of the earth!' and the door opened of itself. After that +they went through many more rooms, and came to another closed +door. Again the king called out: 'Open, Sartara Martara of the +earth!' and this door opened like the other, and they came into +the apartment where the princess dwelt, the floor, walls, and +roof of which were all of silver. + +When the king had embraced the princess, he gave her the lamb, to +her great joy. She stroked it, caressed it, and played with it. + +After a while the lamb got loose, which, when the princess saw, +she said: 'See, father, the lamb is free.' + +But the king answered: 'It is only a lamb, why should it not be +free?' + +Then he left the lamb with the princess, and went his way. + +In the night, however, the young man threw off the skin. When +the princess saw how beautiful he was, she fell in love with him, +and asked him: 'Why did you come here disguised in a sheepskin +like that?' + +Then he answered: 'When I saw how many people sought you, and +could not find you, and lost their lives in so doing, I invented +this trick, and so I am come safely to you.' + +The princess exclaimed: 'You have done well so to do; but you +must know that your wager is not yet won, for my father will +change me and my maidens into ducks, and will ask you, "Which of +these ducks is the princess?" Then I will turn my head back, and +with my bill will clean my wings, so that you may know me.' + +When they had spent three days together, chatting and caressing +one another, the herd came back to the king, and demanded his +lamb. Then the king went to his daughter to bring it away, which +troubled the princess very much, for she said they had played so +nicely together. + +But the king said: 'I cannot leave it with you, my daughter, for +it is only lent to me.' So he took it away with him, and gave it +back to the shepherd. + +Then the young man threw the skin from off him, and went to the +king, saying: 'Sire, I am persuaded I can find your daughter.' + +When the king saw how handsome he was, he said: 'My lad, I have +pity on your youth. This enterprise has already cost the lives +of many, and will certainly be your death as well.' + +But the young man answered, 'I accept your conditions, oh king; I +will either find her or lose my head.' + +Thereupon he went before the king, who followed after him, till +they came to the great door. Then the young man said to the +king: 'Speak the words that it may open.' + +And the king answered: 'What are the words? Shall I say +something like this: "Shut; shut; shut"?' + +'No,' said he; 'say "Open, Sartara Martara of the earth." ' + +When the king had so said, the door opened of itself, and they +went in, while the king gnawed his moustache in anger. Then they +came to the second door, where the same thing happened as at the +first, and they went in and found the princess. + +Then spoke the king and said: 'Yes, truly, you have found the +princess. Now I will turn her as well as all her maidens into +ducks, and if you can guess which of these ducks is my daughter, +then you shall have her to wife.' + +And immediately the king changed all the maidens into ducks, and +he drove them before the young man, and said: 'Now show me which +is my daughter.' + +Then the princess, according to their understanding, began to +clean her wings with her bill, and the lad said: 'She who cleans +her wings is the princess.' + +Now the king could do nothing more but give her to the young man +to wife, and they lived together in great joy and happiness. + +[From the German.] + + + +THE GIRL WHO PRETENDED TO BE A BOY + +Once upon a time there lived an emperor who was a great +conqueror, and reigned over more countries than anyone in the +world. And whenever he subdued a fresh kingdom, he only granted +peace on condition that the king should deliver him one of his +sons for ten years' service. + +Now on the borders of his kingdom lay a country whose emperor was +as brave as his neighbour, and as long as he was young he was the +victor in every war. But as years passed away, his head grew +weary of making plans of campaign, and his people wanted to stay +at home and till their fields, and at last he too felt that he +must do homage to the other emperor. + +One thing, however, held him back from this step which day by day +he saw more clearly was the only one possible. His new overlord +would demand the service of one of his sons. And the old emperor +had no son; only three daughters. + +Look on which side he would, nothing but ruin seemed to lie +before him, and he became so gloomy, that his daughters were +frightened, and did everything they could think of to cheer him +up, but all to no purpose. + +At length one day when they were at dinner, the eldest of the +three summoned up all her courage and said to her father: + +'What secret grief is troubling you? Are your subjects +discontented? or have we given you cause for displeasure? To +smooth away your wrinkles, we would gladly shed our blood, for +our lives are bound up in yours; and this you know.' + +'My daughter,' answered the emperor, 'what you say is true. +Never have you given me one moment's pain. Yet now you cannot +help me. Ah! why is not one of you a boy!' + +'I don't understand,' she answered in surprise. 'Tell us what is +wrong: and though we are not boys, we are not quite useless!' + +'But what can you do, my dear children? Spin, sew, and +weave--that is all your learning. Only a warrior can deliver me +now, a young giant who is strong to wield the battle-axe: whose +sword deals deadly blows.' + +'But WHY do you need a son so much at present? Tell us all +about it! It will not make matters worse if we know!' + +'Listen then, my daughters, and learn the reason of my sorrow. +You have heard that as long as I was young no man ever brought an +army against me without it costing him dear. But the years have +chilled my blood and drunk my strength. And now the deer can +roam the forest, my arrows will never pierce his heart; strange +soldiers will set fire to my houses and water their horses at my +wells, and my arm cannot hinder them. No, my day is past, and +the time has come when I too must bow my head under the yoke of +my foe! But who is to give him the ten years' service that is +part of the price which the vanquished must pay?' + +'_I_ will,' cried the eldest girl, springing to her feet. But +her father only shook his head sadly. + +'Never will I bring shame upon you,' urged the girl. 'Let me go. +Am I not a princess, and the daughter of an emperor?' + +'Go then!' he said. + +The brave girl's heart almost stopped beating from joy, as she +set about her preparations. She was not still for a single +moment, but danced about the house, turning chests and wardrobes +upside down. She set aside enough things for a whole +year--dresses embroidered with gold and precious stones, and a +great store of provisions. And she chose the most spirited horse +in the stable, with eyes of flame, and a coat of shining silver. + +When her father saw her mounted and curvetting about the court, +he gave her much wise advice, as to how she was to behave like +the young man she appeared to be, and also how to behave as the +girl she really was. Then he gave her his blessing, and she +touched her horse with the spur. + +The silver armour of herself and her steed dazzled the eyes of +the people as she darted past. She was soon out of sight, and if +after a few miles she had not pulled up to allow her escort to +join her, the rest of the journey would have been performed +alone. + +But though none of his daughters were aware of the fact, the old +emperor was a magician, and had laid his plans accordingly. He +managed, unseen, to overtake his daughter, and throw a bridge of +copper over a stream which she would have to cross. Then, +changing himself into a wolf, he lay down under one of the +arches, and waited. + +He had chosen his time well, and in about half an hour the sound +of a horse's hoofs was heard. His feet were almost on the +bridge, when a big grey wolf with grinning teeth appeared before +the princess. With a deep growl that froze the blood, he drew +himself up, and prepared to spring. + +The appearance of the wolf was so sudden and so unexpected, that +the girl was almost paralysed, and never even dreamt of flight, +till the horse leaped violently to one side. Then she turned him +round, and urging him to his fullest speed, never drew rein till +she saw the gates of the palace rising before her. + +The old emperor, who had got back long since, came to the door to +meet her, and touching her shining armour, he said, 'Did I not +tell you, my child, that flies do not make honey?' + +The days passed on, and one morning the second princess implored +her father to allow her to try the adventure in which her sister +had made such a failure. He listened unwillingly, feeling sure +it was no use, but she begged so hard that in the end he +consented, and having chosen her arms, she rode away. + +But though, unlike her sister, she was quite prepared for the +appearance of the wolf when she reached the copper bridge, she +showed no greater courage, and galloped home as fast as her horse +could carry her. On the steps of the castle her father was +standing, and as still trembling with fright she knelt at his +feet, he said gently, 'Did I not tell you, my child, that every +bird is not caught in a net?' + +The three girls stayed quietly in the palace for a little while, +embroidering, spinning, weaving, and tending their birds and +flowers, when early one morning, the youngest princess entered +the door of the emperor's private apartments. 'My father, it is +my turn now. Perhaps I shall get the better of that wolf!' + +'What, do you think you are braver than your sisters, vain little +one? You who have hardly left your long clothes behind you!' but +she did not mind being laughed at, and answered, + +'For your sake, father, I would cut the devil himself into small +bits, or even become a devil myself. I think I shall succeed, +but if I fail, I shall come home without more shame than my +sisters.' + +Still the emperor hesitated, but the girl petted and coaxed him +till at last he said, + +'Well, well, if you must go, you must. It remains to be seen +what I shall get by it, except perhaps a good laugh when I see +you come back with your head bent and your eyes on the ground.' + +'He laughs best who laughs last,' said the princess. + +Happy at having got her way, the princess decided that the first +thing to be done was to find some old white-haired boyard, whose +advice she could trust, and then to be very careful in choosing +her horse. So she went straight to the stables where the most +beautiful horses in the empire were feeding in the stalls, but +none of them seemed quite what she wanted. Almost in despair she +reached the last box of all, which was occupied by her father's +ancient war-horse, old and worn like himself, stretched sadly out +on the straw. + +The girl's eyes filled with tears, and she stood gazing at him. +The horse lifted his head, gave a little neigh, and said softly, +'You look gentle and pitiful, but I know it is your love for your +father which makes you tender to me. Ah, what a warrior he was, +and what good times we shared together! But now I too have grown +old, and my master has forgotten me, and there is no reason to +care whether my coat is dull or shining. Yet, it is not too +late, and if I were properly tended, in a week I could vie with +any horse in the stables!' + +'And how should you be tended?' asked the girl. + +'I must be rubbed down morning and evening with rain water, my +barley must be boiled in milk, because of my bad teeth, and my +feet must be washed in oil.' + +'I should like to try the treatment, as you might help me in +carrying out my scheme.' + +'Try it then, mistress, and I promise you will never repent.' + +So in a week's time the horse woke up one morning with a sudden +shiver through all his limbs; and when it had passed away, he +found his skin shining like a mirror, his body as fat as a water +melon, his movement light as a chamois. + +Then looking at the princess who had come early to the stable, he +said joyfully, + +'May success await on the steps of my master's daughter, for she +has given me back my life. Tell me what I can do for you, +princess, and I will do it.' + +'I want to go to the emperor who is our over-lord, and I have no +one to advise me. Which of all the white-headed boyards shall I +choose as counsellor?' + +'If you have me, you need no one else: I will serve you as I +served your father, if you will only listen to what I say.' + +'I will listen to everything. Can you start in three days?' + +'This moment, if you like,' said the horse. + +The preparations of the emperor's youngest daughter were much +fewer and simpler than those of her sisters. They only consisted +of some boy's clothes, a small quantity of linen and food, and a +little money in case of necessity. Then she bade farewell to her +father, and rode away. + +A day's journey from the palace, she reached the copper bridge, +but before they came in sight of it, the horse, who was a +magician, had warned her of the means her father would take to +prove her courage. + +Still in spite of his warning she trembled all over when a huge +wolf, as thin as if he had fasted for a month, with claws like +saws, and mouth as wide as an oven, bounded howling towards her. +For a moment her heart failed her, but the next, touching the +horse lightly with her spur, she drew her sword from its sheath, +ready to separate the wolf's head from its body at a single blow. + +The beast saw the sword, and shrank back, which was the best +thing it could do, as now the girl's blood was up, and the light +of battle in her eyes. Then without looking round, she rode +across the bridge. + +The emperor, proud of this first victory, took a short cut, and +waited for her at the end of another day's journey, close to a +river, over which he threw a bridge of silver. And this time he +took the shape of a lion. + +But the horse guessed this new danger and told the princess how +to escape it. But it is one thing to receive advice when we feel +safe and comfortable, and quite another to be able to carry it +out when some awful peril is threatening us. And if the wolf had +made the girl quake with terror, it seemed like a lamb beside +this dreadful lion. + +At the sound of his roar the very trees quivered and his claws +were so large that every one of them looked like a cutlass. + +The breath of the princess came and went, and her feet rattled in +the stirrups. Suddenly the remembrance flashed across her of the +wolf whom she had put to flight, and waving her sword, she rushed +so violently on the lion that he had barely time to spring on one +side, so as to avoid the blow. Then, like a flash, she crossed +this bridge also. + +Now during her whole life, the princess had been so carefully +brought up, that she had never left the gardens of the palace, so +that the sight of the hills and valleys and tinkling streams, and +the song of the larks and blackbirds, made her almost beside +herself with wonder and delight. She longed to get down and +bathe her face in the clear pools, and pick the brilliant +flowers, but the horse said 'No,' and quickened his pace, neither +turning to the right or the left. + +'Warriors,' he told her, 'only rest when they have won the +victory. You have still another battle to fight, and it is the +hardest of all.' + +This time it was neither a wolf nor a lion that was waiting for +her at the end of the third day's journey, but a dragon with +twelve heads, and a golden bridge behind it. + +The princess rode up without seeing anything to frighten her, +when a sudden puff of smoke and flame from beneath her feet, +caused her to look down, and there was the horrible creature +twisted and writhing, its twelve heads reared up as if to seize +her between them. + +The bridle fell from her hand: and the sword which she had just +grasped slid back into its sheath, but the horse bade her fear +nothing, and with a mighty effort she sat upright and spurred +straight on the dragon. + +The fight lasted an hour and the dragon pressed her hard. But in +the end, by a well-directed side blow, she cut off one of the +heads, and with a roar that seemed to rend the heavens in two, +the dragon fell back on the ground, and rose as a man before her. + +Although the horse had informed the princess the dragon was +really her own father, the girl had hardly believed him, and +stared in amazement at the transformation. But he flung his arms +round her and pressed her to his heart saying, 'Now I see that +you are as brave as the bravest, and as wise as the wisest. You +have chosen the right horse, for without his help you would have +returned with a bent head and downcast eyes. You have filled me +with the hope that you may carry out the task you have +undertaken, but be careful to forget none of my counsels, and +above all to listen to those of your horse.' + +When he had done speaking, the princess knelt down to receive his +blessing, and they went their different ways. + +The princess rode on and on, till at last she came to the +mountains which hold up the roof of the world. There she met two +Genii who had been fighting fiercely for two years, without one +having got the least advantage over the other. Seeing what they +took to be a young man seeking adventures, one of the combatants +called out, 'Fet-Fruners! deliver me from my enemy, and I will +give you the horn that can be heard the distance of a three days' +journey;' while the other cried, 'Fet-Fruners! help me to +conquer this pagan thief, and you shall have my horse, Sunlight.' + +Before answering, the princess consulted her own horse as to +which offer she should accept, and he advised her to side with +the genius who was master of Sunlight, his own younger brother, +and still more active than himself. + +So the girl at once attacked the other genius, and soon clove his +skull; then the one who was left victor begged her to come back +with him to his house and he would hand her over Sunlight, as he +had promised. + +The mother of the genius was rejoiced to see her son return safe +and sound, and prepared her best room for the princess, who, +after so much fatigue, needed rest badly. But the girl declared +that she must first make her horse comfortable in his stable; but +this was really only an excuse, as she wanted to ask his advice +on several matters. + +But the old woman had suspected from the very first that the boy +who had come to the rescue of her son was a girl in disguise, and +told the genius that she was exactly the wife he needed. The +genius scoffed, and inquired what female hand could ever wield a +sabre like that; but, in spite of his sneers, his mother +persisted, and as a proof of what she said, laid at night on each +of their pillows a handful of magic flowers, that fade at the +touch of man, but remain eternally fresh in the fingers of a +woman. + +It was very clever of her, but unluckily the horse had warned the +princess what to expect, and when the house was silent, she stole +very softly to the genius's room, and exchanged his faded flowers +for those she held. Then she crept back to her own bed and fell +fast asleep. + +At break of day, the old woman ran to see her son, and found, as +she knew she would, a bunch of dead flowers in his hand. She +next passed on to the bedside of the princess, who still lay +asleep grasping the withered flowers. But she did not believe +any the more that her guest was a man, and so she told her son. +So they put their heads together and laid another trap for her. + +After breakfast the genius gave his arm to his guest, and asked +her to come with him into the garden. For some time they walked +about looking at the flowers, the genius all the while pressing +her to pick any she fancied. But the princess, suspecting a +trap, inquired roughly why they were wasting the precious hours +in the garden, when, as men, they should be in the stables +looking after their horses. Then the genius told his mother that +she was quite wrong, and his deliverer was certainly a man. But +the old woman was not convinced for all that. + +She would try once more she said, and her son must lead his +visitor into the armoury, where hung every kind of weapon used +all over the world--some plain and bare, others ornamented with +precious stones--and beg her to make choice of one of them. The +princess looked at them closely, and felt the edges and points of +their blades, then she hung at her belt an old sword with a +curved blade, that would have done credit to an ancient warrior. +After this she informed the genius that she would start early +next day and take Sunlight with her. + +And there was nothing for the mother to do but to submit, though +she still stuck to her own opinion. + +The princess mounted Sunlight, and touched him with her spur, +when the old horse, who was galloping at her side, suddenly said: + +'Up to this time, mistress, you have obeyed my counsels and all +has gone well. Listen to me once more, and do what I tell you. +I am old, and--now that there is someone to take my place, I will +confess it--I am afraid that my strength is not equal to the task +that lies before me. Give me leave, therefore, to return home, +and do you continue your journey under the care of my brother. +Put your faith in him as you put it in me, and you will never +repent. Wisdom has come early to Sunlight.' + +'Yes, my old comrade, you have served me well; and it is only +through your help that up to now I have been victorious. So +grieved though I am to say farewell, I will obey you yet once +more, and will listen to your brother as I would to yourself. +Only, I must have a proof that he loves me as well as you do.' + +'How should I not love you?' answered Sunlight; 'how should I not +be proud to serve a warrior such as you? Trust me, mistress, +and you shall never regret the absence of my brother. I know +there will be difficulties in our path, but we will face them +together.' + +Then, with tears in her eyes, the princess took leave of her old +horse, who galloped back to her father. + +She had ridden only a few miles further, when she saw a golden +curl lying on the road before her. Checking her horse, she asked +whether it would be better to take it or let it lie. + +'If you take it,' said Sunlight, 'you will repent, and if you +don't, you will repent too: so take it.' On this the girl +dismounted, and picking up the curl, wound it round her neck for +safety. + +They passed by hills, they passed by mountains, they passed +through valleys, leaving behind them thick forests, and fields +covered with flowers; and at length they reached the court of the +over-lord. + +He was sitting on his throne, surrounded by the sons of the other +emperors, who served him as pages. These youths came forward to +greet their new companion, and wondered why they felt so +attracted towards him. + +However, there was no time for talking and concealing her fright. + +The princess was led straight up to the throne, and explained, in +a low voice, the reason of her coming. The emperor received her +kindly, and declared himself fortunate at finding a vassal so +brave and so charming, and begged the princess to remain in +attendance on his person. + +She was, however, very careful in her behaviour towards the other +pages, whose way of life did not please her. One day, however, +she had been amusing herself by making sweetmeats, when two of +the young princes looked in to pay her a visit. She offered them +some of the food which was already on the table, and they thought +it so delicious that they even licked their fingers so as not to +lose a morsel. Of course they did not keep the news of their +discovery to themselves, but told all their companions that they +had just been enjoying the best supper they had had since they +were born. And from that moment the princess was left no peace, +till she had promised to cook them all a dinner. + +Now it happened that, on the very day fixed, all the cooks in the +palace became intoxicated, and there was no one to make up the +fire. + +When the pages heard of this shocking state of things, they went +to their companion and implored her to come to the rescue. + +The princess was fond of cooking, and was, besides, very +good-natured; so she put on an apron and went down to the kitchen +without delay. When the dinner was placed before the emperor he +found it so nice that he ate much more than was good for him. +The next morning, as soon as he woke, he sent for his head cook, +and told him to send up the same dishes as before. The cook, +seized with fright at this command, which he knew he could not +fulfil, fell on his knees, and confessed the truth. + +The emperor was so astonished that he forgot to scold, and while +he was thinking over the matter, some of his pages came in and +said that their new companion had been heard to boast that he +knew where Iliane was to be found--the celebrated Iliane of the +song which begins: + + 'Golden Hair + The fields are green,' + +and that to their certain knowledge he had a curl of her hair in +his possession. + +When he heard that, the emperor desired the page to be brought +before him, and, as soon as the princess obeyed his summons, he +said to her abruptly: + +'Fet-Fruners, you have hidden from me the fact that you knew the +golden-haired Iliane! Why did you do this? for I have treated +you more kindly than all my other pages.' + +Then, after making the princess show him the golden curl which +she wore round her neck, he added: 'Listen to me; unless by some +means or other you bring me the owner of this lock, I will have +your head cut off in the place where you stand. Now go!' + +In vain the poor girl tried to explain how the lock of hair came +into her possession; the emperor would listen to nothing, and, +bowing low, she left his presence and went to consult Sunlight +what she was to do. + +At his first words she brightened up. 'Do not be afraid, +mistress; only last night my brother appeared to me in a dream +and told me that a genius had carried off Iliane, whose hair you +picked up on the road. But Iliane declares that, before she +marries her captor, he must bring her, as a present, the whole +stud of mares which belong to her. The genius, half crazy with +love, thinks of nothing night and day but how this can be done, +and meanwhile she is quite safe in the island swamps of the sea. +Go back to the emperor and ask him for twenty ships filled with +precious merchandise. The rest you shall know by-and-by.' + +On hearing this advice, the princess went at once into the +emperor's presence. + +'May a long life be yours, O Sovereign all mighty!' said she. 'I +have come to tell you that I can do as you command if you will +give me twenty ships, and load them with the most precious wares +in your kingdom.' + +'You shall have all that I possess if you will bring me the +golden-haired Iliane,' said the emperor. + +The ships were soon ready, and the princess entered the largest +and finest, with Sunlight at her side. Then the sails were +spread and the voyage began. + +For seven weeks the wind blew them straight towards the west, and +early one morning they caught sight of the island swamps of the +sea. + +They cast anchor in a little bay, and the princess made haste to +disembark with Sunlight, but, before leaving the ship, she tied +to her belt a pair of tiny gold slippers, adorned with precious +stones. Then mounting Sunlight, she rode about till she came to +several palaces, built on hinges, so that they could always turn +towards the sun. + +The most splendid of these was guarded by three slaves, whose +greedy eyes were caught by the glistening gold of the slippers. +They hastened up to the owner of these treasures, and inquired +who he was. 'A merchant,' replied the princess, 'who had somehow +missed his road, and lost himself among the island swamps of the +sea.' + +Not knowing if it was proper to receive him or not, the slaves +returned to their mistress and told her all they had seen, but +not before she had caught sight of the merchant from the roof of +her palace. Luckily her gaoler was away, always trying to catch +the stud of mares, so for the moment she was free and alone. + +The slaves told their tale so well that their mistress insisted +on going down to the shore and seeing the beautiful slippers for +herself. They were even lovelier than she expected, and when the +merchant besought her to come on board, and inspect some that he +thought were finer still, her curiosity was too great to refuse, +and she went. + +Once on board ship, she was so busy turning over all the precious +things stored there, that she never knew that the sails were +spread, and that they were flying along with the wind behind +them; and when she did know, she rejoiced in her heart, though +she pretended to weep and lament at being carried captive a +second time. Thus they arrived at the court of the emperor. + +They were just about to land, when the mother of the genius stood +before them. She had learnt that Iliane had fled from her prison +in company with a merchant, and, as her son was absent, had come +herself in pursuit. Striding over the blue waters, hopping from +wave to wave, one foot reaching to heaven, and the other planted +in the foam, she was close at their heels, breathing fire and +flame, when they stepped on shore from the ship. One glance told +Iliane who the horrible old woman was, and she whispered hastily +to her companion. Without saying a word, the princess swung her +into Sunlight's saddle, and leaping up behind her, they were off +like a flash. + +It was not till they drew near the town that the princess stooped +and asked Sunlight what they should do. 'Put your hand into my +left ear,' said he, 'and take out a sharp stone, which you must +throw behind you.' + +The princess did as she was told, and a huge mountain sprang up +behind them. The mother of the genius began to climb up it, and +though they galloped quickly, she was quicker still. + +They heard her coming, faster, faster; and again the princess +stooped to ask what was to be done now. 'Put your hand into my +right ear,' said the horse, 'and throw the brush you will find +there behind you.' The princess did so, and a great forest +sprang up behind them, and, so thick were its leaves, that even a +wren could not get through. But the old woman seized hold of the +branches and flung herself like a monkey from one to the others, +and always she drew nearer--always, always--till their hair was +singed by the flames of her mouth. + +Then, in despair, the princess again bent down and asked if there +was nothing more to be done, and Sunlight replied 'Quick, quick, +take off the betrothal ring on the finger of Iliane and throw it +behind you.' + +This time there sprang up a great tower of stone, smooth as +ivory, hard as steel, which reached up to heaven itself. And the +mother of the genius gave a howl of rage, knowing that she could +neither climb it nor get through it. But she was not beaten yet, +and gathering herself together, she made a prodigious leap, which +landed her on the top of the tower, right in the middle of +Iliane's ring which lay there, and held her tight. Only her +claws could be seen grasping the battlements. + +All that could be done the old witch did; but the fire that +poured from her mouth never reached the fugitives, though it laid +waste the country a hundred miles round the tower, like the +flames of a volcano. Then, with one last effort to free herself, +her hands gave way, and, falling down to the bottom of the tower, +she was broken in pieces. + +When the flying princess saw what had happened she rode back to +the spot, as Sunlight counselled her, and placed her finger on +the top of the tower, which was gradually shrinking into the +earth. In an instant the tower had vanished as if it had never +been, and in its place was the finger of the princess with a ring +round it. + +The emperor received Iliane with all the respect that was due to +her, and fell in love at first sight besides. + +But this did not seem to please Iliane, whose face was sad as she +walked about the palace or gardens, wondering how it was that, +while other girls did as they liked, she was always in the power +of someone whom she hated. + +So when the emperor asked her to share his throne Iliane +answered: + +'Noble Sovereign, I may not think of marriage till my stud of +horses has been brought me, with their trappings all complete.' + +When he heard this, the emperor once more sent for Fet-Fruners, +and said: + +'Fet-Fruners, fetch me instantly the stud of mares, with their +trappings all complete. If not, your head shall pay the +forfeit.' + +'Mighty Emperor, I kiss your hands! I have but just returned +from doing your bidding, and, behold, you send me on another +mission, and stake my head on its fulfilment, when your court is +full of valiant young men, pining to win their spurs. They say +you are a just man; then why not entrust this quest to one of +them? Where am I to seek these mares that I am to bring you?' + +'How do I know? They may be anywhere in heaven or earth; but, +wherever they are, you will have to find them.' + +The princess bowed and went to consult Sunlight. He listened +while she told her tale, and then said: + +'Fetch quickly nine buffalo skins; smear them well with tar, and +lay them on my back. Do not fear; you will succeed in this also; +but, in the end, the emperor's desires will be his undoing.' + +The buffalo skins were soon got, and the princess started off +with Sunlight. The way was long and difficult, but at length +they reached the place where the mares were grazing. Here the +genius who had carried off Iliane was wandering about, trying to +discover how to capture them, all the while believing that Iliane +was safe in the palace where he had left her. + +As soon as she caught sight of him, the princess went up and told +him that Iliane had escaped, and that his mother, in her efforts +to recapture her, had died of rage. At this news a blind fury +took possession of the genius, and he rushed madly upon the +princess, who awaited his onslaught with perfect calmness. As he +came on, with his sabre lifted high in the air, Sunlight bounded +right over his head, so that the sword fell harmless. And when +in her turn the princess prepared to strike, the horse sank upon +his knees, so that the blade pierced the genius's thigh. + +The fight was so fierce that it seemed as if the earth would give +way under them, and for twenty miles round the beasts in the +forests fled to their caves for shelter. At last, when her +strength was almost gone, the genius lowered his sword for an +instant. The princess saw her chance, and, with one swoop of her +arm, severed her enemy's head from his body. Still trembling +from the long struggle, she turned away, and went to the meadow +where the stud were feeding. + +By the advice of Sunlight, she took care not to let them see her, +and climbed a thick tree, where she could see and hear without +being seen herself. Then he neighed, and the mares came +galloping up, eager to see the new comer--all but one horse, who +did not like strangers, and thought they were very well as they +were. As Sunlight stood his ground, well pleased with the +attention paid him, this sulky creature suddenly advanced to the +charge, and bit so violently that had it not been for the nine +buffalo skins Sunlight's last moment would have come. When the +fight was ended, the buffalo skins were in ribbons, and the +beaten animal writhing with pain on the grass. + +Nothing now remained to be done but to drive the whole stud to +the emperor's court. So the princess came down from the tree and +mounted Sunlight, while the stud followed meekly after, the +wounded horse bringing up the rear. On reaching the palace, she +drove them into a yard, and went to inform the emperor of her +arrival. + +The news was told at once to Iliane, who ran down directly and +called them to her one by one, each mare by its name. And at the +first sight of her the wounded animal shook itself quickly, and +in a moment its wounds were healed, and there was not even a mark +on its glossy skin. + +By this time the emperor, on hearing where she was, joined her in +the yard, and at her request ordered the mares to be milked, so +that both he and she might bathe in the milk and keep young for +ever. But they would suffer no one to come near them, and the +princess was commanded to perform this service also. + +At this, the heart of the girl swelled within her. The hardest +tasks were always given to her, and long before the two years +were up, she would be worn out and useless. But while these +thoughts passed through her mind, a fearful rain fell, such as no +man remembered before, and rose till the mares were standing up +to their knees in water. Then as suddenly it stopped, and, +behold! the water was ice, which held the animals firmly in its +grasp. And the princess's heart grew light again, and she sat +down gaily to milk them, as if she had done it every morning of +her life. + +The love of the emperor for Iliane waxed greater day by day, but +she paid no heed to him, and always had an excuse ready to put +off their marriage. At length, when she had come to the end of +everything she could think of, she said to him one day: 'Grant +me, Sire, just one request more, and then I will really marry +you; for you have waited patiently this long time.' + +'My beautiful dove,' replied the emperor, 'both I and all I +possess are yours, so ask your will, and you shall have it.' + +'Get me, then,' she said, 'a flask of the holy water that is kept +in a little church beyond the river Jordan, and I will be your +wife.' + +Then the emperor ordered Fet-Fruners to ride without delay to the +river Jordan, and to bring back, at whatever cost, the holy water +for Iliane. + +'This, my mistress,' said Sunlight, when she was saddling him, +'is the last and most difficult of your tasks. But fear nothing, +for the hour of the emperor has struck.' + +So they started; and the horse, who was not a wizard for nothing, +told the princess exactly where she was to look for the holy +water. + +'It stands,' he said, 'on the altar of a little church, and is +guarded by a troop of nuns. They never sleep, night or day, but +every now and then a hermit comes to visit them, and from him +they learn certain things it is needful for them to know. When +this happens, only one of the nuns remains on guard at a time, +and if we are lucky enough to hit upon this moment, we may get +hold of the vase at once; if not, we shall have to wait the +arrival of the hermit, however long it may be; for there is no +other means of obtaining the holy water.' + +They came in sight of the church beyond the Jordan, and, to their +great joy, beheld the hermit just arriving at the door. They +could hear him calling the nuns around him, and saw them settle +themselves under a tree, with the hermit in their midst--all but +one, who remained on guard, as was the custom. + +The hermit had a great deal to say, and the day was very hot, so +the nun, tired of sitting by herself, lay down right across the +threshold, and fell sound asleep. + +Then Sunlight told the princess what she was to do, and the girl +stepped softly over the sleeping nun, and crept like a cat along +the dark aisle, feeling the wall with her fingers, lest she +should fall over something and ruin it all by a noise. But she +reached the altar in safety, and found the vase of holy water +standing on it. This she thrust into her dress, and went back +with the same care as she came. With a bound she was in the +saddle, and seizing the reins bade Sunlight take her home as fast +as his legs could carry him. + +The sound of the flying hoofs aroused the nun, who understood +instantly that the precious treasure was stolen, and her shrieks +were so loud and piercing that all the rest came flying to see +what was the matter. The hermit followed at their heels, but +seeing it was impossible to overtake the thief, he fell on his +knees and called his most deadly curse down on her head, praying +that if the thief was a man, he might become a woman; and if she +was a woman, that she might become a man. In either case he +thought that the punishment would be severe. + +But punishments are things about which people do not always +agree, and when the princess suddenly felt she was really the man +she had pretended to be, she was delighted, and if the hermit had +only been within reach she would have thanked him from her heart. + +By the time she reached the emperor's court, Fet-Fruners looked +a young man all over in the eyes of everyone; and even the mother +of the genius would now have had her doubts set at rest. He drew +forth the vase from his tunic and held it up to the emperor, +saying: 'Mighty Sovereign, all hail! I have fulfilled this task +also, and I hope it is the last you have for me; let another now +take his turn.' + +'I am content, Fet-Fruners,' replied the emperor, 'and when I am +dead it is you who will sit upon my throne; for I have yet no son +to come after me. But if one is given me, and my dearest wish is +accomplished, then you shall be his right hand, and guide him +with your counsels.' + +But though the emperor was satisfied, Iliane was not, and she +determined to revenge herself on the emperor for the dangers +which he had caused Fet-Fruners to run. And as for the vase of +holy water, she thought that, in common politeness, her suitor +ought to have fetched it himself, which he could have done +without any risk at all. + +So she ordered the great bath to be filled with the milk of her +mares, and begged the emperor to clothe himself in white robes, +and enter the bath with her, an invitation he accepted with joy. +Then, when both were standing with the milk reaching to their +necks, she sent for the horse which had fought Sunlight, and made +a secret sign to him. The horse understood what he was to do, +and from one nostril he breathed fresh air over Iliane, and from +the other, he snorted a burning wind which shrivelled up the +emperor where he stood, leaving only a little heap of ashes. + +His strange death, which no one could explain, made a great +sensation throughout the country, and the funeral his people gave +him was the most splendid ever known. When it was over, Iliane +summoned Fet-Fruners before her, and addressed him thus: + +'Fet-Fruners! it is you who brought me and have saved my life, +and obeyed my wishes. It is you who gave me back my stud; you +who killed the genius, and the old witch his mother; you who +brought me the holy water. And you, and none other, shall be my +husband.' + +'Yes, I will marry you,' said the young man, with a voice almost +as soft as when he was a princess. 'But know that in OUR house, +it will be the cock who sings and not the hen!' + +[From Sept Contes Roumains, Jules Brun and Leo Bachelin.] + + + +THE STORY OF HALFMAN + +In a certain town there lived a judge who was married but had no +children. One day he was standing lost in thought before his +house, when an old man passed by. + +'What is the matter, sir, said he, 'you look troubled?' + +'Oh, leave me alone, my good man!' + +'But what is it?' persisted the other. + +'Well, I am successful in my profession and a person of +importance, but I care nothing for it all, as I have no +children.' + +Then the old man said, 'Here are twelve apples. If your wife +eats them, she will have twelve sons.' + +The judge thanked him joyfully as he took the apples, and went to +seek his wife. 'Eat these apples at once,' he cried, 'and you +will have twelve sons.' + +So she sat down and ate eleven of them, but just as she was in +the middle of the twelfth her sister came in, and she gave her +the half that was left. + +The eleven sons came into the world, strong and handsome boys; +but when the twelfth was born, there was only half of him. + +By-and-by they all grew into men, and one day they told their +father it was high time he found wives for them. 'I have a +brother,' he answered, 'who lives away in the East, and he has +twelve daughters; go and marry them.' So the twelve sons saddled +their horses and rode for twelve days, till they met an old +woman. + +'Good greeting to you, young men!' said she, 'we have waited long +for you, your uncle and I. The girls have become women, and are +sought, in marriage by many, but I knew you would come one day, +and I have kept them for you. Follow me into my house.' + +And the twelve brothers followed her gladly, and their father's +brother stood at the door, and gave them meat and drink. But at +night, when every one was asleep, Halfman crept softly to his +brothers, and said to them, 'Listen, all of you! This man is no +uncle of ours, but an ogre.' + +'Nonsense; of course he is our uncle,' answered they. + +'Well, this very night you will see!' said Halfman. And he did +not go to bed, but hid himself and watched. + +Now in a little while he saw the wife of the ogre steal into the +room on tiptoe and spread a red cloth over the brothers and then +go and cover her daughters with a white cloth. After that she +lay down and was soon snoring loudly. When Halfman was quite +sure she was sound asleep, he took the red cloth from his +brothers and put it on the girls, and laid their white cloth over +his brothers. Next he drew their scarlet caps from their heads +and exchanged them for the veils which the ogre's daughters were +wearing. This was hardly done when he heard steps coming along +the floor, so he hid himself quickly in the folds of a curtain. +There was only half of him! + +The ogress came slowly and gently along, stretching out her hands +before her, so that she might not fall against anything unawares, +for she had only a tiny lantern slung at her waist, which did not +give much light. And when she reached the place where the +sisters were lying, she stooped down and held a corner of the +cloth up to the lantern. Yes! it certainly was red! Still, to +make sure that there was no mistake, she passed her hands lightly +over their heads, and felt the caps that covered them. Then she +was quite certain the brothers lay sleeping before her, and began +to kill them one by one. And Halfman whispered to his brothers, +'Get up and run for your lives, as the ogress is killing her +daughters.' The brothers needed no second bidding, and in a +moment were out of the house. + +By this time the ogress had slain all her daughters but one, who +awoke suddenly and saw what had happened. 'Mother, what are you +doing?' cried she. 'Do you know that you have killed my +sisters?' + +'Oh, woe is me!' wailed the ogress. 'Halfman has outwitted me +after all!' And she turned to wreak vengeance on him, but he and +his brothers were far away. + +They rode all day till they got to the town where their real +uncle lived, and inquired the way to his house. + +'Why have you been so long in coming?' asked he, when they had +found him. + +'Oh, dear uncle, we were very nearly not coming at all!' replied +they. 'We fell in with an ogress who took us home and would have +killed us if it had not been for Halfman. He knew what was in +her mind and saved us, and here we are. Now give us each a +daughter to wife, and let us return whence we came.' + +'Take them!' said the uncle; 'the eldest for the eldest, the +second for the second, and so on to the youngest.' + +But the wife of Halfman was the prettiest of them all, and the +other brothers were jealous and said to each other: 'What, is he +who is only half a man to get the best? Let us put him to death +and give his wife to our eldest brother!' And they waited for a +chance. + +After they had all ridden, in company with their brides, for some +distance, they arrived at a brook, and one of them asked, 'Now, +who will go and fetch water from the brook?' + +'Halfman is the youngest,' said the elder brother, 'he must go.' + +So Halfman got down and filled a skin with water, and they drew +it up by a rope and drank. When they had done drinking, Halfman, +who was standing in the middle of the stream, called out: 'Throw +me the rope and draw me up, for I cannot get out alone.' And the +brothers threw him a rope to draw him up the steep bank; but when +he was half-way up they cut the rope, and he fell back into the +stream. Then the brothers rode away as fast as they could, with +his bride. + +Halfman sank down under the water from the force of the fall, but +before he touched the bottom a fish came and said to him, 'Fear +nothing, Halfman; I will help you.' And the fish guided him to a +shallow place, so that he scrambled out. On the way it said to +him, 'Do you understand what your brothers, whom you saved from +death, have done to you?' + +'Yes; but what am I to do?' asked Halfman. + +'Take one of my scales,' said the fish, 'and when you find +yourself in danger, throw it in the fire. Then I will appear +before you.' + +'Thank you,' said Halfman, and went his way, while the fish swam +back to its home. + +The country was strange to Halfman, and he wandered about without +knowing where he was going, till he suddenly found the ogress +standing before him. 'Ah, Halfman, have I got you at last? You +killed my daughters and helped your brothers to escape. What do +you think I shall do with you?' + +'Whatever you like!' said Halfman. + +'Come into my house, then,' said the ogress, and he followed her. + +'Look here!' she called to her husband, 'I have got hold of +Halfman. I am going to roast him, so be quick and make up the +fire!' + +So the ogre brought wood, and heaped it up till the flames roared +up the chimney. Then he turned to his wife and said: 'It is all +ready, let us put him on!' + +'What is the hurry, my good ogre?' asked Halfman. 'You have me +in your power, and I cannot escape. I am so thin now, I shall +hardly make one mouthful. Better fatten me up; you will enjoy me +much more.' + +'That is a very sensible remark,' replied the ogre; 'but what +fattens you quickest?' + +'Butter, meat, and red wine,' answered Halfman. + +'Very good; we will lock you into this room, and here you shall +stay till you are ready for eating.' + +So Halfman was locked into the room, and the ogre and his wife +brought him his food. At the end of three months he said to his +gaolers: 'Now I have got quite fat; take me out, and kill me.' + +'Get out, then!' said the ogre. + +'But,' went on Halfman, 'you and your wife had better go to +invite your friends to the feast, and your daughter can stay in +the house and look after me!' + +'Yes, that is a good idea,' answered they. + +'You had better bring the wood in here,' continued Halfman, 'and +I will split it up small, so that there may be no delay in +cooking me.' + +So the ogress gave Halfman a pile of wood and an axe, and then +set out with her husband, leaving Halfman and her daughter busy +in the house. + +After he had chopped for a little while he called to the girl, +'Come and help me, or else I shan't have it all ready when your +mother gets back.' + +'All right,' said she, and held a billet of wood for him to chop. + +But he raised his axe and cut off her head, and ran away like the +wind. By-and-by the ogre and his wife returned and found their +daughter lying without her head, and they began to cry and sob, +saying, 'This is Halfman's work, why did we listen to him?' But +Halfman was far away. + +When he escaped from the house he ran on straight before him for +some time, looking for a safe shelter, as he knew that the ogre's +legs were much longer than his, and that it was his only chance. +At last he saw an iron tower which he climbed up. Soon the ogre +appeared, looking right and left lest his prey should be +sheltering behind a rock or tree, but he did not know Halfman was +so near till he heard his voice calling, 'Come up! come up! you +will find me here!' + +'But how can I come up?' said the ogre, 'I see no door, and I +could not possibly climb that tower.' + +'Oh, there is no door,' replied Halfman. + +'Then how did you climb up?' + +'A fish carried me on his back.' + +'And what am I to do?' + +'You must go and fetch all your relations, and tell them to bring +plenty of sticks; then you must light a fire, and let it burn +till the tower becomes red hot. After that you can easily throw +it down.' + +'Very good,' said the ogre, and he went round to every relation +he had, and told them to collect wood and bring it to the tower +where Halfman was. The men did as they were ordered, and soon +the tower was glowing like coral, but when they flung themselves +against it to overthrow it, they caught themselves on fire and +were burnt to death. And overhead sat Halfman, laughing +heartily. But the ogre's wife was still alive, for she had taken +no part in kindling the fire. + +'Oh,' she shrieked with rage, 'you have killed my daughters and +my husband, and all the men belonging to me; how can I get at you +to avenge myself?' + +'Oh, that is easy enough,' said Halfman. 'I will let down a +rope, and if you tie it tightly round you, I will draw it up.' + +'All right,' returned the ogress, fastening the rope which +Halfman let down. 'Now pull me up.' + +'Are you sure it is secure?' + +'Yes, quite sure.' + +'Don't be afraid.' + +'Oh, I am not afraid at all!' + +So Halfman slowly drew her up, and when she was near the top he +let go the rope, and she fell down and broke her neck. Then +Halfman heaved a great sigh and said, 'That was hard work; the +rope has hurt my hands badly, but now I am rid of her for ever.' + +So Halfman came down from the tower, and went on, till he got to +a desert place, and as he was very tired, he lay down to sleep. +While it was still dark, an ogress passed by, and she woke him +and said, 'Halfman, to-morrow your brother is to marry your +wife.' + +'Oh, how can I stop it?' asked he. 'Will you help me?' + +'Yes, I will,' replied the ogress. + +'Thank you, thank you!' cried Halfman, kissing her on the +forehead. 'My wife is dearer to me than anything else in the +world, and it is not my brother's fault that I am not dead long +ago.' + +'Very well, I will rid you of him,' said the ogress, 'but only on +one condition. If a boy is born to you, you must give him to +me!' + +'Oh, anything,' answered Halfman, 'as long as you deliver me from +my brother, and get me my wife.' + +'Mount on my back, then, and in a quarter of an hour we shall be +there.' + +The ogress was as good as her word, and in a few minutes they +arrived at the outskirts of the town where Halfman and his +brothers lived. Here she left him, while she went into the town +itself, and found the wedding guests just leaving the brother's +house. Unnoticed by anyone, the ogress crept into a curtain, +changing herself into a scorpion, and when the brother was going +to get into bed, she stung him behind the ear, so that he fell +dead where he stood. Then she returned to Halfman and told him +to go and claim his bride. He jumped up hastily from his seat, +and took the road to his father's house. As he drew near he +heard sounds of weeping and lamentations, and he said to a man he +met: 'What is the matter?' + +'The judge's eldest son was married yesterday, and died suddenly +before night.' + +'Well,' thought Halfman, 'my conscience is clear anyway, for it +is quite plain he coveted my wife, and that is why he tried to +drown me.' He went at once to his father's room, and found him +sitting in tears on the floor. 'Dear father,' said Halfman, 'are +you not glad to see me? You weep for my brother, but I am your +son too, and he stole my bride from me and tried to drown me in +the brook. If he is dead, I at least am alive.' + +'No, no, he was better than you!' moaned the father. + +'Why, dear father?' + +'He told me you had behaved very ill,' said he. + +'Well, call my brothers,' answered Halfman, 'as I have a story to +tell them.' So the father called them all into his presence. +Then Halfman began: 'After we were twelve days' journey from +home, we met an ogress, who gave us greeting and said, "Why have +you been so long coming? The daughters of your uncle have +waited for you in vain," and she bade us follow her to the house, +saying, "Now there need be no more delay; you can marry your +cousins as soon as you please, and take them with you to your own +home." But I warned my brothers that the man was not our uncle, +but an ogre. + +'When we lay down to sleep, she spread a red cloth over us, and +covered her daughters with a white one; but I changed the cloths, +and when the ogress came back in the middle of the night, and +looked at the cloths, she mistook her own daughters for my +brothers, and killed them one by one, all but the youngest. Then +I woke my brothers, and we all stole softly from the house, and +we rode like the wind to our real uncle. + +'And when he saw us, he bade us welcome, and married us to his +twelve daughters, the eldest to the eldest, and so on to me, +whose bride was the youngest of all and also the prettiest. And +my brothers were filled with envy, and left me to drown in a +brook, but I was saved by a fish who showed me how to get out. +Now, you are a judge! Who did well, and who did evil--I or my +brothers?' + +'Is this story true?' said the father, turning to his sons. + +'It is true, my father,' answered they. 'It is even as Halfman +has said, and the girl belongs to him.' + +Then the judge embraced Halfman and said to him: 'You have done +well, my son. Take your bride, and may you both live long and +happily together!' + +At the end of the year Halfman's wife had a son, and not long +after she came one day hastily into the room. and found her +husband weeping. 'What is the matter?' she asked. + +'The matter?' said he. + +'Yes, why are you weeping?' + +'Because,' replied Halfman, 'the baby is not really ours, but +belongs to an ogress.' + +'Are you mad?' cried the wife. 'What do you mean by talking like +that?' + +'I promised,' said Halfman, 'when she undertook to kill my +brother and to give you to me, that the first son we had should +be hers.' + +'And will she take him from us now?' said the poor woman. + +'No, not quite yet,' replied Halfman; 'when he is bigger.' + +'And is she to have all our children?' asked she. + +'No, only this one,' returned Halfman. + +Day by day the boy grew bigger, and one day as he was playing in +the street with the other children, the ogress came by. 'Go to +your father,' she said, 'and repeat this speech to him: "I want +my forfeit; when am I to have it?" ' + +'All right,' replied the child, but when he went home forgot all +about it. The next day the ogress came again, and asked the boy +what answer the father had given. 'I forgot all about it,' said +he. + +'Well, put this ring on your finger, and then you won't forget.' + +'Very well,' replied the boy, and went home. + +The next morning, as he was at breakfast, his mother said to him, +'Child, where did you get that ring?' + +'A woman gave it to me yesterday, and she told me, father, to +tell you that she wanted her forfeit, and when was she to have +it?' + +Then his father burst into tears and said, 'If she comes again +you must say to her that your parents bid her take her forfeit at +once, and depart.' + +At this they both began to weep afresh, and his mother kissed +him, and put on his new clothes and said, 'If the woman bids you +to follow her, you must go,' but the boy did not heed her grief, +he was so pleased with his new clothes. And when he went out, he +said to his play-fellows, 'Look how smart I am; I am going away +with my aunt to foreign lands.' + +At that moment the ogress came up and asked him, 'Did you give my +message to your father and mother?' + +'Yes, dear aunt, I did.' + +'And what did they say?' + +'Take it away at once!' + +So she took him. + +But when dinner-time came, and the boy did not return, his father +and mother knew that he would never come back, and they sat down +and wept all day. At last Halfman rose up and said to his wife, +'Be comforted; we will wait a year, and then I will go to the +ogress and see the boy, and how he is cared for.' + +'Yes, that will be the best,' said she. + +The year passed away, then Halfman saddled his horse, and rode to +the place where the ogress had found him sleeping. She was not +there, but not knowing what to do next, he got off his horse and +waited. About midnight she suddenly stood before him. + +'Halfman, why did you come here?' said she. + +'I have a question I want to ask you.' + +'Well, ask it; but I know quite well what it is. Your wife +wishes you to ask whether I shall carry off your second son as I +did the first.' + +'Yes, that is it,' replied Halfman. Then he seized her hand and +said, 'Oh, let me see my son, and how he looks, and what he is +doing.' + +The ogress was silent, but stuck her staff hard in the earth, and +the earth opened, and the boy appeared and said, 'Dear father, +have you come too?' And his father clasped him in his arms, and +began to cry. But the boy struggled to be free, saying 'Dear +father, put me down. I have got a new mother, who is better than +the old one; and a new father, who is better than you.' + +Then his father sat him down and said, 'Go in peace, my boy, but +listen first to me. Tell your father the ogre and your mother +the ogress, that never more shall they have any children of +mine.' + +'All right,' replied the boy, and called 'Mother!' + +'What is it?' + +'You are never to take away any more of my father and mother's +children!' + +'Now that I have got you, I don't want any more,' answered she. + +Then the boy turned to his father and said, 'Go in peace, dear +father, and give my mother greeting and tell her not to be +anxious any more, for she can keep all her children.' + +And Halfman mounted his horse and rode home, and told his wife +all he had seen, and the message sent by Mohammed--Mohammed the +son of Halfman, the son of the judge. + +[Marchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis. Hans von Stumme.] + + + +THE PRINCE WHO WANTED TO SEE THE WORLD + +There was once a king who had only one son, and this young man +tormented his father from morning till night to allow him to +travel in far countries. For a long time the king refused to +give him leave; but at last, wearied out, he granted permission, +and ordered his treasurer to produce a large sum of money for the +prince's expenses. The youth was overjoyed at the thought that +he was really going to see the world, and after tenderly +embracing his father he set forth. + +He rode on for some weeks without meeting with any adventures; +but one night when he was resting at an inn, he came across +another traveller, with whom he fell into conversation, in the +course of which the stranger inquired if he never played cards. +The young man replied that he was very fond of doing so. Cards +were brought, and in a very short time the prince had lost every +penny he possessed to his new acquaintance. When there was +absolutely nothing left at the bottom of the bag, the stranger +proposed that they should have just one more game, and that if +the prince won he should have the money restored to him, but in +case he lost, should remain in the inn for three years, and +besides that should be his servant for another three. The prince +agreed to those terms, played, and lost; so the stranger took +rooms for him, and furnished him with bread and water every day +for three years. + +The prince lamented his lot, but it was no use; and at the end of +three years he was released and had to go to the house of the +stranger, who was really the king of a neighbouring country, and +be his servant. Before he had gone very far he met a woman +carrying a child, which was crying from hunger. The prince took +it from her, and fed it with his last crust of bread and last +drop of water, and then gave it back to its mother. The woman +thanked him gratefully, and said: + +'Listen, my lord. You must walk straight on till you notice a +very strong scent, which comes from a garden by the side of the +road. Go in and hide yourself close to a tank, where three doves +will come to bathe. As the last one flies past you, catch hold +of its robe of feathers, and refuse to give it back till the dove +has promised you three things.' + +The young man did as he was told, and everything happened as the +woman had said. He took the robe of feathers from the dove, who +gave him in exchange for it a ring, a collar, and one of its own +plumes, saying: 'When you are in any trouble, cry "Come to my +aid, O dove!" I am the daughter of the king you are going to +serve, who hates your father and made you gamble in order to +cause your ruin.' + +Thus the prince went on his way, and in course of time he arrived +at the king's palace. As soon as his master knew he was there, +the young man was sent for into his presence, and three bags were +handed to him with these words: + +'Take this wheat, this millet, and this barley, and sow them at +once, so that I may have loaves of them all to-morrow.' + +The prince stood speechless at this command, but the king did not +condescend to give any further explanation, and when he was +dismissed the young man flew to the room which had been set aside +for him, and pulling out his feather, he cried: 'Dove, dove! be +quick and come.' + +'What is it?' said the dove, flying in through the open window, +and the prince told her of the task before him, and of his +despair at being unable to accomplish it. 'Fear nothing; it will +be all right,' replied the dove, as she flew away again. + +The next morning when the prince awoke he saw the three loaves +standing beside his bed. He jumped up and dressed, and he was +scarcely ready when a page arrived with the message that he was +to go at once into the king's chamber. Taking the loaves in his +arm he followed the boy, and, bowing low, laid them down before +the king. The monarch looked at the loaves for a moment without +speaking, then he said: + +'Good. The man who can do this can also find the ring which my +eldest daughter dropped into the sea.' + +The prince hastened back to his room and summoned the dove, and +when she heard this new command she said: 'Now listen. +To-morrow take a knife and a basin and go down to the shore and +get into a boat you will find there.' + +The young man did not know what he was to do when he was in the +boat or where he was to go, but as the dove had come to his +rescue before, he was ready to obey her blindly. + +When he reached the boat he found the dove perched on one of the +masts, and at a signal from her he put to sea; the wind was +behind them and they soon lost sight of land. The dove then +spoke for the first time and said, 'Take that knife and cut off +my head, but be careful that not a single drop of blood falls to +the ground. Afterwards you must throw it into the sea.' + +Wondering at this strange order, the prince picked up his knife +and severed the dove's head from her body at one stroke. A +little while after a dove rose from the water with a ring in its +beak, and laying it in the prince's hand, dabbled itself with the +blood that was in the basin, when its head became that of a +beautiful girl. Another moment and it had vanished completely, +and the prince took the ring and made his way back to the palace. + +The king stared with surprise at the sight of the ring, but he +thought of another way of getting rid of the young man which was +surer even than the other two. + +'This evening you will mount my colt and ride him to the field, +and break him in properly.' + +The prince received this command as silently as he had received +the rest, but no sooner was he in his room than he called for the +dove, who said: 'Attend to me. My father longs to see you dead, +and thinks he will kill you by this means. He himself is the +colt, my mother is the saddle, my two sisters are the stirrups, +and I am the bridle. Do not forget to take a good club, to help +you in dealing with such a crew.' + +So the prince mounted the colt, and gave him such a beating that +when he came to the palace to announce that the animal was now so +meek that it could be ridden by the smallest child, he found the +king so bruised that he had to be wrapped in cloths dipped in +vinegar, the mother was too stiff to move, and several of the +daughters' ribs were broken. The youngest, however, was quite +unharmed. That night she came to the prince and whispered to +him: + +'Now that they are all in too much pain to move, we had better +seize our chance and run away. Go to the stable and saddle the +leanest horse you can find there.' But the prince was foolish +enough to choose the fattest: and when they had started and the +princess saw what he had done, she was very sorry, for though +this horse ran like the wind, the other flashed like thought. +However, it was dangerous to go back, and they rode on as fast as +the horse would go. + +In the night the king sent for his youngest daughter, and as she +did not come he sent again; but she did not come any the more for +that. The queen, who was a witch, discovered that her daughter +had gone off with the prince, and told her husband he must leave +his bed and go after them. The king got slowly up, groaning with +pain, and dragged himself to the stables, where he saw the lean +horse still in his stall. + +Leaping on his back he shook the reins, and his daughter, who +knew what to expect and had her eyes open, saw the horse start +forward, and in the twinkling of an eye changed her own steed +into a cell, the prince into a hermit, and herself into a nun. + +When the king reached the chapel, he pulled up his horse and +asked if a girl and a young man had passed that way. The hermit +raised his eyes, which were bent on the ground, and said that he +had not seen a living creature. The king, much disgusted at this +news, and not knowing what to do, returned home and told his wife +that, though he had ridden for miles, he had come across nothing +but a hermit and a nun in a cell. + +'Why those were the runaways, of course,' she cried, flying into +a passion, 'and if you had only brought a scrap of the nun's +dress, or a bit of stone from the wall, I should have had them in +my power.' + +At these words the king hastened back to the stable, and brought +out the lean horse who travelled quicker than thought. But his +daughter saw him coming, and changed her horse into a plot of +ground, herself into a rose-tree covered with roses, and the +prince into a gardener. As the king rode up, the gardener looked +up from the tree which he was trimming and asked if anything was +the matter. 'Have you seen a young man and a girl go by?' said +the king, and the gardener shook his head and replied that no one +had passed that way since he had been working there. So the king +turned his steps homewards and told his wife. + +'Idiot!' cried she, 'if you had only brought me one of the roses, +or a handful of earth, I should have had them in my power. But +there is no time to waste. I shall have to go with you myself.' + +The girl saw them from afar, and a great fear fell on her, for +she knew her mother's skill in magic of all kinds. However, she +determined to fight to the end, and changed the horse into a deep +pool, herself into an eel, and the prince into a turtle. But it +was no use. Her mother recognised them all, and, pulling up, +asked her daughter if she did not repent and would not like to +come home again. The eel wagged 'No' with her tail, and the +queen told her husband to put a drop of water from the pool into +a bottle, because it was only by that means that she could seize +hold of her daughter. The king did as he was bid, and was just +in the act of drawing the bottle out of the water after he had +filled it, when the turtle knocked against and spilt it all. The +king then filled it a second time, but again the turtle was too +quick for him. + +The queen saw that she was beaten, and called down a curse on her +daughter that the prince should forget all about her. After +having relieved her feelings in this manner, she and the king +went back to the palace. + +The others resumed their proper shapes and continued their +journey, but the princess was so silent that at last the prince +asked her what was the matter. 'It is because I know you will +soon forget all about me,' said she, and though he laughed at her +and told her it was impossible, she did not cease to believe it. + +They rode on and on and on, till they reached the end of the +world, where the prince lived, and leaving the girl in an inn he +went himself to the palace to ask leave of his father to present +her to him as his bride; but in his joy at seeing his family once +more he forgot all about her, and even listened when the king +spoke of arranging a marriage for him. + +When the poor girl heard this she wept bitterly, and cried out, +'Come to me, my sisters, for I need you badly!' + +In a moment they stood beside her, and the elder one said, 'Do +not be sad, all will go well,' and they told the innkeeper that +if any of the king's servants wanted any birds for their master +they were to be sent up to them, as they had three doves for +sale. + +And so it fell out, and as the doves were very beautiful the +servant bought them for the king, who admired them so much that +he called his son to look at them. The prince was much pleased +with the doves and was coaxing them to come to him, when one +fluttered on to the top of the window and said, 'If you could +only hear us speak, you would admire us still more.' + +And another perched on a table and added, 'Talk away, it might +help him to remember!' + +And the third flew on his shoulder and whispered to him, 'Put on +this ring, prince, and see if it fits you.' + +And it did. Then they hung a collar round his neck, and held a +feather on which was written the name of the dove. And at last +his memory came back to him, and he declared he would marry the +princess and nobody else. So the next day the wedding took +place, and they lived happy till they died. + +[From the Portuguese.] + + + +VIRGILIUS THE SORCERER + +Long, long ago there was born to a Roman knight and his wife Maja +a little boy called Virgilius. While he was still quite little, +his father died, and the kinsmen, instead of being a help and +protection to the child and his mother, robbed them of their +lands and money, and the widow, fearing that they might take the +boy's life also, sent him away to Spain, that he might study in +the great University of Toledo. + +Virgilius was fond of books, and pored over them all day long. +But one afternoon, when the boys were given a holiday, he took a +long walk, and found himself in a place where he had never been +before. In front of him was a cave, and, as no boy ever sees a +cave without entering it, he went in. The cave was so deep that +it seemed to Virgilius as if it must run far into the heart of +the mountain, and he thought he would like to see if it came out +anywhere on the other side. For some time he walked on in pitch +darkness, but he went steadily on, and by-and-by a glimmer of +light shot across the floor, and he heard a voice calling, +'Virgilius! Virgilius!' + +'Who calls?' he asked, stopping and looking round. + +'Virgilius!' answered the voice, 'do you mark upon the ground +where you are standing a slide or bolt?' + +'I do,' replied Virgilius. + +'Then,' said the voice, 'draw back that bolt, and set me free.' + +'But who are you?' asked Virgilius, who never did anything in a +hurry. + +'I am an evil spirit,' said the voice, 'shut up here till +Doomsday, unless a man sets me free. If you will let me out I +will give you some magic books, which will make you wiser than +any other man.' + +Now Virgilius loved wisdom, and was tempted by these promises, +but again his prudence came to his aid, and he demanded that the +books should be handed over to him first, and that he should be +told how to use them. The evil spirit, unable to help itself, +did as Virgilius bade him, and then the bolt was drawn back. +Underneath was a small hole, and out of this the evil spirit +gradually wriggled himself; but it took some time, for when at +last he stood upon the ground he proved to be about three times +as large as Virgilius himself, and coal black besides. + +'Why, you can't have been as big as that when you were in the +hole!' cried Virgilius. + +'But I was!' replied the spirit. + +'I don't believe it!' answered Virgilius. + +'Well, I'll just get in and show you,' said the spirit, and after +turning and twisting, and curling himself up, then he lay neatly +packed into the hole. Then Virgilius drew the bolt, and, picking +the books up under his arm, he left the cave. + +For the next few weeks Virgilius hardly ate or slept, so busy was +he in learning the magic the books contained. But at the end of +that time a messenger from his mother arrived in Toledo, begging +him to come at once to Rome, as she had been ill, and could look +after their affairs no longer. + +Though sorry to leave Toledo, where he was much thought of as +showing promise of great learning, Virgilius would willingly have +set out at once, but there were many things he had first to see +to. So he entrusted to the messenger four pack-horses laden with +precious things, and a white palfrey on which she was to ride out +every day. Then he set about his own preparations, and, followed +by a large train of scholars, he at length started for Rome, from +which he had been absent twelve years. + +His mother welcomed him back with tears in her eyes, and his poor +kinsmen pressed round him, but the rich ones kept away, for they +feared that they would no longer be able to rob their kinsman as +they had done for many years past. Of course, Virgilius paid no +attention to this behaviour, though he noticed they looked with +envy on the rich presents he bestowed on the poorer relations and +on anyone who had been kind to his mother. + +Soon after this had happened the season of tax-gathering came +round, and everyone who owned land was bound to present himself +before the emperor. Like the rest, Virgilius went to court, and +demanded justice from the emperor against the men who had robbed +him. But as these were kinsmen to the emperor he gained nothing, +as the emperor told him he would think over the matter for the +next four years, and then give judgment. This reply naturally +did not satisfy Virgilius, and, turning on his heel, he went back +to his own home, and, gathering in his harvest, he stored it up +in his various houses. + +When the enemies of Virgilius heard of this, they assembled +together and laid siege to his castle. But Virgilius was a match +for them. Coming forth from the castle so as to meet them face +to face, he cast a spell over them of such power that they could +not move, and then bade them defiance. After which he lifted the +spell, and the invading army slunk back to Rome, and reported +what Virgilius had said to the emperor. + +Now the emperor was accustomed to have his lightest word obeyed, +almost before it was uttered, and he hardly knew how to believe +his ears. But he got together another army, and marched straight +off to the castle. But directly they took up their position +Virgilius girded them about with a great river, so that they +could neither move hand nor foot, then, hailing the emperor, he +offered him peace, and asked for his friendship. The emperor, +however, was too angry to listen to anything, so Virgilius, whose +patience was exhausted, feasted his own followers in the presence +of the starving host, who could not stir hand or foot. + +Things seemed getting desperate, when a magician arrived in the +camp and offered to sell his services to the emperor. His +proposals were gladly accepted, and in a moment the whole of the +garrison sank down as if they were dead, and Virgilius himself +had much ado to keep awake. He did not know how to fight the +magician, but with a great effort struggled to open his Black +Book, which told him what spells to use. In an instant all his +foes seemed turned to stone, and where each man was there he +stayed. Some were half way up the ladders, some had one foot +over the wall, but wherever they might chance to be there every +man remained, even the emperor and his sorcerer. All day they +stayed there like flies upon the wall, but during the night +Virgilius stole softly to the emperor, and offered him his +freedom, as long as he would do him justice. The emperor, who by +this time was thoroughly frightened, said he would agree to +anything Virgilius desired. So Virgilius took off his spells, +and, after feasting the army and bestowing on every man a gift, +bade them return to Rome. And more than that, he built a square +tower for the emperor, and in each corner all that was said in +that quarter of the city might be heard, while if you stood in +the centre every whisper throughout Rome would reach your ears. + +Having settled his affairs with the emperor and his enemies, +Virgilius had time to think of other things, and his first act +was to fall in love! The lady's name was Febilla, and her family +was noble, and her face fairer than any in Rome, but she only +mocked Virgilius, and was always playing tricks upon him. To +this end, she bade him one day come to visit her in the tower +where she lived, promising to let down a basket to draw him up as +far as the roof. Virgilius was enchanted at this quite +unexpected favour, and stepped with glee into the basket. It was +drawn up very slowly, and by-and-by came altogether to a +standstill, while from above rang the voice of Febilla crying, +'Rogue of a sorcerer, there shalt thou hang!' And there he hung +over the market-place, which was soon thronged with people, who +made fun of him till he was mad with rage. At last the emperor, +hearing of his plight, commanded Febilla to release him, and +Virgilius went home vowing vengeance. + +The next morning every fire in Rome went out, and as there were +no matches in those days this was a very serious matter. The +emperor, guessing that this was the work of Virgilius, besought +him to break the spell. Then Virgilius ordered a scaffold to be +erected in the market-place, and Febilla to be brought clothed +in a single white garment. And further, he bade every one to +snatch fire from the maiden, and to suffer no neighbour to kindle +it. And when the maiden appeared, clad in her white smock, +flames of fire curled about her, and the Romans brought some +torches, and some straw, and some shavings, and fires were +kindled in Rome again. + +For three days she stood there, till every hearth in Rome was +alight, and then she was suffered to go where she would. + +But the emperor was wroth at the vengeance of Virgilius, and +threw him into prison, vowing that he should be put to death. +And when everything was ready he was led out to the Viminal Hill, +where he was to die. + +He went quietly with his guards, but the day was hot, and on +reaching his place of execution he begged for some water. A pail +was brought, and he, crying 'Emperor, all hail! seek for me in +Sicily,' jumped headlong into the pail, and vanished from their +sight. + +For some time we hear no more of Virgilius, or how he made his +peace with the emperor, but the next event in his history was his +being sent for to the palace to give the emperor advice how to +guard Rome from foes within as well as foes without. Virgilius +spent many days in deep thought, and at length invented a plan +which was known to all as the 'Preservation of Rome.' + +On the roof of the Capitol, which was the most famous public +building in the city, he set up statues representing the gods +worshipped by every nation subject to Rome, and in the middle +stood the god of Rome herself. Each of the conquered gods held +in its hand a bell, and if there was even a thought of treason in +any of the countries its god turned its back upon the god of Rome +and rang its bell furiously, and the senators came hurrying to +see who was rebelling against the majesty of the empire. Then +they made ready their armies, and marched against the foe. + +Now there was a country which had long felt bitter jealousy of +Rome, and was anxious for some way of bringing about its +destruction. So the people chose three men who could be trusted, +and, loading them with money, sent them to Rome, bidding them to +pretend that they were diviners of dreams. No sooner had the +messengers reached the city than they stole out at night and +buried a pot of gold far down in the earth, and let down another +into the bed of the Tiber, just where a bridge spans the river. + +Next day they went to the senate house, where the laws were made, +and, bowing low, they said, 'Oh, noble lords, last night we +dreamed that beneath the foot of a hill there lies buried a pot +of gold. Have we your leave to dig for it?' And leave having +been given, the messengers took workmen and dug up the gold and +made merry with it. + +A few days later the diviners again appeared before the senate, +and said, 'Oh, noble lords, grant us leave to seek out another +treasure, which has been revealed to us in a dream as lying under +the bridge over the river.' + +And the senators gave leave, and the messengers hired boats and +men, and let down ropes with hooks, and at length drew up the pot +of gold, some of which they gave as presents to the senators. + +A week or two passed by, and once more they appeared in the +senate house. + +'O, noble lords!' said they, 'last night in a vision we beheld +twelve casks of gold lying under the foundation stone of the +Capitol, on which stands the statue of the Preservation of Rome. +Now, seeing that by your goodness we have been greatly enriched +by our former dreams, we wish, in gratitude, to bestow this third +treasure on you for your own profit; so give us workers, and we +will begin to dig without delay.' + +And receiving permission they began to dig, and when the +messengers had almost undermined the Capitol they stole away as +secretly as they had come. + +And next morning the stone gave way, and the sacred statue fell +on its face and was broken. And the senators knew that their +greed had been their ruin. + +From that day things went from bad to worse, and every morning +crowds presented themselves before the emperor, complaining of +the robberies, murders, and other crimes that were committed +nightly in the streets. + +The emperor, desiring nothing so much as the safety of his +subjects, took counsel with Virgilius how this violence could be +put down. + +Virgilius thought hard for a long time, and then he spoke: + +'Great prince,' said he, 'cause a copper horse and rider to be +made, and stationed in front of the Capitol. Then make a +proclamation that at ten o'clock a bell will toll, and every man +is to enter his house, and not leave it again.' + +The emperor did as Virgilius advised, but thieves and murderers +laughed at the horse, and went about their misdeeds as usual. + +But at the last stroke of the bell the horse set off at full +gallop through the streets of Rome, and by daylight men counted +over two hundred corpses that it had trodden down. The rest of +the thieves--and there were still many remaining--instead of +being frightened into honesty, as Virgilius had hoped, prepared +rope ladders with hooks to them, and when they heard the sound of +the horse's hoofs they stuck their ladders into the walls, and +climbed up above the reach of the horse and its rider + +Then the emperor commanded two copper dogs to be made that would +run after the horse, and when the thieves, hanging from the +walls, mocked and jeered at Virgilius and the emperor, the dogs +leaped high after them and pulled them to the ground, and bit +them to death. + +Thus did Virgilius restore peace and order to the city. + +Now about this time there came to be noised abroad the fame of +the daughter of the sultan who ruled over the province of +Babylon, and indeed she was said to be the most beautiful +princess in the world. + +Virgilius, like the rest, listened to the stories that were told +of her, and fell so violently in love with all he heard that he +built a bridge in the air, which stretched all the way between +Rome and Babylon. He then passed over it to visit the princess, +who, though somewhat surprised to see him, gave him welcome, and +after some conversation became in her turn anxious to see the +distant country where this stranger lived, and he promised that +he would carry her there himself, without wetting the soles of +his feet. + +The princess spent some days in the palace of Virgilius, looking +at wonders of which she had never dreamed, though she declined to +accept the presents he longed to heap on her. The hours passed +as if they were minutes, till the princess said that she could be +no longer absent from her father. Then Virgilius conducted her +himself over the airy bridge, and laid her gently down on her own +bed, where she was found next morning by her father. + +She told him all that had happened to her, and he pretended to be +very much interested, and begged that the next time Virgilius +came he might be introduced to him. + +Soon after, the sultan received a message from his daughter that +the stranger was there, and he commanded that a feast should be +made ready, and, sending for the princess delivered into her +hands a cup, which he said she was to present to Virgilius +herself, in order to do him honour. + +When they were all seated at the feast the princess rose and +presented the cup to Virgilius, who directly he had drunk fell +into a deep sleep. + +Then the sultan ordered his guards to bind him, and left him +there till the following day. + +Directly the sultan was up he summoned his lords and nobles into +his great hall, and commanded that the cords which bound +Virgilius should be taken off, and the prisoner brought before +him. The moment he appeared the sultan's passion broke forth, +and he accused his captive of the crime of conveying the princess +into distant lands without his leave. + +Virgilius replied that if he had taken her away he had also +brought her back, when he might have kept her, and that if they +would set him free to return to his own land he would come hither +no more. + +'Not so!' cried the sultan, 'but a shameful death you shall die!' +And the princess fell on her knees, and begged she might die with +him. + +'You are out in your reckoning, Sir Sultan!' said Virgilius, +whose patience was at an end, and he cast a spell over the sultan +and his lords, so that they believed that the great river of +Babylon was flowing through the hall, and that they must swim for +their lives. So, leaving them to plunge and leap like frogs and +fishes, Virgilius took the princess in his arms, and carried her +over the airy bridge back to Rome. + +Now Virgilius did not think that either his palace, or even Rome +itself, was good enough to contain such a pearl as the princess, +so he built her a city whose foundations stood upon eggs, buried +far away down in the depths of the sea. And in the city was a +square tower, and on the roof of the tower was a rod of iron, and +across the rod he laid a bottle, and on the bottle he placed an +egg, and from the egg there hung chained an apple, which hangs +there to this day. And when the egg shakes the city quakes, and +when the egg shall be broken the city shall be destroyed. And +the city Virgilius filled full of wonders, such as never were +seen before, and he called its name Naples. + +[Adapted from 'Virgilius the Sorcerer.'] + + + +MOGARZEA AND HIS SON + +There was once a little boy, whose father and mother, when they +were dying, left him to the care of a guardian. But the guardian +whom they chose turned out to be a wicked man, and spent all the +money, so the boy determined to go away and strike out a path for +himself. + +So one day he set off, and walked and walked through woods and +meadows till when evening came he was very tired, and did not +know where to sleep. He climbed a hill and looked about him to +see if there was no light shining from a window. At first all +seemed dark, but at length he noticed a tiny spark far, far off, +and, plucking up his spirits, he at once went in search of it. + +The night was nearly half over before he reached the spark, which +turned out to be a big fire, and by the fire a man was sleeping +who was so tall he might have been a giant. The boy hesitated +for a moment what he should do; then he crept close up to the +man, and lay down by his legs. + +When the man awoke in the morning he was much surprised to find +the boy nestling up close to him. + +'Dear me! where do you come from?' said he. + +'I am your son, born in the night,' replied the boy. + +'If that is true,' said the man, 'you shall take care of my +sheep, and I will give you food. But take care you never cross +the border of my land, or you will repent it.' Then he pointed +out where the border of his land lay, and bade the boy begin his +work at once. + +The young shepherd led his flock out to the richest meadows and +stayed with them till evening, when he brought them back, and +helped the man to milk them. When this was done, they both sat +down to supper, and while they were eating the boy asked the big +man: 'What is your name, father?' + +'Mogarzea,' answered he. + +'I wonder you are not tired of living by yourself in this lonely +place.' + +'There is no reason you should wonder! Don't you know that there +was never a bear yet who danced of his own free will?' + +'Yes, that is true,' replied the boy. 'But why is it you are +always so sad? Tell me your history, father.' + +'What is the use of my telling you things that would only make +you sad too?' + +'Oh, never mind that! I should like to hear. Are you not my +father, and am I not your son?' + +'Well, if you really want to know my story, this is it: As I +told you, my name is Mogarzea, and my father is an emperor. I +was on my way to the Sweet Milk Lake, which lies not far from +here, to marry one of the three fairies who have made the lake +their home. But on the road three wicked elves fell on me, and +robbed me of my soul, so that ever since I have stayed in this +spot watching my sheep without wishing for anything different, +without having felt one moment's joy, or ever once being able to +laugh. And the horrible elves are so ill-natured that if anyone +sets one foot on their land he is instantly punished. That is +why I warn you to be careful, lest you should share my fate.' + +'All right, I will take great care. Do let me go, father,' said +the boy, as they stretched themselves out to sleep. + +At sunrise the boy got up and led his sheep out to feed, and for +some reason he did not feel tempted to cross into the grassy +meadows belonging to the elves, but let his flock pick up what +pasture they could on Mogarzea's dry ground. + +On the third day he was sitting under the shadow of a tree, +playing on his flute--and there was nobody in the world who could +play a flute better--when one of his sheep strayed across the +fence into the flowery fields of the elves, and another and +another followed it. But the boy was so absorbed in his flute +that he noticed nothing till half the flock were on the other +side. + +He jumped up, still playing on his flute, and went after the +sheep, meaning to drive them back to their own side of the +border, when suddenly he saw before him three beautiful maidens +who stopped in front of him, and began to dance. The boy +understood what he must do, and played with all his might, but +the maidens danced on till evening. + +'Now let me go,' he cried at last, 'for poor Mogarzea must be +dying of hunger. I will come and play for you to-morrow.' + +'Well, you may go!' they said, 'but remember that even if you +break your promise you will not escape us.' + +So they both agreed that the next day he should come straight +there with the sheep, and play to them till the sun went down. +This being settled, they each returned home. + +Mogarzea was surprised to find that his sheep gave so much more +milk than usual, but as the boy declared he had never crossed the +border the big man did not trouble his head further, and ate his +supper heartily. + +With the earliest gleams of light, the boy was off with his sheep +to the elfin meadow, and at the first notes of his flute the +maidens appeared before him and danced and danced and danced till +evening came. Then the boy let the flute slip through his +fingers, and trod on it, as if by accident. + +If you had heard the noise he made, and how he wrung his hands +and wept and cried that he had lost his only companion, you would +have been sorry for him. The hearts of the elves were quite +melted, and they did all they could to comfort him. + +'I shall never find another flute like that, moaned he. 'I have +never heard one whose tone was as sweet as mine! It was cut +from the centre of a seven-year-old cherry tree!' + +'There is a cherry tree in our garden that is exactly seven years +old,' said they. 'Come with us, and you shall make yourself +another flute.' + +So they all went to the cherry tree, and when they were standing +round it the youth explained that if he tried to cut it down with +an axe he might very likely split open the heart of the tree, +which was needed for the flute. In order to prevent this, he +would make a little cut in the bark, just large enough for them +to put their fingers in, and with this help he could manage to +tear the tree in two, so that the heart should run no risk of +damage. The elves did as he told them without a thought; then +he quickly drew out the axe, which had been sticking into the +cleft, and behold! all their fingers were imprisoned tight in +the tree. + +It was in vain that they shrieked with pain and tried to free +themselves. They could do nothing, and the young man remained +cold as marble to all their entreaties. + +Then he demanded of them Mogarzea's soul. + +'Oh, well, if you must have it, it is in a bottle on the window +sill,' said they, hoping that they might obtain their freedom at +once. But they were mistaken. + +'You have made so many men suffer,' answered he sternly, 'that it +is but just you should suffer yourselves, but to-morrow I will +let you go.' And he turned towards home, taking his sheep and +the soul of Mogarzea with him. + +Mogarzea was waiting at the door, and as the boy drew near he +began scolding him for being so late. But at the first word of +explanation the man became beside himself with joy, and he sprang +so high into the air that the false soul which the elves had +given him flew out of his mouth, and his own, which had been shut +tightly into the flask of water, took its place. + +When his excitement had somewhat calmed down, he cried to the +boy, 'Whether you are really my son matters nothing to me; tell +me, how can I repay you for what you have done for me?' + +'By showing me where the Milk Lake is, and how I can get one of +the three fairies who lives there to wife, and by letting me +remain your son for ever.' + +The night was passed by Mogarzea and his son in songs and +feasting, for both were too happy to sleep, and when day dawned +they set out together to free the elves from the tree. When they +reached the place of their imprisonment, Mogarzea took the cherry +tree and all the elves with it on his back, and carried them off +to his father's kingdom, where everyone rejoiced to see him home +again. But all he did was to point to the boy who had saved him, +and had followed him with his flock. + +For three days the boy stayed in the palace, receiving the thanks +and praises of the whole court. Then he said to Mogarzea: + +'The time has come for me to go hence, but tell me, I pray you, +how to find the Sweet Milk Lake, and I will return, and will +bring my wife back with me.' + +Mogarzea tried in vain to make him stay, but, finding it was +useless, he told him all he knew, for he himself had never seen +the lake. + +For three summer days the boy and his flute journeyed on, till +one evening he reached the lake, which lay in the kingdom of a +powerful fairy. The next morning had scarcely dawned when the +youth went down to the shore, and began to play on his flute, and +the first notes had hardly sounded when he saw a beautiful fairy +standing before him, with hair and robes that shone like gold. +He gazed at her in wonder, when suddenly she began to dance. Her +movements were so graceful that he forgot to play, and as soon as +the notes of his flute ceased she vanished from his sight. The +next day the same thing happened, but on the third he took +courage, and drew a little nearer, playing on his flute all the +while. Suddenly he sprang forward, seized her in his arms and +kissed her, and plucked a rose from her hair. + +The fairy gave a cry, and begged him to give her back her rose, +but he would not. He only stuck the rose in his hat, and turned +a deaf ear to all her prayers. + +At last she saw that her entreaties were vain, and agreed to +marry him, as he wished. And they went together to the palace, +where Mogarzea was still waiting for him, and the marriage was +celebrated by the emperor himself. But every May they returned +to the Milk Lake, they and their children, and bathed in its +waters. + +[Olumanische Marchen.] + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg Etext of The Violet Fairy Book + diff --git a/old/vifry10.zip b/old/vifry10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d4992c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/vifry10.zip |