AFTER THE WEDDING
The third evening of the wedding-feast had come, and with music
and singing the whole village escorted the young couple to their
house. They were to have a house of their own, and not live with
the bridegroom's father, for so had the starosta insisted. Now they
were there at last, and though some of the young men remained in the
streets singing noisily, the bride's family went quietly home.
"It seems lonely without our princess," said the starosta as they
gathered around the stove. "Grandmother, I know the little boy is
hoping for a story. Let us all hear it. Tell one of your very best
ones, that we may forget for a time that our family circle is smaller."
The grandmother, with great willingness, told the story of
STEELPACHA
Once upon a time there was an Emperor who had three sons and three
daughters. As he was very old, his last hour drew nigh. He therefore
called his children to his bedside and laid earnest command upon his
sons to give their sisters, without hesitation, to the first suitors
who asked for them in marriage. "Marry them off," he said to the sons,
"or my curse will be upon you!" These were his last words.
After his death, day passed quietly after day for a while. Then one
evening there came a loud knocking at the door. The whole palace
began to rock amid a wild roaring, howling, crashing, flashing;
the castle was bathed in a sea of flame. Every heart was terrified,
and trembling took possession of every soul.
Suddenly a voice cried, "Open the door, ye princes!"
Up spoke the Emperor's eldest son, "Do not open!" And the second said,
"On no account open!" But the youngest said, "Then I will open the
door myself!"
He sprang up and drew the bolts. Hardly was the door opened when
a fearful Being rushed in, the outline of whose form was hidden in
encircling flames.
"I am come," he exclaimed, "to take your eldest sister for my wife,
and that at once. So give a short answer--yes or no; I insist upon it!"
Said the eldest brother, "I will not give her to you. Why should I,
when I know neither who nor whence you are? You come here by night,
demand my sister's hand upon the instant, and I do not even hear
which way I am to turn when I wish to visit her."
Said the second brother, "Nor do I permit you to take away my sister
thus in the dead of night."
But the youngest interposed, "Then I will give her away if you
two refuse. Have you already forgotten our father's command?" And
taking his sister by the hand he gave her to the stranger, saying,
"May she live happily with you and be ever faithful!"
As the sister crossed the threshold every one in the building fell to
the ground in fear and horror. It lightened, it thundered, it crashed,
it quaked, the whole fortress swayed heavily, as if heaven and earth
were falling together. Gradually the uproar died away, and the rosy
eastern light announced the coming morning.
As soon as day had broken the brothers searched for the traces which
they supposed would have been left by their tremendous nocturnal
visitor; but not a trace, not a footprint had he left behind. All
was swept away.
On the following night, at the self-same hour, the self-same flashing,
crashing din was heard around the imperial fortress, and a voice
without cried loudly, "Open the door, you princes!"
Paralyzed with terror, they threw open the door and a fearful Form
rushed in, crying in a loud voice, "Give me here the maiden, your
second sister! We have come to marry her!"
Said the eldest brother, "I will not give you my sister!"
Said the second, "I will not let my sister----"
But the youngest broke in with, "Then I will! Will you never remember
what our father commanded?"
He took his sister by the hand and led her to the wooer. "Take her;
she will be happy with you and always good."
At this the powerful apparition vanished, and the maiden with him.
As soon as morning dawned the brothers sought around the castle for
traces of the direction which the apparition had taken; but they found
nothing under the blessed sun, nor was there the slightest clew from
which they could make any sort of guess any more than if no one had
been there!
On the third night, at the same hour, the whole castle was again
shaken to the foundation by a horrible uproar and earthquake, and a
voice called out, "Open the door, ye princes!"
The Emperor's sons sprang nimbly to their feet and drew the bolts,
upon which a monstrous Form entered, exclaiming, "We are come to
demand the hand of your youngest sister!"
"Never!" shrieked the eldest and second brothers with one voice. "We
will not let this one go away thus by night. Surely we must at least
know of this our youngest sister whom she marries and where she goes,
that we may be able to visit her!"
But up spoke the youngest brother, "Then I will give her away if you
refuse. Have you quite forgotten what our father charged us on his
dying bed? It is not so long ago."
He took the sister by the hand and said, "Here she is; take her home
and live happily and joyfully with her!"
In a twinkling the terrible Being disappeared in the midst of a
fearful uproar.
When the morning dawned the brothers felt oppressed by anxiety,
being all uncertain as to the fate of their sisters. After a long
interval, during which no light had been thrown upon this matter,
the three brothers took counsel together:
"Good heavens, did ever one know of anything so mysterious! What
has become of our sisters? For we have not the least idea of their
abiding-place, nor any clew which can lead to their discovery."
At length one said to the others, "Let us go forth to seek our
sisters."
So the three brothers made ready without losing a moment. They took
money enough for a long journey and went out into the wide world to
seek their sisters.
In the course of their wanderings they lost their way among the
mountains, where they wandered for a whole day. When night fell they
decided, on account of their horses, to encamp for the night near a
piece of water.
And so they did. They reached the shore of a lake, pitched their tents,
and sat down to supper. When they lay down to sleep the eldest brother
said, "You may sleep, but I will stand guard."
So the two younger brothers went peacefully to sleep, while the
eldest brother kept watch. At a certain hour of the night the lake
became agitated with a swaying motion which startled the watcher not
a little. He soon observed a shapeless form arising out of the midst
of the water and rushing straight toward him. It was a frightful
monster of a Dragon, with two great flapping ears, which was rushing
so fiercely upon him. The Prince bravely drew his sword and, seizing
the Dragon, cut off his head. Then he sliced off the ears and put them
into his wallet, and threw the head and the body back into the lake.
Meantime the day had dawned, and the brothers still lay in profound
slumber, little dreaming of their eldest brother's heroic exploit. He
now awaked them, but said not a syllable about his nocturnal
adventure. They left that place and continued their journey,
and when twilight began to fall they once more agreed to seek a
halting-place near some piece of water. But they were much terrified
to find themselves quite lost in a lonely wilderness. At last,
however, they came upon a tiny lake, where they decided to spend
the night. They kindled a fire, unpacked cooking utensils and food,
and took their evening meal. After that they disposed themselves to
sleep. Then said the second brother, "Do you two go to rest; I will
mount guard to-night."
The two brothers therefore lay down to sleep, but the third cheerfully
sat up and kept watch. Suddenly a rustling sound from the lake met
his ears, and he saw a sight which curdled the blood in his veins. A
two-headed Dragon rushed tumultuously upon the brothers as if to
annihilate them all three.
Quick as thought the watcher sprang up, drew his glittering sword,
avoided the Dragon's attack, and cut off his two heads. Then he sliced
off the ears and put them into his wallet, throwing the other parts
of the monster back into the lake. His brothers knew nothing of the
affair, for both slept soundly until dawn.
When day broke the second brother called to them, "Wake up, brothers,
the morning dawns!"
Immediately they sprang up, packed their goods, and set forth upon
their way; but they had not the least idea where they were nor in
what country.
A great fear overwhelmed them that they might perish of hunger in
this wilderness, and they besought God to guide them, at least, to
some inhabited village or city, or to permit them to meet some human
being, for they had already wandered three days in this inhospitable
wilderness without coming to the end or finding any way out.
It was rather early in the day when they came to a pretty large
lake and decided to go no farther, but to make their camp on this
lake-side. For they said, "If we go farther we shall very probably
not find any more water near which to make our camp."
They remained, therefore, in this place, built a great fire, supped,
and made ready to sleep. Then said the youngest brother:
"Do you two go to rest. I will take the watch to-night."
So the two lay down and soon fell asleep, but the youngest brother
kept a sharp lookout, and often threw a glance over the shining
surface of the lake.
Thus passed away a portion of the night, when suddenly the lake boiled
up, surged, foaming, upon the fire and half-extinguished it. But
the watcher whipped out his sword and took his position close to the
fire. Suddenly a three-headed Dragon rushed forth and made as if to
kill the brothers.
Now was the hero-spirit of the youth tested. He waked not his brothers,
but went forth alone to meet the Dragon. Three times he raised his
sword, and each time he smote off one of the monster's heads. Then
he sliced off the ears, and threw the shapeless remains into the water.
While this tremendous conflict was going on the fire died out, having
been flooded by the water. The Prince would not awake his brothers,
although he had no tinder-box of his own to rekindle it with, but
resolved to search around a little in the wilderness in hope of
stumbling upon some one who could help him.
But nowhere was there a mortal soul! At last he climbed into a high
tree and looked around in all directions to see what he might see.
As he was thus gazing far and wide his eyes were suddenly attracted
by a flash of light which seemed to be very near him. He descended
the tree and went in the direction of the light, hoping to get some
fire wherewith to rekindle the fire for his brothers.
He went on for a long stretch, the light seeming always to be just
before him, when suddenly he found himself standing before a cave
in a rock in which nine Giants, gathered around an immense fire,
were roasting two men upon a spit, one on one side of the fire, the
other on the other. An enormous copper caldron, full to the brim with
human flesh, was bubbling over the fire.
The imperial Prince was horrified at this sight. He would have turned
back, but whither should he go? Where was there a way of escape for
him? He quickly recovered his self-possession, however, and cried out,
"Good-morning, valiant comrades! I have long been seeking you!"
They received him most cordially, answering, "God be with thee,
if thou art a true comrade."
He replied, "Indeed I am, and shall be all my life long. I would risk
my head for you."
"All right," they answered. "If you wish to be one of us, are you
ready to eat human flesh and take a share in our adventures?"
"Yes, that I will," said the Prince. "What you do, that will I
do also."
"Faith, then all is well!" they said. "Sit down among us."
They settled themselves around the fire. The caldron was taken off,
its contents served, and the meal began. The Prince received his share,
but he knew how to manage, and, instead of eating, he slyly threw the
meat, bit by bit, behind him. He did the same with the roast. Then
the Giants said:
"Come, now, we must go a-hunting, for we must eat to-morrow as well
as to-day."
So the nine Giants set out, with the Prince for a tenth.
"Come," they said to him, "not far from here is a town in which reigns
an Emperor. His city has fed us for several years."
As they drew near to the city they pulled up two fir-trees by the
roots and carried them along. When they reached the town they set
one of the trees against the wall and called to the Prince, "Come on,
climb up the wall here, and we will hand you the second tree. Seize
it by the point and let it down on the other side, but keep hold of
the top so that we may climb down by the trunk."
The Prince accordingly scrambled up, but on receiving the second tree
he called out, "I don't know where to stand it; I am not familiar
with the place and dare not shove it over. Do one of you come up and
show me, and then I will make it all right."
One of the Giants climbed up to him, seized the fir-tree by the point,
and let it down on the other side of the wall. As he stood thus bent
over, the Prince drew his sword and struck off his head, and the dead
Giant tumbled off the wall into the city.
Then the Prince cried to the others, "All right! Come on now, one at
a time, that I may help you along in the same way."
One after another unsuspiciously climbed up, only to meet death at
the hands of the Prince. When he had made an end of all the nine he
let himself down by the fir-tree into the city, which he explored
in every direction. No sound of human voice reached his ear. All was
a drear, horrible desolation. "Has the whole population been robbed
and murdered by the Giants?" he thought to himself.
For a long time he wandered about the desolate city, until he came
to a very high tower, from one window of which shone out the light
of a taper. He threw open the door, rushed up the tower stair, and
hastened straight to that room.
On the threshold he stood still in amazement. The room was richly
hung and decorated with gold, silk, and velvet, and not a soul within
except a maiden who lay upon a couch, outstretched in deep slumber. The
Prince was rooted to the spot at the sight of the maiden, for she
was wonderfully beautiful. But at that moment he became aware of a
great serpent which, gliding along the wall, stretched out its head
directly over the head of the maiden, coiling itself up in readiness
to spring and strike her upon the brow, between the eyes.
Then the Prince sprang quickly with his pocket-knife, which in a
trice he had drawn from his pocket, and pinned the serpent's head
to the wall. Then saying these words, "God grant that no hand but
mine may draw this knife out from the wall," he went quickly away. He
climbed up by one fir-tree and down by the other, and so got over the
wall. Arrived at the Giants' cave, he took some fire and ran back to
his brothers, who were still buried in profound slumber. As he kindled
the fire day began to dawn in the east. He awakened his brothers,
and they set forth upon their journey.
That same day they came to the highway leading to the before-mentioned
city. A mighty Emperor reigned there who used to go about the
city every morning shedding bitter tears because his people were
exterminated and eaten by the giants, and because of his constant fear
that his only daughter would fall a sacrifice to their gluttony. On
this morning he was going about the city as usual. It lay empty and
deserted; the inhabitants had dwindled away to a mere remnant; most
of them had found a grave in the giants' maws.
As I have said, the Emperor was thus reviewing his city when suddenly
his eyes fell upon the uprooted fir-tree which still leaned against the
wall, and as he drew nearer he beheld a wonderful sight: there lay the
nine Giants, the very pests of the city, with their heads all cut off!
This sight gave the King unspeakable joy. The people also gathered
together to pray God that blessing and happiness might descend
upon the giant-slayer. At that very moment a servant came from the
imperial citadel to say that a serpent had nearly been the death of the
Emperor's daughter. Upon this the Emperor betook himself straightway to
the citadel, and to the very chamber of his daughter. Arrived there,
he saw upon the wall the impaled serpent, and tried with his own hand
to draw out the knife, but in vain.
Then the Emperor sent a proclamation through his whole empire:
"Whoever has slain the giants and impaled the serpent, let him make
himself known, that the Emperor may richly reward him and bestow upon
him the hand of his daughter."
This proclamation was issued in every province of the empire. The
Emperor also gave command that great inns should be erected upon the
principal highways, where all travellers should be stopped and asked
whether they knew who had overcome the giants; and whoever should
discover the man, let him hasten with utmost speed to the Emperor to
receive a rich reward.
According to the imperial proclamation, great inns were erected upon
the principal highways, and every traveller stopped, examined, and
the whole affair explained to him.
After a while the three Princes who were seeking their sisters came
to pass the night at one of these inns. After supper the landlord
joined the company and began to boast of his wonderful exploits. At
last he turned to the three brothers with the question, "And what
doughty deeds have you done up to this time?"
Then the eldest brother began, "As I and my brothers were upon our
travels it came to pass one night that we made our halt on the border
of a lake in a great wilderness. While my brothers were asleep and
I keeping watch, a Dragon came up out of the lake to destroy me. I
drew my sword out of the scabbard and struck off his head. If you
don't believe me, here are his ears." And he drew the ears out of
his wallet and threw them upon the table.
When the second brother heard this, he began, "I had the watch on
the second night, and I killed a two-headed Dragon. If you don't
believe me, here are the ears which I cut from his two heads for a
witness." He said it and showed the two pairs of ears.
The youngest brother heard the whole in silence. The landlord now
turned to him.
"By Heaven, youngster, your brothers are valiant heroes! Come, let
us hear if you can also boast of any doughty deeds!"
Hesitatingly the youngest began his story: "Well, I also did a
trifle. It was on the very third night, beside the lake in the
wilderness. You, my brothers, were asleep. I kept watch. At a certain
hour of the night the lake surged up and a three-headed Dragon arose
from it, who would have annihilated us. Then I drew a sword and cut
off all three of his heads. If you don't believe it, here are the
three pairs of ears!"
Upon this the two brothers were dumb with astonishment. But the
youngest went on with his story: "In the meantime the fire had gone
out, and I went forth to seek a light. While straying around among
the hills I stumbled upon nine giants in a cave;" and so he went on
and told all his adventures in order, and every one was struck with
amazement at the wonderful tale.
No sooner had the landlord heard the story than he ran secretly to
the Emperor and told him the whole affair. The Emperor gave him a
great sum of money, and sent his people at once to bring the three
princes before him.
When they came into the emperor's presence he put the following
question to the youngest: "Is it you who performed the wonders in our
city, killing the giants and saving my only daughter from destruction?"
"Yes, it was I, mighty Emperor," replied the Prince. Hereupon the
Emperor married his daughter to the young Prince and raised him to
the highest office in the kingdom.
Then the Emperor said to the two elder brothers, "If it please you
to remain in my empire, I will give you each a wife and will permit
you to build strongholds for yourselves."
But they told him they were already married, and explained that they
had undertaken this journey merely to seek out their sisters. When
the Emperor heard this he detained only the youngest brother, his
son-in-law, and to the two other brothers he gave two mules laden
with gold. So the two brothers returned home to their own kingdom.
Still the youngest brother thought continually of his sisters, and
kept always in mind the hope of yet seeking them out. But on the other
hand he was pained at the thought of parting from his young wife, and
besides he knew that the Emperor would never consent to his leaving
him. So he was continually racked with anxiety about his sisters.
One day the Emperor went hunting, and before setting out he said to
his son-in-law, "Do you remain in the castle during my absence. I
give to you nine keys which you must keep carefully by you. I give you
free leave to open three or four rooms. You will find in them silver
and gold in abundance; there is also no lack of weapons, or of any
kind of treasure. You may even, if you feel inclined, open eight of
the rooms. But beware of unlocking the ninth. Leave that one alone;
for," he added, "if you do not it will be the worse for you." Upon
this the Emperor departed, leaving his son-in-law at home alone.
Hardly was the Emperor gone when the Prince began to open one door
after another, until he had examined eight rooms in succession. His
eyes beheld in them treasures of all kinds. When at last he came to
the door of the ninth room he said to himself, "I have seen and done
so many wonderful things, and shall it be forbidden me to enter a
certain room?"
So he unlocked the door and went in. What a sight! There was a man
whose legs up to his knees and whose arms up to the elbows were encased
in iron; from his neck hung heavy iron chains, the ends of which were
fastened to stakes driven into the floor on all sides, holding him so
securely that he could not stir. Before him a stream of water gushed
from a golden vessel and flowed into a golden basin which stood near;
beside it was a golden jug, beautifully adorned with jewels. The man
longed to drink the water, but he could not reach the jug.
When the imperial Prince saw this he started backward; but the
fettered man cried, "Oh, come to me, I beseech you, in the name of
the living God!"
The Prince drew nearer, and the man continued, "Oh, do a pious act;
let me drain a jug of water! Be assured I will reward you for it with
an additional life."
The Prince considered the proposition. "Can there be anything better
for me than to secure for myself an additional life?" He took the
jug, filled it, and raised it to the man's lips, who emptied it at
a single draught. Upon this the Prince asked him, "In the name of
Heaven, who are you?"
The man answered, "My name is Steelpacha."
The Prince now turned toward the door, but the man implored him,
"Give me another jug of water, and I will give you a second life."
The Prince thought, "He will give me a second life; I have one into
the bargain. This will be a prodigy indeed!" and he filled the jug
again and put it to the man's lips.
He then turned away, and already held the door-latch in his hand when
Steelpacha called to him, "O sir, come back to me! You have twice
acted nobly by me; prove yourself a man a third time and I will give
you a third life. Take this jug, fill it to the brim, and pour it
over my head; and for this labor of love I will give you a third life."
When the Prince heard this he turned back, took the jug, filled it with
water, and poured it over the man's head. The moment the water touched
him the chains about his neck fell asunder and all the bonds which held
him were unloosed. Quick as lightning Steelpacha sprang up, spread
a pair of wings, flew out of the window, snatched up the Princess,
the wife of his deliverer, took flight with her under his wing,
and in a moment had disappeared from view. That was a prodigy indeed!
The Prince now looked forward with deepest dread to the Emperor's
return. However, when the Emperor came home, the Prince told the
whole story exactly as it had happened. The Emperor was beside himself
with grief. "Why did you do thus?" said he reproachfully. "Did I not
expressly forbid you to enter the ninth room?"
The Prince answered soothingly, "Don't be angry with me. I will go
at once to seek Steelpacha and rescue my wife from him."
The Emperor tried to dissuade him from this plan. "Don't do that,"
said he; "you shall on no account move a step from this place. You have
no idea who Steelpacha is. Many an army and much treasure did I waste
before I got him in my power. So remain quietly with me. I will provide
another wife for you. And don't be unhappy; I love you as my own son."
But the Prince was deaf to all these persuasions, and adhered to his
first resolution. He provided himself with the necessary money, mounted
his horse, and went forth into the world to seek Steelpacha. For a
long time he wandered about, and at last he arrived at a city. He was
gazing around with some curiosity, when suddenly a woman called to
him from a balcony, "You Prince, get down from your horse and come
into the court!"
As the Prince entered the court the woman came to meet him. He looked
narrowly at her and recognized his eldest sister. They flew into each
other's arms and lavished sweet kisses upon each other.
The sister was the first to speak. "Come out upon the balcony with
me, brother."
When they were upon the balcony the Prince asked his sister whom she
had married, and she answered, "I am married to the Emperor of the
Dragons. My husband is himself a Dragon. So, brother, it would be
worth your while to hide, for my husband often says he would cut his
brothers-in-law in small bits if he ever laid eyes upon them. Let me
first question him; if he promises to do you no harm I will tell him
of your arrival."
So said and so done. The sister concealed her brother and his
horse. The evening drew on. The Dragon's supper was ready; they were
awaiting his arrival, when at last he came. When he flew in the whole
earth was bathed in blinding light; but he had hardly entered when
he called to his wife:
"Wife, I smell men's bones. Who is here? Tell me quick!"
"No one is here," she answered.
"That is not possible," said he.
Upon this the wife said, "I want to ask you a question, and do you
answer me truly and honestly. Would you do any harm to my brothers
if they happened to come here?"
The Dragon-emperor answered, "I would have the eldest and the second
killed and roasted, but I would do nothing to the youngest."
Upon this she said, "My youngest brother, your brother-in-law,
is arrived."
When the Dragon-emperor heard this he cried, "Out with him, then!" And
when the sister brought her brother from his hiding-place the Emperor
ran to meet him and showered kisses upon him.
"Welcome here, brother-in-law!"
"God be with you, sister's husband!"
"Where were you hiding?"
"Here I am!" And he told him the object of his journey, from beginning
to end.
The Dragon-emperor said to him, "You are running the greatest risk,
God help you! The day before yesterday Steelpacha flew past with your
wife. I was awaiting him with seven thousand dragons, but we could
not overcome him. I adjure you, let that fiend alone. I will give
you money to your heart's desire; just go quietly home."
But the Prince would not hear a word of this advice, and emphatically
declared that he would continue his journey on the morrow. When the
Emperor saw that he could not prevent him, nor induce him to turn back,
he drew a feather out of his wing and gave it to his brother-in-law,
with these words:
"Give good heed to what I now tell you. Take this feather of mine,
and if you come across Steelpacha and find yourself in great danger,
then burn my feather; that very moment I will come to your aid with
the whole strength of my army."
The Prince concealed the feather in a safe place and went his way. He
travelled on and on until he reached a second great city. Here again,
as he was going through the city, a woman called to him from a balcony:
"Ho, there, you Prince, dismount from your horse and come into
the court!"
The Prince rode into the court. Behold, who comes to meet him? It
is his second sister! They rush into each other's arms and kiss each
other heartily. Then the sister led her brother into the castle.
When she had put the horse into the stable she asked the object
of his journey, and he told her the whole story of his adventures,
finally asking her, "And whom have you married, dear sister?"
She answered, "I am married to the Emperor of the Falcons. He will
come home to-night. But I must carefully conceal you, for he is
furious against my brothers." So saying, she concealed the Prince.
In a little while the Falcon-emperor came home, and the whole city
quaked with the tumult of his approach. Supper was served at once,
but not before he had cried to his wife, "I smell men's flesh!"
The wife answered, "What are you thinking of, husband?"
At last, after talking for some time of this thing and that, she asked
him, "Would you do any harm to my brothers if they were to come here?"
The Emperor said, "It would surely go hard with the eldest and the
second, but I would do nothing to the youngest." Then she told him
of her youngest brother's arrival.
The Falcon-emperor commanded his wife to bring her brother before
him, and as soon as he beheld him he fell upon his neck and kissed
him. "Welcome, dear brother-in-law!"
"A lucky and joyful meeting, dear sister's husband!" answered the
Prince; upon which they sat down to supper.
After supper the Emperor asked his brother-in-law concerning the object
of his journey, and the Prince replied that he was seeking Steelpacha,
and told him all his adventures. But the Emperor began to counsel him.
"Give up your journey," said he. "Just let me tell you something
about Steelpacha. That very day on which he stole your wife I was
awaiting him with five thousand falcons, and waged a fearful battle
with him. Blood flowed knee-deep around us, yet we could not prevail
against him. And how shall you, a single man, overmaster him? So I
give you this well-meant advice: Go back home. So much of my treasure
as your heart desires is yours; take it and go."
But the Prince answered, "Hearty thanks for your offer, but go back
with my task unperformed I will not. No, never! I must yet find
Steelpacha." For he thought to himself, "Why should I not? Have I
not three lives?"
When the Falcon-emperor became convinced that he could not move him
from his purpose he drew a feather out of his wing and gave it to him,
with these words, "Here, take this feather of mine, and if you come
into great danger strike a fire and burn it. I will come at once to
your aid with all my forces."
So the Prince took the feather and set forth to seek Steelpacha.
For a long time he went up and down through the wide world, until at
last he reached a third city. He had hardly entered it when a woman
called to him from a balcony, "Dismount and come into the court!"
The Prince turned his horse and rode into the court. Behold, here is
his youngest sister! They fall into each other's arms and lavish kisses
upon each other. She led the horse into the stable, the brother into
the castle. Then the Prince asked, "Sister, whom have you married?"
And she answered, "My consort is the Emperor of the Eagles; it is he
whom I have married."
When the Eagle-emperor came home that night his wife met him
affectionately; but he paid no attention to her greeting, but asked
her, "What man has come into my castle? Tell me at once!"
She answered, "There is no one here," and they sat down to
supper. During supper she asked him, as if by chance, "Would you do
any harm to my brothers if they should suddenly arrive?"
The Emperor answered, "The eldest and the second I should kill without
hesitation, but not the youngest. On the contrary, I would hasten to
his aid at any time, as far as it was in my power."
Then she said to the Emperor, "My youngest brother is come to pay us
a visit."
The Emperor commanded that he should be presented at once, went to
meet him, and greeted him with, "Welcome, dear brother-in-law!"
The other answered, "A lucky and joyful meeting, dear sister's
husband!"
So they sat down to the table.
After supper they talked of one thing and another, and at last
the Prince told them that he was seeking for Steelpacha. When the
Eagle-emperor heard this he said everything he could think of to
dissuade him from this idea.
"Dear brother-in-law," said he, "leave that fiend alone and give up
your journey. Stay, rather, here with me; you shall be made happy in
every respect."
But the Prince paid no heed to his words, and as soon as morning
dawned he made ready and set off to seek Steelpacha. But before he
went away the Eagle-emperor, who saw that he could not turn him from
his purpose, drew forth a feather from his wing and said:
"Take this feather, brother-in-law, and if ever you are in need or
danger, strike a fire and burn it. I will come at once with my eagles
to help you."
The Prince put the feather in his pocket and set forth.
Thus he roved around the world from city to city, going ever
farther and farther, till at last one day he discovered his wife in
a cavern. She was not a little surprised to see him, and cried out
to him, "In the name of Heaven, husband, how came you here?"
He hastily told her his adventures, and added, "Wife, my wife! Quick,
let us flee!"
But she hesitated. "Where shall we go, since Steelpacha can overtake
us in a moment? He will kill you on the spot, and bring me back
here again."
But the Prince, being mindful of the three lives which Steelpacha had
given him, still coaxed his wife to flee, and they set out. Hardly
had they started when Steelpacha heard of it, gave rapid chase,
and overtook them.
"Oho, little Prince!" he cried out, "you would steal my wife,
would you?"
He tore her away from the Prince, and continued, "This time I give you
your life, for I have not forgotten that I promised you three lives;
but go now, and never come back again after her, for if you do your
life is at stake."
With these words Steelpacha took the woman away, while the Prince
remained alone, in doubt what to do next. At last he resolved to go
after his wife again.
When he arrived near the cavern he waited for his opportunity till
Steelpacha should be gone away; and once more he fled, taking his
wife with him.
Steelpacha soon heard of it, pursued after them, overtook them,
fitted an arrow to his bow, and cried out, "Would you rather that I
kill you with this arrow, or shall I cut you down with my sword?"
The Prince began to beg with all his might, and Steelpacha said to him,
"This second time I give you your life, but let me tell you one thing:
don't you try again to carry away this woman, for I will not again
give you your life, but will kill you on the spot as dead as a mouse."
With these words he seized the woman and carried her away, while
the Prince again remained alone, always planning how to rescue
his wife. Finally he said to himself, "After all, why should I be
afraid? I still have two lives--that one which he gave me and the
one I had before."
So he resolved to go back to his wife the next day when Steelpacha
was absent.
"Come," he said to her, "let us flee!" She objected that it was useless
to flee, since they would be at once overtaken; but he constrained
her to go with him.
But very soon Steelpacha overtook them, and cried out to the Prince,
"Wait, just wait! I will never forgive you this!" The Prince was
terrified and began to beg for mercy, but Steelpacha silenced him.
"You remember that I gave you three lives? All right; now I give you
the third, and you have nothing more to expect from me. So go home
in peace, and beware of hazarding the life which God lent you."
When the Prince saw that he was powerless against the might of
Steelpacha he turned back homeward with a heavy heart. Suddenly he
remembered what his brothers-in-law had said to him when they gave
him the feathers, and he said to himself, "Come what come may, I will
go once more to rescue my wife, and in case of need I will burn the
feathers and call my brothers-in-law to my assistance."
So said and so done.
He went back to the cavern and saw his wife in Steelpacha's arms. He
waited around till the latter had gone away, and then showed himself
to his wife. She was not a little frightened, and cried out in terror,
"In the name of Heaven! Is life so hateful that you come back again
for me?"
He calmed her and told her that his brothers-in-law had promised to
help him in utmost need. "And therefore," said he, "I am come for
you once more; make ready to flee."
She did so, and they hastened away; but Steelpacha soon got news of
their flight, and cried to them from afar, "Just wait, little Prince;
you haven't escaped me yet!"
But as soon as the Prince saw Steelpacha he drew the three feathers
and his tinder-box out of his pocket, struck a light, and kindled the
feathers one by one. But while they were kindling Steelpacha overtook
him, drew his sword, and cleft the Prince in half.
That very moment what a prodigy occurred! There came flying the
Dragon-emperor with his dragons, the Falcon-emperor with his falcons,
and the Eagle-emperor with all his eagles, and waged battle with
Steelpacha. Blood flowed in streams, but fortune favored Steelpacha,
and he made off safely, carrying his prize, the Princess, with him.
The three emperors now took counsel over their brother-in-law's
body, and decided to recall him to life. So they summoned three of
the swiftest dragons and asked which one of them could most speedily
bring some water from the river Jordan. The first one said, "I can do
it within half an hour"; the second said, "I can do it in a quarter of
an hour"; the third said, "I will have it here in nine minutes." The
emperors said to this one, "Then set out, Dragon, as fast as possible."
The Dragon put forth all his impetuous strength, and truly within
nine minutes he brought back the water from the Jordan. The emperors
took the water, poured it over the two portions of the Prince's body,
and scarcely had the water touched them when the young man sprang
upon his feet, safe and sound, as if nothing had happened to him.
The emperors then counselled him, "Now go back home, since you have
been restored to life!"
But the Prince answered that he must once more try his luck, and,
by one means or another, free his wife from the clutches of that
fiend. His imperial brothers-in-law remonstrated:
"Do give it up! You will surely perish this time, for you have no
life at command except the one God lent you!"
But for all answer the Prince remained dumb.
Then the emperors said, "All right; if you are bent upon trying again,
come what come may, at least don't attempt to get your wife away by
flight, but beg her to wheedle Steelpacha into telling her wherein
his strength lies. Then bring us word, that we may help you to get
the best of him."
So the Prince stole secretly to his wife and told her how she should
coax Steelpacha to tell her the secret of his strength. Then he betook
himself to some place of safety.
When Steelpacha came home the Princess beset him with questions. "In
Heaven's name, do tell me wherein your strength lies!"
Steelpacha answered, "My pretty wife, my strength lies in my sword."
Then the Princess prayed to the sword as if to God. At sight of
this Steelpacha burst into a mocking laugh and said to her, "Oh,
you simple woman! my strength lies not in my sword but in my arrow."
Therefore she fell upon her knees before the arrow and began to pray
to it. Then Steelpacha said, "My wife, some one must have well taught
you how to coax from me the secret of my strength. If your husband
were alive I should say it was he who had taught you."
But she swore by body and soul that no one had taught her, no one
had been there.
After several days her husband came again, and she told him that
thus far it had been impossible to learn from Steelpacha wherein his
strength lay. But the Prince answered, "Try again," and went away.
When Steelpacha came home she asked him anew wherein his strength
lay. Upon which he answered her, "Since I see that you have a high
respect for my strength, I will confess the truth about it."
Then he told her: "Far from here is a mountain-peak. On this
mountain-peak lives a Fox. The Fox has a heart in which a bird is
concealed; this bird holds my strength. But that Fox is very hard to
catch, for he has many transformations."
The next day, when Steelpacha was away from home, the Prince came again
to his wife to learn what he had told her. She repeated everything
carefully, and the Prince went straight away to his brothers-in-law
with the much-longed-for news. They received it with joy, and at once
set out with the Prince to go to that mountain-peak.
Arrived there, they set the eagles upon the Fox, which immediately
took refuge in a lake and there changed himself into a gull with six
wings. But the falcons gave battle to the gull and drove him thence. He
flew high amid the clouds, the falcons ever following. In a trice the
gull changed himself into a fox again and tried to escape into the
earth; but, falling into the power of the eagles and all the rest of
the mighty host, he was surrounded and taken prisoner.
Then the emperors commanded that the Fox should be cut open and his
heart taken out. A fire was kindled, the heart cut open, the bird
taken out and cast into the flames. As soon as the bird was burned
Steelpacha vanished forever.
So the Prince took his wife and went happily home.
"That is one of your very best stories," said the starosta. "How
it does bring back old times! While I was listening I could hardly
believe that this big man here by the stove is I. It seemed rather
as if I must be the little boy yonder."
"Did grandmother tell these same stories to you when you were little,
father?" asked the little boy.
"Many and many a time. And I'll warrant she has as many more to
tell you as those you have heard already. But it is late, and we
have not had much sleep these last few nights. So every one to bed,
and don't forget to thank God for a happy wedding and a good son
and brother-in-law."
NOTES
[1] Kumrikusha is from a Slavonic root signifying "the bird of the
desert."
[2] The Pleiades.
[3] This is evidence that the story originated in lands where the
sirocco is dreaded.
[4] Maize; Indian corn.