THERE was once upon a time a Czar called Chotei, who had three sons. The
first was called Aspe, the second Adam, and the third, the youngest,
Sila. The elder brothers came to their father and asked him to let them
go and travel in other countries, so that they might see the world and
learn how things were. The Czar gave them his permission, and let them
each have a vessel in which they might sail. Then the youngest brother
came to the Czar and asked him to let him go with his brothers.
“My dear son,” said the Czar, “you are too young to bear the fatigues of
a journey. Stop here then at home, and do not think of going abroad.”
Sila, however, wished very much to see the strange countries, and so
wearied his father with his prayers, that at last he gave him his
permission to go, and let him have a vessel also. As soon as the three
brothers were on board their ships they set sail. When they came to the
open sea, however, the eldest brother’s vessel went on first, the second
brother’s next, and Sila’s came last.
As they sailed, the third day there came floating past them a coffin
with iron bands. The two eldest brothers saw it, but did not pick it up.
When Sila, however, saw it, he gave orders to his sailors to secure it,
bring it on board, and bury it when they came to a suitable spot. On the
following day a great storm came on, and Sila’s ship, being driven out
of its proper course, drifted to the steep shores of an unknown land.
When they arrived there, Sila ordered the sailors to carry the coffin on
shore, and he followed it himself and saw it buried in the earth.
Sila then told the ship’s master to stop where the vessel was for three
years, waiting for him. If he did not come back at the end of that time,
he told the man he was to sail away. Then Sila took leave of his captain
and his men, and went away following his eyes. For a long time he went
on and met no one. On the third day, however, he heard a man running
after him, clothed in white. When he saw that the man was coming up to
him, he drew his sword, fearing that the stranger might intend to do him
some hurt. But when the man came up to him, he fell down at his feet,
and began to thank him for having rescued him. Sila, not understanding
what he meant, asked him why he thanked him, and what good service he
had done him. The unknown sprang to his feet, and said—
“Sila Czarovitch, how can I ever repay you? There I lay in my coffin,
which you took on board and buried on the land, and so was I rescued
from the sea.”
“How came you in the coffin?” asked Sila.
“I will tell you all,” said the man. “I was once a great magician, and
my mother, fearing that I did a great deal of harm to folk by my magic,
confined me in the coffin, and turned me out upon the sea. I have been
floating for over a hundred years, and no one ever picked me up. You I
have to thank for my deliverance, and in return for it I will aid you in
any way I can. Tell me, do you not wish to marry? If you do, I know the
beautiful Queen Truda, who would make you a worthy wife.”
Sila told him that if the queen were beautiful he would be content to
marry her. Ivaschka, in the white grave-clothes, assured him that she
was the most beautiful woman in all the world, and Sila, when he heard
that, asked his companion to go with him to her country. So they went on
together.
Now Queen Truda’s kingdom was surrounded by a fence with posts, and on
every post, save one, was a man’s head. When Sila saw that he was
alarmed, and asked Ivaschka what it meant.
“Those,” said Ivaschka, “are the heads of the warriors who came to ask
the Queen Truda to marry them.”
Sila was afraid when he heard that, and wished himself back again in his
own kingdom. He did not wish to go on and see the father of the queen,
but Ivaschka told him he had nothing to fear if he went on boldly with
him. So Sila and he went on together.