After some time he came to a third city, in which he found in the

same manner his youngest sister. She was married to the king of the

falcons, who also welcomed him in a friendly manner, and gave him a

feather to burn in case of need.

The Prince finds his Wife

After wandering from one place to another, he finally found his wife in

a cave. When his wife saw him she exclaimed: "How in the world did you

come here, my dear husband?" And he told her all about his adventures

and said: "Let us flee together, my wife!" But she replied: "How could

we flee, when Bash Tchelik will surely overtake us: he would kill you,

and he would take me back and punish me." Nevertheless, the prince,

knowing well that he had three additional lives, persuaded his wife

to go with him.

No sooner had they left the cavern than Bash Tchelik heard of their

departure and hurried after them. In a short time he reached them,

took back the princess, and reproached the prince; "O prince, you have

stolen your wife! This time I forgive you, because I recollect having

granted you three lives. So you can go, but if you dare come again

for your wife I shall kill you!" Thereupon Bash Tchelik disappeared

with the princess, and her husband remained to wonder what he should

do next. At length he decided to try his luck again, and when he

was near the cave he chose a moment when Bash Tchelik was absent,

and again took away his wife. But Bash Tchelik again learnt of their

departure quickly, and in a short time reached them again. Now he drew

his bow at the prince, saying: "Do you prefer to be shot by this arrow,

or to be beheaded by my sabre?" The prince asked to be pardoned again,

and Bash Tchelik forgave him, saying: "I pardon you this time also,

but know surely that should you dare come again to take away your

wife I shall kill you without mercy."

The prince tried his luck yet a third time, and, being again caught

by Bash Tchelik, once more implored to be pardoned. Because he had

given him of his own free will three lives, Bash Tchelik listened to

his plea, but said: "Be warned; do not risk losing the one life God

gave you!"

The prince, seeing that against such a power he could do nothing,

started homeward, pondering in his mind, however, how he could

free his wife from Bash Tchelik. Suddenly an idea came to him: he

recalled what his brothers-in-law had said when giving him a feather

from their garments. So he thought: "I must go once more and try to

rescue my wife; if I come to any harm I will burn the feathers and

my brothers-in-law will come to my aid."

Thereupon the prince returned to the cave of Bash Tchelik, and his

wife was greatly surprised to see him and exclaimed: "So, you are

tired of life, since you have come back a fourth time for me!" But

the prince showed his wife the feathers and explained their uses, and

prevailed upon her to try once more to escape. No sooner had they left

the cavern, however, than Bash Tchelik rushed after them shouting:

"Stop, prince! You cannot escape me!" The prince, seeing that they

were in imminent peril, hastily burnt all three feathers, and when Bash

Tchelik came up with drawn sabre ready to kill him, oh! what a mighty

wonder! At the same moment came flying to the rescue the dragon-king

with his host of dragons, the eagle-king with all his fierce eagles,

and the falcon-king with all his falcons. One and all fell furiously

upon Bash Tchelik, but despite the shedding of much blood Bash Tchelik

seemed to be invincible, and at length he seized the princess and fled.

After the battle the three brothers-in-law found the prince dead,

and immediately decided to recall him to life. They asked three

dragons which of them could bring, in the shortest possible time,

some water from the Jordan. The first said: "I could bring it in half

an hour!" The second declared: "I will bring it in ten minutes!" The

third asserted: "I can bring it in nine seconds!" Thereupon the king

dispatched the third dragon, and, indeed, he used all his fiery might

and returned in nine seconds. The king took the healing water, poured

it upon the gaping wounds of their brother-in-law, and, as they did

so, the wounds were healed up and the prince sprang to his feet alive.

Then the kings counselled him: "Since you have been saved from death go

home in peace." But the prince declared that he would once more try to

regain his beloved wife. The kings endeavoured to dissuade him, saying:

"Do not go, for you will be lost if you do! You know well that you

have now only the one life which God gave you." But the prince would

not listen. Thereupon the kings said: "Since it cannot be otherwise,

then go! But do not vainly think to flee with your wife! Request your

wife to ask Bash Tchelik where his strength lies, and then come and

tell us, in order that we may help you to conquer him."

The Secret of Strength

This time the prince went stealthily to the cavern and, as

counselled by the kings, told his wife to inquire from Bash Tchelik

wherein lay his strength. When Bash Tchelik returned home that

evening, the princess asked: "I pray you, tell me where lies your

strength?" Bash Tchelik, hearing this laughed and said: "My strength

is in my sabre!" The princess knelt before the sabre and began to

pray. Thereupon Bash Tchelik burst into louder laughter, exclaiming:

"O foolish woman! My strength is not in my sabre, but in my bow and

my arrows!" Then the princess knelt before the bow and the arrows,

and Bash Tchelik, shouting with laughter, said: "O foolish woman! My

strength is neither in my bow nor in my arrows! But tell me who

instructed you to ask me where my force lies? If your husband were

alive I could guess it was he who demanded it!" But the princess

protested that no one urged her, and he believed what she said.

After some time the prince came, and when his wife told him that she

could not learn anything from Bash Tchelik, he said: "Try again!" and

went away.

When Bash Tchelik returned home the princess began again to ask him to

tell the secret of his strength. Then he answered: "Since you esteem

my heroism so much, I will tell you the truth about it." And he began:

"Far away from here is a high mountain, in that mountain there lives a

fox, in the fox is a heart, in that heart there lives a bird: in that

bird lies my whole strength. But it is very hard to catch that fox,

for it can turn itself into anything!"

Next morning, when Bash Tchelik left the cave, the prince came

and learned the secret from his wife. Then he went straight to his

brothers-in-law who, upon hearing his tale, went at once with him

to find the mountain. This they were not long in doing, and they

loosed eagles to chase the fox, whereat the fox quickly ran into a

lake and there it transformed itself into a six-winged duck. Then the

falcons flew to the duck and it mounted into the clouds. Seeing this,

the dragons pursued it; the duck changed again into a fox; the other

eagles surrounded it, and at length it was caught.

Then the three kings ordered the fox to be cut open and its heart

taken out. This done, they made a great fire and from the fox's

heart took a bird which they threw into the fire, and it was burnt

to death. So perished Bash Tchelik, and thus did the prince finally

regain his beloved and loyal wife.

IX. THE GOLDEN APPLE-TREE AND THE NINE PEAHENS

Once there was a king who had three sons. In the garden of the palace

grew a golden apple-tree, which, in one and the same night would

blossom and bear ripe fruit. But during the night a thief would come

and pluck the golden apples, and none could detect him. One day the

king deliberating with his sons, said: "I would give much to know

what happens to the fruit of our apple-tree!" Thereupon the eldest

son answered: "I will mount guard to-night under the apple-tree,

and we will see who gathers the fruit."

When evening came, the prince laid himself under the apple-tree to

watch; but as the apples ripened, he fell asleep and did not wake until

next morning, when the apples had vanished. He told his father what

had happened, and his brother, the second son, then offered to keep

guard that night. But he had no more success than his elder brother.

It was now the turn of the youngest son to try his luck, and, when

night came on, he placed a bed under the tree, and lay down and went

to sleep. About midnight he awoke and glanced at the apple-tree. And

lo! the apples were just ripening and the whole castle was lit up

with their shining. At that moment nine peahens flew to the tree and

settled on its branches, where eight remained to pluck the fruit. The

ninth, however, flew to the ground and was instantly transformed into

a maiden so beautiful that one might in vain search for her equal

throughout the kingdom.

The prince immediately fell madly in love with his visitor and the

fair maiden was not at all unwilling to stay and converse with the

young man. An hour or two soon passed but at last the maiden said

that she might stay no longer. She thanked the prince for the apples

which her sisters had plucked, but he asked that they would give him

at least one to carry home.

The maiden smiled sweetly and handed the young man two apples, one

for himself, the other for his father, the king. She then turned

again into a peahen, joined her sisters and all flew away.

Next morning the prince carried the two apples to his father. The king,

very pleased, praised his son, and on the following night, the happy

prince placed himself under the tree, as before, next morning again

bringing two apples to his father. After this had happened for several

nights, his two brothers grew envious, because they had not been able

to do what he had done. Then a wicked old woman offered her services

to the malcontent princes, promising that she would reveal the secret

to them. So on the next evening the old woman stole softly under the

bed of the young prince and hid herself there. Soon afterward the

prince came and at once went to sleep just as before. When midnight

came, lo! the peahens flew down as usual; eight of them settling on

the branches of the apple-tree, but the ninth, descending on the bed

of the prince, instantly turned into a maiden. The old woman, seeing

this strange metamorphosis, crept softly near and cut off a lock of

the maiden's hair, whereupon the girl immediately arose, changed again

into a peahen, and disappeared together with her sisters. Then the

young prince jumped up and wondering what had been the reason for the

sudden departure of his beloved began to look around. He then saw the

old woman, dragged her from under his bed, and ordered his servants

to fasten her to the tails of four horses and so to destroy her.

But the peahens never came again, to the great sorrow of the prince,

and for all that he mourned and wept.

Weeping will not move any mountain, and at length the prince resolved

to go through the wide world in search of his sweetheart and not

return home until he had found her. As a good son, he asked leave

of his father who tried hard to make him give up such a hazardous

scheme and promised him a much more beautiful bride in his own vast

kingdom--for he was very sure that any maiden would be glad to marry

such a valiant prince.

The Prince's Quest

But all his fatherly advice was vain, so the king finally allowed

his son to do what his heart bade, and the sorrowful prince departed

with only one servant to seek his love. Journeying on for a long

time, he came at length to the shore of a large lake, near which

was a magnificent castle in which there lived a very old woman, a

queen, with her only daughter. The prince implored the aged queen,

"I pray thee, grandmother, tell me what you can about the nine golden

peahens?" The queen answered: "O, my son, I know those peahens well,

for they come every day at noon to this lake and bathe. But had you

not better forget the peahens, and rather consider this beautiful

girl, she is my daughter and will inherit my wealth and treasures,

and you can share all with her." But the prince, impatient to find the

peahens, did not even listen to what the queen was saying. Seeing his

indifference, the old lady bribed his servant and gave him a pair of

bellows, saying: "Do you see this? When you go to-morrow to the lake,

blow secretly behind your master's neck, and he will fall asleep and

will not be able to speak to the peahens."

The faithless servant agreed to do exactly as the queen bade, and when

they went to the lake, he used the first favourable occasion and blew

with the bellows behind his poor master's neck, whereupon the prince

fell so soundly asleep that he resembled a dead man. Soon after, the

eight peahens flew to the lake, and the ninth alighted on the prince's

horse and began to embrace him, saying: "Arise, sweetheart! Arise,

beloved one! Ah, do!" Alas! the poor prince remained as if dead. Then

after the peahens had bathed, all disappeared.

Shortly after their departure the prince woke up and asked his servant:

"What has happened? Have they been here?" The servant answered that

they had indeed been there; that eight of them bathed in the lake,

while the ninth caressed and kissed him, trying to arouse him from

slumber. Hearing this, the poor prince was so angry that he was almost

ready to kill himself.

Next morning the same thing happened. But on this occasion the

peahen bade the servant tell the prince that she would come again the

following day for the last time. When the third day dawned the prince

went again to the lake, and fearing to fall asleep he decided to gallop

along the marge instead of pacing slowly as before. His deceitful

servant, however, pursuing him closely, again found an opportunity

for using the bellows, and yet again the prince fell asleep.

Shortly afterward the peahens came; eight of them went as usual to

bathe, and the ninth alighted on the prince's horse and tried to awaken

him. She embraced him and spoke thus: "Awake, my darling! Sweetheart,

arise! Ah, my soul!" But her efforts were futile; the prince was

sleeping as if he were dead. Then she said to the servant: "When thy

master awakes tell him to cut off the head of the nail; then only he

may be able to find me again."

Saying this the peahen disappeared with her sisters, and they had

hardly disappeared when the prince awoke and asked his servant:

"Have they been here?" And the malicious fellow answered: "Yes;

the one who alighted on your horse ordered me to tell you that, if

you wish to find her again, you must first cut off the head of the

nail." Hearing this the prince unsheathed his sword and struck off

his faithless servant's head.

The Quest Resumed

The prince now resumed his pilgrimage alone, and after long journeying

he came to a mountain where he met a hermit, who offered hospitality

to him. In the course of conversation the prince asked his host

whether he knew anything about the nine peahens; the hermit replied:

"O my son, you are really fortunate! God himself has shown you the

right way. From here to their dwelling is but half a day's walk;

to-morrow I will point you the way."

The prince rose very early the next morning, prepared himself for the

journey, thanked the hermit for giving him shelter, and went on as

he was directed. He came to a large gate, and, passing through it,

he turned to the right; toward noon he observed some white walls,

the sight of which rejoiced him very much. Arriving at this castle

he asked the way to the palace of the nine peahens, and proceeding

he soon came to it. He was, of course, challenged by the guards,

who asked his name and whence he came. When the queen heard that he

had arrived, she was overwhelmed with joy, and turning into a maiden

she ran swiftly to the gate and led the prince into the palace.

There was great feasting and rejoicing when, later, their nuptials

were solemnized, and after the wedding the prince remained within

the palace and lived in peace.

Now one day the queen went for a walk in the palace grounds accompanied

by an attendant, the prince remaining in the palace. Before starting

the queen gave her spouse the keys of twelve cellars, saying: "You

may go into the cellars, all but one; do not on any account go into

the twelfth; you must not even open the door!"

The prince soon began to speculate upon what there could possibly be

in the twelfth cellar; and having opened one cellar after the other,

he stood hesitatingly at the door of the twelfth. He who hesitates

is lost, and so the prince finally inserted the key in the lock and

the next moment had passed into the forbidden place. In the middle of

the floor was a huge cask bound tightly round with three strong iron

hoops. The bung-hole was open and from within the cask came a muffled

voice which said: "I pray thee, brother, give me a drink of water,

else I shall die of thirst!" The prince took a glass of water and

poured it through the bung-hole; immediately one hoop burst. Then

the voice spake again: "O brother give me more water lest I should

die of thirst!" The good-hearted prince emptied a second glass into

the cask, and a second hoop instantly came asunder. Again the voice

implored: "O brother, give me yet a third glass! I am still consumed by

thirst!" The prince made haste to gratify the unseen speaker, and as

he poured in the water the third hoop burst, the cask fell in pieces,

and a great dragon struggled out from the wreck, rushed through the

door and flew into the open. Very soon he fell in with the queen,

who was on her way back to the palace, and carried her off. Her

attendant, affrighted, rushed to the prince with the intelligence,

and the news came as a thunderbolt.

For a time the prince was as one distraught, but then he became

more calm and he resolved to set out again in search of his beloved

queen. In his wanderings he came to a river, and, walking along

its bank, he noticed in a little hole a small fish leaping and

struggling. When the fish saw the prince it began to beseech him

piteously: "Be my brother-in-God! Throw me back into the stream; some

day I may, perhaps, be useful to you! But be sure to take a scale from

me, and when you are in need of help rub it gently." The prince picked

up the fish, took a scale from it, and threw the poor creature into

the water; then he carefully wrapped the scale in his handkerchief.

Continuing his wanderings, he came to a place where he saw a fox

caught in an iron trap, and the animal addressed him, saying: "Be my

brother-in-God! Release me, I pray, from this cruel trap; and some day,

perhaps, I may be helpful to you. Only take a hair from my brush,

and, if you are in need, rub it gently!" The prince took a hair

from the fox's tail and set him free. Journeying on, he came upon

a wolf caught in a trap. And the wolf besought him in these words:

"Be my brother-in-God, and release me! One day you may need my help,

therefore, take just one hair from my coat, and if you should ever

need my assistance, you will have but to rub it a little!" This

likewise the prince did.

Some days elapsed and then, as the prince went wearily on his way, he

met a man in the mountains, to whom he said: "O my brother-in-God! Can

you direct me to the castle of the king of the dragons?" Luckily the

man knew of this castle and was able to tell the way to it; he also

informed the prince exactly how long the journey would take.

The Prince finds his Wife

The prince thanked the stranger and continued his journey with fresh

vigour until he came to where the king of the dragons lived. He entered

the castle boldly and found his wife there; after their first joy

of meeting, they began to consider how they could escape. Finally,

they took swift horses from the stables, but they had hardly set out

before the dragon came back. When he found that the queen had escaped,

he took counsel with his courser: "What do you advise? Shall we first

eat and drink, or shall we pursue at once!" The horse answered: "Let

us first refresh ourselves, for we shall surely catch them." After

the meal, the dragon mounted his horse and in a very few minutes they

reached the fugitives. Then he seized the queen and said to the prince:

"Go in peace! I pardon you this time, because you released me from

that cellar: but do not venture to cross my path again, for you will

not be forgiven a second time."

The poor prince started sadly on his way, but he soon found that he

could not abandon his wife. Whatever the cost he must make another

attempt to rescue her, and so he retraced his steps, and on the

following day entered the castle again and found his wife in tears. It

was evident that they must use guile if they were to elude the magical

powers of the dragon-king, and after they had thought upon the matter,

the prince said: "When the dragon comes home to-night, ask where he

got his horse; perchance I may be able to procure a steed that is

equally swift: only then could we hopefully make another attempt to

escape." Saying this he left his wife for a time. When the dragon-king

returned, the queen began to caress him and to pleasantly converse;

at length she said: "How I admire your fine horse! Certainly he is of

no ordinary breed! Where did you find such a swift courser?" And the

dragon-king replied: "Ah! his like is not to be got by every one! In

a certain mountain lives an old woman, who has in her stables twelve

wondrous horses; none could easily tell which is the finest! But

in a corner stands one that is apparently leprous; he is, in fact,

the best of the stable, and whoever becomes his master, may ride

even higher than the clouds. My steed is a brother of those horses,

and if anyone would get a horse from that old woman he must serve her

for three days. She has a mare and a foal, and he who is her servant

must tend them for three days and three nights; if he succeeds in

guarding them and returns them to the old woman, he is entitled to

choose a horse from her stable. But, if the servant does not watch

well over the mare and its foal, he will indeed lose his life."

The old Woman and her Horses

Next morning, when the dragon had left the castle, the prince came

and the queen told him what she had heard. Hastily bidding his

wife farewell, he went with all speed to the mountain, and finding

the old woman, he said to her: "God help you, grandmother!" And she

returned the greeting: "May God help you also, my son! What good wind

brought you here, and what do you wish?" He answered: "I should like

to serve you." Thereupon the old woman said: "Very well, my son! If

you successfully watch my mare and its foal for three days, I shall

reward you with a horse which you yourself are at liberty to choose

from my stable; but if you do not keep them safe, you must die."

Then she led the prince into her courtyard, where he saw stakes

all around placed close together, and on each save one was stuck

a human head. The one stake kept shouting out to the old woman:

"Give me a head, O grandmother! Give me a head!" The old woman said:

"All these are heads of those who once served me; they did not succeed

in keeping my mare and its foal safe, so they had to pay with their

heads!" But the prince was not to be frightened at what he saw,

and he readily accepted the old woman's conditions.

When evening came, he mounted the mare and rode it to pasture, the

foal following. He remained seated on the mare, but, toward midnight,

he dozed a little and finally fell fast asleep. When he awoke he saw,

to his great consternation, that he was sitting upon the trunk of a

tree holding the mare's bridle in his hand. He sprang down and went

immediately in search of the tricky animal. Soon he came to a river,

the sight of which reminded him of the little fish, and taking the

scale from his handkerchief, he rubbed it gently between his fingers,

when lo! the fish instantly appeared and asked: "What is the matter,

my brother-in-God?" The prince answered: "My mare has fled, and I do

not know where to look for her!" And the fish answered: "Here she is

with us, turned into a fish, and her foal into a small one! Strike

once upon the water with the bridle and shout: 'Doora! Mare of the

old woman!'"

The prince did as the fish told him; at once the mare and her foal

came out of the water; he bridled the mare, mounted and rode home; the

young foal trotting after. The old woman brought the prince some food

without a word; then she took the mare into the stable, beat her with

a poker, and said: "Did I not tell you to go down among the fish?" The

mare answered: "I have been down to the fish, but the fish are his

friends and they betrayed me to him." Thereupon the old woman said:

"To-night you go among the foxes!"

When evening came, the prince mounted the mare again and rode to

the field, the foal following its mother. He determined again to

remain in the saddle and to keep watch, but, toward midnight, he was

again overcome by drowsiness and became unconscious. When he awoke

next morning, lo! he was seated on a tree-trunk holding fast the

bridle. This alarmed him greatly, and he looked here and he looked

there. But search as he would, he could find no trace of the mare

and her foal. Then he remembered his friend the fox, and taking the

hair from the fox's tail out of his handkerchief, he rubbed it gently

between his fingers, and the fox instantly stood before him. "What

is the matter, my brother-in-God?" said he. The prince complained of

his misfortune, saying that he had hopelessly lost his mare. The fox

soon reassured him: "The mare is with us, changed to a fox, and her

foal into a cub; just strike once with the bridle on the earth, and

shout out 'Doora, the old woman's mare!'" He did so, and sure enough

the mare at once appeared before him with the foal. So he bridled her

and mounted, and when he reached home the old woman gave him food,

and took the mare to the stable and beat her with a poker, saying:

"Why did you not turn into a fox, you disobedient creature?" And

the mare protested: "I did turn into a fox; but the foxes are his

friends, so they betrayed me!" At this the old woman commanded:

"Next time you go to the wolves!"

When evening came the prince set out on the mare and the same things

befell as before. He found himself, the next morning, sitting on a

tree-trunk, and this time he called the wolf, who said: "The mare of

the old woman is with us in the likeness of a she-wolf, and the foal

of a wolf's cub; strike the ground once with the bridle and exclaim:

'Doora! the mare of the old woman!'" The prince did as the wolf

counselled, and the mare reappeared with her foal standing behind her.

He mounted once again and proceeded to the old woman's house, where, on

his arrival, he found her preparing a meal. Having set food before him,

she took the mare to the stable and beat her with a poker. "Did I not

tell you to go to the wolves, you wretched creature?" she scolded. But

the mare protested again, saying: "I did go to the wolves, but they

are also his friends and they betrayed me!" Then the old woman went

back to the house and the prince said to her: "Well, grandmother,

I think I have served you honestly; now I hope you will give me what

you promised me!" The old woman replied: "O my son, verily a promise

must be fulfilled! Come to the stable; there are twelve horses;

you are at liberty to choose whichever you like best!"

The Prince's Choice

Thereupon the prince said firmly: "Well, why should I be

particular? Give me the leprous horse, standing in that corner." The

old woman tried by all means in her power to deter him from taking that

ugly horse, saying: "Why be so foolish as to take that leprous jade

when you can have a fine horse?" But the prince kept to his choice, and

said: "Give me rather the one I selected, as it was agreed between us!"

The old woman, seeing that he would not yield, gave way, and the prince

took leave of her and led away his choice. When they came to a forest

he curried and groomed the horse, and it shone as if its skin were

of pure gold. Then he mounted, and, the horse flying like a bird,

they reached the dragon-king's castle in a few seconds.

The prince immediately entered and greeted the queen with: "Hasten,

all is ready for our flight!" The queen was ready, and in a few

seconds they were speeding away, swift as the wind, on the back of

the wonderful horse.

Shortly after they had gone, the dragon-king came home, and finding

that the queen had again disappeared, he addressed the following

words to his horse: "What shall we do now? Shall we refresh ourselves,

or shall we go after the fugitives at once?" And his horse replied:

"We may do as you will, but we shall never reach them!"

Upon hearing this the dragon-king at once flung himself upon his horse

and they were gone in a flash. After a time the prince looked behind

him and saw the dragon-king in the distance. He urged his horse, but

it said: "Be not afraid! There is no need to run quicker." But the

dragon-king drew nearer, so close that his horse was able to speak thus

to its brother: "O brother dear, tarry, I beseech you! else I shall

perish in running at this speed!" But the prince's horse answered:

"Nay, why be so foolish as to carry that monster? Fling up your

hoofs and throw him against a rock, then come with me!" At these

words the dragon-king's horse shook its head, curved its back, and

kicked up its hoofs so furiously that its rider was flung on to a rock

and killed. Seeing this, the prince's horse stood still, its brother

trotted up, and the queen mounted on it. So they arrived happily in her

own land, where they lived and ruled in great prosperity ever after.

X. THE BIRD MAIDEN

There was once a king who had an only son, whom, when he had grown

up, he sent abroad to seek a suitable wife. The prince set out on

his journey, but, although he travelled over the whole world, he did

not succeed in finding a bride. Finally, after having exhausted his

patience and his purse, he decided to die, and, that there should

not remain any trace of him, he climbed a high mountain, intending

to throw himself from the summit. He was on the point of jumping

from the pinnacle, when a voice uttered these mysterious words:

"Stop! Stop! O man! Do not kill yourself, for the sake of three

hundred and sixty-five which are in the year!"

The prince endeavoured in vain to discover whence the voice came,

and, seeing no one, he asked: "Who are you that speak to me? Show

yourself! If you knew of my troubles, you would surely not hinder

me!" Thereupon an old man appeared, with hair as white as snow,

and said to the unfortunate prince: "I am well aware of all you

suffer; but listen to me. Do you see yonder high hill?" The king's

son answered: "Yes, indeed." "Very well," continued the old man,

"seated day and night in the same spot on the summit of that hill

there is an old woman with golden hair, and she holds a bird in her

lap. He who succeeds in securing that bird will be the happiest man

in the world. But if you wish to try your luck you must be cautious;

you must approach the old woman quietly, and, before she sees you, you

must take her by the hair. Should she see you before you seize her, you

will be turned to stone then and there, just as it has happened to many

young men whom you will see there in the form of blocks of marble."

The Old Witch

When the prince heard these words, he reflected: "It is all one to

me; I shall go, and, if I succeed in seizing her, so much the better

for me; but if she should see me before I catch her, I can but die,

as I had already resolved to do." So he thanked the old man, and went

cheerfully to try his luck. He soon climbed the other hill and saw the

old woman, whom he approached very warily from behind. Fortunately

the old woman was absorbed in playing with the bird, and so the

prince was able to get quite near without being perceived. Then he

sprang suddenly forward and seized the old woman by her golden hair;

whereupon she screamed so loudly that the whole hill shook as with an

earthquake. But the courageous prince held her fast. Then the old woman

exclaimed: "Release me, and ask whatever you wish!" And the prince

answered: "I will do so if you let me have that bird, and if you at

once recall to life all these young men whom you have bewitched." The

old woman was forced to consent, and she gave up the bird. Then from

her lips she breathed a blue wind toward the petrified figures, so

that instantly they became living men once more. The noble prince

expressed the joy in his heart by kissing the bird in his hands,

whereupon it was transformed into a most beautiful girl, whom, it

appeared, the enchantress had bewitched in order to lure young men to

a horrid fate. The king's son was so pleased with his companion that

he promptly fell in love with her. On their way from that place the

maiden gave him a stick, and told him that it would do everything he

might wish. Presently the prince wished that he had the wherewithal

to travel as befitted a prince and his bride; he struck a rock with

the stick, and out poured a torrent of golden coins, from which they

took all they needed for their journey. When they came to a river,

the prince touched the water with his stick, and a dry path appeared,

upon which they crossed dryshod. A little farther on they were attacked

by a pack of wolves, but the prince protected his bride with his stick,

and one by one the wolves were turned into ants.

And many other adventures they had, but in the end they arrived

safely at the prince's home. Then they married and they lived happily

ever after.

XI. LYING FOR A WAGER

One day a father sent his boy to the mill with corn to be ground,

and, at the moment of his departure, he warned him not to grind it

in any mill where he should happen to find a beardless man. [84]

When the boy came to a mill, he was therefore disappointed to find

that the miller was beardless.

"God bless you, Beardless!" saluted the boy.

"May God help you!" returned the miller.

"May I grind my corn here?" asked the boy.

"Yes, why not?" responded the beardless one, "my corn will be soon

ground; you can then grind yours as long as you please."

But the boy, remembering his father's warning, left this mill and

went to another up the brook. But Beardless took some grain and,

hurrying by a shorter way, reached the second mill first and put some

of his corn there to be ground. When the boy arrived and saw that

the miller was again a beardless man, he hastened to a third mill;

but again Beardless hurried by a short cut, and reached it before

the boy. He did the same at a fourth mill, so that the boy concluded

that all millers are beardless men. He therefore put down his sack,

and when the corn of Beardless was ground he took his turn at the

mill. When all of his grain had been ground Beardless proposed:

"Listen, my boy! Let us make a loaf of your flour."

The boy had not forgotten his father's injunction to have nothing to

do with beardless millers, but as he saw no way out of it, he accepted

the proposal. So Beardless now took all the flour, mixed it with water,

which the boy brought him, and thus made a very large loaf. Then they

fired the oven and baked the loaf, which, when finished, they placed

against the wall.

Then the miller proposed: "Listen, my boy! If we were now to divide

this loaf between us, there would be little enough for either of

us, let us therefore tell each other stories, and whoever tells the

greatest lie shall have the whole loaf for himself."

The boy reflected a little and, seeing no way of helping himself, said:

"Very well, but you must begin."

Then Beardless told various stories till he got quite tired. Then the

boy said: "Eh, my dear Beardless, it is a pity if you do not know

any more, for what you have said is really nothing; only listen,

and I shall tell you now the real truth."

The Boy's Story

"In my young days, when I was an old man, we possessed many beehives,

and I used to count the bees every morning; I counted them easily

enough, but I could never contrive to count the beehives. Well,

one morning, as I was counting the bees, I was greatly surprised to

find that the best bee was missing, so I saddled a cock, mounted it,

and started in search of my bee. I traced it to the sea-shore, and

saw that it had gone over the sea, so I decided to follow it. When I

had crossed the water, I discovered that a peasant had caught my bee;

he was ploughing his fields with it and was about to sow millet. So

I exclaimed: 'That is my bee! How did you get it?' And the ploughman

answered: 'Brother, if this is really your bee, come here and take

it!' So I went to him and he gave me back my bee, and a sack full of

millet on account of the services my bee had rendered him. Then I

put the sack on my back, and moved the saddle from the cock to the

bee. Then I mounted, and led the cock behind me that it might rest

a little. As I was crossing the sea, one of the strings of my sack

burst, and all the millet poured into the water. When I had got across,

it was already night, so I alighted and let the bee loose to graze;

as to the cock, I fastened him near me, and gave him some hay. After

that I laid myself down to sleep. When I rose next morning, great was

my surprise to see that during the night, the wolves had slaughtered

and devoured my bee; and the honey was spread about the valley,

knee-deep and ankle-deep on the hills. Then I was puzzled to know in

what vessel I could gather up all the honey. Meantime I remembered I

had a little axe with me, so I went into the woods to catch a beast,

in order to make a bag of its skin. When I reached the forest, I saw

two deer dancing on one leg; so I threw my axe, broke their only leg

and caught them both. From those two deer I drew three skins and made a

bag of each, and in them gathered up all the honey. Then I loaded the

cock with the bags and hurried homeward. When I arrived home I found

that my father had just been born, and I was told to go to heaven

to fetch some holy water. I did not know how to get there, but as I

pondered the matter I remembered the millet which had fallen into the

sea. I went back to that place and found that the grain had grown up

quite to heaven, for the place where it had fallen was rather damp,

so I climbed up by one of the stems. Upon reaching heaven I found

that the millet had ripened, and an angel had harvested the grain

and had made a loaf of it, and was eating it with some warm milk. I

greeted him, saying: 'God bless you!' The angel responded: 'May God

help you!' and gave me some holy water. On my way back I found that

there had been a great rain, so that the sea had risen so high that my

millet was carried away! I was frightened as to how I should descend

again to earth, but at length I remembered that I had long hair--it is

so long that when I am standing upright it reaches down to the ground,

and when I sit it reaches to my ears. Well, I took out my knife and

cut off one hair after another, tying them end to end as I descended on

them. Meantime darkness overtook me before I got to the bottom, and so

I decided to make a large knot and to pass the night on it. But what

was I to do without a fire! The tinder-box I had with me, but I had

no wood. Suddenly I remembered that I had in my vest a sewing needle,

so I found it, split it and made a big fire, which warmed me nicely;

then I laid myself down to sleep. When I fell asleep, unfortunately

a flame burnt the hair through, and, head over heels, I fell to the

ground, and sank into the earth up to my girdle. I moved about to see

how I could get out, and, when I found that I was tightly interred,

I hurried home for a spade and came back and dug myself out. As soon

as I was freed, I took the holy water and started for home. When I

arrived reapers were working in the field. It was such a hot day,

that I feared the poor men would burn to death, and called to them:

'Why do you not bring here our mare which is two days' journey long

and half a day broad, and on whose back large willows are growing;

she could make some shade where you are working?' My father hearing

this, quickly brought the mare, and the reapers continued working

in the shade. Then I took a jug in which to fetch some water. When

I came to the well, I found the water was quite frozen, so I took my

head off and broke the ice with it; then I filled the jug and carried

the water to the reapers. When they saw me they asked me: 'Where is

your head?' I lifted my hand, and, to my great surprise, my head was

not upon my shoulders, and then I remembered having left it by the

well. I went back at once, but found that a fox was there before me,

and was busy devouring my head. I approached slowly and struck the

beast fiercely with my foot, so that in great fear, it dropped a little

book. This I picked up and on opening it, found written in it these

words: 'The whole loaf is for thee, and Beardless is to get nothing!'"

Saying this, the boy took hold of the loaf and made off. As for

Beardless, he was speechless, and remained gazing after the boy

in astonishment.

XII. THE MAIDEN WISER THAN THE TSAR

Long ago there lived an old man, who dwelt in a poor cottage. He

possessed one thing only in the world, and that was a daughter who

was so wise that she could teach even her old father.

One day the man went to the tsar to beg, and the tsar, astonished at

his cultivated speech, asked him whence he came and who had taught

him to converse so well. He told the tsar where he lived, and that

it was his daughter who had taught him to speak with eloquence.

"And where was your daughter taught?" asked the tsar.

"God and our poverty have made her wise," answered the poor man.

Thereupon the tsar gave him thirty eggs and said: "Take these to your

daughter, and command her in my name to bring forth chickens from

them. If she does this successfully I will give her rich presents,

but if she fails you shall be tortured."

The poor man, weeping, returned to his cottage and told all this to

his daughter. The maiden saw at once that the eggs which the tsar had

sent were boiled, and bade her father rest while she considered what

was to be done. Then while the old man was sleeping the girl filled

a pot with water and boiled some beans.

Next morning she woke her father and begged him to take a plough and

oxen and plough near the road where the tsar would pass. "When you see

him coming," said she, "take a handful of beans, and while you are

sowing them you must shout: 'Go on, my oxen, and may God grant that

the boiled beans may bear fruit!' Then," she went on, "when the tsar

asks you, 'How can you expect boiled beans to bear fruit?' answer him:

'just as from boiled eggs one can produce chicks!'"

The old man did as his daughter told him, and went forth to

plough. When he saw the tsar he took out a handful of beans, and

exclaimed: "Go on, my oxen! And may God grant that the boiled beans may

bear fruit!" Upon hearing these words the tsar stopped his carriage,

and said to the man: "My poor fellow, how can you expect boiled beans

to bear fruit?"

"Just as from boiled eggs one can produce chicks!" answered the

apparently simple old man.

The tsar laughed and passed on, but he had recognized the old man,

and guessed that his daughter had instructed him to say this. He

therefore sent officers to bring the peasant into his presence. When

the old man came, the tsar gave him a bunch of flax, saying: "Take

this, and make out of it all the sails necessary for a ship; if you

do not, you shall lose your life."

The poor man took the flax with great fear, and went home in tears

to tell his daughter of his new task. The wise maiden soothed him,

and said that if he would rest she would contrive some plan. Next

morning she gave her father a small piece of wood, and bade him take

it to the tsar with the demand that from it should be made all the

necessary tools for spinning and weaving, that he should thereby be

enabled to execute his Majesty's order. The old man obeyed, and when

the tsar heard the extraordinary request he was greatly astounded at

the astuteness of the girl, and, not to be outdone, he took a small

glass, saying: "Take this little glass to your daughter, and tell

her she must empty the sea with it, so that dry land shall be where

the ocean now is."

The old man went home heavily to tell this to his daughter. But the

girl again reassured him, and next morning she gave him a pound of

tow, saying: "Take this to the tsar and say, that when with this tow

he dams the sources of all rivers and streams I will dry up the sea."

The Tsar Sends for the Girl

The father went back to the tsar and told him what his daughter had

said, and the tsar, seeing that the girl was wiser than himself,

ordered that she should be brought before him. When she appeared the

tsar asked her: "Can you guess what it is that can be heard at the

greatest distance?" and the girl answered: "Your Majesty, there are two

things: the thunder and the lie can be heard at the greatest distance!"

The astonished tsar grasped his beard, and, turning to his attendants,

exclaimed: "Guess what my beard is worth?" Some said so much, others

again so much; but the maiden observed to the tsar that none of his

courtiers had guessed right. "His Majesty's beard is worth as much as

three summer rains," she said. The tsar, more astonished than ever,

said: "The maiden has guessed rightly!" Then he asked her to become

his wife, for "I love you," said he. The girl had become enamoured

of the tsar, and she bowed low before him and said: "Your glorious

Majesty! Let it be as you wish! But I pray that your Majesty may be

graciously pleased to write with your own hand on a piece of parchment

that should you or any of your courtiers ever be displeased with me,

and in consequence banish me from the palace, I shall be allowed to

take with me any one thing which I like best."

The tsar gladly consented, wrote out this declaration and affixed

his signature.

Some years passed by happily but there came at last a day when the

tsar was offended with the tsarina and he said angrily: "You shall

be no longer my wife, I command you to leave my palace!"

The tsarina answered dutifully: "O most glorious tsar, I will obey;

permit me to pass but one night in the palace, and to-morrow I will

depart."

To this the tsar assented.

That evening, at supper, the tsarina mixed certain herbs in wine and

gave the cup to the tsar, saying: "Drink, O most glorious tsar! And

be of good cheer! I am to go away, but, believe me, I shall be happier

than when I first met you!"

The tsar, having drunk the potion fell asleep. Then the tsarina who

had a coach in readiness, placed the tsar in it and carried him off

to her father's cottage.

When his Majesty awoke next morning and saw that he was in a cottage,

he exclaimed: "Who brought me here?"

"I did," answered the tsarina.

The tsar protested, saying: "How have you dared do so? Did I not tell

you that you are no longer my wife?"

Instead of answering the tsarina produced the parchment containing

the tsar's promise and he could not find a word to say.

Then the tsarina said: "As you see, you promised that should I be

banished from your palace I should be at liberty to take with me that

which I liked best!"

Hearing this, the tsar's love for his spouse returned, he took her

in his arms, and they returned to the palace together.

XIII. GOOD DEEDS NEVER PERISH

Once upon a time there lived a man and woman who had one son. When the

boy grew up his parents endeavoured to give him a suitable education

which would be useful in his after life. He was a good, quiet boy,

and above all he feared God. After he had completed his studies,

his father intrusted him with a galley laden with various goods,

so that he might trade with distant countries, and be the support of

his parents' old age.

The First Voyage

On his first voyage he one day met with a Turkish ship, in which he

heard weeping. So he called to the sailors on the Turkish vessel: "I

pray you, tell me why there is such sorrow on board your ship!" And

they answered: "We have many slaves whom we have captured in

various parts of the world, and those who are chained are weeping

and lamenting." Thereupon the young man said: "Pray, O brethren,

ask your captain if he will allow me to ransom the slaves for a sum

of money?" The sailors gladly called their captain, who was willing

to bargain, and in the end the young man gave his ship with all its

cargo to the Turk, in exchange for his vessel containing the slaves.

The young man asked each slave whence he came, and gave to all their

freedom, and said that each might return to his own country.

Among the slaves was an old woman who held a most beautiful maiden

by the arm. When he asked whence they came, the old woman answered

through her tears: "We come from a far-away country. This young

girl is the only daughter of the tsar, whom I have brought up from

her infancy. One unlucky day she was walking in the palace gardens,

and wandered to a lonely spot, where those accursed Turks saw her

and seized her. She began to scream, and I, who happened to be near,

ran to help her, but alas! I could not save her, and the Turks carried

us both on board this galley." Then the good nurse and the beautiful

girl, not knowing the way to their own country, and having no means of

returning thither, implored the young man to take them with him. And

this he was quite willing to do; indeed, he had immediately fallen in

love with the princess, and he now married the poor homeless maiden,

and, together with her and the old woman, returned home.

On their arrival, his father asked where his galley and its cargo

were, and he told him how he had ransomed the slaves and set them at

liberty. "This girl," said he, "is the daughter of a tsar, and this old

woman is her nurse; as they could not return to their country I took

them with me, and I have married the maiden." Thereupon his father

grew very angry, and said: "O foolish son, what have you done? Why

did you dispose so stupidly of my property without my permission?" and

he drove him out of the house.

Fortunately for the young man, a good neighbour offered him

hospitality, and, with his wife and her old nurse, he resided for a

long time near by, endeavouring, through the influence of his mother

and friends, to persuade his father to forgive him.

The Second Voyage

After some time the father relented, and received his son again in

his house, together with his young wife and her nurse. Soon after,

he purchased a second galley, larger and finer than the first, and

loaded it with merchandise wherewith his son might trade to great

profit, if so be that he were wise.

The young man sailed in this new vessel, leaving his wife and her nurse

in the house of his parents, and soon came to a certain city, where

he beheld a sorrowful sight. He saw soldiers busied in seizing poor

peasants and throwing them into prison, and he asked: "Why, brethren,

are you showing such cruelty to these unfortunate people?" And the

soldiers replied: "Because they have not paid the tsar's taxes." The

young man at once went to the officer and said: "I pray you, tell

me how much these poor people must pay." The officer told him the

amount due, and, without hesitation, the young man sold his galley

and the cargo, and discharged the debts of all the prisoners. He now

returned home, and, falling at the feet of his father, he told him

the story and begged that he might be forgiven. But his father grew

exceedingly angry this time, and drove him away from his house.

What could the unhappy son do in this fresh trouble? How could he beg,

he whose parents were so well-to-do? Old friends of the family again

used their influence with his father, urging that he should take pity

on his son and receive him back, "for," said they, "it is certain

that suffering has made him wiser, and that he will never again act

so foolishly." At length his father yielded, took him again into his

house, and prepared a third galley for him, much larger and finer

than the two former ones.

The Third Voyage

The young man was overjoyed at his good fortune, and he had the

portrait of his beloved wife painted on the helm, and that of the old

nurse on the stern. When all the preparations for a new voyage were

completed, he took leave of his parents, his wife, and other members of

the family, and weighed anchor. After sailing for some time he arrived

at a great city, in which there lived a tsar, and, dropping anchor,

he fired his guns as a salute to the city. Toward evening the tsar

sent one of his ministers to learn who the stranger was and whence he

came, and to inform him that his master would come at nine o'clock next

morning to visit the galley. The minister was astounded to see on the

helm the portrait of the imperial princess--whom the tsar had promised

to him in marriage when she was still a child--and on the stern that of

the old nurse; but he did not make any remark, nor did he tell anyone

at the palace what he had seen. At nine o'clock next morning the tsar

came on board the galley with his ministers, and, as he paced the deck,

conversing with the captain, he also saw the portrait of the maiden

painted on the helm and that of the old woman on the stern, and he

recognized at once the features of his only daughter and her nurse,

whom the Turks had captured. At once he conceived the hope that his

beloved child was alive and well, but he could not trust himself to

speak, so great was his emotion. Composing himself as best he could,

he invited the captain to come at two o'clock that afternoon to his

palace, intending to question him, hoping thus to confirm the hopes

of his heart.

Punctually at two o'clock the captain appeared at the palace, and the

tsar at once began to question him in a roundabout manner as to the

maiden whose portrait he had seen on the helm of his galley. Was she

one of his relations, and, if so, in what degree? He was also curious

concerning the old woman whose likeness was painted on the stern.

The young captain guessed at once that the tsar must be his wife's

father, and he related to him word by word all his adventures, not

omitting to say that, having found that the young maiden and her nurse

had forgotten the way back to their country, he had taken pity on them

and later had espoused the maiden. Hearing this the tsar exclaimed:

"That girl is my only child and the old woman is her nurse; hasten

and bring my daughter here that I may see her once more before I

die. Bring here also your parents and all your family; your father

will be my brother and your mother my sister, for you are my son and

the heir to my crown. Go and sell all your property and come that

we may live together in my palace!" Then he called the tsarina, his

wife, and all his ministers, that they might hear the joyful news,

and there was great joy in the court.

After this the tsar gave the captain a magnificent ship requesting

him to leave his own galley behind. The young man was, of course,

very grateful, but he said: "O glorious tsar! My parents will not

believe me, if you do not send one of your ministers to accompany

me." Thereupon the tsar appointed as his companion for the voyage,

the very minister to whom he had formerly promised his daughter

in marriage.

The captain's father was greatly surprised to see his son return so

soon and in such a magnificent ship. Then the young man related to his

father and others all that had happened, and the imperial minister

confirmed all his statements. When the princess saw the minister

she exclaimed joyfully: "Yes, indeed, all that he has said is true;

this is my father's minister, who was to be my betrothed." Then the

man and his family sold all their property and went on board the ship.

The Treacherous Minister

Now the minister was a wicked man, and he had formed a design to kill

the young husband of the princess that he might espouse her and one day

become tsar. Accordingly during the voyage he called the young man on

deck one night to confer with him. The captain had a quiet conscience

and did not suspect evil, wherefore he was entirely unprepared when

the minister seized him and threw him swiftly overboard. The ship

was sailing fast; it was impossible that he could reach it, so he

fell gradually behind. By great good luck he was very near to land

and soon he was cast ashore by the waves. But, alas! this land was

but a bare uninhabited rock.

Meantime the minister had stolen back to his cabin and next morning

when it was found that the captain had disappeared, all began to weep

and wail, thinking that he had fallen overboard in the night and been

drowned. His family would not be consoled, more especially his wife,

who loved him so much. When they arrived at the tsar's palace and

reported that the young man had been accidentally drowned, the entire

court mourned with them.

For fifteen days the tsar's unhappy son-in-law was condemned to a

bare subsistence upon the scanty grass which grew upon the rocky

islet. His skin was tanned by the hot sun and his garments became

soiled and torn, so that no one could have recognized him. On the

morrow of the fifteenth day, he had the good fortune to perceive an

old man on the shore, leaning on a stick, engaged in fishing. He

began at once to hail the old man and to beseech him to help him

off the rock. The old fisherman said: "I will save you, if you will

pay me!" "How can I pay you," answered the castaway, "when, as you

see, I have only these rags, and nothing more?" "Oh, as for that,"

replied the old man, "you can write and sign a promise to give me a

half of everything that you may ever possess." The young man gladly

made this promise. Then the old man produced writing materials and

the young man signed the agreement, after which they both sailed in

the old man's fishing boat to the mainland. After that the young man

wandered from house to house and from village to village, a barefoot

beggar, in rags, sunburnt, and hungry.

The Young Man's Return

After thirty days' journeying, good luck led him to the city of the

tsar and he sat him down, staff in hand, at the gates of the palace,

still wearing on his finger his wedding-ring, on which was engraved

his name and that of his wife. The servants of the tsar, pitying his

sad plight, offered him shelter for the night in the palace and gave

him to eat fragments from their own dinner. Next morning he went to

the garden of the palace, but the gardener came and drove him away,

saying that the tsar and his family were soon coming by. He moved

from that spot and sat down in a corner on the grass, when suddenly he

saw the tsar walking with his own mother and father, who had remained

at the court as the tsar's guests, and his beloved wife walking arm

in arm with his enemy, the minister. He did not yet wish to reveal

himself, but as the tsar and his train passed by and gave him alms,

he stretched out his hand to receive it and the wedding-ring upon

his finger caught the princess's eye. She recognized it at once,

but it was incredible that the beggar could be her husband, and she

said to him: "Pray, give me your hand that I may see your ring!" The

minister protested, but the princess did not pay any attention to

him, and proceeded to examine the ring, to find there her own name

and that of her husband. Her heart was greatly agitated at the sight,

but she made an effort to control her feelings and said nothing. Upon

her return to the palace she appeared before her father and told him

what she had seen. "Please send for him," said she, "and we may find

out how the ring came into his possession!" The tsar immediately sent

an attendant to fetch the beggar. The order was executed at once,

and, when the stranger appeared the tsar asked him his name, whence

he came, and in what manner he obtained the ring. The unfortunate

young man could no longer maintain his disguise, so telling the

tsar who he was, he went on to relate all his adventures since the

minister treacherously threw him into the sea. "Behold!" said he at

last, "Our gracious Lord and my right-dealing has brought me back

to my parents and my wife." Almost beside themselves for joy, the

tsar called for the young man's parents and imparted to them the

good news. Who could express the joy of the aged couple when they

identified their son? Words fail, also, to describe adequately the

rejoicing which filled the hearts of the entire court. The servants

prepared perfumed baths for the young man and brought him sumptuous

new garments. The tsar gave orders that he should be crowned as tsar,

and for several days there were wonderful festivities, in which the

whole city joined; everywhere was singing, dancing and feasting. The

old tsar summoned the wicked minister to appear before his son-in-law,

to be dealt with according to his will. But the young tsar had a kind

heart, so he forgave him upon the condition that he should leave the

tsardom without delay, and never come back during his reign.

The new tsar had hardly began to rule, when the old fisherman who had

saved him from the rocky isle came and craved audience. The tsar at

once received his deliverer who produced the written promise. "Very

well, old man," said the tsar; "to-day I am ruler, but I will as

readily fulfil my word as if I were a beggar with little to share;

so let us divide my possessions in two equal parts." Then the tsar

took the books and began to divide the cities, saying: "This is for

you--this is for me." So he marked all on a map, till the whole tsardom

was divided between them, from the greatest city to the poorest hut.

When the tsar had finished the old man said: "Take all back! I am not

a man of this world; I am an angel from God, who sent me to save you

on account of your good deeds. Now reign and be happy, and may you

live long in complete prosperity!" So saying, he vanished suddenly,

and the young tsar ruled in great happiness ever after.

XIV. HE WHOM GOD HELPS NO ONE CAN HARM

Once upon a time there lived a man and his wife, and they were

blessed with three sons. The youngest son was the most handsome,

and he possessed a better heart than his brothers, who thought him

a fool. When the three brothers had arrived at the man's estate,

they came together to their father, each of them asking permission to

marry. The father was embarrassed with this sudden wish of his sons,

and said he would first take counsel with his wife as to his answer.

The First Quest

A few days later the man called his sons together and told them to

go to the neighbouring town and seek for employment. "He who brings

me the finest rug will obtain my permission to marry first," he said.

The brothers started off to the neighbouring town together. On the

way the two elder brothers began to make fun of the youngest, mocking

his simplicity, and finally they forced him to take a different road.

Abandoned by his malicious brothers, the young man prayed God to

grant him good fortune. At length he came to a lake, on the further

shore of which was a magnificent castle. The castle belonged to the

daughter of a tyrannous and cruel prince who had died long ago. The

young princess was uncommonly beautiful, and many a suitor had come

there to ask for her hand. The suitors were always made very welcome,

but when they went to their rooms at night the late master of the

castle would invariably come as a vampire and suffocate them.

As the youngest brother stood upon the shore wondering how to cross

the lake, the princess noticed him from her window and at once gave an

order to the servants to take a boat and bring the young man before

her. When he appeared he was a little confused, but the noble maiden

reassured him with some kind words--for he had, indeed, made a good

impression upon her and she liked him at first sight. She asked him

whence he came and where he intended to go, and the young man told

her all about his father's command.

When the princess heard that, she said to the young man: "You will

remain here for the night, and to-morrow morning we will see what we

can do about your rug."

After they had supped, the princess conducted her guest to a green

room, and bidding him "good-night," said: "This is your room. Do

not be alarmed if during the night anything unusual should appear to

disturb you."

Being a simple youth, he could not even close his eyes, so deep was

the impression made by the beautiful things which surrounded him, when

suddenly, toward midnight, there was a great noise. In the midst of

the commotion he heard distinctly a mysterious voice whisper: "This

youth will inherit the princely crown, no one can do him harm!" The

young man took refuge in earnest prayer, and, when day dawned, he

arose safe and sound.

When the princess awoke, she sent a servant to summon the young man

to her presence, and he was greatly astonished to find the young man

alive; so also was the princess and every one in the castle.

After breakfast the princess gave her guest a rich rug, saying:

"Take this rug to your father, and if he desires aught else you have

only to come back." The young man thanked his fair hostess and with

a deep bow took his leave of her.

When he arrived home he found his two brothers already there; they

were showing their father the rugs they had brought. When the youngest

exhibited his they were astounded, and exclaimed: "How did you get

hold of such a costly rug? You must have stolen it!"

The Second Quest

At length the father, in order to quieten them, said: "Go once more

into the world, and he who brings back a chain long enough to encircle

our house nine times shall have my permission to marry first!" Thus

the father succeeded in pacifying his sons. The two elder brothers

went their way, and the youngest hurried back to the princess. When

he appeared she asked him: "What has your father ordered you to do

now?" And he answered: "That each of us should bring a chain long

enough to encircle our house nine times." The princess again made

him welcome and, after supper, she showed him into a yellow room,

saying: "Somebody will come again to frighten you during the night,

but you must not pay any attention to him, and to-morrow we will see

what we can do about your chain."

And sure enough, about midnight there came many ghosts dancing round

his bed and making fearful noises, but he followed the advice of

the princess and remained calm and quiet. Next morning a servant

came once more to conduct him to the princess, and, after breakfast,

she gave him a fine box, saying: "Take this to your father, and if he

should desire anything more, you have but to come to me." The young

man thanked her, and took his leave.

Again he found that his brothers had reached home first with their

chains, but these were not long enough to encircle the house even

once, and they were greatly astonished when their youngest brother

produced from the box the princess had given an enormous gold chain

of the required length. Filled with envy, they exclaimed: "You will

ruin the reputation of our house, for you must have stolen this chain!"

The Third Quest

At length the father, tired of their jangling, sent them away, saying:

"Go; bring each of you his sweetheart, and I will give you permission

to marry." Thereupon the two elder brothers went joyfully to fetch

the girls they loved, and the youngest hurried away to the princess

to tell her what was now his father's desire. When she heard, the

princess said: "You must pass a third night here, and then we shall

see what we can do."

So, after supping together, she took him into a red room. During the

night he heard again a blood-curdling noise, and from the darkness a

mysterious voice said: "This young man is about to take possession

of my estates and crown!" He was assaulted by ghosts and vampires,

and was dragged from his bed; but through all the young man strove

earnestly in prayer, and God saved him.

Next morning when he appeared before the princess, she congratulated

him on his bravery, and declared that he had won her love. The young

man was overwhelmed with happiness, for although he would never have

dared to reveal the secret of his heart, he also loved the princess. A

barber was now summoned to attend upon the young man, and a tailor

to dress him like a prince. This done, the couple went together to

the castle chapel and were wedded.

A few days later they drove to the young man's village, and as they

stopped outside his home they heard great rejoicing and music, whereat

they understood that his two elder brothers were celebrating their

marriage feasts. The youngest brother knocked on the gate, and when

his father came he did not recognize his son in the richly attired

prince who stood before him. He was surprised that such distinguished

guests should pay him a visit, and still more so when the prince said:

"Good man, will you give us your hospitality for to-night?" The father

answered: "Most gladly, but we are having festivities in our house, and

I fear that these common people will disturb you with their singing and

music." To this the young prince said: "Oh, no; it would please me to

see the peasants feasting, and my wife would like it even more than I."

They now entered the house, and as the hostess curtsied deeply before

them the prince congratulated her, saying: "How happy you must be to

see your two sons wedded on the same day!" The woman sighed. "Ah,"

said she, "on one hand I have joy and on the other mourning: I had

a third son, who went out in the world, and who knows what ill fate

may have befallen him?"

After a time the young prince found an opportunity to step into his

old room, and put on one of his old suits over his costly attire. He

then returned to the room where the feast was spread and stood behind

the door. Soon his two brothers saw him, and they called out: "Come

here, father, and see your much-praised son, who went and stole like

a thief!" The father turned, and seeing the young man, he exclaimed:

"Where have you been for so long, and where is your sweetheart?"

Then the youngest son said: "Do not reproach me; all is well with

me and with you!" As he spake he took off his old garments and stood

revealed in his princely dress. Then he told his story and introduced

his wife to his parents.

The brothers now expressed contrition for their conduct, and received

the prince's pardon, after which they all embraced; the feasting was

renewed, and the festivities went on for several days. Finally the

young prince distributed amongst his father and brothers large portions

of his new lands, and they all lived long and happily together.

XV. ANIMALS AS FRIENDS AND AS ENEMIES [85]

Once upon a time, a long while ago, there lived in a very far-off

country, a young nobleman who was so exceedingly poor that all his

property was an old castle, a handsome horse, a trusty hound, and a

good rifle.

This nobleman spent all his time in hunting and shooting, and lived

entirely on the produce of the chase.

One day he mounted his well-kept horse and rode off to the neighbouring

forest, accompanied, as usual, by his faithful hound. When he came to

the forest he dismounted, fastened his horse securely to a young tree,

and then went deep into the thicket in search of game. The hound ran

on at a distance before his master, and the horse remained all alone,

grazing quietly. Now it happened that a hungry fox came by that way

and, seeing how well-fed and well-trimmed the horse was, stopped a

while to admire him. By and by she was so charmed with the handsome

horse, that she lay down in the grass near him to bear him company.

Some time afterward the young nobleman came back out of the forest,

carrying a stag that he had killed, and was extremely surprised to

see the fox lying so near his horse. So he raised his rifle with the

intention of shooting her; but the fox ran up to him quickly and said,

"Do not kill me! Take me with you, and I will serve you faithfully. I

will take care of your fine horse whilst you are in the forest."

The fox spoke so pitifully that the nobleman was sorry for her,

and agreed to her proposal. Thereupon he mounted his horse, placed

the stag he had shot before him, and rode back to his old castle,

followed closely by his hound and his new servant, the fox.

When the young nobleman prepared his supper, he did not forget to

give the fox a due share, and she congratulated herself that she was

never likely to be hungry again, at least so long as she served so

skilful a hunter.

The next morning the nobleman went out again to the chase; the fox also

accompanied him. When the young man dismounted and bound his horse,

as usual, to a tree, the fox lay down near it to keep it company.

Now, whilst the hunter was far off in the depth of the forest looking

for game, a hungry bear came by the place where the horse was tied,

and, seeing how invitingly fat it looked, ran up to kill it. The

fox hereupon sprang up and begged the bear not to hurt the horse,

telling him if he was hungry he had only to wait patiently until her

master came back from the forest, and then she was quite sure that

the good nobleman would take him also to his castle and feed him,

and care for him, as he did for his horse, his hound, and herself.

The bear pondered over the matter very wisely and deeply for some

time, and at length resolved to follow the fox's advice. Accordingly

he lay down quietly near the horse, and waited for the return of the

huntsman. When the young noble came out of the forest he was greatly

surprised to see so large a bear near his horse, and, dropping the

stag he had shot from his shoulders, he raised his trusty rifle and

was about to shoot the beast. The fox, however, ran up to the huntsman

and entreated him to spare the bear's life, and to take him, also, into

his service. This the nobleman agreed to do; and, mounting his horse,

rode back to his castle, followed by the hound, the fox, and the bear.

The next morning, when the young man had gone again with his dog into

the forest, and the fox and the bear lay quietly near the horse,

a hungry wolf, seeing the horse, sprang out of a thicket to kill

it. The fox and the bear, however, jumped up quickly and begged him

not to hurt the animal, telling him to what a good master it belonged,

and that they were sure, if he would only wait, he also would be taken

into the same service, and would be well cared for. Thereupon the

wolf, hungry though he was, thought it best to accept their counsel,

and he also lay down with them in the grass until their master come

out of the forest.

You can imagine how surprised the young nobleman was when he saw a

great gaunt wolf lying so near his horse! However, when the fox had

explained the matter to him, he consented to take the wolf also into

his service. Thus it happened that this day he rode home followed by

the dog, the fox, the bear, and the wolf. As they were all hungry,

the stag he had killed was not too large to furnish their suppers that

night, and their breakfasts next morning. Not many days afterward a

mouse was added to the company, and after that a mole begged so hard

for admission that the good nobleman could not find in his heart to

refuse her. Last of all came the great bird, the kumrekusha--so strong

a bird that she can carry in her claws a horse with his rider! Soon

after a hare was added to the company, and the nobleman took great

care of all his animals and fed them regularly and well, so that they

were all exceedingly fond of him.

The Animals' Council

One day the fox said to the bear, "My good Bruin, pray run into the

forest and bring me a nice large log, on which I can sit whilst I

preside at a very important council we are going to hold."

Bruin, who had a great respect for the quick wit and good management

of the fox, went out at once to seek the log, and soon came back

bringing a heavy one, with which the fox expressed herself quite

satisfied. Then she called all the animals about her, and, having

mounted the log, addressed them in these words:

"You know all of you, my friends, how very kind and good a master we

have. But, though he is very kind, he is also very lonely. I propose,

therefore, that we find a fitting wife for him."

The assembly was evidently well pleased with this idea, and responded

unanimously, "Very good, indeed, if we only knew any girl worthy to

be the wife of our master; which, however, we do not."

Then the fox said, "I know that the king has a most beautiful daughter,

and I think it will be a good thing to take her for our lord; and

therefore I propose, further, that our friend the kumrekusha should

fly at once to the king's palace, and hover about there until the

princess comes out to take her walk. Then she must catch her up at

once, and bring her here."

As the kumrekusha was glad to do anything for her kind master, she

flew away at once, without even waiting to hear the decision of the

assembly on this proposal.

Just before evening set in, the princess came out to walk before her

father's palace: whereupon the great bird seized her and placed her

gently on her outspread wings, and thus carried her off swiftly to

the young nobleman's castle.

The king was exceedingly grieved when he heard that his daughter had

been carried off, and sent out everywhere proclamations promising

rich rewards to any one who should bring her back, or even tell

him where he might look for her. For a long time, however, all his

promises were of no avail, for no one in the kingdom knew anything

at all about the princess.

At last, however, when the king was well-nigh in despair, an old

gipsy woman came to the palace and asked the king, "What will you

give me if I bring back to you your daughter, the princess?"

The king answered quickly, "I will gladly give you whatever you like

to ask, if only you bring me back my daughter!"

Then the old gipsy went back to her hut in the forest, and tried all

her magical spells to find out where the princess was. At last she

found out that she was living in an old castle, in a very distant

country, with a young nobleman who had married her.

The Magic Carpet

The gipsy was greatly pleased when she knew this, and taking a whip

in her hand seated herself at once in the middle of a small carpet,

and lashed it with her whip. Then the carpet rose up from the ground

and bore her swiftly through the air, toward the far country where

the young nobleman lived, in his lonely old castle, with his beautiful

wife, and all his faithful company of beasts.

When the gipsy came near the castle she made the carpet descend on the

grass among some tress, and leaving it there went to look about until

she could meet the princess walking about the grounds. By and by the

beautiful young lady came out of the castle, and immediately the ugly

old woman went up to her, and began to fawn on her and to tell her all

kinds of strange stories. Indeed, she was such a good story-teller

that the princess grew quite tired of walking before she was tired

of listening; so, seeing the soft carpet lying nicely on the green

grass, she sat down on it to rest awhile. The moment she was seated

the cunning old gipsy sat down by her, and, seizing her whip, lashed

the carpet furiously. In the next minute the princess found herself

borne upon the carpet far away from her husband's castle, and before

long the gipsy made it descend into the garden of the king's palace.

You can easily guess how glad he was to see his lost daughter,

and how he generously gave the gipsy even more than she asked as

a reward. Then the king made the princess live from that time in a

very secluded tower with only two waiting-women, so afraid was he

lest she would again be stolen from him.

Meanwhile the fox, seeing how miserable and melancholy her young

master appeared after his wife had so strangely been taken from him,

and having heard of the great precautions which the king was using

in order to prevent the princess being carried off again, summoned

once more all the animals to a general council.

When all of them were gathered about her, the fox thus began: "You know

all of you, my dear friends, how happily our kind master was married;

but you know, also, that his wife has been unhappily stolen from him,

and that he is now far worse off than he was before we found the

princess for him. Then he was lonely; now he is more than lonely--he

is desolate! This being the case, it is clearly our duty, as his

faithful servants, to try in some way to bring her back to him. This,

however, is not a very easy matter, seeing that the king has placed

his daughter for safety in a strong tower. Nevertheless, I do not

despair, and my plan is this: I will turn myself into a beautiful

cat, and play about in the palace gardens under the windows of the

tower in which the princess lives. I dare say she will long for me

greatly the moment she sees me, and will send her waiting-women down

to catch me and take me up to her. But I will take good care that the

maids do not catch me, so that, at last, the princess will forget her

father's orders not to leave the tower, and will come down herself

into the gardens to see if she may not be more successful. I will

then make believe to let her catch me, and at this moment our friend,

the kumrekusha, who must be hovering over about the palace, must fly

down quickly, seize the princess, and carry her off as before. In

this way, my dear friends, I hope we shall be able to bring back to

our kind master his beautiful wife. Do you approve of my plan?"

Of course, the assembly were only too glad to have such a wise

counsellor, and to be able to prove their gratitude to their

considerate master. So the fox ran up to the kumrekusha, who flew

away with her under her wing, both being equally eager to carry out

the project, and thus to bring back the old cheerful look to the face

of their lord.

When the kumrekusha came to the tower wherein the princess dwelt she

set the fox down quietly among the trees, where it at once changed

into a most beautiful cat, and commenced to play all sorts of graceful

antics under the window at which the princess sat. The cat was striped

all over the body with many different colours, and before long the

king's daughter noticed her, and sent down her two women to catch

her and bring her up in the tower.

The two waiting-women came down into the garden, and called,

"Pussy! pussy!" in their sweetest voices; they offered her bread and

milk, but they offered it all in vain. The cat sprang merrily about

the garden, and ran round and round them, but would on no account

consent to be caught.

At length the princess, who stood watching them at one of the windows

of her tower, became impatient, and descended herself into the garden,

saying petulantly, "You only frighten the cat; let me try to catch

her!" As she approached the cat, who seemed now willing to be caught,

the kumrekusha darted down quickly, seized the princess by the waist,

and carried her high up into the air.

The frightened waiting-women ran to report to the king what had

happened to the princess; whereupon the king immediately let loose

all his greyhounds to seize the cat which had been the cause of

his daughter's being carried off a second time. The dogs followed

the cat closely, and were on the point of catching her, when she,

just in the nick of time, saw a cave with a very narrow entrance and

ran into it for shelter. There the dogs tried to follow her, or to

widen the mouth of the cave with their claws, but all in vain; so,

after barking a long time very furiously, they at length grew weary,

and stole back ashamed and afraid to the king's stables.

When all the greyhounds were out of sight the cat changed herself

back into a fox, and ran off in a straight line toward the castle,

where she found her young master very joyful, for the kumrekusha had

already brought back to him his beautiful wife.

The King makes War on the Animals

Now the king was exceedingly angry to think that he had again lost

his daughter, and he was all the more angry to think that such poor

creatures as a bird and a cat had succeeded in carrying her off after

all his precautions. So, in his great wrath, he resolved to make a

general war on the animals, and entirely exterminate them.