Then they ran to the prince and said: 'Come quickly, your wife is dead!'

'Bury her, then!' returned he. 'But why did she do it? I am sure I said

nothing to make her throw herself into the oven.'

Accordingly the burnt woman was buried, but the prince would not go to

the funeral as all his thoughts were still with the wife who would not

speak to him. The next night he said to her, 'Dear wife, are you afraid

that something dreadful will happen if you speak to me? If you still

persist in being dumb, I shall be forced to get another wife.' The poor

girl longed to speak, but dread of the ogre kept her silent, and the

prince did as he had said, and brought a fresh bride into the palace.

And when she and her ladies were seated in state, the maiden planted a

sharp stake in the ground, and sat herself down comfortably on it, and

began to spin.

'What are you staring at so?' said the new bride to her ladies. 'Do you

think that is anything wonderful? Why, I can do as much myself!'

'I am sure you can't,' said they, much too surprised to be polite.

Then the maid sprang off the stake and left the room, and instantly the

new wife took her place. But the sharp stake ran through, and she was

dead in a moment. So they sent to the prince and said, 'Come quickly,

and bury your wife.'

'Bury her yourselves,' he answered. 'What did she do it for? It was not

by my orders that she impaled herself on the stake.'

So they buried her; and in the evening the prince came to the daughter

of Buk Ettemsuch, and said to her, 'Speak to me, or I shall have to take

another wife.' But she was afraid to speak to him.

The following day the prince hid himself in the room and watched. And

soon the maiden woke, and said to the pitcher and to the water-jug,

'Quick! go down to the spring and bring me some water; I am thirsty.'

And they went. But as they were filling themselves at the spring, the

water-jug knocked against the pitcher and broke off its spout. And the

pitcher burst into tears, and ran to the maiden, and said: 'Mistress,

beat the water-jug, for he has broken my spout!'

'By the head of Buk Ettemsuch, I implore you not to beat me!'

'Ah,' she replied, 'if only my husband had sworn by that oath, I could

have spoken to him from the beginning, and he need never have taken

another wife. But now he will never say it, and he will have to go on

marrying fresh ones.'

And the prince, from his hiding-place, heard her words, and he jumped up

and ran to her and said, 'By the head of Buk Ettemsuch, speak to me.'

So she spoke to him, and they lived happily to the end of their days,

because the girl kept the promise she had made to the ogre.

[_Märchen und Gedichte aus der Stadt Tripolis_. Von Hans Stumme.]

_LAUGHING EYE AND WEEPING EYE, OR

THE LIMPING FOX_

(SERVIAN STORY)

Once upon a time there lived a man whose right eye always smiled, and

whose left eye always cried; and this man had three sons, two of them

very clever, and the third very stupid. Now these three sons were very

curious about the peculiarity of their father's eyes, and as they could

not puzzle out the reason for themselves, they determined to ask their

father why he did not have eyes like other people.

So the eldest of the three went one day into his father's room and put

the question straight out; but, instead of answering, the man flew into

a fearful rage, and sprang at him with a knife. The young fellow ran

away in a terrible fright, and took refuge with his brothers, who were

awaiting anxiously the result of the interview.

'You had better go yourselves,' was all the reply they got, 'and see if

you will fare any better.'

Upon hearing this, the second son entered his father's room, only to be

treated in the same manner as his brother; and back he came telling the

youngest, the fool of the family, that it was his turn to try his luck.

Then the youngest son marched boldly up to his father and said to him,

'My brothers would not let me know what answer you had given to their

question. But now, do tell me why your right eye always laughs and your

left eye always weeps.'

As before, the father grew purple with fury, and rushed forwards with

his knife. But the simpleton did not stir a step; he knew that he had

really nothing to fear from his father.

'Ah, now I see who is my true son,' exclaimed the old man; 'the others

are mere cowards. And as you have shown me that you are brave, I will

satisfy your curiosity. My right eye laughs because I am glad to have a

son like you; my left eye weeps because a precious treasure has been

stolen from me. I had in my garden a vine that yielded a tun of wine

every hour--someone has managed to steal it, so I weep its loss.'

The simpleton returned to his brothers and told them of their father's

loss, and they all made up their minds to set out at once in search of

the vine. They travelled together till they came to some cross roads,

and there they parted, the two elder ones taking one road, and the

simpleton the other.

'Thank goodness we have got rid of that idiot,' exclaimed the two elder.

'Now let us have some breakfast.' And they sat down by the roadside and

began to eat.

They had only half finished, when a lame fox came out of a wood and

begged them to give him something to eat. But they jumped up and chased

him off with their sticks, and the poor fox limped away on his three

pads. As he ran he reached the spot where the youngest son was getting

out the food he had brought with him, and the fox asked him for a crust

of bread. The simpleton had not very much for himself, but he gladly

gave half of his meal to the hungry fox.

'Where are you going, brother?' said the fox, when he had finished his

share of the bread; and the young man told him the story of his father

and the wonderful vine.

'Dear me, how lucky!' said the fox. 'I know what has become of it.

Follow me!' So they went on till they came to the gate of a large

garden.

'You will find here the vine that you are seeking, but it will not be at

all easy to get it. You must listen carefully to what I am going to say.

Before you reach the vine you will have to pass twelve outposts, each

consisting of two guards. If you see these guards looking straight at

you, go on without fear, for they are asleep. But if their eyes are shut

then beware, for they are wide awake. If you once get to the vine, you

will find two shovels, one of wood and the other of iron. Be sure not to

take the iron one; it will make a noise and rouse the guards, and then

you are lost.'

The young man got safely through the garden without any adventures till

he came to the vine which yielded a tun of wine an hour. But he thought

he should find it impossible to dig the hard earth with only a wooden

shovel, so picked up the iron one instead. The noise it made soon

awakened the guards. They seized the poor simpleton and carried him to

their master.

'Why do you try to steal my vine?' demanded he; 'and how did you manage

to get past the guards?'

'The vine is not yours; it belongs to my father, and if you will not

give it to me now, I will return and get it somehow.'

'You shall have the vine if you will bring me in exchange an apple off

the golden apple-tree that flowers every twenty-four hours, and bears

fruit of gold.' So saying, he gave orders that the simpleton should be

released, and this done, the youth hurried off to consult the fox.

'Now you see,' observed the fox, 'this comes of not following my advice.

However, I will help you to get the golden apple. It grows in a garden

that you will easily recognise from my description. Near the apple-tree

are two poles, one of gold, the other of wood. Take the wooden pole, and

you will be able to reach the apple.'

Master Simpleton listened carefully to all that was told him, and after

crossing the garden, and escaping as before from the men who were

watching it, soon arrived at the apple-tree. But he was so dazzled by

the sight of the beautiful golden fruit, that he quite forgot all that

the fox had said. He seized the golden pole, and struck the branch a

sounding blow. The guards at once awoke, and conducted him to their

master. Then the simpleton had to tell his story.

'I will give you the golden apple,' said the owner of the garden, 'if

you will bring me in exchange a horse which can go round the world in

four-and-twenty hours.' And the young man departed, and went to find the

fox.

This time the fox was really angry, and no wonder.

'If you had listened to me, you would have been home with your father by

this time. However I am willing to help you once more. Go into the

forest, and you will find the horse with two halters round his neck. One

is of gold, the other of hemp. Lead him by the hempen halter, or else

the horse will begin to neigh, and will waken the guards. Then all is

over with you.'

So Master Simpleton searched till he found the horse, and was struck

dumb at its beauty.

'What!' he said to himself, 'put the hempen halter on an animal like

that? Not I, indeed!'

Then the horse neighed loudly; the guards seized our young friend and

conducted him before their master.

'I will give you the golden horse,' said he, 'if you will bring me in

exchange a golden maiden who has never yet seen either sun or moon.'

'But if I am to bring you the golden maiden you must lend me first the

golden steed with which to seek for her.'

'Ah,' replied the owner of the golden horse, 'but who will undertake

that you will ever come back?'

'I swear on the head of my father,' answered the young man, 'that I will

bring back either the maiden or the horse.' And he went away to consult

the fox.

Now, the fox who was always patient and charitable to other people's

faults, led him to the entrance of a deep grotto, where stood a maiden

all of gold, and beautiful as the day. He placed her on his horse and

prepared to mount.

[Illustration: LIMPING FOX ADVISES THE SIMPLETON TO

KEEP THE GOLDEN GIRL HIMSELF]

'Are you not sorry,' said the fox, 'to give such a lovely maiden in

exchange for a horse? Yet you are bound to do it, for you have sworn by

the head of your father. But perhaps I could manage to take her place.'

So saying, the fox transformed himself into another golden maiden, so

like the first that hardly anyone could tell the difference between

them.

The simpleton took her straight to the owner of the horse, who was

enchanted with her.

And the young man got back his father's vine and married the _real_

golden maiden into the bargain.

[_Contes Populaires Slaves_. Traduits par Louis Léger. Paris: Ernest

Leroux, éditeur.]

_THE UNLOOKED-FOR PRINCE_

(POLISH STORY)

A long time ago there lived a king and queen who had no children,

although they both wished very much for a little son. They tried not to

let each other see how unhappy they were, and pretended to take pleasure

in hunting and hawking and all sorts of other sports; but at length the

king could bear it no longer, and declared that he must go and visit the

furthest corners of his kingdom, and that it would be many months before

he should return to his capital.

By that time he hoped he would have so many things to think about that

he would have forgotten to trouble about the little son who never came.

The country the king reigned over was very large, and full of high,

stony mountains and sandy deserts, so that it was not at all easy to go

from one place to another. One day the king had wandered out alone,

meaning to go only a little distance, but everything looked so alike he

could not make out the path by which he had come. He walked on and on

for hours, the sun beating hotly on his head, and his legs trembling

under him, and he might have died of thirst if he had not suddenly

stumbled on a little well, which looked as if it had been newly dug. On

the surface floated a silver cup with a golden handle, but as it bobbed

about whenever the king tried to seize it, he was too thirsty to wait

any longer and knelt down and drank his fill.

When he had finished he began to rise from his knees, but somehow his

beard seemed to have stuck fast in the water, and with all his efforts

he could not pull it out. After two or three jerks to his head, which

only hurt him without doing any good, he called out angrily, 'Let go at

once! Who is holding me?'

'It is I, the King Kostieï,' said a voice from the well, and looking up

through the water was a little man with green eyes and a big head. 'You

have drunk from my spring, and I shall not let you go until you promise

to give me the most precious thing your palace contains, which was not

there when you left it.'

Now the only thing that the king much cared for in his palace was the

queen herself, and as she was weeping bitterly on a pile of cushions in

the great hall when he had ridden away, he knew that Kostieï's words

could not apply to her. So he cheerfully gave the promise asked for by

the ugly little man, and in the twinkling of an eye, man, spring, and

cup had disappeared, and the king was left kneeling on the dry sand,

wondering if it was all a dream. But as he felt much stronger and better

he made up his mind that this strange adventure must really have

happened, and he sprang on his horse and rode off with a light heart to

look for his companions.

In a few weeks they began to set out on their return home, which they

reached one hot day, eight months after they had all left. The king was

greatly beloved by his people, and crowds lined the roads, shouting and

waving their hats as the procession passed along. On the steps of the

palace stood the queen, with a splendid golden cushion in her arms, and

on the cushion the most beautiful boy that ever was seen, wrapped about

in a cloud of lace. In a moment Kostieï's words rushed into the king's

mind, and he began to weep bitterly, to the surprise of everybody, who

had expected him nearly to die of joy at the sight of his son. But try

as he would and work as hard as he might he could never forget his

promise, and every time he let the baby out of his sight he thought that

he had seen it for the last time.

However, years passed on and the prince grew first into a big boy, and

then into a fine young man. Kostieï made no sign, and gradually even the

anxious king thought less and less about him, and in the end forgot him

altogether.

There was no family in the whole kingdom happier than the king and queen

and prince, until one day when the youth met a little old man as he was

hunting in a lonely part of the woods.

'How are you, my unlooked-for Prince?' he said. 'You kept them waiting a

good long time!'

'And who are you?' asked the prince.

'You will know soon enough. When you go home give my compliments to your

father and tell him that I wish he would square accounts with me. If he

neglects to pay his debts he will bitterly repent it.'

So saying the old man disappeared, and the prince returned to the palace

and told his father what had happened.

The king turned pale and explained to his son the terrible story.

'Do not grieve over it, father,' answered the prince. 'It is nothing so

dreadful after all! I will find some way to force Kostieï to give up his

rights over me. But if I do not come back in a year's time, you must

give up all hopes of ever seeing me.'

Then the prince began to prepare for his journey. His father gave him a

complete suit of steel armour, a sword, and a horse, while his mother

hung round his neck a cross of gold. So, kissing him tenderly, with many

tears they let him go.

He rode steadily on for three days, and at sunset on the fourth day he

found himself on the seashore. On the sand before him lay twelve white

dresses, dazzling as the snow, yet as far as his eyes could reach there

was no one in sight to whom they could belong. Curious to see what would

happen, he took up one of the garments, and leaving his horse loose, to

wander about the adjoining fields, he hid himself among some willows and

waited. In a few minutes a flock of geese which had been paddling about

in the sea approached the shore, and put on the dresses, struck the sand

with their feet and were transformed in the twinkling of an eye into

eleven beautiful young girls, who flew away as fast as they could. The

twelfth and youngest remained in the water, stretching out her long

white neck and looking about her anxiously. Suddenly, among the

willows, she perceived the king's son, and called out to him with a

human voice:

'Oh Prince, give me back my dress, and I shall be for ever grateful to

you.'

The Prince hastened to lay the dress on the sand, and walked away. When

the maiden had thrown off the goose-skin and quickly put on her proper

clothes, she came towards him and he saw that none had ever seen or told

of such beauty as hers. She blushed and held out her hand, saying to him

in a soft voice:

'I thank you, noble Prince, for having granted my request. I am the

youngest daughter of Kostieï the immortal, who has twelve daughters and

rules over the kingdoms under the earth. Long time my father has waited

for you, and great is his anger. But trouble not yourself and fear

nothing, only do as I bid you. When you see the King Kostieï, fall

straightway upon your knees and heed neither his threats nor his cry,

but draw near to him boldly. That which will happen after, you will know

in time. Now let us go.'

At these words she struck the ground with her foot and a gulf opened,

down which they went right into the heart of the earth. In a short time

they reached Kostieï's palace, which gives light, with a light brighter

than the sun, to the dark kingdoms below. And the prince, as he had been

bidden, entered boldly into the hall.

Kostieï, with a shining crown upon his head, sat in the centre upon a

golden throne. His green eyes glittered like glass, his hands were as

the claws of a crab. When he caught sight of the prince he uttered

piercing yells, which shook the walls of the palace. The prince took no

notice, but continued his advance on his knees towards the throne. When

he had almost reached it, the king broke out into a laugh and said:

'It has been very lucky for you that you have been able to make me

laugh. Stay with us in our underground empire, only first you will have

to do three things. To-night it is late. Go to sleep; to-morrow I will

tell you.'

Early the following morning the prince received a message that Kostieï

was ready to see him. He got up and dressed, and hastened to the

presence chamber, where the little king was seated on his throne. When

the prince appeared, bowing low before him, Kostieï began:

'Now, Prince, this is what you have to do. By to-night you must build me

a marble palace, with windows of crystal and a roof of gold. It is to

stand in the middle of a great park, full of streams and lakes. If you

are able to build it you shall be my friend. If not, off with your

head.'

The prince listened in silence to this startling speech, and then

returning to his room set himself to think about the certain death that

awaited him. He was quite absorbed in these thoughts, when suddenly a

bee flew against the window and tapped, saying, 'Let me come in.' He

rose and opened the window, and there stood before him the youngest

princess.

'What are you dreaming about, Prince?'

'I was dreaming of your father, who has planned my death.'

'Fear nothing. You may sleep in peace, and to-morrow morning when you

awake you will find the palace all ready.'

What she said, she did. The next morning when the prince left his room

he saw before him a palace more beautiful than his fancy had ever

pictured. Kostieï for his part could hardly believe his eyes, and

pondered deeply how it had got there.

'Well, this time you have certainly won; but you are not going to be let

off so easily. To-morrow all my twelve daughters shall stand in a row

before you, and if you cannot tell me which of them is the youngest, off

goes your head.'

'What! Not recognise the youngest princess!' said the Prince to himself,

as he entered his room, 'a likely story!'

'It is such a difficult matter that you will never be able to do it

without my help,' replied the bee, who was buzzing about the ceiling.

'We are all so exactly alike, that even our father scarcely knows the

difference between us.'

'Then what must I do?'

'This. The youngest is she who will have a ladybird on her eyelid. Be

very careful. Now good-bye.'

Next morning King Kostieï again sent for the prince. The young

princesses were all drawn up in a row, dressed precisely in the same

manner, and with their eyes all cast down. As the prince looked at them,

he was amazed at their likeness. Twice he walked along the line, without

being able to detect the sign agreed upon. The third time his heart beat

fast at the sight of a tiny speck upon the eyelid of one of the girls.

'This one is the youngest,' he said.

'How in the world did you guess?' cried Kostieï in a fury. 'There is

some jugglery about it! But you are not going to escape me so easily. In

three hours you shall come here and give me another proof of your

cleverness. I shall set alight a handful of straw, and before it is

burnt up you will have turned it into a pair of boots. If not, off goes

your head.'

So the prince returned sadly into his room, but the bee was there before

him.

'Why do you look so melancholy, my handsome Prince?'

'How can I help looking melancholy when your father has ordered me to

make him a pair of boots? Does he take me for a shoemaker?'

'What do you think of doing?'

'Not of making boots, at any rate! I am not afraid of death. One can

only die once after all.'

'No, Prince, you shall not die. I will try to save you. And we will fly

together or die together.'

As she spoke she spat upon the ground, and then drawing the prince after

her out of the room, she locked the door behind her and threw away the

key. Holding each other tight by the hand, they made their way up into

the sunlight, and found themselves by the side of the same sea, while

the prince's horse was still quietly feeding in the neighbouring meadow.

The moment he saw his master, the horse whinnied and galloped towards

him. Without losing an instant the prince sprang into the saddle, swung

the princess behind him, and away they went like an arrow from a bow.

When the hour arrived which Kostieï had fixed for the prince's last

trial, and there were no signs of him, the king sent to his room to ask

why he delayed so long. The servants, finding the door locked, knocked

loudly and received for answer, 'In one moment.' It was the spittle,

which was imitating the voice of the prince.

The answer was taken back to Kostieï. He waited; still no prince. He

sent the servants back again, and the same voice replied, 'Immediately.'

'He is making fun of me!' shrieked Kostieï in a rage. 'Break in the

door, and bring him to me!'

The servants hurried to do his bidding. The door was broken open. Nobody

inside; but just the spittle in fits of laughter! Kostieï was beside

himself with rage, and commanded his guards to ride after the fugitives.

If the guards returned without the fugitives, their heads should pay for

it.

By this time the prince and princess had got a good start, and were

feeling quite happy, when suddenly they heard the sound of a gallop far

behind them. The prince sprang from the saddle, and laid his ear to the

ground.

'They are pursuing us,' he said.

'Then there is no time to be lost,' answered the princess; and as she

spoke she changed herself into a river, the prince into a bridge, the

horse into a crow, and divided the wide road beyond the bridge into

three little ones. When the soldiers came up to the bridge, they paused

uncertainly. How were they to know which of the three roads the

fugitives had taken? They gave it up in despair and returned in

trembling to Kostieï.

'Idiots!' he exclaimed, in a passion. 'They _were_ the bridge and the

river, of course! Do you mean to say you never thought of that? Go back

at once!' and off they galloped like lightning.

But time had been lost, and the prince and princess were far on their

way.

'I hear a horse,' cried the princess.

The prince jumped down and laid his ear to the ground.

'Yes,' he said, 'they are not far off now.'

In an instant prince, princess, and horse had all disappeared, and

instead was a dense forest, crossed and recrossed by countless paths.

Kostieï's soldiers dashed hastily into the forest, believing they saw

before them the flying horse with its double burden. They seemed close

upon them, when suddenly horse, wood, everything disappeared, and they

found themselves at the place where they started. There was nothing for

it but to return to Kostieï, and tell him of this fresh disaster.

'A horse! a horse!' cried the king. 'I will go after them myself. _This_

time they shall _not_ escape.' And he galloped off, foaming with anger.

'I think I hear someone pursuing us,' said the princess.

'Yes, so do I.'

'And this time it is Kostieï himself. But his power only reaches as far

as the first church, and he can go no farther. Give me your golden

cross.' So the prince unfastened the cross which was his mother's gift,

and the princess hastily changed herself into a church, the prince into

a priest, and the horse into a belfry.

It was hardly done when Kostieï came up.

'Greeting, monk. Have you seen some travellers on horseback pass this

way?'

'Yes, the prince and Kostieï's daughter have just gone by. They have

entered the church, and told me to give you their greetings if I met

you.'

Then Kostieï knew that he had been hopelessly beaten, and the prince and

princess continued their journey without any more adventures.

[_Contes Populaires Slaves_. Traduits par Louis Léger. Paris: Leroux,

éditeur.]

_THE SIMPLETON_

There lived, once upon a time, a man who was as rich as he could be; but

as no happiness in this world is ever quite complete, he had an only son

who was such a simpleton that he could barely add two and two together.

At last his father determined to put up with his stupidity no longer,

and giving him a purse full of gold, he sent him off to seek his fortune

in foreign lands, mindful of the adage:

How much a fool that's sent to roam

Excels a fool that stays at home.

Moscione, for this was the youth's name, mounted a horse, and set out

for Venice, hoping to find a ship there that would take him to Cairo.

After he had ridden for some time he saw a man standing at the foot of a

poplar tree, and said to him: 'What's your name, my friend; where do you

come from, and what can you do?'

The man replied, 'My name is Quick-as-Thought, I come from Fleet-town,

and I can run like lightning.'

'I should like to see you,' returned Moscione.

'Just wait a minute, then,' said Quick-as-Thought, 'and I will soon show

you that I am speaking the truth.'

The words were hardly out of his mouth when a young doe ran right across

the field they were standing in.

Quick-as-Thought let her run on a short distance, in order to give her a

start, and then pursued her so quickly and so lightly that you could not

have tracked his footsteps if the field had been strewn with flour. In a

very few springs he had overtaken the doe, and had so impressed Moscione

with his fleetness of foot that he begged Quick-as-Thought to go with

him, promising at the same time to reward him handsomely.

Quick-as-Thought agreed to his proposal, and they continued on their

journey together. They had hardly gone a mile when they met a young man,

and Moscione stopped and asked him: 'What's your name, my friend; where

do you come from, and what can you do?'

The man thus addressed answered promptly, 'I am called Hare's-ear, I

come from Curiosity Valley, and if I lay my ear on the ground, without

moving from the spot, I can hear everything that goes on in the world,

the plots and intrigues of court and cottage, and all the plans of mice

and men.'

'If that's the case,' replied Moscione, 'Just tell me what's going on in

my own home at present.'

The youth laid his ear to the ground and at once reported: 'An old man

is saying to his wife, "Heaven be praised that we have got rid of

Moscione, for perhaps, when he has been out in the world a little, he

may gain some common sense, and return home less of a fool than when he

set out."'

'Enough, enough,' cried Moscione. 'You speak the truth, and I believe

you. Come with us, and your fortune's made.'

The young man consented; and after they had gone about ten miles, they

met a third man, to whom Moscione said: 'What's your name, my brave

fellow; where were you born, and what can you do?'

The man replied, 'I am called Hit-the-Point, I come from the city of

Perfect-aim, and I draw my bow so exactly that I can shoot a pea off a

stone.'

'I should like to see you do it, if you've no objection,' said Moscione.

The man at once placed a pea on a stone, and, drawing his bow, he shot

it in the middle with the greatest possible ease.

When Moscione saw that he had spoken the truth, he immediately asked

Hit-the-Point to join his party.

After they had all travelled together for some days, they came upon a

number of people who were digging a trench in the blazing sun.

Moscione felt so sorry for them, that he said: 'My dear friends, how can

you endure working so hard in heat that would cook an egg in a minute?'

But one of the workmen answered: 'We are as fresh as daisies, for we

have a young man among us who blows on our backs like the west wind.'

'Let me see him,' said Moscione.

The youth was called, and Moscione asked him: 'What's your name; where

do you come from, and what can you do?'

He answered: 'I am called Blow-Blast, I come from Wind-town, and with my

mouth I can make any winds you please. If you wish a west wind I can

raise it for you in a second, but if you prefer a north wind I can blow

these houses down before your eyes.'

'Seeing is believing,' returned the cautious Moscione.

Blow-Blast at once began to convince him of the truth of his assertion.

First he blew so softly that it seemed like the gentle breeze at

evening, and then he turned round and raised such a mighty storm, that

he blew down a whole row of oak trees.

When Moscione saw this he was delighted, and begged Blow-Blast to join

his company. And as they went on their way they met another man, whom

Moscione addressed as usual: 'What's your name; where do you come from,

and what can you do?'

'I am called Strong-Back; I come from Power-borough, and I possess such

strength that I can take a mountain on my back, and it seems a feather

to me.'

'If that's the case,' said Moscione, 'you are a clever fellow; but I

should like some proof of your strength.'

Then Strong-Back loaded himself with great boulders of rock and trunks

of trees, so that a hundred waggons could not have taken away all that

he carried on his back.

When Moscione saw this he prevailed on Strong-Back to join his troop,

and they all continued their journey till they came to a country called

Flower Vale. Here there reigned a king whose only daughter ran as

quickly as the wind, and so lightly that she could run over a field of

young oats without bending a single blade. The king had given out a

proclamation that anyone who could beat the princess in a race should

have her for a wife, but that all who failed in the competition should

lose their head.

As soon as Moscione heard of the Royal Proclamation, he hastened to the

king and challenged the princess to race with him. But on the morning

appointed for the trial he sent word to the king that he was not feeling

well, and that as he could not run himself he would supply someone to

take his place.

'It's just the same to me,' said Canetella, the princess; 'let anyone

come forward that likes, I am quite prepared to meet him.'

At the time appointed for the race the whole place was crowded with

people anxious to see the contest, and, punctual to the moment,

Quick-as-Thought, and Canetella dressed in a short skirt and very

lightly shod, appeared at the starting-point.

Then a silver trumpet sounded, and the two rivals started on their race,

looking for all the world like a greyhound chasing a hare.

But Quick-as-Thought, true to his name, outran the princess, and when

the goal was reached the people all clapped their hands and shouted,

'Long live the stranger!'

[Illustration: The Princess beaten by Quick-as-Thought]

Canetella was much depressed by her defeat; but, as the race had to be

run a second time, she determined she would not be beaten again.

Accordingly she went home and sent Quick-as-Thought a magic ring, which

prevented the person who wore it, not only from running, but even from

walking, and begged that he would wear it for her sake.

Early next morning the crowd assembled on the race-course, and

Canetella and Quick-as-Thought began their trial afresh. The princess

ran as quickly as ever, but poor Quick-as-Thought was like an overloaded

donkey, and could not go a step.

Then Hit-the-Point, who had heard all about the princess's deception

from Hare's-ear, when he saw the danger his friend was in, seized his

bow and arrow and shot the stone out of the ring Quick-as-Thought was

wearing. In a moment the youth's legs became free again, and in five

bounds he had overtaken Canetella and won the race.

The king was much disgusted when he saw that he must acknowledge

Moscione as his future son-in-law, and summoned the wise men of his

court to ask if there was no way out of the difficulty. The council at

once decided that Canetella was far too dainty a morsel for the mouth of

such a travelling tinker, and advised the king to offer Moscione a

present of gold, which no doubt a beggar like him would prefer to all

the wives in the world.

The king was delighted at this suggestion, and calling Moscione before

him, he asked him what sum of money he would take instead of his

promised bride.

Moscione first consulted with his friends, and then answered: 'I demand

as much gold and precious stones as my followers can carry away.'

The king thought he was being let off very easily, and produced coffers

of gold, sacks of silver, and chests of precious stones; but the more

Strong-Back was loaded with the treasure the straighter he stood.

At last the treasury was quite exhausted, and the king had to send his

courtiers to his subjects to collect all the gold and silver they

possessed. But nothing was of any avail, and Strong-Back only asked for

more.

When the king's counsellors saw the unexpected result of their advice,

they said it would be more than foolish to let some strolling thieves

take so much treasure out of the country, and urged the king to send a

troop of soldiers after them, to recover the gold and precious stones.

So the king sent a body of armed men on foot and horse, to take back the

treasure Strong-Back was carrying away with him.

But Hare's-ear, who had heard what the counsellors had advised the king,

told his companions just as the dust of their pursuers was visible on

the horizon.

No sooner had Blow-Blast taken in their danger than he raised such a

mighty wind that all the king's army was blown down like so many

nine-pins, and as they were quite unable to get up again, Moscione and

his companions proceeded on their way without further let or hindrance.

As soon as they reached his home, Moscione divided his spoil with his

companions, at which they were much delighted. He, himself, stayed with

his father, who was obliged at last to acknowledge that his son was not

quite such a fool as he looked.

[From the Italian, _Kletke_.]

_THE STREET MUSICIANS_

A man once possessed a donkey which had served him faithfully for many

years, but at last the poor beast grew old and feeble, and every day his

work became more of a burden. As he was no longer of any use, his master

made up his mind to shoot him; but when the donkey learnt the fate that

was in store for him, he determined not to die, but to run away to the

nearest town and there to become a street musician.

When he had trotted along for some distance he came upon a greyhound

lying on the road, and panting for dear life. 'Well, brother,' said the

donkey, 'what's the matter with you? You look rather tired.'

'So I am,' replied the dog, 'but because I am getting old and am

growing weaker every day, and cannot go out hunting any longer, my

master wanted to poison me; and, as life is still sweet, I have taken

leave of him. But how I am to earn my own livelihood I haven't a

notion.'

'Well,' said the donkey, 'I am on my way to the nearest big town, where

I mean to become a street musician. Why don't you take up music as a

profession and come along with me? I'll play the flute and you can play

the kettle-drum.'

The greyhound was quite pleased at the idea, and the two set off

together. When they had gone a short distance they met a cat with a face

as long as three rainy days. 'Now, what has happened to upset your

happiness, friend puss?' inquired the donkey.

'It's impossible to look cheerful when one feels depressed,' answered

the cat. 'I am well up in years now, and have lost most of my teeth;

consequently I prefer sitting in front of the fire to catching mice, and

so my old mistress wanted to drown me. I have no wish to die yet, so I

ran away from her; but good advice is expensive, and I don't know where

I am to go to, or what I am to do.'

'Come to the nearest big town with us,' said the donkey, 'and try your

fortune as a street musician. I know what sweet music you make at night,

so you are sure to be a success.'

The cat was delighted with the donkey's proposal, and they all continued

their journey together. In a short time they came to the courtyard of an

inn, where they found a cock crowing lustily. 'What in the world is the

matter with you?' asked the donkey. 'The noise you are making is enough

to break the drums of our ears.'

'I am only prophesying good weather,' said the cock; 'for to-morrow is a

feast day, and just because it is a holiday and a number of people are

expected at the inn, the landlady has given orders for my neck to be

wrung to-night, so that I may be made into soup for to-morrow's dinner.'

'I'll tell you what, redcap,' said the donkey; 'you had much better come

with us to the nearest town. You have got a good voice, and could join a

street band we are getting up.' The cock was much pleased with the idea,

and the party proceeded on their way.

But the nearest big town was a long way off, and it took them more than

a day to reach it. In the evening they came to a wood, and they made up

their minds to go no further, but to spend the night there. The donkey

and the greyhound lay down under a big tree, and the cat and the cock

got up into the branches, the cock flying right up to the topmost twig,

where he thought he would be safe from all danger. Before he went to

sleep he looked round the four points of the compass, and saw a little

spark burning in the distance. He called out to his companions that he

was sure there must be a house not far off, for he could see a light

shining.

When he heard this, the donkey said at once: 'Then we must get up, and

go and look for the house, for this is very poor shelter.' And the

greyhound added: 'Yes; I feel I'd be all the better for a few bones and

a scrap or two of meat.'

So they set out for the spot where the light was to be seen shining

faintly in the distance, but the nearer they approached it the brighter

it grew, till at last they came to a brilliantly lighted house. The

donkey being the biggest of the party, went to the window and looked in.

'Well, greyhead, what do you see?' asked the cock.

'I see a well-covered table,' replied the donkey, 'with excellent food

and drink, and several robbers are sitting round it, enjoying themselves

highly.'

'I wish we were doing the same,' said the cock.

'So do I,' answered the donkey. 'Can't we think of some plan for turning

out the robbers, and taking possession of the house ourselves?'

So they consulted together what they were to do, and at last they

arranged that the donkey should stand at the window with his fore-feet

on the sill, that the greyhound should get on his back, the cat on the

dog's shoulder, and the cock on the cat's head. When they had grouped

themselves in this way, at a given signal, they all began their

different forms of music. The donkey brayed, the greyhound barked, the

cat miawed, and the cock crew. Then they all scrambled through the

window into the room, breaking the glass into a thousand pieces as they

did so.

The robbers were all startled by the dreadful noise, and thinking that

some evil spirits at the least were entering the house, they rushed out

into the wood, their hair standing on end with terror. The four

companions, delighted with the success of their trick, sat down at the

table, and ate and drank all the food and wine that the robbers had left

behind them.

When they had finished their meal they put out the lights, and each

animal chose a suitable sleeping-place. The donkey lay down in the

courtyard outside the house, the dog behind the door, the cat in front

of the fire, and the cock flew up on to a high shelf, and, as they were

all tired after their long day, they soon went to sleep.

Shortly after midnight, when the robbers saw that no light was burning

in the house and that all seemed quiet, the captain of the band said:

'We were fools to let ourselves be so easily frightened away;' and,

turning to one of his men, he ordered him to go and see if all was safe.

The man found everything in silence and darkness, and going into the

kitchen he thought he had better strike a light. He took a match, and

mistaking the fiery eyes of the cat for two glowing coals, he tried to

light his match with them. But the cat didn't see the joke, and sprang

at his face, spitting and scratching him in the most vigorous manner.

The man was terrified out of his life, and tried to run out by the back

door; but he stumbled over the greyhound, which bit him in the leg.

Yelling with pain he ran across the courtyard only to receive a kick

from the donkey's hind leg as he passed him. In the meantime the cock

had been roused from his slumbers, and feeling very cheerful he called

out, from the shelf where he was perched, 'Kikeriki!'

Then the robber hastened back to his captain and said: 'Sir, there is a

dreadful witch in the house, who spat at me and scratched my face with

her long fingers; and before the door there stands a man with a long

knife, who cut my leg severely. In the courtyard outside lies a black

monster, who fell upon me with a huge wooden club; and that is not all,

for, sitting on the roof, is a judge, who called out: "Bring the rascal

to me." So I fled for dear life.'

After this the robbers dared not venture into the house again, and they

abandoned it for ever. But the four street musicians were so delighted

with their lodgings that they determined to take up their abode in the

robbers' house, and, for all I know to the contrary, they may be living

there to this day.

[From the German, _Kletke_.]

_THE TWIN BROTHERS_

Once there was a fisherman who had plenty of money but no children. One

day an old woman came to his wife and said: 'What use is all your

prosperity to you when you have no children?'

'It is God's will,' answered the fisherman's wife.

'Nay, my child, it is not God's will, but the fault of your husband; for

if he would but catch the little gold-fish you would surely have

children. To-night, when he comes home, tell him he must go back and

catch the little fish. He must then cut it in six pieces--one of these

you must eat, and your husband the second, and soon after you will have

two children. The third piece you must give to the dog, and she will

have two puppies. The fourth piece give to the mare, and she will have

two foals. The fifth piece bury on the right of the house door, and the

sixth on the left, and two cypress trees will spring up there.'

When the fisherman came home at evening his wife told him all that the

old woman had advised, and he promised to bring home the little

gold-fish. Next morning, therefore, he went very early to the water, and

caught the little fish. Then they did as the old woman had ordered, and

in due time the fisherman's wife had two sons, so like each other that

no one could tell the difference. The dog had two puppies exactly alike,

the mare had two foals, and on each side of the front door there sprang

up two cypress trees precisely similar.

When the two boys were grown up, they were not content to remain at

home, though they had wealth in plenty; but they wished to go out into

the world, and make a name for themselves. Their father would not allow

them both to go at once, as they were the only children he had. He said:

'First one shall travel, and when he is come back then the other may

go.'

So the one took his horse and his dog, and went, saying to his brother:

'So long as the cypress trees are green, that is a sign that I am alive

and well; but if one begins to wither, then make haste and come to me.'

So he went forth into the world.

One day he stopped at the house of an old woman, and as at evening he

sat before the door, he perceived in front of him a castle standing on a

hill. He asked the old woman to whom it belonged, and her answer was:

'My son, it is the castle of the Fairest in the Land!'

'And I am come here to woo her!'

'That, my son, many have sought to do, and have lost their lives in the

attempt; for she has cut off their heads and stuck them on the post you

see standing there.'

'And the same will she do to me, or else I shall be victor, for

to-morrow I go there to court her.'

Then he took his zither and played upon it so beautifully that no one in

all that land had ever heard the like, and the princess herself came to

the window to listen.

The next morning the Fairest in the Land sent for the old woman and

asked her, 'Who is it that lives with you, and plays the zither so

well?'

'It is a stranger, princess, who arrived yesterday evening,' answered

the old woman.

And the princess then commanded that the stranger should be brought to

her.

When he appeared before the princess she questioned him about his home

and his family, and about this and that; and confessed at length that

his zither-playing gave her great pleasure, and that she would take him

for her husband. The stranger replied that it was with that intent he

had come.

The princess then said: 'You must now go to my father, and tell him you

desire to have me to wife, and when he has put the three problems before

you, then come back and tell me.'

The stranger then went straight to the king, and told him that he wished

to wed his daughter.

And the king answered: 'I shall be well pleased, provided you can do

what I impose upon you; if not you will lose your head. Now, listen; out

there on the ground, there lies a thick log, which measures more than

two fathoms; if you can cleave it in two with one stroke of your sword,

I will give you my daughter to wife. If you fail, then it will cost you

your head.'

Then the stranger withdrew, and returned to the house of the old woman

sore distressed, for he could believe nothing but that next day he must

atone to the king with his head. And so full was he of the idea of how

to set about cleaving the log that he forgot even his zither.

In the evening came the princess to the window to listen to his playing,

and behold all was still. Then she called to him: 'Why are you so cast

down this evening, that you do not play on your zither?'

And he told her his trouble.

But she laughed at it, and called to him: 'And you grieve over that?

Bring quickly your zither, and play something for my amusement, and

early to-morrow come to me.'

Then the stranger took his zither and played the whole evening for the

amusement of the princess.

Next morning she took a hair from her locks and gave it to him, saying:

'Take this hair, and wind it round your sword, then you will be able to

cleave the log in two.'

Then the stranger went forth, and with one blow cleft the log in two.

But the king said: 'I will impose another task upon you, before you can

wed my daughter.'

'Speak on,' said the stranger.

'Listen, then,' answered the king; 'you must mount a horse and ride

three miles at full gallop, holding in each hand a goblet full of water.

If you spill no drop then I shall give you my daughter to wife, but

should you not succeed then I will take your life.'

Then the stranger returned to the house of the old woman, and again he

was so troubled as to forget his zither.

In the evening the princess came to the window as before to listen to

the music, but again all was still; and she called to him: 'What is the

matter that you do not play on your zither?'

Then he related all that the king had ordered him to do, and the

princess answered: 'Do not let yourself be disturbed, only play now, and

come to me to-morrow morning.'

Then next morning he went to her, and she gave him her ring, saying:

'Throw this ring into the water and it will immediately freeze, so that

you will not spill any.'

The stranger did as the princess bade him, and carried the water all the

way.

Then the king said: 'Now I will give you a third task, and this shall be

the last. I have a negro who will fight with you to-morrow, and if you

are the conqueror you shall wed my daughter.'

The stranger returned, full of joy, to the house of the old woman, and

that evening was so merry that the princess called to him: 'You seem

very cheerful this evening; what has my father told you that makes you

so glad?'

He answered: 'Your father has told me that to-morrow I must fight with

his negro. He is only another man like myself, and I hope to subdue him,

and to gain the contest.'

But the princess answered: 'This is the hardest of all. I myself am the

black man, for I swallow a drink that changes me into a negro of

unconquerable strength. Go to-morrow morning to the market, buy twelve

buffalo hides and wrap them round your horse; fasten this cloth round

you, and when I am let loose upon you to-morrow show it to me, that I

may hold myself back and may not kill you. Then when you fight me you

must try to hit my horse between the eyes, for when you have killed it

you have conquered me.'

Next morning, therefore, he went to the market and bought the twelve

buffalo hides which he wrapped round his horse. Then he began to fight

with the black man, and when the combat had already lasted a long time,

and eleven hides were torn, then the stranger hit the negro's horse

between the eyes, so that it fell dead, and the black man was defeated.

Then said the king: 'Because you have solved the three problems I take

you for my son-in-law.'

But the stranger answered: 'I have some business to conclude first; in

fourteen days I will return and bring the bride home.'

So he arose and went into another country, where he came to a great

town, and alighted at the house of an old woman. When he had had supper

he begged of her some water to drink, but she answered: 'My son, I have

no water; a giant has taken possession of the spring, and only lets us

draw from it once a year, when we bring him a maiden. He eats her up,

and then he lets us draw water; just now it is the lot of the king's

daughter, and to-morrow she will be led forth.'

The next day accordingly the princess was led forth to the spring, and

bound there with a golden chain. After that all the people went away and

she was left alone.

When they had gone the stranger went to the maiden and asked her what

ailed her that she lamented so much, and she answered that the reason

was because the giant would come and eat her up. And the stranger

promised that he would set her free if she would take him for her

husband, and the princess joyfully consented.

When the giant appeared the stranger set his dog at him, and it took him

by the throat and throttled him till he died; so the princess was set

free.

Now when the king heard of it he gladly consented to the marriage, and

the wedding took place with great rejoicings. The young bridegroom

abode in the palace one hundred and one weeks. Then he began to find it

too dull, and he desired to go out hunting. The king would fain have

prevented it, but in this he could not succeed. Then he begged his

son-in-law at least to take sufficient escort with him, but this, too,

the young man evaded, and took only his horse and his dog.

He had ridden already a long way, when he saw in the distance a hut, and

rode straight towards it in order to get some water to drink. There he

found an old woman from whom he begged the water. She answered that

first he should allow her to beat his dog with her little wand, that it

might not bite her while she fetched the water. The hunter consented;

and as soon as she had touched the dog with her wand it immediately

turned to stone. Thereupon she touched the hunter and also his horse,

and both turned to stone. As soon as that had happened, the cypress

trees in front of his father's house began to wither. And when the other

brother saw this, he immediately set out in search of his twin. He came

first to the town where his brother had slain the giant, and there fate

led him to the same old woman where his brother had lodged. When she saw

him she took him for his twin brother, and said to him: 'Do not take it

amiss of me, my son, that I did not come to wish you joy on your

marriage with the king's daughter.'

The stranger perceived what mistake she had made, but only said: 'That

does not matter, old woman,' and rode on, without further speech, to the

king's palace, where the king and the princess both took him for his

twin brother, and called out: 'Why have you tarried so long away? We

thought something evil had befallen you.'

When night came and he slept with the princess, who still believed him

to be her husband, he laid his sword between them, and when morning came

he rose early and went out to hunt. Fate led him by the same way which

his brother had taken, and from a distance he saw him and knew that he

was turned to stone. Then he entered the hut and ordered the old woman

to disenchant his brother. But she answered: 'Let me first touch your

dog with my wand, and then I will free your brother.'

He ordered the dog, however, to take hold of her, and bite her up to the

knee, till she cried out: 'Tell your dog to let me go and I will set

your brother free!'

But he only answered: 'Tell me the magic words that I may disenchant him

myself;' and as she would not he ordered his dog to bite her up to the

hip.

Then the old woman cried out: 'I have two wands, with the green one I

turn to stone, and with the red one I bring to life again.'

So the hunter took the red wand and disenchanted his brother, also his

brother's horse, and his dog, and ordered his own dog to eat the old

woman up altogether.

While the brothers went on their way back to the castle of the king, the

one brother related to the other how the cypress tree had all at once

dried up and withered, how he had immediately set out in search of his

twin, and how he had come to the castle of his father-in-law, and had

claimed the princess as his wife. But the other brother became furious

on hearing this, and smote him over the forehead till he died, and

returned alone to the house of his father-in-law.

[Illustration: THE TWIN BROTHERS