第2章

’SuddenlyIrememberedthatmyhairwasverylong。IfIstoodittouchedtheground，althoughifIwassittingitonlyreachedmyears。Iseizedaknifeandcutoffalargelock，whichIplaitedtogether，andwhennightcametieditintoaknot，andpreparedtouseitforapillow。ButwhatwasItodoforafire？A

tinderboxIhad，butnowood。ThenitoccurredtomethatIhadstuckaneedleinmyclothes，soItooktheneedleandsplititinpieces，andlitit，thenlaidmyselfdownbythefireandwenttosleep。Butill—luckstillpursuedme。WhileIwassleepingasparkfromthefirelightedonthehair，whichwasburntupinamoment。IndespairIthrewmyselfontheground，andinstantlysankinitasfarasmywaist。Istruggledtogetout，butonlyfellinfurther;soIrantothehouse，seizedaspade，dugmyselfout，andtookhometheholywater。OnthewayInoticedthattheripefieldswerefullofreapers，andsuddenlytheairbecamesofrightfullyhotthatthemendroppeddowninafaint。

ThenIcalledtothem，"Whydon’tyoubringoutourmare，whichisastallastwodays，andasbroadashalfaday，andmakeashadeforyourselves？"MyfatherheardwhatIsaidandjumpedquicklyonthemare，andthereapersworkedwithawillintheshadow，whileIsnatchedupawoodenpailtobringthemsomewatertodrink。WhenIgottothewelleverythingwasfrozenhard，soinordertodrawsomewaterIhadtotakeoffmyheadandbreaktheicewithit。AsIdrewnearthem，carryingthewater，thereapersallcriedout，"Why，whathasbecomeofyourhead？"IputupmyhandanddiscoveredthatIreallyhadnohead，andthatImusthaveleftitinthewell。Iranbacktolookforit，butfoundthatmeanwhileafoxwhichwaspassingbyhadpulledmyheadoutofthewater，andwastearingatmybrains。I

stolecautiouslyuptohim，andgavehimsuchakickthatheutteredaloudscream，andletfallaparchmentonwhichwaswritten，"Thecakeismine，andthebeardlessonegoesempty—handed。"’

Withthesewordstheboyrose，tookthecake，andwenthome，whilethebeardlessoneremainedbehindtoswallowhisdisappointment。

[VolksmarchenderSerben。]

THESTORYOFTHREEWONDERFULBEGGARS

ThereoncelivedamerchantwhosenamewasMark，andwhompeoplecalled’MarktheRich。’Hewasaveryhard—heartedman，forhecouldnotbearpoorpeople，andifhecaughtsightofabeggaranywherenearhishouse，hewouldordertheservantstodrivehimaway，orwouldsetthedogsathim。

Onedaythreeverypooroldmencamebeggingtothedoor，andjustashewasgoingtoletthefiercedogslooseonthem，hislittledaughter，Anastasia，creptcloseuptohimandsaid:

’Deardaddy，letthepooroldmensleephereto—night，do——topleaseme。’

Herfathercouldnotbeartorefuseher，andthethreebeggarswereallowedtosleepinaloft，andatnight，wheneveryoneinthehousewasfastasleep，littleAnastasiagotup，climbeduptotheloft，andpeepedin。

Thethreeoldmenstoodinthemiddleoftheloft，leaningontheirsticks，withtheirlonggreybeardsflowingdownovertheirhands，andweretalkingtogetherinlowvoices。

’Whatnewsisthere？’askedtheeldest。

’InthenextvillagethepeasantIvanhasjusthadhisseventhson。Whatshallwenamehim，andwhatfortuneshallwegivehim？’saidthesecond。

Thethirdwhispered，’CallhimVassili，andgivehimallthepropertyofthehard—heartedmaninwhoseloftwestand，andwhowantedtodriveusfromhisdoor。’

Afteralittlemoretalkthethreemadethemselvesreadyandcreptsoftlyaway。

Anastasia，whohadheardeveryword，ranstraighttoherfather，andtoldhimall。

Markwasverymuchsurprised;hethought，andthought，andinthemorninghedrovetothenextvillagetotryandfindoutifsuchachildreallyhadbeenborn。Hewentfirsttothepriest，andaskedhimaboutthechildreninhisparish。

’Yesterday，’saidthepriest，’aboywasborninthepooresthouseinthevillage。Inamedtheunluckylittlething"Vassili。"Heistheseventhson，andtheeldestisonlysevenyearsold，andtheyhardlyhaveamouthfulamongstthemall。Whocanbegottostandgodfathertosuchalittlebeggarboy？’

Themerchant’sheartbeatfast，andhismindwasfullofbadthoughtsaboutthatpoorlittlebaby。Hewouldbegodfatherhimself，hesaid，andheorderedafinechristeningfeast;sothechildwasbroughtandchristened，andMarkwasveryfriendlytoitsfather。AftertheceremonywasoverhetookIvanasideandsaid:

’Lookhere，myfriend，youareapoorman。Howcanyouaffordtobringuptheboy？GivehimtomeandI’llmakesomethingofhim，andI’llgiveyouapresentofathousandcrowns。Isthatabargain？’

Ivanscratchedhishead，andthought，andthought，andthenheagreed。Markcountedoutthemoney，wrappedthebabyupinafoxskin，laiditinthesledgebesidehim，anddrovebacktowardshome。Whenhehaddrivensomemileshedrewup，carriedthechildtotheedgeofasteepprecipiceandthrewitover，muttering，’There，nowtrytotakemyproperty！’

VerysoonafterthissomeforeignmerchantstravelledalongthatsameroadonthewaytoseeMarkandtopaythetwelvethousandcrownswhichtheyowedhim。

Astheywerepassingneartheprecipicetheyheardasoundofcrying，andonlookingovertheysawalittlegreenmeadowwedgedinbetweentwogreatheapsofsnow，andonthemeadowlayababyamongsttheflowers。

Themerchantspickedupthechild，wrappeditupcarefully，anddroveon。WhentheysawMarktheytoldhimwhatastrangethingtheyhadfound。Markguessedatoncethatthechildmustbehisgodson，askedtoseehim，andsaid:

’That’sanicelittlefellow;Ishouldliketokeephim。Ifyouwillmakehimovertome，Iwillletyouoffyourdebt。’

Themerchantswereverypleasedtomakesogoodabargain，leftthechildwithMark，anddroveoff。

AtnightMarktookthechild，putitinabarrel，fastenedthelidtightdown，andthrewitintothesea。Thebarrelfloatedawaytoagreatdistance，andatlastitfloatedcloseuptoamonastery。Themonkswerejustspreadingouttheirnetstodryontheshore，whentheyheardthesoundofcrying。Itseemedtocomefromthebarrelwhichwasbobbingaboutnearthewater’sedge。Theydrewittolandandopenedit，andtherewasalittlechild！Whentheabbotheardthenews，hedecidedtobringuptheboy，andnamedhim’Vassili。’

Theboylivedonwiththemonks，andgrewuptobeaclever，gentle，andhandsomeyoungman。Noonecouldread，write，orsingbetterthanhe，andhedideverythingsowellthattheabbotmadehimwardrobekeeper。

Now，ithappenedaboutthistimethatthemerchant，Mark，cametothemonasteryinthecourseofajourney。Themonkswereverypolitetohimandshowedhimtheirhouseandchurchandalltheyhad。Whenhewentintothechurchthechoirwassinging，andonevoicewassoclearandbeautiful，thatheaskedwhoitbelongedto。ThentheabbottoldhimofthewonderfulwayinwhichVassilihadcometothem，andMarksawclearlythatthismustbehisgodsonwhomhehadtwicetriedtokill。

Hesaidtotheabbot:’Ican’ttellyouhowmuchIenjoythatyoungman’ssinging。IfhecouldonlycometomeIwouldmakehimoverseerofallmybusiness。Asyousay，heissogoodandclever。Dosparehimtome。Iwillmakehisfortune，andwillpresentyourmonasterywithtwentythousandcrowns。’

Theabbothesitatedagooddeal，butheconsultedalltheothermonks，andatlasttheydecidedthattheyoughtnottostandinthewayofVassili’sgoodfortune。

ThenMarkwrotealettertohiswifeandgaveittoVassilitotaketoher，andthiswaswhatwasintheletter:’Whenthebearerofthisarrives，takehimintothesoapfactory，andwhenyoupassnearthegreatboiler，pushhimin。Ifyoudon’tobeymyordersIshallbeveryangry，forthisyoungmanisabadfellowwhoissuretoruinusallifhelives。’

Vassilihadagoodvoyage，andonlandingsetoffonfootforMark’shome。Onthewayhemetthreebeggars，whoaskedhim:

’Whereareyougoing，Vassili？’

’IamgoingtothehouseofMarktheMerchant，andhavealetterforhiswife，’repliedVassili。

’Showustheletter。’

Vassilihandedthemtheletter。Theyblewonitandgaveitbacktohim，saying:’NowgoandgivethelettertoMark’swife。Youwillnotbeforsaken。’

Vassilireachedthehouseandgavetheletter。Whenthemistressreaditshecouldhardlybelievehereyesandcalledforherdaughter。Intheletterwaswritten，quiteplainly:’Whenyoureceivethisletter，getreadyforawedding，andletthebearerbemarriednextdaytomydaughter，Anastasia。Ifyoudon’tobeymyordersIshallbeveryangry。’

Anastasiasawthebeareroftheletterandhepleasedherverymuch。TheydressedVassiliinfineclothesandnextdayhewasmarriedtoAnastasia。

Induetime，Markreturnedfromhistravels。Hiswife，daughter，andson—in—lawallwentouttomeethim。WhenMarksawVassiliheflewintoaterribleragewithhiswife。’Howdaredyoumarrymydaughterwithoutmyconsent？’heasked。

’Ionlycarriedoutyourorders，’saidshe。’Hereisyourletter。’

Markreadit。Itcertainlywashishandwriting，butbynomeanshiswishes。

’Well，’thoughthe，’you’veescapedmethreetimes，butIthinkI

shallgetthebetterofyounow。’Andhewaitedamonthandwasverykindandpleasanttohisdaughterandherhusband。

AttheendofthattimehesaidtoVassilioneday，’IwantyoutogoformetomyfriendtheSerpentKing，inhisbeautifulcountryattheworld’send。Twelveyearsagohebuiltacastleonsomelandofmine。Iwantyoutoaskfortherentforthosetwelveyearsandalsotofindoutfromhimwhathasbecomeofmytwelveshipswhichsailedforhiscountrythreeyearsago。’

Vassilidarednotdisobey。Hesaidgood—byetohisyoungwife，whocriedbitterlyatparting，hungabagofbiscuitsoverhisshoulders，andsetout。

Ireallycannottellyouwhetherthejourneywaslongorshort。

Ashetrampedalonghesuddenlyheardavoicesaying:’Vassili！

whereareyougoing？’

Vassililookedabouthim，and，seeingnoone，calledout:’Whospoketome？’

’Idid;thisoldwide—spreadingoak。Tellmewhereyouaregoing。’

’IamgoingtotheSerpentKingtoreceivetwelveyears’rentfromhim。’

’Whenthetimecomes，remembermeandasktheking:"Rottentotheroots，halfdeadbutstillgreen，standstheoldoak。Isittostandmuchlongerontheearth？"’

Vassiliwentonfurther。Hecametoariverandgotintotheferryboat。Theoldferrymanasked:’Areyougoingfar，myfriend？’

’IamgoingtotheSerpentKing。’

’Thenthinkofmeandsaytotheking:"Forthirtyyearstheferrymanhasrowedtoandfro。Willthetiredoldmanhavetorowmuchlonger？"’

’Verywell，’saidVassili;’I’llaskhim。’

Andhewalkedon。Intimehecametoanarrowstraitoftheseaandacrossitlayagreatwhaleoverwhosebackpeoplewalkedanddroveasifithadbeenabridgeoraroad。Ashesteppedonitthewhalesaid，’Dotellmewhereyouaregoing。’

’IamgoingtotheSerpentKing。’

Andthewhalebegged:’Thinkofmeandsaytotheking:"Thepoorwhalehasbeenlyingthreeyearsacrossthestrait，andmenandhorseshavenearlytrampledhisbackintohisribs。Ishetolietheremuchlonger？"’

’Iwillremember，’saidVassili，andhewenton。

Hewalked，andwalked，andwalked，tillhecametoagreatgreenmeadow。Inthemeadowstoodalargeandsplendidcastle。Itswhitemarblewallssparkledinthelight，theroofwascoveredwithmothero’pearl，whichshonelikearainbow，andthesunglowedlikefireonthecrystalwindows。Vassiliwalkedin，andwentfromoneroomtoanotherastonishedatallthesplendourhesaw。

Whenhereachedthelastroomofall，hefoundabeautifulgirlsittingonabed。

Assoonasshesawhimshesaid:’Oh，Vassili，whatbringsyoutothisaccursedplace？’

Vassilitoldherwhyhehadcome，andallhehadseenandheardontheway。

Thegirlsaid:’Youhavenotbeensentheretocollectrents，butforyourowndestruction，andthattheserpentmaydevouryou。’

Shehadnottimetosaymore，whenthewholecastleshook，andarustling，hissing，groaningsoundwasheard。ThegirlquicklypushedVassiliintoachestunderthebed，lockeditandwhispered:’ListentowhattheserpentandItalkabout。’

ThensheroseuptoreceivetheSerpentKing。

Themonsterrushedintotheroom，andthrewitselfpantingonthebed，crying:’I’veflownhalfovertheworld。I’mtired，VERY

tired，andwanttosleep——scratchmyhead。’

Thebeautifulgirlsatdownnearhim，strokinghishideoushead，andsaidinasweetcoaxingvoice:’Youknoweverythingintheworld。Afteryouleft，Ihadsuchawonderfuldream。Willyoutellmewhatitmeans？’

’Outwithitthen，quick！Whatwasit？’

’IdreamtIwaswalkingonawideroad，andanoaktreesaidtome:"Askthekingthis:Rottenattheroots，halfdead，andyetgreenstandstheoldoak。Isittostandmuchlongerontheearth？"’

’Itmuststandtillsomeonecomesandpushesitdownwithhisfoot。Thenitwillfall，andunderitsrootswillbefoundmoregoldandsilverthanevenMarktheRichhasgot。’

’ThenIdreamtIcametoariver，andtheoldferrymansaidtome:"Forthirtyyear’stheferrymanhasrowedtoandfro。Willthetiredoldmanhavetorowmuchlonger？"’

’Thatdependsonhimself。Ifsomeonegetsintotheboattobeferriedacross，theoldmanhasonlytopushtheboatoff，andgohiswaywithoutlookingback。Themanintheboatwillthenhavetotakehisplace。’

’AndatlastIdreamtthatIwaswalkingoverabridgemadeofawhale’sback，andthelivingbridgespoketomeandsaid:"HerehaveIbeenstretchedoutthesethreeyears，andmenandhorseshavetrampledmybackdownintomyribs。MustIlieheremuchlonger？"’

’HewillhavetolietheretillhehasthrownupthetwelveshipsofMarktheRichwhichheswallowed。Thenhemayplungebackintotheseaandhealhisback。’

AndtheSerpentKingclosedhiseyes，turnedroundonhisotherside，andbegantosnoresoloudthatthewindowsrattled。

InallhastethelovelygirlhelpedVassilioutofthechest，andshowedhimpartofhiswayback。Hethankedherverypolitely，andhurriedoff。

Whenhereachedthestraitthewhaleasked:’Haveyouthoughtofme？’

’Yes，assoonasIamontheothersideIwilltellyouwhatyouwanttoknow。’

WhenhewasontheothersideVassilisaidtothewhale:’ThrowupthosetwelveshipsofMark’swhichyouswallowedthreeyearsago。’

Thegreatfishheaveditselfupandthrewupallthetwelveshipsandtheircrews。Thenheshookhimselfforjoy，andplungedintothesea。

Vassiliwentonfurthertillhereachedtheferry，wheretheoldmanasked:’Didyouthinkofme？’

’Yes，andassoonasyouhaveferriedmeacrossIwilltellyouwhatyouwanttoknow。’

Whentheyhadcrossedover，Vassilisaid:’Letthenextmanwhocomesstayintheboat，butdoyousteponshore，pushtheboatoff，andyouwillbefree，andtheothermanmusttakeyourplace。

ThenVassiliwentonfurtherstill，andsooncametotheoldoaktree，pusheditwithhisfoot，anditfellover。There，attheroots，wasmoregoldandsilverthanevenMarktheRichhad。

Andnowthetwelveshipswhichthewhalehadthrownupcamesailingalongandanchoredcloseby。OnthedeckofthefirstshipstoodthethreebeggarswhomVassilihadmetformerly，andtheysaid:’Heavenhasblessedyou，Vassili。’Thentheyvanishedawayandheneversawthemagain。

Thesailorscarriedallthegoldandsilverintotheship，andthentheysetsailforhomewithVassilionboard。

Markwasmorefuriousthanever。HehadhishorsesharnessedanddroveoffhimselftoseetheSerpentKingandtocomplainofthewayinwhichhehadbeenbetrayed。Whenhereachedtheriverhesprangintotheferryboat。Theferryman，however，didnotgetinbutpushedtheboatoff……

Vassililedagoodandhappylifewithhisdearwife，andhiskindmother—in—lawlivedwiththem。HehelpedthepoorandfedandclothedthehungryandnakedandallMark’srichesbecamehis。

FormanyyearsMarkhasbeenferryingpeopleacrosstheriver。

Hisfaceiswrinkled，hishairandbeardaresnowwhite，andhiseyesaredim;butstillherowson。

[FromtheSerbian。]

SCHIPPEITARO

ItwasthecustominoldtimesthatassoonasaJapaneseboyreachedmanhoodheshouldleavehishomeandroamthroughthelandinsearchofadventures。Sometimeshewouldmeetwithayoungmanbentonthesamebusinessashimself，andthentheywouldfightinafriendlymanner，merelytoprovewhichwasthestronger，butonotheroccasionstheenemywouldturnouttobearobber，whohadbecometheterroroftheneighbourhood，andthenthebattlewasindeadlyearnest。

Onedayayouthstartedofffromhisnativevillage，resolvednevertocomebacktillhehaddonesomegreatdeedthatwouldmakehisnamefamous。Butadventuresdidnotseemveryplentifuljustthen，andhewanderedaboutforalongtimewithoutmeetingeitherwithfiercegiantsordistresseddamsels。Atlasthesawinthedistanceawildmountain，halfcoveredwithadenseforest，andthinkingthatthispromisedwellatoncetooktheroadthatledtoit。Thedifficultieshemetwith——hugerockstobeclimbed，deepriverstobecrossed，andthornytractstobeavoided——onlyservedtomakehisheartbeatquicker，forhewasreallybraveallthrough，andnotmerelywhenhecouldnothelphimself，likeagreatmanypeople。Butinspiteofallhiseffortshecouldnotfindhiswayoutoftheforest，andhebegantothinkheshouldhavetopassthenightthere。Oncemorehestrainedhiseyestoseeiftherewasnoplaceinwhichhecouldtakeshelter，andthistimehecaughtsightofasmallchapelinalittleclearing。Hehastenedquicklytowardsit，andcurlinghimselfupinawarmcornersoonfellasleep。

Notasoundwasheardthroughthewholeforestforsomehours，butatmidnighttheresuddenlyarosesuchaclamourthattheyoungman，tiredashewas，startedbroadawakeinaninstant。

Peepingcautiouslybetweenthewoodenpillarsofthechapel，hesawatroopofhideouscats，dancingfuriously，makingthenighthorriblewiththeiryells。Thefullmoonlighteduptheweirdscene，andtheyoungwarriorgazedwithastonishment，takinggreatcaretokeepstill，lestheshouldbediscovered。Aftersometimehethoughtthatinthemidstofalltheirshriekshecouldmakeoutthewords，’DonottellSchippeitaro！Keepithiddenandsecret！DonottellSchippeitaro！’Then，themidnighthourhavingpassed，theyallvanished，andtheyouthwasleftalone。Exhaustedbyallthathadbeengoingonroundhim，heflunghimselfonthegroundandslepttillthesunrose。

Themomenthewokehefeltveryhungry，andbegantothinkhowhecouldgetsomethingtoeat。Sohegotupandwalkedon，andbeforehehadgoneveryfarwasluckyenoughtofindalittleside—path，wherehecouldtracemen’sfootsteps。Hefollowedthetrack，andby—and—bycameonsomescatteredhuts，beyondwhichlayavillage。Delightedatthisdiscovery，hewasabouttohastentothevillagewhenheheardawoman’svoiceweepingandlamenting，andcallingonthementotakepityonherandhelpher。Thesoundofherdistressmadehimforgethewashungry，andhestrodeintothehuttofindoutforhimselfwhatwaswrong。Butthemenwhomheaskedonlyshooktheirheadsandtoldhimitwasnotamatterinwhichhecouldgiveanyhelp，forallthissorrowwascausedbytheSpiritoftheMountain，towhomeveryyeartheywereboundtofurnishamaidenforhimtoeat。

’To—morrownight，’saidthey，’thehorriblecreaturewillcomeforhisdinner，andthecriesyouhaveheardwereutteredbythegirlbeforeyou，uponwhomthelothasfallen。’

Andwhentheyoungmanaskedifthegirlwascarriedoffstraightfromherhome，theyansweredno，butthatalargecaskwassetintheforestchapel，andintothisshewasfastened。

Ashelistenedtothisstory，theyoungmanwasfilledwithagreatlongingtorescuethemaidenfromherdreadfulfate。Thementionofthechapelsethimthinkingofthesceneofthepreviousnight，andhewentoverallthedetailsagaininhismind。’WhoisSchippeitaro？’hesuddenlyasked;’cananyofyoutellme？’

’Schippeitaroisthegreatdogthatbelongstotheoverseerofourprince，’saidthey;’andhelivesnotfaraway。’Andtheybegantolaughatthequestion，whichseemedtothemsooddanduseless。

Theyoungmandidnotlaughwiththem，butinsteadleftthehutandwentstraighttotheownerofthedog，whomhebeggedtolendhimtheanimaljustforonenight。Schippeitaro’smasterwasnotatallwillingtogivehiminchargetoamanofwhomheknewnothing，butintheendheconsented，andtheyouthledthedogaway，promisingfaithfullytoreturnhimnextdaytohismaster。

Henexthurriedtothehutwherethemaidenlived，andentreatedherparentstoshutherupsafelyinacloset，afterwhichhetookSchippeitarotothecask，andfastenedhimintoit。Intheeveningheknewthatthecaskwouldbeplacedinthechapel，sohehidhimselfthereandwaited。

Atmidnight，whenthefullmoonappearedabovethetopofthemountain，thecatsagainfilledthechapelandshriekedandyelledanddancedasbefore。Butthistimetheyhadintheirmidstahugeblackcatwhoseemedtobetheirking，andwhomtheyoungmanguessedtobetheSpiritoftheMountain。Themonsterlookedeagerlyabouthim，andhiseyessparkledwithjoywhenhesawthecask。Heboundedhighintotheairwithdelightandutteredcriesofpleasure;thenhedrewnearandundidthebolts。

Butinsteadoffasteninghisteethintheneckofabeautifulmaiden，Schippeitaro’steethwerefastenedinHIM，andtheyouthranupandcutoffhisheadwithhissword。Theothercatsweresoastonishedattheturnthingshadtakenthattheyforgottorunaway，andtheyoungmanandSchippeitarobetweenthemkilledseveralmorebeforetheythoughtofescaping。

Atsunrisethebravedogwastakenbacktohismaster，andfromthattimethemountaingirlsweresafe，andeveryyearafeastwasheldinmemoryoftheyoungwarriorandthedogSchippeitaro。

[JapanischeMarchen。]

THETHREEPRINCESANDTHEIRBEASTS（LITHUANIANFAIRYTALE）

Onceonatimetherewerethreeprinces，whohadastep—sister。

Onedaytheyallsetouthuntingtogether。Whentheyhadgonesomewaythroughathickwoodtheycameonagreatgreywolfwiththreecubs。Justastheyweregoingtoshoot，thewolfspokeandsaid，’Donotshootme，andIwillgiveeachofyouoneofmyyoungones。Itwillbeafaithfulfriendtoyou。’

Sotheprinceswentontheirway，andalittlewolffollowedeachofthem。

Soonaftertheycameonalionesswiththreecubs。Andshetoobeggedthemnottoshoother，andshewouldgiveeachofthemacub。Andsoithappenedwithafox，ahare，aboar，andabear，tilleachprincehadquiteafollowingofyoungbeastspaddingalongbehindhim。

Towardseveningtheycametoaclearinginthewood，wherethreebirchesgrewatthecrossingofthreeroads。Theeldestprincetookanarrow，andshotitintothetrunkofoneofthebirchtrees。Turningtohisbrothershesaid:

’Leteachofusmarkoneofthesetreesbeforewepartondifferentways。Whenanyoneofuscomesbacktothisplace，hemustwalkroundthetreesoftheothertwo，andifheseesbloodflowingfromthemarkinthetreehewillknowthatthatbrotherisdead，butifmilkflowshewillknowthathisbrotherisalive。’

Soeachoftheprincesdidastheeldestbrotherhadsaid，andwhenthethreebirchesweremarkedbytheirarrowstheyturnedtotheirstep—sisterandaskedherwithwhichofthemshemeanttolive。

’Withtheeldest，’sheanswered。Thenthebrothersseparatedfromeachother，andeachofthemsetoutdownadifferentroad，followedbytheirbeasts。Andthestep—sisterwentwiththeeldestprince。

Aftertheyhadgonealittlewayalongtheroadtheycameintoaforest，andinoneofthedeepestgladestheysuddenlyfoundthemselvesoppositeacastleinwhichtherelivedabandofrobbers。Theprincewalkeduptothedoorandknocked。Themomentitwasopenedthebeastsrushedin，andeachseizedonarobber，killedhim，anddraggedthebodydowntothecellar。

Now，oneoftherobberswasnotreallykilled，onlybadlywounded，buthelayquitestillandpretendedtobedeadliketheothers。Thentheprinceandhisstep—sisterenteredthecastleandtookuptheirabodeinit。

Thenextmorningtheprincewentouthunting。Beforeleavinghetoldhisstep—sisterthatshemightgointoeveryroominthehouseexceptintothecavewherethedeadrobberslay。Butassoonashisbackwasturnedsheforgotwhathehadsaid，andhavingwanderedthroughalltheotherroomsshewentdowntothecellarandopenedthedoor。Assoonasshelookedintherobberwhohadonlypretendedtobedeadsatupandsaidtoher:

’Don’tbeafraid。DowhatItellyou，andIwillbeyourfriend。

Ifyoumarrymeyouwillbemuchhappierwithmethanwithyourbrother。Butyoumustfirstgointothesitting—roomandlookinthecupboard。Thereyouwillfindthreebottles。Inoneofthemthereisahealingointmentwhichyoumustputonmychintohealthewound;thenifIdrinkthecontentsofthesecondbottleitwillmakemewell，andthethirdbottlewillmakemestrongerthanIeverwasbefore。Then，whenyourbrothercomesbackfromthewoodwithhisbeastsyoumustgotohimandsay，"Brother，youareverystrong。IfIweretofastenyourthumbsbehindyourbackwithastoutsilkcord，couldyouwrenchyourselffree？"

Andwhenyouseethathecannotdoit，callme。’

Whenthebrothercamehome，thestep—sisterdidastherobberhadtoldher，andfastenedherbrother’sthumbsbehindhisback。Butwithonewrenchhesethimselffree，andsaidtoher，’Sister，thatcordisnotstrongenoughforme。’

Thenextdayhewentbacktothewoodwithhisbeasts，andtherobbertoldherthatshemusttakeamuchstoutercordtobindhisthumbswith。Butagainhefreedhimself，thoughnotsoeasilyasthefirsttime，andhesaidtohissister:

’Eventhatcordisnotstrongenough。’