Page:RussianFolkTales Afanasev 368pgs.djvu/88

72 "It is a difficult choice, grandfather! Let me have till to-morrow to think of it."

"Well, you can have until to-morrow," said the old man, and he took him into a large room.

The boy lay down to sleep and began to think which he would take. Suddenly the door opened and a beautiful maiden came in. "Are you asleep, doughty youth, or not?"

"No, fair maiden, I cannot sleep. I am thinking which is the bride I shall take."

"That is the very reason I came to see you, in order to give you counsel; for, good man, you have become the Devil's guest. So, listen to me; if you ever wish to return to the light of day, you must do as I say. If you do not, you will not leave this place alive."

"Give me your counsel, fair maiden. I shall not forget it all my life long."

"To-morrow the Evil Spirit will show you twelve maidens, one like the other. You must choose me, and look at me very carefully. There will be a patch over my right eye; that will be the sign." And the maiden told him her story. "Do you know the pope in a neighbouring village? I am his daughter, and was stolen from his house nine years ago. One day my father was angry with me and made a hasty wish that the Devil might take me. I went in front of the house and cried, and the Unholy Spirit soon snatched me on the spot, carried me here; and I have never left the place since."

Next day the old man set the twelve maidens in a row before the boy, and commanded him to choose one of them. He looked until he had seen the one with the patch over the right eye, and chose her. The old man was angry, but he had to give her up. And he therefore mixed the maidens together and told him to make a second choice. The boy hit on the same one, and after a third choice he took his fated bride.