Page:Segnius Irritant or Eight Primitive Folk-lore Stories.pdf/66

 of those apples, for that apple-tree was the eldest queen, whom her mother had posted here on purpose to carry us out of the world.”

After a time they came to a spring. The water in it welled up, clear as crystal; it regularly surged out, and quite allured the wayfarers, “Ach!” says the servant, “if I cannot get anything more substantial, I will drink plenty of this good water.” “Do not venture to drink of it,” cried the seer; “but wait, I myself will draw of it for thee.” But the seer did not really draw the water, but with drawn sword made a stab into the very middle of it. All at once it was stained with the blood which began vigorously to surge up, wave after wave. " That’s the second queen, whom her mother, the witch, posted for the purpose of carrying us out of the world,” said the sage; and the servant, thanking him for his warning, trudged on, willy nilly, whether thirsting or starving, wherever the seer led him.

Soon after this they came to a rose-bush; it was one mass of pink from the delicious roses all over it, and filled the whole neighbourhood with its odour. ‘Ah! what beautiful roses! Really, I am sure I never saw their like before in all my life. Ej! I will go and gather a few of them; at any rate, I shall find some consolation in them for not being able to satisfy my hunger and thirst.” Nay, do not venture to pluck any of them,” exclaimed the seer; “I will gather them for thee myself.” So saying, he made a slash at the bush with his sword; crimson blood spurted out, just as when one cuts a human vein. “That is the youngest queen,” says the seer to the servant,” whom her mother, the witch, posted here, wishing to avenge herself upon us for the death of her sons-in-law.” This said, they continued their journey.

When they stepped across the boundary of the dark kingdom, flashes of light streamed in every direction from the horse’s forehead, and everything came to life again; the beautiful regions exulted, and spring returned with new flowers. The king knew not how sufficiently to thank the seer, and pressed upon him as a reward one half of his kingdom; but the seer replied: “Thou art king, lord it over the kingdom, and I will return to my cottage in peace.” He departed and went.