Page:Slavonic Fairy Tales.djvu/81

66 and from his hand it crawled to his neck, where it twisted itself round.

When the shepherd perceived this, he was greatly alarmed, and said to the snake,—

"What have I done in an evil hour! Have I saved you to my own destruction!"

The snake answered him, "Fear not, but carry me to my father's house. My father is the king of the snakes."

The shepherd, however, began to beg the snake to excuse him, saying that he could not leave the sheep; but the snake answered,—

"Be not troubled about the sheep; no harm shall happen to them; only go as fast as you can,"

The shepherd then walked through the forest with the snake until he came to a gate which was entirely made of snakes knotted together. There the snake on the shepherd's neck gave a whistle, and all the other snakes untwisted themselves. Then the snake said to the shepherd—

"When we come to my father's palace he will give you whatever you ask for: silver, gold, and precious stones. Do you, however, take nothing of these, but beg to know the language of the brutes and other creatures. He will refuse you this for a long time, but at last he will grant your request."

Meanwhile they came to the palace, to the father, who, shedding many tears, cried,—