Page:Slavonic Fairy Tales.djvu/83

68 "Do you now breathe into my mouth."

The shepherd breathed into his mouth, and the snake-king breathed again into that of the shepherd. After they had breathed each three times into the other's mouth, the king said,—

"Now you understand the language of animals, and of all created things. Go in peace, and God be with you! but for the life of you, tell no one of this; if you do, you will die on the instant!"

The shepherd returned home through the forest. As he walked he heard and understood all that the birds said, and the grass and all the other things that are upon the earth. When he came to his sheep and found them all together and quite safe, he laid himself down to rest. Scarcely had he lain down when there flew two ravens towards him, who took their perch upon a tree, and began to talk together in their own language.

"What if that shepherd only knew that underneath the place where the black lamb lies there is a cellar full of silver and gold!"

When the, shepherd heard this, he went to his master, and told him of it. The master took a cart with him, and they dug down to a door leading to the cave, and removed the treasure to his house. But the master was an honest man, and gave all the treasure to the shepherd, saying,—