Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/103

Rh

a far distant and unknown land there lived and reigned a king and queen who had three wonderfully handsome sons. So good-looking were they that the like had never been seen, especially the youngest, Akem, who was the handsomest, cleverest, and best of the three, and the greatest favourite with everybody. Their names were Egor, Vania, and the youngest was called, as we have already said, Akem.

One day the king, their father, called them to him; and said,—

"My dear children, I want you all to get married; but as no one seems to please you, an idea has just struck me which I think is rather a good one. Listen. Take up your bows and arrows and shoot. You, Egor, shoot to the left; and you, Vania, as straight as ever you can; while you, Akem, my dearest and best of sons, shoot to the right, for I have heard that that is the lucky side, and before whatever person or thing your arrows fall, that same person or thing you must marry."

The princes were greatly astonished, and did not quite like this idea of their father's; for—who could tell?—the arrows might fall before some horrid object. However, they had not much time given them to think, and obey their father they must.