Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/156

140 When Princess Olga entered the hall in which the king sat, he was so struck with her beauty that he fell immediately in love with her, and, after she had told him more about herself and brother, he asked her to become his wife.

Princess Olga did not object, for the king was young and handsome, and she married him.

They lived happily for a long time. The little kid, of course, was with them. He went out every day for a walk in the garden, and ate and drank at table with the king and queen.

At last the hunting season arrived, and the king went off with his huntsmen. Hardly had he left the palace when an old witch made her appearance and bewitched the young queen, who became seriously ill. She turned very thin and pale. Everything was very quiet while she was laid up. The palace looked very gloomy, the flowers began to fade, and the trees and grass were all dried up.

When the king returned, he was very much cut up at the news, and went at once to see his wife.

"What is the matter?" he asked.

"I am not very well," replied Olga; "but I daresay I shall be all right soon."

The king again went out hunting, while Olga lay on her bed very ill indeed. The witch again came to her, and said,—

"If you want to become well again, Queen Olga, you must go to that lake yonder and drink some of the water there."

Olga thanked the witch, and went in the twilight to the shore of the lake.