Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/188

172 father was delighted, and kissed him for joy! And from that time forth no one stole the king's apples.

King Dymion became himself again; he could eat, drink, and sleep as of old.

But after a time the king became disagreeable once more, and had a strong wish to possess this wonderful cassowary, so he despatched his two eldest sons in search of the extraordinary creature. When they had departed Prince John begged his father to let him go too; but the king was loath to do so, in case some harm should befall the young prince, who was his favourite son. However, after a great deal of begging, Prince John obtained his father's consent and rode off.

He rode and rode until he came to a place where the road branched off into three, and in the middle stood a finger-post, on which was this inscription,—

"Whosoever goes straight on will be cold and hungry. He who goes to the left will live, but his horse will die. He who goes to the right will die, but his horse will live."

"To the left!" said the prince to himself, as he turned his horse in that direction.

He had not gone far before a grey wolf sprang out and threw himself with ferocity on the horse, and before the prince had time to save the animal the wolf had eaten it and was off.

Prince John continued his journey very sorrowfully on foot; suddenly the same grey wolf came up to him and said,—

I am sorry, Prince John, that I ate up your good horse, but of course you saw what was written on the