Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/200

184 ground; in this box lies a fat hare, and in that hare sits a grey duck, and in that duck is an egg, and in that egg is the deceased she-skeleton herself. When you get as far as the egg you must take it and go straight to the immortal skeleton's castle. When you get there you will see a twelve-headed serpent lying at the castle gates keeping watch. Now you must not think of fighting with this serpent, that would be useless; you have in your possession a club which will do all that for you if you tell it when to begin. You must then put on your invisible cloak and cap and go to the immortal skeleton, and throw down the egg before him; as soon as you do that he will die. But on your way back you must not forget to take some delightful dulcimers which you will see in the garden, for if you do not take them your father, King Dymion, and his court will never wake. Now good-bye, Prince John, good luck attend you. Your good horse will find the way. If anything happens, think of me, old woman though I am, not unkindly but with good-will. God bless you!"

The prince then parted from the benevolent old lady, and mounting his horse he devoutly made the sign of the cross, whistled loudly, and off they went as before, leaving the dark forest in the distance, and the mighty ocean was reached in due time. When the prince had galloped up to it he looked about him, wondering how he and his horse could possibly cross over to the Island of Booyan through those deep and angry waves, when he beheld a fisherman's net, in which an unfortunate little pike was struggling. The pike on seeing the prince called out,—