Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/222

206 "Well, then, if you are in no very great hurry, stay with us in the camp for a short time."

King Vladimir was delighted, and accepted the invitation eagerly. He spent two whole days in Marie-Marevna's society, and fell desperately in love with her, and ended by marrying her. The happy couple then left the encampment, and went off to Marie-Marevna's kingdom, where they both lived happily for a long time.

At last another war broke out, and Marie-Marevna was obliged to join her army, and leave King Vladimir to amuse himself, and look after the palace.

"Go wherever you please," she told him; "do whatever you like; but mind you do not open this little door, or bad luck will attend you."

King Vladimir, of course, promised to obey her, and for some time he did not venture near the forbidden door; but one day feeling rather lonely, and not knowing what to do with himself, he walked about the long galleries and oak staircases, until he found himself right in front of the door. He stopped before it, and hesitated; then, not being able to subdue his curiosity any longer, he turned the key, and—entered. He looked round him, and beheld a dreadful-looking skeleton hanging from the ceiling by twelve iron chains!

"Have pity on me. King Vladimir!" begged the skeleton. "Give me something to drink! I have been hanging here ten years in torment, without having a drop to drink or a morsel to eat. My throat is as dry as it can possibly be. Have some pity on me, King Vladimir!"