Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 3 1885.djvu/255

Rh Thus having spoken (and after obtaining permission) I'll take the king's daughter to the cemetery. Do you, on the day of our going there, just a little before us, taking with you a little fine pepper, proceed to the cemetery in your chariot, attended by a retinue of armed men. Place your chariot in a certain spot at the door of the cemetery and send on the armed men to the wood adjoining the cemetery. Then do you yourself go within the charmed circle in the cemetery and lie down there stretched-out like a dead man. I will come there and above you spread out a couch, upon which I will place the king's daughter. At that moment let a little pepper-dust fall on your nose and sneeze two or three times. As soon as you sneeze we'll leave the king's daughter and take to flight. Then do you return, bathe both the head of the princess and your own, and go with her to your own home."

He agreed, saying, "Capital! It's a splendid dodge!"

She went to the king and informed him of this matter in the manner already described. He agreed to it. She also told the king's daughter of the affair, and she agreed too.

On the day of her departure she (the fortune-teller) gave the prince the signal and with a great retinue proceeded to the cemetery. In order to inspire the guards with awe she said, "As soon as I place the princess upon the upper couch a dead man on the couch below will sneeze. After he has done this he'll at once get off the lower couch and will take the first he sees; so be careful!"

The prince went to the cemetery just a little before the others (in the way already mentioned) and there lay down. The fortune-teller, going within the charmed circle, lifted up the princess on to the couch.

"Do not be alarmed," said the fortune-teller to her as she was arranging the couch and placing her on it. At that instant the prince, dropping some pepper on his nose, sneezed several times. No sooner had he sneezed than the fortune-teller left the princess and was the first to run off. After she took to flight not a single person dared forsooth to remain, but throwing down their weapons all fled.

The prince, having done everything according to previous arrangement, went with the princess to his own house.