🧚 Opening, part 32 · page 2

But, when her three children had been thrown into the pond in the King’s garden, they were not drowned, for the King’s gardener took them home and brought them up.68 They were fine children; you could _see_ them growing up, not by years, but months, not by days, but by hours.69 The King’s sons shot up, youths no men could imagine, guess, or draw, or paint; and the Tsarévna was such a beauty!70 Almost terribly beautiful!71 One day, when they were older, they asked the gardener to let them build themselves a little home behind the town.72 The gardener consented, and they erected a big, splendid house, and led a merry life in it.73 The brothers used to go hunting hares, and one day they went off and left their sister alone at home.74

A visitor knocked at the door: the sister opened the door and saw an old hag, who said: “You have a pretty little place here; three things are lacking.”75

“What are they?76 I always thought we had everything!”77

The hag replied: “You still need the Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life.”78

And then the sister was left all alone once more; when her brothers came home, she said: “Brothers, we lack nothing save three things.”79

“What are they?”80

“We haven’t a Talking-Bird, a Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life!”81

The elder brother said: “Sister, give me your blessing, and I’ll go and discover you these marvels.82 If I die, or am killed, you will know by this knife dripping blood.83 There it is, stuck into the wall.”84

So he went, and wandered away, far, far away into the forest.85 At last he came to a gigantic oak-tree; and on the tree there was an old man sitting, whom he asked how he was to procure the “Talking-Bird, a Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life.”86

The old man replied: “Possible it is, but not easy; many go, but few return.”87

But the young man persisted and left the old man.88 The old man gave him a rolling-pin, and told him to let it roll on in front of him, and follow wherever it went.89 The pin rolled on, and after it walked the Prince: it rolled up to a steep hill, and was lost.90 Then the Prince went up the hill, went half-way up; and, as he went along, he heard a voice: “Hold him, seize him, grip him!”91 He looked round and was turned into stone.92

That very same hour blood began to drip from the knife in the cottage, and the sister told the younger brother that the elder was dead.93

So he answered: “Now I will go, sister mine, and capture the Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life!”94

So she blessed him, and he went on and on for very many weary miles, and met the old man on the tree, who gave him another rolling-pin: and the pin rolled up to the mountain; and both were lost, pin and Prince!95

The sister waited for many years, but he never came back, and she thought he, too, must have died.96 So she set out to find the Talking-Bird, Singing-Tree, and Water of Life.97 She arrived at last at that same oak-tree, saw the old man sitting on it, greeted him, and shaved his head and brows, as she brought scissors and a mirror with her.98

“Look,” she said, “what a change it makes in you!”99 He looked into the mirror: “Yes,” he said; “I am quite a fine man now.100 I’ve sat here thirty years: never a soul cut my hair, you guessed my need.”101

Then she asked him: “Grandfather, how can I get the Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life?”102

He answered: “How can you get them?103 Cleverer folk than you have been after them, and they have all been lost.”104

But she persisted: “Please tell me!”105

So he gave her another rolling-pin, and told her to follow it: she would hear cries of “Catch her: scotch her,” but she must not look round, for fear of being turned into stone.106 “At the top you will see a well and the Talking-Bird.107 As you come back, you will see lofty stones standing upright; sprinkle them all with the Water of Life.”108

So on she went: the pin rolled on, far or near, long or short, it reached a steep mountain; and the girl climbed up and heard cries: “Where are you going?109 We shall kill you!110 We shall eat you up!”111

But still she went on and on, reached the summit, and there she found a well and the Talking-Bird.112 She took it and asked it: “Tell me how to get the Singing-Tree and the Water of Life.”113

The Bird replied: “Go straight by this path.”114

She did, and came upon the Singing-Tree, and in it all sorts of birds were singing.115 She broke off a sprig, pulled up a water-lily, and put some of the Water of Life into the cup of the flower, and turned back homewards.116

As she clomb downhill, she saw boulders standing upright, and sprinkled them with the Water of Life; and her brothers jumped up alive and said: “Oh, what a long sleep we have had!”117

“Yes, my brothers, but for me you would have slept on for ever.118 And look here; I have got you the Talking-Bird, the Singing-Tree, and the Water of Life!”119

The brothers were overjoyed, went home and planted the Singing-Tree in the garden; it overspread the whole garden, and all kinds of birds began singing.120

One day they were out hunting and the King met them by chance.121 He fell in love with the gay huntsmen, and invited them home.122 They said they would ask their sister, and come at once if she consented.123

So they went back home.124 The sister met them and greeted them, and the brothers said: “Please, sister, may we go and dine with the King?125 He has asked us in.”126

She said “Yes,” and they went.127 At the banquet, the King gave them the place of honour, and they begged he would honour them with a visit.128 Some days later the King went.129 They gave him a rich spread, and showed him the Singing-Tree and the Talking-Bird.130

He was amazed and said: “I am the King, and have nothing as good!”131

Then the King looked at them and said: “Who is your father?”132

They said: “We do not know.”133 But the Talking-Bird broke in and said: “They are your children.”134

Then the King looked at the maiden and wanted to marry her.135 Again the Talking-Bird said: “You may not; she is your daughter.”136

The King then saw how matters stood; was overjoyed; took them to live with him for ever.137 As to the two evil sisters, he had them shot; but his wife he released from the chapel, and took her to himself again, and they lived merrily on for many years of happiness.138

AT THE BEHEST OF THE PIKE139

Once there lived a poor peasant; and, however much he might toil and moil, he got nothing out of it.140 “Oh,” he thought to himself, “mine is a sorry lot; I spend all my days on my fields; and then, when I look, I am starving, whilst my neighbour is lying all day long on his back, and then he has a big estate and all the profits swim into his pockets.141 Evidently I have not pleased God.142 I will get up in the morning and pray until evening, and perhaps the Lord may have mercy on me.”143