THE WONDROUS STORY OF IVAN GOLIK!
.AND THE SERPENTS.

OMEWHERE, nowhere, in another
kingdom, in the empire of Thrice-ten,
lived—whether *twas a Tsar and a
Tsaritza, or only a Prince and a
Princess, I know not, but anyhow
they had two sons. One day this

prince said to his sons: “Let us go down to the

sea-shore and listen to the songs of the sea-folk!”

So they went. Now the prince wanted to test the

wits of his two sons; he wanted to see which of the

twain was fit for ruling his empire, and which should
stand aside and make way for better men. So they
went on together till they came to where three oaks

 

stood all ina row. The prince looked at the trees,
and said to his eldest son: “My dear gon, what
wouldst thou make of those trees ?”

1 Naked.