40 SLAV TALES

Then Plavacek continued his journey, and as he went
he came to a large and beautiful city where all was sad and
silent. Near the gate was an old man who leant on a stick
and walked with difficulty.

‘May God bless you, good old man.”

“And you, too, my handsome young traveller. Where
are you going ?”

“To Déde-Vsévéde’s palace in search of three of his
golden hairs.”

“Ah, you are the very messenger I have so long waited
for. Allow me to take you to my master the king.”

On their arrival at the palace, the king said, ‘I hear you
are an ambassador to Déde-Vsévtde. We have here a well,
the water of which renews itself, So wonderful are its effects
that invalids are immediately cured on drinking it, while a
few drops sprinkled on a corpse will bring it to life again.
For the past twenty years this well has remained dry: if
you will ask old Dede-Vsévéde how the flow of water may
be restored I will reward you royally.”

Plavacek promised to do so, and was dismissed with good
wishes. He then travelled through deep dark forests, in
the midst of which might be seen a large meadow; out of
it grew lovely flowers, and in the centre stood a castle built
of gold. It was the home of Déde-Vsévéde. So brilliant
with light was it that it seemed to be built of fire. When
he entered there was no one there but an old woman
spinning.

“Greeting, Plavacek, I am well pleased to see you.”

She was his godmother, who had given him shelter in
her cottage when he was the bearer of the king’s letter.