42 SLAV TALES

lap and went to sleep. Then she pulled out a hair and threw
it on the ground. It fell with a metallic sound like the
vibration of a guitar string.

“What do you want, mother?” asked he.

“Nothing, my son; I was sleeping, and had a strange
dream.”

‘What was it, mother?”

“‘T thought I was in a place where there was a well, and
the well was fed from a spring, the water of which cured
all diseases. Even the dying were restored to health on
drinking that water, and the dead who were sprinkled with
it came to life again. For the last twenty years the well
has run dry. What must be done to restore the flow of
water?”

“That is very simple. A frog has lodged itself in the
opening of the spring, this prevents the flow of water. Kill
the frog, and the water will return to the well.”

He slept again, and the old woman pulled out another
golden hair, and threw it on the ground.

“Mother, what do you want?”

“Nothing, my son, nothing; I was dreaming. In my
dream I saw a large town, the name of which I have for-
gotten. And there grew an apple-tree the fruit of which
had the power to make the old young again. A single apple
eaten by an old man would restore to him the vigour and
freshness of youth. For twenty years this tree has not borne

_ fruit. What can be done to make it fruitful?”

“The means are not difficult. A snake hidden among
the roots destroys the sap. Kill the snake, transplant the
tree, and the fruit will grow as before.”