46 SLAV TALES

“Have the well carefully cleaned out,” said he, ‘kill the
frog that obstructs the spring, and the wonderful water will
flow again.”

The king did as he was advised, and rejoiced. to see the
water return. He gave Plavacek twelve swan-white horses,
and as much gold and silver as they could carry.

On reaching the second town and being asked by the
king what news he had brought, he replied, ‘‘ Excellent; one
could not wish for better. Dig up your apple-tree, kill the
snake that lies among the roots, transplant the tree, and it
will produce apples like those of former times.”

And all turned out as he had said, for no sooner was the
tree replanted than it was covered with blossoms that gave
it the appearance of a sea of roses. The delighted king
gave him twelve raven-black horses, laden with as much wealth
as they could carry. He then journeyed to the shores of
the Black Sea. There the boatman questioned him as to
what news he had brought respecting his release. Plavacek
first crossed with his twenty-four horses to the opposite bank,
and then replied that the boatman might gain his freedom
by placing the oars in the hands of the first traveller who
wished to be ferried over.

Plavacek’s royal father-in-law could not believe his eyes
when he saw Déde-Vsévéde’s three golden hairs. As for
the princess, his young wife, she wept tears, but of joy, not
sadness, to see her dear one again, and she said to him,
“ How did you get such splendid horses and so much wealth,
dear husband ?”

And he answered her, “All this represents the price paid
for the weariness of spirit I have felt; it is the ready money