98 SLAV TALES

though I do not warm the earth, I supply it with dew, which
makes it fertile and fruitful.”

She was then about to continue her course, but Jean,
begging her to stop one moment longer, questioned her about
the pear-tree which had ceased to bear fruit.

And she answered him thus: “While the king’s eldest
daughter remained unmarried the tree bore fruit every year.
After her wedding she had a little child who died and was
buried under this tree. Since then there has been neither
fruit nor flower on its branches: if the child be given
Christian burial the tree will produce blossom and fruit as
in the past.”

The Moon was just moving off when Jean begged her to
stop and answer one more question, which was, why the
inhabitants of a certain land were unable to obtain from their
well the clear and wholesome water it had formerly poured
forth.

She replied: “Under the mouth of the well, just where
the water should flow, lies an enormous toad which poisons
it continually: the brim of the well must be broken and
the toad killed, then the water will be as pure and wholesome
as formerly.”

The Moon then resumed her journey, for Jean had no
more questions to ask her.

He joyfully went back to claim his Annette, but forgot
not to stop on coming to the land where they were short of
water. The inhabitants ran out to meet him, anxious to
know what he had found out.

Jean led them to the well and there explained the in-
structions he had received from the Moon, at the same time