116 SLAV TALES

bride sound asleep, and being unable to wake her he put the
cap in his pocket, took her in his arms, and, mounting his
steed, set off to return to the Monster with the Basilisk
Eyes. The giant swallowed the dwarf at one mouthful, and
the prince cut the monster’s head up into a thousand pieces,
which he scattered all over the plain.

He then resumed his journey, and on coming to the moor-
land the dappled horse stopped short and said, “ Prince, here
for the present we must take leave of each other. You are
not far from home, your own horse awaits you; but before
leaving, enter in at my right ear and come out at my left.”

The prince did so, and came out without his armour, and
clad as when Pietnotka left him.

The dappled horse vanished, and Dobrotek whistled to
his own horse, who ran up, quite pleased to see him again.
They immediately set off for the king’s palace.

But night came on before they reached the end of their
journey.

The prince laid the sleeping maiden on the grass, and,
covering her up carefully to keep her warm, he himself fell
fast asleep. By chance, a knight, one of her suitors, passed
that way. Seeing Dobrotek asleep he drew his sword and
stabbed him; then he lifted the princess on his horse and
soon reached the king’s palace, where he addressed Piet-
notka’s father in these words: “ Here is your daughter, whom
I now claim as my wife, for it is I who have restored her to
you. She was carried off by a terrible sorcerer who fought
with me three days and three nights. But I conquered him,
and I have brought you the princess safely back.”

The king was overjoyed at seeing her again, but finding