160 SLAV TALES

pile here.” So saying he fixed his flaming eyes upon the
wood, and the whole was instantly set alight.

“You are a very clever and powerful man,” said Matthias,
“would you like to join our party?”

“All right, I am willing.”

So the four travelled along together. Matthias was over-
joyed to have met with such gifted companions, and paid
their expenses generously, without complaining of the enor-
mous sum of money he had to spend on the amount of food
Broad consumed..

After some days they reached the princess’s palace.
Matthias had told them the object of his journey, and had
promised each a large reward if he was successful. They
gave him their word to work with a will at the task which
every one up till then had failed to accomplish. The prince
bought them each a handsome suit of clothes, and when they
were all presentable sent them to tell the king, the princess’s
father, that he had come with his attendants to watch three
nights in the lady’s boudoir. But he took very good care
not to say who he was, nor whence he had come.

The king received them kindly, and after hearing their
request said: ‘“ Reflect well before engaging yourselves in this,
for if the princess should escape you will have to die.”

“We very much doubt her escaping from us,” they replied,
“but come what will, we intend to make the attempt and to
begin at once.”

“‘ My duty was to warn you,” replied the monarch, smiling,
“but if you still persist in your resolution I myself will take
you to the lady’s apartments.”’

Matthias was dazzled at the loveliness of the royal maiden,