278 SLAV TALES

you do just as you are told we may yet repair all that has
been spoilt by your imprudence. Mount your horse and
follow—off !”

The fox ran on in front, clearing the road with his bushy
tail, until they reached the shores of the Black Sea.

“That, palace yonder,” said the fox, “is the residence of
the Queen of the Ocean Kingdom. She has three daughters ;
it is the youngest who has the golden hair, and is called Zlato-
Vlaska. Now you must first go to the queen and ask her to
give you one of her daughters in marriage. If she takes kindly
to your proposal she will bid you choose, and mind you take
that princess who is the most plainly dressed.”

The queen received him most graciously, and when he
explained the object of his visit she led him into a room
where the three daughters were spinning.

They were so much alike that no one could possibly
distinguish one from the other, and they were all so mar-
vellously lovely that when the young prince looked upon
them he dared hardly breathe. Their hair was carefully
covered by a veil through which one could not distinguish
the colour of it, but their dresses were different. The first
wore a gown and veil embroidered with gold, and used a
golden distaff; the second had on a gown embroidered with
silver and held a distaff of the same metal; the third wore a
gown and veil of dazzling whiteness, and her distaff was made
of wood.

The mother bade the prince choose, whereupon he pointed
to the maiden clothed in white, saying, “Give me this one
to wife.”

“Ah,” said the queen, “some one has been letting you