306 SLAV TALES Y
himself behind the altar, where he hung a mirror, through
which he could see everything that passed without being seen.

At midnight the doors opened. The soldiers, under the
influence of sleep, had let fall their arms and lay on the ground.
The king kept his eyes fixed on the mirror, through which he
saw a little wild-duck enter. It looked timidly round on all
sides, then, reassured at the sight of the sleeping guards,
advanced to the centre of the nave and took off its feathers,
thus appearing as a young maiden of exquisite beauty.

The king, overwhelmed with joy and admiration, had a
presentiment that this was his true bride. So when she drew
near the coffin he crept noiselessly out of his hiding-place,
and with a lighted taper set fire to the feathers. They flared
up immediately, and with such a bright light that the soldiers
were aroused. The girl ran towards the monarch, wringing
her hands and weeping tears of pearl.

“What have you done?” cried she. ‘ How can I now
escape my stepmother’s vengeance? For it is by her magic
that I have been changed into a wild-duck.”

When the king had heard all, he ordered some of his
soldiers to seize the wife he had married and to take her
right out of the country. He sent others to take the wicked
stepmother prisoner, and to burn her as a witch. Both com-
mands were instantly carried out. Meanwhile the girl drew
from the folds of her gown three small bottles, filled with
three different kinds of water, which she had brought from
the sea.

The first possessed the virtue of restoring life. This she
sprinkled over her brother, whereupon the chill and rigidity
of death disappeared, the colour came to his face, and warm