328 SLAV TALES

gold thread. The work progressed before their eyes, and it
was only when evening came that he repeated his questions.
Not receiving a satisfactory answer, he vanished in a fit of
mocking laughter. Helen sat down by the window to think ;
but think as she might, no answer to these puzzling questions
occurred to her.

While thus wondering the hungry old man again came by,
and she gave him her dinner. She was heart-sick and her
eyes were full of tears, for she thought she would never guess
the spinner’s name, nor of what stuff his boots were made,
unless perhaps God would help her.

“Why are you so sad?” asked the old man when he had
eaten and drunk; “tell me the cause of your grief, dear lady.”

For a long time she would not tell him, thinking it would
be useless ; but at last, yielding to his entreaties, she gave a
full account of the conditions under which the gold thread
was made, explaining that unless she could answer the little
old man’s questions satisfactorily she feared some great, mis-
fortune would befall her. The old man listened attentively,
then, nodding his head, he said:

“In coming through the forest to-day I passed close toa
large pile of burning wood, round which were placed nine iron
pots. A little man in a red cap was running round and
jumping over them, singing these words:

“ My sweet friend, fair Helen, at the Red Castle near,
Two days and two nights seeks my name to divine.
She’ll never find out, so the third night ’tis clear
My sweet friend, fair Helen, can’t fail to be mine.
Hurrah ! for my name is KINKACH MARTINKO,
Hurrah ! for my boots are of doggies’ skin O !”