338 SLAV TALES

in the wood. The king immediately sent a detachment of
his guards to the forest to find the oak which bore golden
acorns. But their efforts were fruitless, for, though they
hunted in every nook and corner of the forest, they found not
a single oak that bore acorns of_gold.

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At first the king was very angry, but when he grew calmer
he sent for his herdsman and said to him, “Tell your son, the
fool, that he must bring me, by this evening, a cask filled to the
brim with these precious golden acorns. If he obeys my com-
mands you shall never lack bread and salt, and you may rest
assured that my royal favour will not fail you in time of need.”