350 SLAV TALES

took his magic wand in his hand, and started off to go to the
court.

The king was not there on his arrival, but he was received
by the paladin, who saluted him courteously. Music played,
and the troops did him military honours—in fact, he was
treated far better than he had expected. On being presented
to the king he took off his helmet, and bowing low, said: “O
king, I am come to lay at the foot of your throne my table-
cloth, waistband, wand, and helmet. In return for these
gifts I beg that your favour may be shown to the most humble
of your subjects.”

“Tell me then, fool, what price you want for these
goods ?”

“Not money, sire, a fool of my sort cares very little about
money. Has not the king promised my mother that he will
give me in exchange the half of his kingdom, and the hand of
his daughter in marriage? These are the gifts I claim.”

After these words the paladin was filled with envy at the
good fortune of the fool, and made a sign for the guards to
enter. The soldiers seized the poor fellow, dragged him out
into the courtyard, and they killed him treacherously to the
sound of drums and trumpets, after which they covered him
over with earth.

Now it happened that when the soldiers stabbed him his |
blood spurted out, and some of the drops fell beneath the
princess’s window. The maiden wept bitterly at the sight,
watering the blood-stained ground with her tears. And lo!
marvellous to relate, an apple-tree grew out of the blood-
sprinkled earth. And it grew so rapidly that its branches
soon touched the windows of her rooms; by noon it was