The Violet Fairy Book Read Online Free PDF Page A

bearer of the letter and he pleased her very
much. They dressed Vassili in fine clothes and next day he was
married to Anastasia.
    In due time, Mark returned from his travels. His wife, daughter,
and son-in-law all went out to meet him. When Mark saw Vassili
he flew into a terrible rage with his wife. 'How dared you marry
my daughter without my consent?' he asked.
    'I only carried out your orders,' said she. 'Here is your
letter.'
    Mark read it. It certainly was his handwriting, but by no means
his wishes.
    'Well,' thought he, 'you've escaped me three times, but I think I
shall get the better of you now.' And he waited a month and was
very kind and pleasant to his daughter and her husband.
    At the end of that time he said to Vassili one day, 'I want you
to go for me to my friend the Serpent King, in his beautiful
country at the world's end. Twelve years ago he built a castle
on some land of mine. I want you to ask for the rent for those
twelve years and also to find out from him what has become of my
twelve ships which sailed for his country three years ago.'
    Vassili dared not disobey. He said good-bye to his young wife,
who cried bitterly at parting, hung a bag of biscuits over his
shoulders, and set out.
    I really cannot tell you whether the journey was long or short.
As he tramped along he suddenly heard a voice saying: 'Vassili!
where are you going?'
    Vassili looked about him, and, seeing no one, called out: 'Who
spoke to me?'
    'I did; this old wide-spreading oak. Tell me where you are
going.'
    'I am going to the Serpent King to receive twelve years' rent
from him.'
    'When the time comes, remember me and ask the king: "Rotten to
the roots, half dead but still green, stands the old oak. Is it
to stand much longer on the earth?" '
    Vassili went on further. He came to a river and got into the
ferryboat. The old ferryman asked: 'Are you going far, my
friend?'
    'I am going to the Serpent King.'
    'Then think of me and say to the king: "For thirty years the
ferryman has rowed to and fro. Will the tired old man have to
row much longer?" '
    'Very well,' said Vassili; 'I'll ask him.'
    And he walked on. In time he came to a narrow strait of the sea
and across it lay a great whale over whose back people walked and
drove as if it had been a bridge or a road. As he stepped on it
the whale said, 'Do tell me where you are going.'
    'I am going to the Serpent King.'
    And the whale begged: 'Think of me and say to the king: "The
poor whale has been lying three years across the strait, and men
and horses have nearly trampled his back into his ribs. Is he to
lie there much longer?" '
    'I will remember,' said Vassili, and he went on.
    He walked, and walked, and walked, till he came to a great green
meadow. In the meadow stood a large and splendid castle. Its
white marble walls sparkled in the light, the roof was covered
with mother o' pearl, which shone like a rainbow, and the sun
glowed like fire on the crystal windows. Vassili walked in, and
went from one room to another astonished at all the splendour he
saw.
    When he reached the last room of all, he found a beautiful girl
sitting on a bed.
    As soon as she saw him she said: 'Oh, Vassili, what brings you
to this accursed place?'
    Vassili told her why he had come, and all he had seen and heard
on the way.
    The girl said: 'You have not been sent here to collect rents,
but for your own destruction, and that the serpent may devour
you.'
    She had not time to say more, when the whole castle shook, and a
rustling, hissing, groaning sound was heard. The girl quickly
pushed Vassili into a chest under the bed, locked it and
whispered: 'Listen to what the serpent and I talk about.'
    Then she rose up to receive the Serpent King.
    The monster rushed into the room, and threw itself panting on the
bed, crying: 'I've flown half over the world. I'm tired, VERY
tired, and want to sleep—scratch my head.'
    The beautiful girl sat down near him, stroking his hideous head,
and said in a sweet coaxing voice: 'You