Then Mark wrote a letter to his wife and gave it to Vassili to take to her, and this was what was in the letter: `When the bearer of this arrives, take him into the soap factory, and when you pass near the great boiler, push him in. If you don’t obey my orders I shall be very angry, for this young man is a bad fellow who is sure to ruin us all if he lives.’
Vassili had a good voyage, and on landing set off on foot for Mark’s home. On the way he met three beggars, who asked him: `Where are you going, Vassili?’
`I am going to the house of Mark the Merchant, and have a letter for his wife,’ replied Vassili.
`Show us the letter.’
Vassili handed them the letter. They blew on it and gave it back to him, saying: `Now go and give the letter to Mark’s wife. You will not be forsaken.’
Vassili reached the house and gave the letter. When the mistress read it she could hardly believe her eyes and called for her daughter. In the letter was written, quite plainly: `When you receive this letter, get ready for a wedding, and let the bearer be married next day to my daughter, Anastasia. If you don’t obey my orders I shall be very angry.’
Anastasia saw the bearer of the letter and he pleased
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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,
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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.’
THE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN SOOTHES THE SERPENT-KING
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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 know everything in the world. After you left, I had such a wonderful dream. Will you tell me what it means?’
`Out with it then, quick! What was it?’
`I dreamt I was walking on a wide road, and an oak tree said to me: “Ask the king this: Rotten at the roots, half dead, and yet green stands the old oak. Is it to stand much longer on the earth?” ‘
`It must stand till some one comes and pushes it down with his foot. Then it will fall, and under its roots will be found more gold and silver than even Mark the Rich has got.’
`Then I dreamt I came to a river, and the old ferryman said to me: “For thirty year’s the ferryman has rowed to and fro. Will the tired old man have to row much longer?” ‘
`That depends on himself. If some one gets into the boat to be ferried across, the old man has only to push the boat off, and go his way without looking back. The man in the boat will then have to take his place.’
`And at last I dreamt that I was walking over a bridge made of a whale’s back, and the living bridge spoke to me and said: “Here have I been stretched out these three years, and men and horses have trampled my back down into my ribs. Must I lie here much longer?” ‘
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`He will have to lie there till he has thrown up the twelve ships of Mark the Rich which he swallowed. Then he may plunge back into the sea and heal his back.’
And the Serpent King closed his eyes, turned round on his other side, and began to snore so loud that the windows rattled.
In all haste the lovely girl helped Vassili out of the chest, and showed him part of his way back. He thanked her very politely, and hurried off.
When he reached the strait the whale asked: `Have you thought of me?’
`Yes, as soon as I am on the other side I will tell you what you want to know.’
When he was on the other side Vassili said to the whale: `Throw up those twelve ships of Mark’s which you swallowed three years ago.’
The great fish heaved itself up and threw up all the twelve ships and their crews. Then he shook himself for joy, and plunged into the sea.
Vassili went on further till he reached the ferry, where the old man asked: `Did you think of me?’
`Yes, and as soon as you have ferried me across I will tell you what you want to know.’
When they had crossed over, Vassili said: `Let the next man who comes stay in the boat, but do you step on shore, push the boat off, and you will be free, and the other man must take your place.