In the evening they begged the King to allow them to rest in the room set apart for them.  The water-drinker filled the whole room with water, and they went into another.

The King lost his wits and knew not what to do.  He called his people together, and they said in one voice, “Let what will happen, we will not let our princess go!”

The man with the sharp ears heard them, and said, “Brother who hast pierced a steel shield with a steel spear, do you understand what the King said?”

“How should I know what he said?”

“He said, ‘Let what will happen, I will not let my daughter go.’”

The brother who had loaded himself with the whole world said:  “Wait, I will take his castle and all his land on my back and carry it away.”

He took the castle on his back and started off.  The shepherd played on his pipes, and mountains and valleys danced to the music.  He who had fastened millstones to his feet led the march, and they all went joyously forward, making a great noise.

The King began to weep, and begged them to leave him his castle.  “Take my daughter with you.  You have earned her.”

They put the castle back in its place, the shepherd stopped playing, and mountain and valley stood still.  They took the King’s daughter and departed, and each hero returned to his dwelling-place, and he who had pierced the steel shield with the steel spear took the maiden and came again to the King of the East.  And the King of the East gave him his own daughter, whom the youth had long loved, for his wife.  So he had two wives—­one was the daughter of the King of the East, the other the daughter of the King of the West.

At night, when they lay down to sleep, he said:  “Now, I have one sun on one side and another sun on the other side, and a bright star plays on my breast.”

In the morning he sent for his parents and called also the King to him, and said, “Now, I will tell my dream.”  “What was it, then?” they all said.  He answered:  “I saw in my dream one sun on one side of me and another sun on the other, and a bright star played on my breast.”

“Had you such a dream?” they asked.

“I swear I had such a dream.”

And three apples fell from heaven:  one for the story-teller, one for him who made him tell it, and one for the hearer.

* * * * *

THE VACANT YARD

[Translated by E.B.  Collins, B.S.]

* * * * *

THE VACANT YARD

Several days ago I wished to visit an acquaintance, but it chanced he was not at home.  I came therefore through the gate again out into the street, and stood looking to right and left and considering where I could go.  In front of me lay a vacant yard, which was, I thought, not wholly like other vacant yards.  On it was neither house nor barn nor stable:  true, none of these was there, but it was very evident that this yard could not have been deserted long by its tenants.  The house must, also, in my opinion, have been torn down, for of traces of fire, as, for example, charred beams, damaged stoves, and rubbish heaps, there was no sign.