himself apprentice to the king’s gardener.  For every little that the gardener showed him, Vanek comprehended ever so much more.  Ere long he didn’t even obey the gardener’s orders as to how he ought to do anything, but did everything his own way.  At first the gardener was angry, but, seeing everything thus getting on better, he was content.  “I see that you’ve more intelligence than I,” said he, and henceforth let Vanek garden as he thought fit.  In no long space of time Vanek made the garden so beautiful that the king took great delight in it, and frequently walked in it with the queen and with his only daughter.

The princess was a very beautiful damsel, but ever since she was twelve years old she had ceased speaking, and no one ever heard a single word from her.  The king was much grieved, and caused a proclamation to be made that whoever should bring it to pass that she should speak again, should be her husband.  Many young kings, princes, and other great lords announced themselves one after the other, but all went away as they had come; no one succeeded in causing her to speak.  “Why shouldn’t I try my luck?” thought Vanek; “who knows whether I mayn’t succeed in bringing her to answer when I ask her a question?” He at once caused himself to be announced at the palace, and the king and his councillors conducted him into the room where the princess was.  The king’s daughter had a pretty little dog, and was very fond of him, because he was so clever, understanding everything that she wanted.  When Vanek went into the room with the king and his councillors, he made as if he didn’t even see the princess, but turned to the dog and said:  “I have heard, doggie, that you are very clever, and I come to you for advice.  We are three companions in travel, a sculptor, a tailor, and myself.  Once upon a time we were going through a forest and were obliged to pass the night in it.  To be safe from wolves, we made a fire, and agreed to keep watch one after the other.  The sculptor kept watch first, and for amusement to kill time took a log and carved a damsel out of it.  When it was finished, he woke the tailor to keep watch in his turn.  The tailor, seeing the wooden damsel, asked what it meant.  ‘As you see,’ said the sculptor, ’I was weary, and didn’t know what to do with myself, so I carved a damsel out of a log; if you find time hang heavy on your hands, you can dress her.’  The tailor at once took out his scissors, needle and thread, cut out the clothes, stitched away, and, when they were ready, dressed the damsel in them.  He then called me to come and keep watch.  I, too, asked him what the meaning of all this was.  ‘As you see,’ said the tailor, ’the sculptor found time hang heavy on his hands and carved a damsel out of a log, and I for the same reason clothed her; and if you find time hanging on your hands, you can teach her to speak.’  And by morning dawn I had actually taught her to speak.  But in the morning when my companions woke up, each wanted