"I'm going exploring," Jozef now announced, somewhat nettled that a girl should have been the discoverer. Leaving the pathways, he made his way down a long incline. Not wishing to have the party separated, Helena led the others as best she could after him. It was a merry chase Jozef gave them, now to the right, now to the left, then back in a crazy circle. So intent were they in making their way through some underbrush that they were unprepared when, at a sudden turn, they found themselves on the brink of the river that they knew flowed through an edge of the wood. Out of breath, they seated themselves in a row on the bank and watched the waters glide past. Then they threw in twigs, which they called boats, and grew quite excited when some of these became entangled in water washed grasses. "Oh, Helena," at last Etelka begged, as she nibbled at her portion of the sweet-root, "please tell us a story." "A really truly Slovak fairy story," seconded Ruzena. "Have it exciting," demanded Jozef. "And true," put in quiet, blue-eyed Marouska. Helena laughed. "Very well," she said, "it'll be truly Slovak, and exciting, and as true as any fairy tale can be." CHAPTER III A SLOVAK FOLK TALE THERE was once an old king who, knowing that his end was nearing, called his son to him and begged him to take a wife. "I would fain see you settled before I die," he said. The son knew not what to do, for of all the maidens in his father's court there was none that had especial charm for him. He was thinking this over in the castle garden when an old woman suddenly stood before him. Wherever she came from, she was certainly there. "Pluck the three lemons on the glass mountain and you will gain a wife such as next to none possesses," she said. As she appeared, so she disappeared. Her words, however, sank into the youth's heart, and leaving good-by for his father, he set out at once to find the glass mountain and the magic lemons. Far over wooded hill and dale he journeyed but saw nothing even resembling a glass mountain. At last, tired out, he threw himself under a tree. As he did so, some ravens, croaking loudly, flew out of its top branches. "Ah," thought the Prince, "these may direct me to where at least refreshment and rest may be obtained." And starting again, he followed in the direction that they had flown. After three days and three nights he saw a castle before him, and full of rejoicing, approached it. It was entirely of lead and in the door stood Jezibaba leaning on a leaden staff. "Haste from here, good youth," she said, "for nothing grows here, and when my son comes home he will devour you." "Nay, old woman," said the Prince, "that must not be, for I come with respect for his power and knowledge, to seek his advice as to how I am to reach the glass mountain on which grows a wonderful lemon tree."