Our Little Czecho-Slovak CousinWinlow, Clara Vostrovsky
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Our Little Czecho-Slovak Cousin
Winlow, Clara Vostrovsky
Children -- Czechoslovakia -- Juvenile literature
"Then I will help you," said Jezibaba, and hid the Prince behind a big
broom. As she did so the castle shook, and peeping, the young man saw
an awful being come up brandishing a leaden club.
"Yo, ho!" growled the ogre. "I smell human flesh on which to feast."
"Nay, my son," cajoled Jezibaba, "a youth is here, in truth, but only
because he values your advice."
"In that case," responded the giant, "let him appear and I shall not
hurt him."
The Prince came out, trembling, for he reached only to the giant's
knees; but being brave of heart he courteously asked his question.
"Ah, ah!" returned the giant, looking around as if searching for him.
"I don't know where it is, but if you go to my brother in the silver
castle, he may direct you. Here, mother, give him some dumplings to
last him on his journey."
The Prince bit into a dumpling placed before him and two of his teeth
cracked, for the giant's food was of pure lead.
"I shall eat them later," he said, and placing three of them in his
pockets, he thanked his hosts and bade them good-by.
Again over hill and dale he traveled, until wearied he sank as before
under a thickly branched tree. From the top of this tree twelve ravens
flew, and, remembering his former good fortune, he followed in the
direction of their flight.
For three days and three nights he had journeyed when he saw before him
a castle whose walls glistened in the sun. It was of the finest silver
and at the gateway stood Jezibaba, leaning on a silver staff. He
greeted her, saying, "I come from the leaden castle and bear a message
for the owner here."
"In that case you are welcome, but that harm may not come to you before
my son knows, let me hide you."
Soon after an ogre, more terrible than the first, appeared brandishing
a silver club. And as he appeared the castle and ground were shaken.
"Yo-ho!" said the giant, "I smell human flesh for my meal to-day."
"Not so," spoke Jezibaba. "A youth is here, in truth, but not to be
harmed. He bears a message to you from your brother of the leaden
castle."
So the Prince was invited to come out of his hiding-place, which he did
trembling, he seemed so insignificant beside the ogre. He showed the
leaden dumplings in token that he spoke the truth and the ogre's face
grew quite mild.
"I can't tell you where the glass mountain is," he answered to the
query, "but my brother of the Golden Castle will surely know. Take him
my greeting. Before you go, sit down with us to our dinner."
But the dinner consisted of silver dumplings, and excusing himself, the
Prince placed three in his pocket and went on his way.
Over wooded hill, through valleys he journeyed, until weariness
overcame him and he sank down under a tree. Twelve ravens flew from
its top as he did so. The sight of them revived his strength and he
followed in the direction they had taken.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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