Now, it happened one day, in the summer time, that the King rode out unattended. The heat was excessive, and he reined in his steed in front of the fisherman's hut to ask for a glass of cold water. Plavacete brought it out to him; the King looked at him intently, then, turning to the fisherman, said:-- "You have a handsome youth there: is he your son?" "Yes and no," replied the fisherman. "Twenty years ago, I found a tiny child in a basket floating down the river; I and my wife adopted him." The King turned pale as death, for he guessed that it was the same infant that he had condemned to be drowned. Collecting himself, he dismounted and said:-- "I want to send a message to the castle, and I have nobody with me; can this youth deliver it?" "Certainly," replied the fisherman; "your Majesty may rely on his intelligence." Thereupon the King sat down and wrote to the Queen these words:-- "The young man who brings you this message is the most dangerous of all my enemies. As soon as he arrives, have his head chopped off. Do not delay one moment and have no pity; let him be executed before I return to the castle." After carefully folding the letter, he fastened it with the Royal seal. Plavacete took the letter and set off with it through the forest, which was so wide and dense that he lost his way in it. Overtaken by night in the midst of his adventurous journey, he met an old woman. "Where are you going, Plavacete, where are you going?" she asked. "I am intrusted with a letter for the Royal castle, but I have lost my way; can you not, good mother, set me on my right road?" "To-day, my child, that is impossible. Darkness has come, and you would not have time to reach the Royal castle," replied the old woman. "Rest in my dwelling-place to-night--you will not be with a stranger there, for I am your god-mother." The young man obeyed, and they entered a charming cottage which seemed suddenly to rise out of the ground. Now, while Plavacete was sleeping, the old woman changed his letter for another, running thus:-- "Immediately upon receiving this letter, conduct the bearer to the Princess, our daughter. This young man is our son-in-law, and I wish them to be married before my return to the castle. Such is my will." [Illustration: "HE THREW THE BASKET AND THE INFANT INTO THE STREAM."] After reading the letter, the Queen gave orders for the preparation of all that was needed for the celebration of the wedding. Both she and her daughter were greatly pleased with the behaviour of the young man, and nothing troubled the happiness of the newly-married pair. A few days afterwards the King returned to his castle and, having previously learned what had taken place, began to scold the Queen. "But you expressly ordered me to have them married before your return: here is your letter--read it again," replied the Queen.