Atondido Stories
“But,” protested the queen, “you yourself ordered me to
have him married to our daughter before you came back. Here is
your letter.”
The king took the letter and examined it carefully. The hand-
writing, the seal, the paper—all were his own.
He called his son-in-law and questioned him.
Plavachek related how he had lost his way in the forest and
spent the night with his godmother.
“What does your godmother look like?” the king asked.
Plavachek described her.
From the description the king recognized her as the same old
woman who had promised the princess to the charcoal-burner’s
son twenty years before.
He looked at Plavachek thoughtfully and at last he said:
“What’s done can’t be undone. However, young man, you
can’t expect to be my son-in-law for nothing. If you want my
daughter you must bring me for dowry three of the golden hairs
of old Grandfather Knowitall.”
He thought to himself that this would be an impossible task
and so would be a good way to get rid of an undesirable son-in-
law.
Plavachek took leave of his bride and started off. He didn’t
know which way to go. Who would know? Everybody talked
about old Grandfather Knowitall, but nobody seemed to know
where to find him. Yet Plavachek had a Fate for a godmother, so
it wasn’t likely that he would miss the right road.
He traveled long and far, going over wooded hills and desert
plains and crossing deep rivers. He came at last to a black sea.
There he saw a boat and an old ferryman.
“God bless you, old ferryman!” he said.
“May God grant that prayer, young traveler! Where are you
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