Atondido Stories
The king ordered this to be done at once and when he saw
the water beginning to bubble up and flow again, he made
Plavachek a present of twelve horses, white as swans, laden with
as much gold and silver as they could carry.
When Plavachek came to the second city and the king of that
city asked him what news he brought, he said:
“Good news! Have the apple tree dug up. At its roots you
will find a snake. Kill the snake and replant the tree. Then it will
bear fruit as it used to.”
The king had this done at once and during the night the tree
burst into bloom and bore great quantities of fruit. The king was
delighted and made Plavachek a present of twelve horses, black
as ravens, laden with as much riches as they could carry.
Plavachek traveled on and when he came to the black sea, the
boatman asked him had he the answer to his question.
“Yes, I have,” said Plavachek, “but you must ferry me over
before I tell you.”
The boatman wanted to hear the answer at once, but
Plavachek was firm. So the old man ferried him across with his
twelve white horses and his twelve black horses.
When Plavachek was safely landed, he said: “The next per-
son who comes to be ferried over, thrust the oar into his hand
and do you jump ashore. Then the other man will have to be
boatman in your place.”
Plavachek traveled home to the palace. The king could
scarcely believe his eyes when he saw the three golden hairs of
Grandfather Knowitall. The princess wept again, not for sorrow
this time but for joy at her bridegroom’s return.
“But, Plavachek,” the king gasped, “where did you get these
beautiful horses and all these riches?”
93