, but he liked the
youngest one best. Everything he did for her was done a little better
than for the others. The garlands he wove her were richer, the designs
he drew for her were more beautiful. The two older sisters noticed
this and laughed, and when they were alone they teased Slavena.
Slavena, who had a sweet and amiable disposition, accepted their
joking without retort.

Bayaya had been at the court some time when one morning he found the
king sitting sad and gloomy over his breakfast. So by signs he asked
him what was the matter.

The king looked at him and sighed. "Is it possible, my dear boy," he
said, "that you don't know what's the matter? Don't you know the
calamity that threatens us? Don't you know the bitter three days that
are at hand for me?"

Bayaya, alarmed by the seriousness of the king's manner, shook his
head.

"Then I'll tell you," said the king, "although you can be of no help.
Years ago three dragons came flying through the air and alighted on a
great rock near here. The first was nine-headed, the second
eighteen-headed, and the third twenty-seven-headed. At once they laid
waste the country, devouring the cattle and killing the people. Soon
the city was in a state of siege. To keep them away we placed all the
food we had outside the gates and in a short time we ourselves were
starving. In desperation I had an old wise woman called to court and
asked her was there any way to drive these monsters from the land.
Alas for me, there was a way and that way was to promise the awful
creatures my three beautiful daughters when they reached womanhood. At
that time my daughters were only small children and I thought to
myself many things might happen in the years before they grew up. So,
to relieve my stricken land, I promised the dragons my daughters. The
poor queen died at once of grief, but my daughters grew up knowing
nothing of their fate. As soon as I made the monstrous bargain, the
dragons flew away and until yesterday were never again heard of. Last
night, a shepherd, beside himself with terror, brought me the news
that the dragons are again settled in their old rock and are sending
out fearful roars. Tomorrow I must sacrifice to them my oldest child,
the day after tomorrow my second child, and the day after that my
youngest. Then I shall be left a poor lonely old man with nothing."

The king strode up and down and tore his hair in grief.

In great distress Bayaya went to the princesses. He