reached the palace, the Queen led him to the royal chamber and showed
him a beautiful son that had been born during his absence. His joy was
so great that he forgot all else; but after a time he recalled with
horror his compact with the monster of the well, and the meaning was
all plain to him. The thought of what he had promised haunted him day
and night, and the fear that something would happen to his little son
tortured him. But as days and months passed, and the little Prince
grew more beautiful all the time, the King at last forgot his fears
and became happy once more.

Years went by without anything happening to disturb his peace of mind,
and the Prince grew to be a beautiful youth, who was the joy and pride
of the King and Queen. One day he went with the hunters to the forest,
and while pursuing a wild boar, became separated from them. He got
farther and farther away from his companions, and at last found
himself alone in a dark part of the wood where he never before had
been. Not knowing in which direction his path lay, he called again and
again to the hunters. At last a hoarse voice answered him, and from
the hollow trunk of a lime-tree appeared a hideous man with green eyes
and terrible teeth.

"I've waited for you a long time, Prince Milan," said he.

"Who on earth may you be?" asked the Prince.

"Your father will tell you who I am. Just give my greetings to his
Majesty, and tell him that I am ready to claim the debt he owes me."

The green-eyed man then disappeared into the hollow tree from which he
came; and when the Prince reached home, he related his experience to
his father. The King turned white, and cried:

"At last, it has come!" Then he explained to the Prince what had
occurred at the well, and added, "Now my happiness is at an end, for
you, my son, will be taken from me."

The Prince told the King not to despair, for though he might go
away, he was certain to return to him. His father provided him with a
handsome horse with golden stirrups, and the Queen gave him a cross to
wear about his neck. When he had said farewell to his unhappy parents,
he mounted his horse and rode for two days without stopping.

On the third day he came to a lake on whose smooth surface thirty
ducks were swimming, while spread about upon the grass were thirty
white garments. The Prince dismounted, and taking up one of the
garments, seated himself behind a bush and waited to see what would
happen. The ducks dived