In due time, Mark returned from his travels. His wife, daughter,
and son-in-law all went out to meet him. When Mark saw Vassili
he flew into a terrible rage with his wife. 'How dared you marry
my daughter without my consent?' he asked.

'I only carried out your orders,' said she. 'Here is your
letter.'

Mark read it. It certainly was his handwriting, but by no means
his wishes.

'Well,' thought he, 'you've escaped me three times, but I think I
shall get the better of you now.' And he waited a month and was
very kind and pleasant to his daughter and her husband.

At the end of that time he said to Vassili one day, 'I want you
to go for me to my friend the Serpent King, in his beautiful
country at the world's end. Twelve years ago he built a castle
on some land of mine. I want you to ask for the rent for those
twelve years and also to find out from him what has become of my
twelve ships which sailed for his country three years ago.'

Vassili dared not disobey. He said good-bye to his young wife,
who cried bitterly at parting, hung a bag of biscuits over his
shoulders, and set out.

I really cannot tell you whether the journey was long or short.
As he tramped along he suddenly heard a voice saying: 'Vassili!
where are you going?'