She had not time to say more, when the whole castle shook, and a
rustling, hissing, groaning sound was heard. The girl quickly
pushed Vassili into a chest under the bed, locked it and
whispered: 'Listen to what the serpent and I talk about.'

Then she rose up to receive the Serpent King.

The monster rushed into the room, and threw itself panting on the
bed, crying: 'I've flown half over the world. I'm tired, VERY
tired, and want to sleep--scratch my head.'

The beautiful girl sat down near him, stroking his hideous head,
and said in a sweet coaxing voice: 'You know everything in the
world. After you left, I had such a wonderful dream. Will you
tell me what it means?'

'Out with it then, quick! What was it?'

'I dreamt I was walking on a wide road, and an oak tree said to
me: "Ask the king this: Rotten at the roots, half dead, and yet
green stands the old oak. Is it to stand much longer on the
earth?" '

'It must stand till some one comes and pushes it down with his
foot. Then it will fall, and under its roots will be found more
gold and silver than even Mark the Rich has got.'

'Then I dreamt I came to a river, and the old ferryman said to
me: "For thirty year's the ferryman has rowed to and fro. Will
the tired old man have to row much longer?" '