Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-01-11
A SEE WAN LEGEND.

served his master for many years with
~ much zeal as fidelity. One day,
while tending his sheep he heard a
loud kissing which seemed to come from
nciphboring wood. Not knowing
what II could he. he entered the forest,
and followed the sound to find out the
cause of it,
Coming near the place whence it is
sued, he saw that the dry grass and
fallen leaves had taken fire, and in the
middle Of circle of flames he saw a
serpent, kissing loudly. The shepherd
watched TO see what the serpent would
do, for all around the reptile was flame,
and the fire was drawing nearer and
nearer to il.
suddenly the serpent called out to
the shepherd, ain heavens name, shep-
herd, save me from the fire." And the
shepherd stretched out his staff to him
over the top Of the flames. The SER
Ipcnt coiled itself around the staff
and climbed along to the shepherds
hand. and from his hand passed on to
his neck, and coiled around that like a
collar. This made the shepherd afraid,
and he said to the serpent:
Misfortune for me! Have l saved
thee to my own lOss?"
But the reptile replied:
Fear nothing, but carry me to my
father, who il II king of the serpents."
The shepherd began to excuse him
self, saying. that he could not leave his
sheep without keeper; but the SER
pent answered.:
''Do not trouble thyself at all about
the Aock: nothing will happen to it, but
do thou go as quickly as thou canst."
Then the shepherd marched off
through the wood with the serpent
about his neck until he came to gate
way which was formed of interlaced ad-
ders. The serpent hissed, and as soon
~ the adders separated and opened q
way, he said to the shepherd, "When
We get to the castle my father will
oGer thee anything thou desirest, silver,
gold, jewels, and all that is precious ON
earth; accept nothing of all that, ask
only to he able to understand the Ian
gusge of animals. He will refuse for
long time to grant this favor, but will
finally accord II to thee"
Thus talking to1e.he, they rea he'd the
castle, and the father of the serpent
called out, "ln heavens name, my
,hild, where have you been?" And the
serpent told how he had been surround
| 81 by fire and how the shepherd had
saved him. THE king of the serpents
hen turned to the shepherd and said.
'What dost thou wish that sht uld
give thee for saving my child?" "Teach
me the language Of animals" said the
shepherd, II wish nothing more" The
king said 10 him, "That would he worth
nothing 10 thee, for ii l should give
thee TO understand their language, and
thou shouldst say anything about it to
anybody, thou wouldst die Immediately"
hut the shepherd replied, ''If you wish
TO reward me teach me the language of
animals, II not, gOod-by, and heaven
protect you, for wish nothing else;"
and he made pretense of leaving.
Then the king recalled him, saying:
"Stopl and come here, since thou in
sisted ON thy desire. Open thy mouth"
The shepherd opened his mouth and the
serpent blew into it and said: "Now do
thou blow i'm turn into mine. "And"
when the shepherd had done as he was
told, the king Of the serpents blew into
his mouth second time. And when
they had each thus blown three times,
the king said to him, "Now thou under
s.ansleth the language of animals; may
God keep you, and take care, a. you
value your life, never to betiay the Sc
cret, for II you speak word of it to any
one you will drop dead instantly"
The shepherd then took his leave,
and ~ he passed through the wood he
heard and understood all that was said
BY the birds and the cattle and wild ami
mails, and even the trees and plants,
and all that is on the earth. When he
re- sched his flock he found it safe and in
good order, and then he lay:.down on the
ground ~ rest.
Hardly was he stretched out before
two Crows came and perched on a tree
over his head, and began to talk in their
own language, and they said. "If this
shepherd onlG knew that over there
where that black lamb is there is cave
under the ground full Of gold and silver" "
Az soon as the shepherd heard that,
he went to find his master, and the mas
ter took cart with him, and they went
and dug, and found the cave and carried
of the treasure. The master was an
honest man, and he let all to the shep-
herd, saying TO him: "My son, the
treasure il thine, for Providence has
| .v,vou n IN thee ~