its life, and the cat followed him. Finally, in another place, he saved
a serpent, which was also handed over to him, and now they made a party
of four--the dog behind Jenik, the cat behind the dog, and the serpent
behind the cat.

Then the serpent said to Jenik, 'Go wherever you see me go,' for in the
autumn, when all the serpents hide themselves in their holes, this
serpent was going in search of his king, who was king of all the snakes.

Then he added: 'My king will scold me for my long absence, everyone else
is housed for the winter, and I am very late. I shall have to tell him
what danger I have been in, and how, without your help, I should
certainly have lost my life. The king will ask what you would like in
return, and be sure you beg for the watch which hangs on the wall. It
has all sorts of wonderful properties, you only need to rub it to get
whatever you like.'

[Illustration]

No sooner said than done. Jenik became the master of the watch, and the
moment he got out he wished to put its virtues to the proof. He was
hungry, and thought it would be delightful to eat in the meadow a loaf
of new bread and a steak of good beef washed down by a flask of wine, so
he scratched the watch, and in an instant it was all before him. Imagine
his joy!

Evening soon came, and Jenik rubbed his watch, and thought it would be
very pleasant to have a room with a comfortable bed and a good supper.
In an instant they were all before him. After supper he went to bed and
slept till morning, as every honest man ought to do. Then he set forth
for his father's house, his mind dwelling on the feast that would be
awaiting him. But as he returned in the same old clothes in which he
went away, his father flew into a great rage, and refused to do anything
for him. Jenik went to his old place near the stove, and dirtied himself
in the ashes without anybody minding.

The third day, feeling rather dull, he thought it would be nice to see a
three-story house filled with beautiful furniture, and with vessels of
silver and gold. So he rubbed the watch, and there it all was. Jenik
went to look for his father, and said to him: 'You offered me no feast
of welcome, but permit me to give one to you, and come and let me show
you my plate.'

The father was much astonished, and longed to know where his son had got
all this wealth. Jenik did not reply, but begged him to invite all their
relations and friends to a grand banquet.

So the father in