-LSB- From Ungarischen Mahrchen . -RSB- The Language of Beasts Once upon a time a man had a shepherd who served him many years faithfully and honestly . One day , whilst herding his flock , this shepherd heard a hissing sound , coming out of the forest near by , which he could not account for . So he went into the wood in the direction of the noise to try to discover the cause . When he approached the place he found that the dry grass and leaves were on fire , and on a tree , surrounded by flames , a snake was coiled , hissing with terror . The shepherd stood wondering how the poor snake could escape , for the wind was blowing the flames that way , and soon that tree would be burning like the rest . Suddenly the snake cried : ' O shepherd ! for the love of heaven save me from this fire ! ' Then the shepherd stretched his staff out over the flames and the snake wound itself round the staff and up to his hand , and from his hand it crept up his arm , and twined itself about his neck . The shepherd trembled with fright , expecting every instant to be stung to death , and said : ` What an unlucky man I am ! Did I rescue you only to be destroyed myself ? ' But the snake answered : ` Have no fear ; only carry me home to my father who is the King of the Snakes . ' The shepherd , however , was much too frightened to listen , and said that he could not go away and leave his flock alone ; but the snake said : ` You need not be afraid to leave your flock , no evil shall befall them ; but make all the haste you can . ' So he set off through the wood carrying the snake , and after a time he came to a great gateway , made entirely of snakes intertwined one with another . The shepherd stood still with surprise , but the snake round his neck whistled , and immediately all the arch unwound itself . ` When we are come to my father 's house , ' said his own snake to him , ` he will reward you with anything you like to ask -- silver , gold , jewels , or whatever on this earth is most precious ; but take none of all these things , ask rather to understand the language of beasts . He will refuse it to you a long time , but in the end he will grant it to you . ' Soon after that they arrived at the house of the King of the Snakes , who burst into tears of joy at the sight of his daughter , as he had given her up for dead . ` Where have you been all this time ? ' he asked , directly he could speak , and she told him that she had been caught in a forest fire , and had been rescued from the flames by the shepherd .
The XXXXX of the Snakes , then turning to the shepherd , said to him : ` What reward will you choose for saving my child ? '
King Mahrchen day escape fire gold home snakes staff years