He walked , and walked , and walked , till he came to a great green meadow . In the meadow stood a large and splendid castle . Its white marble walls sparkled in the light , the roof was covered with mother o ' pearl , which shone like a rainbow , and the sun glowed like fire on the crystal windows . Vassili walked in , and went from one room to another astonished at all the splendour he saw . When he reached the last room of all , he found a beautiful girl sitting on a bed . As soon as she saw him she said : ` Oh , Vassili , what brings you to this accursed place ? ' Vassili told her why he had come , and all he had seen and heard on the way . The girl said : ` You have not been sent here to collect rents , but for your own destruction , and that the serpent may devour you . ' 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 XXXXX his foot .
In as into like of on over till under with