The old woman looked at him thoughtfully.
“My son,” she said at last, “that is never Osmo’s sister that you have married. Take an old woman’s word—it is Suyettar! Yet Osmo’s sister must be alive and the embroidery must be a token from her. It [!-- original location of King Snake illustration --] [!-- blank page --] probably means that she begs you to release her brother.”
The old king snake has wound himself around Osmo’s arm
“Suyettar!” repeated the King’s Son, aghast.
At first he couldn’t believe such a horrible thing possible and yet that, if it were so, would explain much.
“I wonder if you’re right,” he said. “I must be on my guard!”
That night on the stroke of midnight to the sound of silver chimes Ilona came floating up through the waves and little Pilka, as she appeared, greeted her with barks of joy.
As before Ilona sang: