Once upon a time, when the forests on the Kurpie rivers of Narew, Rozoga, Omulew, and Orzyc[i] were full of wild animals and filthy devils lived in the swamps, a strange guest knocked on the door of a water mill. He did not look like a man trying to find protection in the Kurpie Forest, though. He was not a peasant fleeing from his serfdom, or a bandit seeking refuge in the forest fastness, or a banished knight, deprived of his property by the Prince. On the contrary, he was a finely dressed nobleman, in a golden robe, knee-high red boots and a curved sword by his side.