Page:Once a Week Dec 1861 to June 1862.pdf/583

17, 1862.] for I dread lest some misfortune should befall me on your account."

So Yvashka with the Bear's Ear took leave of his father and mother, and departed on his way. After journeying for a long time he arrived at a forest, where he saw a man cutting oaken billets. He went up to him, and said:

"Good fellow! what may be your name?"

"Dubünia," (Oakman), replied the other.

Whereupon they became sworn brothers, and went on together. Arriving at a rocky mountain, they saw a man hewing the rock, to whom they said:

"God help you, honest lad! what may your name be?"

"Gorünia," (Rockman), he replied.

Whereupon they called him their brother, and proposed to him to leave off hewing the mountain and to go along with them. He agreed to their proposal, and all three forthwith proceeded on their way, and journeyed for some time. Arriving at the bank of a river, they saw a man sitting, who had a pair of enormous moustachios, with which he angled for fish in order to support himself. They all three said to him:

"God speed you, brother, in your fishing!"

"Thank you kindly, brothers," he replied.

"What may your name be?" they inquired.

"Usünia," (Moustachio), he answered.

Whereupon they called him their brother also, and invited him to join their company, and he agreed to do so.

So these four journeyed on, and whether their journey was long or short, far or near, my tale will soon be told, though their adventures were not soon over. At last they arrived at a forest, where they saw an izbushka, or cabin, standing on hen's feet, which kept turning here and there. They went up to it, and said:

"Izbushka, izbushka! stand with your rear to the wood, and your front to us."

The izbushka instantly obeyed: and, going into it, they began to consult how they should contrive to live there. After a little time they all went into the forest, killed some game, and prepared food for themselves. On the second day they left Oakman at home to cook the dinner, whilst they themselves went into the forest to hunt. Oakman having got ready the dinner, took his seat by the window and awaited the return of his brethren. At that moment came Baba Yagá, riding in an iron mortar which she urged on with the pestle, whilst with her tongue lolling out of her month she drew a mark on the earth as she went. Entering into the cabin, she said:

Then, turning to Oakman, she inquired:

"Wherefore did you come hither, Oakman?"

And without waiting for his answer, she began to beat him, and continued belabouring him until he was half dead; after which she devoured all the food which had been got ready, and then rode away.

Upon the return of Oakman's comrades from the chase they asked him for their dinner, and he, without informing them that Baba Yaga had been there, said that he had fallen into a swoon, and had got nothing ready.

In the very same manner did Baba Yagá beat Rockman and Moustachio, who, however, told their comrades of the matter.

At last it came to the turn of Yvashka with the Bear's Ear to remain at home whilst the others went forth in pursuit of game. Jack cooked and roasted everything, and having found in Babs Yagá's cabin a pot of honey, he split a post which stood by the petsch at the top, and thrust in a wedge to keep it open, pouring out the honey into the fissure and about it. He then sat down on the petsch, and prepared three iron rods. After a little time Baba Yagá arrived, screaming out:

"Wherefore hast thou come hither, Yvashka with the Bear's Ear, and wherefore dost thou waste my property?"

Thereupon she began to lick with her tongue about the post, and no sooner did her tongue arrive at the fissure than Yvashka snatched the wedge out of the post, and having thus entrapped her tongue, he leaped up from the petsch and scourged her with the iron rods till she begged him to let her go, promising to let him be in peace, and never more to come to him.

Yvuhka consented to her prayer, and having set her tongue at liberty he placed Baba Yagá in a nook and took his seat by the window, awaiting his companions. They soon returned, making quite sure that Baba Yagá had dealt with him in the same manner as with themselves, and were not a little astonished when they perceived that he had the food all ready prepared. After dinner he related how he had served Baba Yagá, and laughed at them for not being able to manage her. At last, wishing to show them how he had drubbed and beaten Baba Yagá, he led them to the nook, but she was no longer there; so they resolved to go in pursuit of her, and presently finding a stone slab, they lifted it up and perceived a deep abyss, into which they thought of descending; but as none of his companions had courage enough to do so, Yvashka with the Bear's ear consented to go, so they began to twist a rope, and having made a canoe for him to sit in, they let him down into the gulf. Meanwhile Yvashka commanded them to wait for him a whole week, and provided they received no intelligence of him during that time to wait no longer.

"When I pull the rope," said he, "draw up the canoe, provided it be light; but if it be heavy, cut the rope, in order that you may not draw up Baba Yagá instead of me."

Then bidding them farewell, he descended into the deep subterranean abyss.

He proceeded there for a long time. At length he arrived at a cabin, and entering it he beheld three beautiful damsels sitting at their needles and embroidering with gold. These were the