Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/136

 young man who cried out: "Princess Anna, come quickly, here is our brother!"

Princess Anna came running out, met him joyously, began to hug him and kiss him, and asked after his health, and told him all about her manner of life.

Prince Ivan visited with them three short days, and then he said: "Good-bye, I am going off to find my wife, Marya Morevna, the beautiful queen."

The Raven replied: "It will be hard for you to find her. Leave with us your little silver snuffbox; when we look at it we shall have something to remember you by."

The prince gave him his little silver snuff-box, said good-bye, and started on his way. He went one day, and he went a second day, but on the third day he found Marya Morevna. When she saw her husband she threw herself on his neck and burst into tears exclaiming:

"Oh, Prince Ivan, why did you not heed me? Why did you look into the storeroom and let Koshchei the Deathless escape?"

"Forgive me, Marya Morevna! Do not recall what is past and gone. Come, let us go away together, since Koshchei is not in sight. Perhaps he will not overtake us."