Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/144

 sinking behind the forest, when a lioness came running up to him, crying: "Prince Ivan, wake up! the mares are all stabled."

Prince Ivan woke up and went home. The Baba Yaga was scolding worse than before and shouting to her mares: "Why did you come home?"

"Why shouldn't we come home? Fierce wild beasts were running up from all parts of the world, and they almost tore us to pieces."

"Well, to-morrow drive them into the blue sea."

Again Prince Ivan slept all night, and in the morning the Baba Yaga commanded him to pasture her mares: "If you do not watch them well, your proud head will set on the stake!"

He drove the mares out to pasture, and instantly they switched their tails and ran down into the blue sea, and stood in the water up to their necks. Prince Ivan sat down on a stone and cried himself to sleep.

The dear sun was sinking behind the forest, when a bee came flying up to him and said:

"Prince, wake up! The mares are all stabled. But as soon as you go home, do not show yourself to the Baba Yaga. Go into the stable and hide behind the stalls. There you will find a scurvy