Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/169

 Prince Ivan said: "Little hut! little hut! stand as you used to—with your face to me and your back to the sea."

The little hut turned round with its back to the sea and faced him. Prince Ivan went in and saw on the stove, on the thrice-ninth brick, the Baba Yaga lying with her nose through the ceiling and grinding her teeth.

"Hello, you, young man! why have you come to me?" demanded the Baba Yaga of Prince Ivan.

"Oh you old hag!" he replied boldly, "you had better first give me something to eat and drink, and a good warm bath, before you ask questions of this young man!"

The Baba Yaga gave him food and drink and a warm bath, and then the prince told her that he was going in search of his wife Vasilisa the All-Wise.

"Oh, I know!" exclaimed the Baba Yaga. "She is now with Koshchei the Deathless. It is hard to reach her; it is not easy to overcome the immortal one: his death is on the end of a needle; the needle is in an egg; the egg is in a duck; the duck is in a hare; the hare is in a box; the box stands on a tall oak; and the tree is guarded by Koshchei like the apple of his eye."

The Baba Yaga showed him in what place that oak