Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/170

 was growing. Prince Ivan went there and did not know what he should do or how to reach the box. Suddenly, coming from somewhere, appeared a bear and he uprooted the tree. The box fell out and broke to pieces; the hare ran out of the box and scampered away with all its might and main. But behold! a second hare darted after it, overtook it, and tore it into bits. Out of the hare flew a duck and went high, high into the air. She flew away, but behind her in full pursuit darted a drake, and as soon as he overtook her the duck dropped an egg, and the egg fell into the sea.

Prince Ivan, seeing misfortune, wept bitter tears; but suddenly a sturgeon swam up to the shore holding the egg in her teeth. Prince Ivan took it, broke it, took out the needle, and broke off the point. How Koshchei struggled, and how he struck out in all directions—but he had to die!

Prince Ivan went to Koshchei's house, took Vasilisa the All-Wise, and went home. After this they lived together and were happy ever after.