Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/27

Rh besom. The red horseman flashed by and the sun came up.

The Baba Yaga got into her mortar and started off. She spurred it on with the pestle and swept away the traces with her besom.

Vasilisa was left alone and she began to investigate the Baba Yaga's house. She was amazed at the abundance of everything, and she could not make up her mind which task she would take hold of first. But she soon discovered that her work was done for her already. The Doll was just separating out from the wheat the last grains of the fennel.

"Oh, you are my dear deliverer!" exclaimed Vasilisa. "You have saved me from misfortune!"

"All that is left for you to do is to get dinner," replied the Doll, climbing into Vasilisa's pocket. "Get it, and God be with you; but now take a good rest for your health."

Toward evening Vasilisa laid the table and waited for the Baba Yaga. It began to grow dark. The black horseman galloped by the gates. Then the eyes in the skulls began to gleam. The trees trembled, the leaves rustled—up came the Baba Yaga. Vasilisa met her. "Is your work all done?" asked the hag.