Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/54

34 The hut turned round with its front to her. She went into the little hut, and there lay Baba YagoYaga [sic] the Witch from corner to corner, her lips in a ridge, her nose in the ceiling. "Fu! fu! fu!" she cried. "Hitherto no eye ever saw or ear ever heard of Russian spirit, but to-day Russian spirit is marching through the free world and strikes you in the eye and throws itself into your face! Where are you going, my pretty maid? Do you arrive from a doughty deed, or do you strive for a doughty deed?"

"Grannie," she answered, "the Bright-Hawk used to be with me, but my sisters did me an injury. I am now in search of him."

"You will have to go far, little one! You will have to go even to the thrice-nine lands. The Bright-Hawk is living in the thrice-ninth kingdom, in the thirtieth realm, and he is already betrothed to the Tsar's daughter."

Then Baba Yaga gave food and drink to the beautiful girl whom God had sent, and put her to bed; and in the morning as soon as day began to dawn she woke her up, gave her a precious gift—a silver distaff and a golden spindle—and said: "Now go to my next older sister, and God be with you; she will give you some good advice.