Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/57

Rh And here is my gift to you,—a silver distaff and a golden spindle. You will begin to spin the flax, and it will make a golden thread. Follow it, and when you come to the thrice-ninth empire, to the thirtieth kingdom, to the edge of the blue sea, the Bright-Hawk's bride will come down to walk along the beach. Then you must begin to spin, and she will want to buy my gift to you. But, my pretty maid, you must not sell it to her; only ask to look at the Bright-Hawk."

Then Baba Yaga took a little ball, rolled it along the path, and bade the young girl follow it.

"Wherever the little ball rolls," said she, "there must you make your way."

The young girl thanked the old dame and went in the direction the ball was rolling. Again she walked through the dim forest, ever farther and farther, and the forest grew ever darker and thicker, and the tops of the trees struck the sky. A long, long time she walked, and her second pair of iron shoes were worn out, her second staff was broken, and she had devoured her second iron wafer; and at last the little ball rolled up to a small hut. This small hut stood, like the other, on hens' legs, and kept turning and turning.