Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/67

Rh Instantly the Bright-Hawk woke up and saw the beautiful girl. How glad he was!

She told him the whole story as it had happened: how her wicked sisters had spied on her, how she had taken the long journey, and how she had traded with the princess.

He fell more deeply in love with her than before, kissed her lips, and without delay commanded all his nobles and princes and all the ranks of the people to assemble.

And he began to ask them: "How would you decide? With which wife must I spend my life—with the one that sold me or with the one that bought me?" All the nobles and all the princes and all the ranks of the people decided with one voice: "Take the one that bought you!"

And this was what Finist-the-Bright-Hawk-of-the-gaudy-feathers did. And so they were married and they banqueted for three days and three nights. I also was at that wedding, and I drank the mead; and if you don't believe it you may long for it, but you won't get a taste of it. They put a nightcap on me— Now what's the use of talking? I think I'll be off!