Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/75

 presence and asked him: "Well, my beloved son, did you see the Magic Bird or not?"

"My dear sovereign and father," he answered, "it did not make its appearance last night."

On the third night Prince Ivan went into the garden to watch, and he took his place under the same apple-tree. He sat there an hour, then a second and then a third, and suddenly the whole garden was lighted up as if it had been illuminated with a multitude of bonfires. It was the Magic Bird, which came flying over and lighted on the apple-tree and began to steal the apples.

Prince Ivan crept up to it so stealthily that he was able to seize it by the tail. He could not hold it, however, and all that was left in his hand was one tail feather.

In the morning the Tsar had hardly awakened from his sleep ere Prince Ivan came to him and gave him the pretty feather. The Tsar was mightily glad that his youngest son had succeeded even in obtaining one feather from the Magic Bird. This feather was so wonderful and bright that if it were taken into a dark room it lighted it up as if it had been the red sun.

The Tsar put this feather into his cabinet as a thing that ought to be preserved forever. From