Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/80

 and I will present the Magic Bird to you as a great mark of honour."

Prince Ivan was very downcast and went from Tsar Dolmat to the Gray Wolf and told him all that Tsar Dolmat had said. "Oho, young man, Prince Ivan," replied the Gray Wolf, " why did you not heed my words and let the gold cage alone?"

"I am to blame before you!" said Prince Ivan to the Wolf.

"All right, be it so!" replied the Gray Wolf. "Sit on my back, on the Gray Wolf's back; I will take you where you have to go."

Prince Ivan got on the Gray Wolf's back, and the Wolf ran as fast as an arrow flies, and how long he ran one cannot tell; but at last he came by night to the realm of Tsar Afron. As they came up to the Tsar's white marble stables the Gray Wolf said to Prince Ivan:

"Make your way into these marble stables, Prince Ivan, and take the horse of the golden mane. But there is hanging on the wall a golden bridle: do not touch it, or you will get yourself into trouble."

Prince Ivan, making his way into the white marble stables, took the horse, and started to go away again; but he saw the golden bridle hanging