Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/81

 on the wall, and it pleased him so much that he took it down from the nail. But no sooner had he touched it than there came a rumble and a commotion throughout all the stables, because strings were attached to that bridle.

The stableguards came running in, and they seized Prince Ivan and took him to Tsar Afron. In a rage Tsar Afron began to ply him with questions:

"Oho, you are a fine young man! Tell me from what country you come, and who is your father, and what is your name?"

To these questions Prince Ivan replied: "I am the son of the Tsar Vuislaf, and they call me Ivan!"

"Oho, young man, Prince Ivan," said Tsar Afron, " is this the deed of an honourable knight? If you had come to me, I would have given you the gold-maned horse with all honour. But now would it not be well for me to send out and proclaim to all nations what a dishonourable thing you have done in my realm? However, go forth, Prince Ivan, if you would do me service. Go to the thrice-ninth kingdom from here, to the thirtieth realm, and get for me Queen Helena the Beautiful, whom I have long loved with all my heart and all my soul, but cannot reach; then I will forgive you your crime