Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/83

 Prince Ivan went back whither he was bidden. The Gray Wolf sat down near the golden streamlet and waited until Queen Helena the Beautiful came down to walk in her garden.

Toward evening, when the dear sun was beginning to drop very near to the west, Queen Helena the Beautiful came to walk in the garden with her maidens and nobles. When she came close to the very place where the Gray Wolf was sitting, behind the streamlet, the Gray Wolf suddenly sprang across the streamlet into the garden, and seizing Queen Helena the Beautiful, sprang back again and galloped off with her with all his might and main.

He galloped up to the open field, where Prince Ivan was waiting under the green oak, and said to him: "Prince Ivan, get on my back, on the Gray Wolf's back, as quickly as possible."

Prince Ivan mounted on his back, and the Gray Wolf carried them both to Tsar Afron's realm. The maidens and nobles of Queen Helena's court ran all about and sent out in pursuit of them, but none of all the messengers was able to overtake the Gray Wolf, and so they had to go back home.

Prince Ivan, as he sat on the Gray Wolf's back with the beautiful Queen Helena, fell over head and ears in love with her, and she with him, and