Page:Russian Fairy Book (N. H. Dole).djvu/93

 and without having succeeded in finding the Magic Bird, happened to be returning to their fatherland empty-handed. And by chance they came upon their brother Prince Ivan asleep. When they caught sight of the gold-maned horse on the turf and the Magic Bird in its golden cage, they were covetous of them, and they conceived the idea of killing their brother. Prince Dimitri unsheathed his sword and ran it through Prince Ivan. Then he aroused the beautiful Queen Helena and began to ply her with questions. "Beautiful girl! from what country do you come and who is your father, and what is your name?"

The beautiful queen, seeing Ivan lying dead, was terribly frightened, and amid bitter tears replied:

"I am Queen Helena. Prince Ivan, whom ye have done to a cruel death, came and got me. Ye would have been good brothers-in-law if ye had come with him into the open field, and beaten him in fair fight; but now ye have killed him while he was asleep, and what advantage will ye receive from such a deed?"

At this Prince Dimitri pointed his sword at the beautiful Queen Helena's heart and said to her: