Page:Russian Wonder Tales.djvu/165

Rh Crow. Having made their plan, the Crow flew to the west, the Eagle to the east, and the Hawk to the north, and after searching all day they met together to confer.

"I saw naught to remark," said the Hawk, "save a band of crows flying south."

"I saw and questioned them," said the Crow, "and they replied that they sighted something afloat on the sea-ocean."

"And I saw," said the Eagle, "what it was. It was a cask, barred and bound with hoops of iron."

"Brothers," said the Hawk, "let us see what the cask holds."

They flew together to where the cask floated, pulled it to shore, and with sharp beaks and claws picked and tore it apart, and in it to their delight they found their brother-in-law, the Tzarevich, safe and well. He told them all that had befallen him and begged their counsel.

When they had consulted together, the Crow said: "Our counsel is this. Kastchey's horse is a hundredfold swifter than any other, and for this reason, try as oft as thou wilt, he is sure to overtake thee. Find out where it was foaled, and perchance thou mayst obtain another as swift."

Tzarevich Alexis, having thanked them, set out