Page:Russian Wonder Tales.djvu/174

136 no one of them at night, else shall thy head certainly be set upon my house pole."

He loosed the mares from the stockade, but scarce were they outside when they flirted their tails and galloping to the blue sea-ocean plunged into the water up to their necks and swam until they were lost to view. And the Tzarevich for a third time sat him down on a stone to weep and so fell asleep.

When the sun was low, he woke to find a crayfish nipping his finger. "Come, Tzarevich Alexis," it said, "the she-horses are all safe in their stalls, and I have served thee my service in payment for my life. Return now to the hut, but show not thyself to the old witch. Go, rather, into the stable and hide thyself behind the manger. In a corner there thou wilt find a shabby little colt which is so poor that it drags its hind legs in the mire. When midnight comes, take this little colt and depart to thine own land."

The Tzarevich thanked the crayfish, went back to the hut and hid himself behind the manger. And soon he heard the Baba-Yaga rating her she-horses for returning.

"How could we remain in the water?" they answered. "We swam to the very middle of the