Page:Russian Wonder Tales.djvu/199

Rh Now when they had almost despaired of securing it, the dog said to the cat: "The only thing that can get at night into the Tzarevna's sleeping chamber is a mouse. In this country is the Mouse-Tzardom. Let us go there and compel the Mouse-Tzar to aid us." They set out at once and soon arrived at the Tzardom of the Mice, where was no human being to be seen, but so many mice that it was impossible to count them. There they both fell upon the mice and began to kill them with teeth and claws and to pile their bodies in heaps, like sheaves.

Now this great slaughter produced terror throughout all the Tzardom, and at last, seeing so many of his subjects slain, the Mouse-Tzar himself came and saluting with his mustaches, prostrated himself humbly before the dog and cat. "O strong and powerful heroes!" he said, "have mercy on my wretched little people and make not my Tzardom perish! What service can I serve ye in return for our lives?"

Jourka, the dog, answered: "In this country is a Palace in which lives a beautiful Tzar's daughter. She has stolen from my master a ring which she wears on her little finger. Return to us the ring, or thy Tzardom shall be made empty and disappear."