Page:Russian Wonder Tales.djvu/270

228 loaded the beggar with gold and returning to the Palace, advised the Tzar to act upon this counsel, and he, being cruel and wicked of heart, did so. He summoned the archer and said:

"Taraban, my well-loved bowman, and best of my archers! On account of thy loyalty, I have chosen thee out for an especial service. Across three times nine lands dwells the forest monster Muzhichek, who is as high as the knee, with mustaches seven versts long. Bring to me his servant Schmat-Razum, who lives in his pocket, and thou shalt be chiefest of all my Boyars. But as thou lovest thy life, mind thou return not without him!"

The archer went home in great distress and his wife, noticing his sorrowful look, asked: "What has saddened thee? Hast thou had an unfriendly word from the Tzar? Or perchance do I no longer please thy fancy?"

"Thou pleasest me but too well, my dearest wife," he answered, "but thy beauty now has brought ruin upon me!" And he began to weep. She besought him to tell what had befallen, and when he had told her, she said: "The Tzar is indeed thy prime enemy and hath set thee a grievous task, and there is no one in the white world who can aid thee unless it be my little mother. I will send thee to her