Page:Russian Wonder Tales.djvu/296

252 his strength that the earth shook, the forest moaned, the sea-ocean began to boil and the fir-tree was reduced to powder. "Now," said Little Bear's-Son, "I am so strong that I fear not even a witch," and bidding farewell, with tears, to the old man and the old woman, he thrust his iron club into his girdle and went whither his eyes looked.

Whether he wandered a long way or a short way, he came at length to a river three versts wide. On its bank knelt a giant, as tall as a birch sapling, and as thick as a hayrick, with his mouth stretched wide in the water, catching fish with his mustache. When he caught one, he kindled a fire on his tongue, roasted and swallowed it.

"Health to thee, giant," said Little Bear's-Son. "Who art thou?"

"Health to thee," answered the other. "My name is Usynia. Whither goest thou?"

"Whither my eyes look," replied Little Bear's-Son. "Wilt thou come with me? It is merrier with companionship. Thou art of a goodly size and shouldst be a man of strength."

"As for that," said the giant, "my strength is nothing. For a really strong man, they say thou must go to him who is named Ivashko Medvedko."