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 128 "Whoever he may be, I would willingly give you to him for a wife as a reward of such valour."

The gardener stood beneath the window and heard it.

Not long afterwards another hostile army advanced against the capital, and again a frightful battle began.

Ivan went into the fields and whistled; the horse galloped to him, and the dust from beneath his feet arose like smoke in the air. The horse was full of life and vigour.

"What is it you want?" asked the horse.

"Help me once more," said Ivan; "take me to the battle-field."

The horse flew with the swiftness of the wind, and the young knight, like an eagle, attacked the forces of the enemy, and routed them. The people again thought it was St. George. Ivan brandished his lance, and killed numbers of the enemy; he delivered the czar from death, and the people from slavery. The foe fled and never returned.

The czar ordered the unknown knight to be invited to his castle. The stranger appeared. The czar begged him to lift up his visor. When the princess saw her own handkerchief on the knight's arm, she blushed, but said not a word.

"Whoever you may be," said the czar, "I will keep my czar's word with you: if you are unmarried, I will