Page:Slavonic Fairy Tales.djvu/40

Rh "Gol Voyansky," said Eruslan, "the Princess is very powerful. She has at her command twenty-two knights and a dragon called Zilant, the brother of Tugarin."

"That's a mere trifle for me," said Gol. "You are not afraid of them? I could kill them all as easily as flies."

"Very well," said Eruslan; "if that is the case, let us go into the meadows. We shall soon have to fight."

They entered the field, dismounted, and let their horses loose to graze. Seeing a white, empty tent, they went into it, sat down at the opening, and began to look about them. Gol, being tired, took off his jacket, lay down on the ground, and was soon fast asleep.

"Gol has great confidence in himself," remarked Prince Bova.

Meanwhile the alarm was raised in the Princess's castle; bells rang and trumpets sounded. A company of soldiers was despatched, headed by three knights fully armed, to fight the trespassers.

"Get up, Gol!" cried Churila, "the enemy is upon us!"

Gol opened his eyes, and gaping, cried,—

"What's the matter? Three knights—three gadflies; a company of soldiers—gnats. They won't let me sleep, eh? Here, Churila, go you and fight them. Kill them all but one; send him to the Princess, and let him tell