Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/126

110 "Are you boiling, niece? Are you boiling, my dear?"

"Yes, aunty! Yes, dear aunty."

When the witch had gone away, a cat came running up to the little girl, and wanted to scratch her eyes out; but the child gave it some ham, much to the animal's delight, and then she asked it how she could best run away?

"Here," said the cat, "are two things which will save you from the witch, a comb and a towel; take them and run away. When you have gone a little distance, you must put your ear to the ground, and if you hear her coming near, throw down the towel, and a large river will appear. If the witch manages to cross the water, you must again put your ear to the ground, and as soon as she is near, throw down the comb and it will become a very dark forest, through this the witch will be unable to pass. Now go."

The little girl took the comb and towel, thanked the cat, and ran away. In the yard the dogs barked and wanted to bite her, but she gave them some bread, and they let her pass; then the gates began to creak and shut in her face, but she put some oil in the holes and on their hinges, they, too, let her pass; then the trees began waving their branches in her face, so she tied them up with silk ribbons, and they also let her pass.

Now when the witch came to the window, asking as before,—

"Are you boiling, niece? Are you boiling, my dear?"

The cat replied in the little girl's voice,— nop template added