Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/132

116 about ringing, while I tie up my eyes and try to catch you."

Mary was very much alarmed, as you may well imagine, and stood still, not knowing what to do or where to hide. Suddenly, up came the little mouse from under the floor, and jumped on to Mary's shoulders, saying,—

"Give me the bell, Mary, while you go and hide on the stove."

Mary obeyed, and the mouse commenced running all round the room, ringing the bell as hard as it could, and the bear after it. At last the bear got so cross that he began to throw wood at the mouse, thinking it was Mary, but he missed every time.

"You are a splendid runner," he said. "You really do know how to play at blind-man's buff. In the morning I will send you some horses and plenty of gold as a reward."

After that the bear left.

Next morning the woman told her husband that he might go into the forest if he liked and see how many of Mary's bones were left.

When the old man had gone, his wife sat down by the window, waiting, and wondering whether her husband would find Mary alive or only her bones.

She sat there for a long time, when up jumped her little dog, who was lying on the window-sill, and began to bark,—

"Bow-wow-wow! Mary and the old man are coming back with bags of gold, a troop of horses, and loads of goods."

"You are a wicked, lying little dog," cried the