Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/196

180 Away flew the young ones, while the grey wolf kept the old ones engaged in conversation; they told the wolf all about their experience of birds and people.

The wolf listened with great attention and wondered at their wisdom, still keeping firm hold of their tails all the time, and that he might not forget himself he squeezed them with his claws.

The sun went down and the night came and passed away, the sky was red again before the cunning young crows appeared with the water of life and the water of death, in little bottles. The wolf took the bottles and sent the crows upon their business; then he went up to the breathless and motionless body of the prince and sprinkled it over with the water of death, and in a moment the hue of death passed away from his features, his cheeks became rosy. Then the wolf sprinkled him over with the water of life and he opened his eyes, shook himself, got up, looked round him, and at last, on seeing his friend the wolf standing before him, he said laughingly,—

"I believe I have been asleep?"

"Yes, my prince, and you would have slept here for ever," returned the wolf, "had I not smelt the danger you were in; I have done you a good turn to-day, but it is the last; from this day forth you must take care of yourself. However, I will give you some more advice. Listen: your angry brothers are no longer alive, the large, black immortal skeleton has twisted both their necks and has also sent your kingdom to sleep, your relations and subjects are wrapped in profound slumber. But besides this, the