Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/21

Rh made of human bones, on the top of which was a collection of human skulls, lighted up inside, with rays of light streaming out of the eyes, showing Vaselesa the way. On the gate were human legs instead of bolts, and human hands instead of a lock. Vaselesa became greatly alarmed on seeing all these dreadful things, and would gladly have run away, had she not heard a loud noise in the air, and, on looking up, beheld the old witch riding on a mortar, with a pestle in her hand.

"Fy, fy! I smell the blood of a Russ'an. Who is here?" she cried, descending.

Vaselesa came forward, saying in a low, trembling voice,—

"It is I, madam, my step-sisters have sent me to you for light."

"All right, my child," cried the witch. "I know them well! So they want light, do they? Very well; but you will have to work for me first, and stay here for a little while. If you do everything well, and are a good girl, I shall give you one of those lighted skulls to take back to your sisters."

"But I beg your pardon, madam," said Vaselesa again, "my sisters are waiting for the light; they want to finish some work for their mother."

"No, they are not doing anything of the kind; they only wanted to get rid of you."

"I am sure you must be mistaken, madam. I know that they are waiting."

"Well, let them wait; do them good. As for my being mistaken, not I! Anyhow, I don't let people have my skulls for nothing. You will have to stay