Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/217

Rh and began to send forth fire scorching everything on either side of her, trying to find out where the forty-one youngsters had gone to. At last she caught sight of them, and sent forth more fire to scorch them. What were they to do? In front of them was the dark blue sea; behind them the witch with her fiery shield, which was beginning to burn them. Nothing was left for them, except to drown themselves or be burnt to death!

But Starveling, who was always thoughtful and clever, had stolen a handkerchief from the old witch's palace. He waved this three times in front of him, and immediately a tremendous bridge appeared across the sea. When they had all galloped safely over, Starveling again waved the handkerchief three times, and the bridge at once disappeared, while the enraged witch had to return home to her palace and growl.

Meanwhile the forty-one young men gave up the idea of searching for any more brides, at least for the present, and returned home to their delighted parents.