Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/224

208 him, he flew down to the ground, and changed himself into the handsome youth who had married the young king's eldest sister, Princess Natalia.

"Well, my dear brother-in-law," exclaimed the handsome youth, "how is the world treating you?"

Just at that moment Princess Natalia ran out of the palace to welcome her brother, and began embracing him and asking all kinds of questions. King Vladimir stayed with them for three days, and then said,—

"I can stop here no longer, much as I should like to do so; but I have to go and find my wife, Marie-Marevna, the beautiful queen."

"Ah! my friend," returned the falcon, "you will find that a very difficult task; but as you are bent on going, leave your silver spoon with us, so that we may not forget you."

King Vladimir did so, and went his way. He walked on for two whole days, and on the third he came to a still more magnificent palace, in front of which stood an oak-tree, and on it sat an eagle.

The eagle, however, flew down the moment he saw the young king, and changing himself into a handsome young man, called to his wife, the Princess Olga.

"Come out!" he cried. "Our dear brother has arrived."

Princess Olga ran out at once, and, throwing her arms round her brother's neck, asked him how he was, and what he intended doing with himself, and a great many more questions, which ended in making him stay with them for a few days. But at the end