Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/225

Rh of the third day King Vladimir became restless, and said,—

"I must not stay here any longer; I have to go in search of my wife, Marie-Marevna, the beautiful queen."

"It will not be an easy task," replied the eagle; "but leave your silver fork with us, in remembrance of you."

King Vladimir obeyed, and continued his journey. On the morning of the third day he arrived at a still more beautiful palace, and there also stood an oak-tree, on which sat the big black crow who had married the Princess Anna, the king's youngest sister.

"Princess Anna," exclaimed the crow, changing himself into a handsome young man on beholding the king, "come as quickly as you can, for your dear brother is here."

After the usual greetings were exchanged, they all went into the palace, where King Vladimir spent three very merry days in the company of his sister and her husband, the crow; but on the third day he bid them good-bye.

"I must go and find my wife, Marie-Marevna, the beautiful queen."

"Not a very easy thing, my brother," the crow replied. "However, leave us your silver snuff-box, so that we may not forget you."

King Vladimir gave them the snuff-box, and went on farther. After a three days' journey, he came to the skeleton's palace, a horrid, gloomy place, where, after some difficulty, he found the beautiful Marie P