Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/236

220 "No, I don't think that is at all likely, for you see I have a splendid horse now, which runs quicker than the birds can fly."

They seated themselves on the animal, and away they went.

The skeleton who, of course, was not at home at the time, but had gone out hunting, now turned his horse round and rode back to his palace.

"What is the matter?" he asked, as his horse began stumbling again.

"King Vladimir came to your palace and has carried Marie-Marevna away with him."

"Can we overtake them?"

"Goodness only knows! King Vladimir has got such a splendid horse now, much better than I."

"Well, we can at any rate try our best to overtake them."

After a very, very long ride, the skeleton came in sight of the king and Marie-Marevna riding on a beautiful horse; he quickened his pace, and coming up to King Vladimir's side, he drew his sharp sword, and was about to thrust it into the young king's side, when King Vladimir's horse gave the skeleton such a severe kick that he fell down on to the ground, the animal then rushed at him, and trampling on his head crushed it like an egg. King Vladimir then piled up some wood, and putting the skeleton on it, set it all on fire, and reduced it to ashes, which were carried away by the wind.

Marie-Marevna seated herself on the skeleton's horse, while King Vladimir mounted his own, and they rode away on a visit first to the crow's kingdom;