Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/24

8 witch returned, and had, as before, no fault to find. As she was eating her dinner Vaselesa stood quite quietly by her side, looking at her, but saying nothing.

"Why do you not speak to me to-day, my child?" the witch asked in surprise.

"Because I was thinking."

"What was it? Out with it."

"Well, to tell the truth, I am rather puzzled about something, and want to ask you some questions, and shall be very glad if you will answer them for me."

"Fire away; but, mind, not too many questions, or you will soon get old."

"I only want to ask you three questions. First, as I was coming to you for light, a white horseman passed me on the way. He sat on a white horse, and all around him became white. Who was he?"

"His name was Day."

"Then came another horseman clad in red. Who was he?"

"He was Sunset."

"Then a third passed me, in black. Who was he?"

"He was Night."

Vaselesa remained silent for some time.

"Well," asked the witch, laughing, "have you no more to ask me about?"

"No. You yourself told me not to ask too much, for fear of my growing old before my time."

"Very well, then. Now that you have asked me all you wish to know, I will return the compliment, and ask you some questions too. Tell me why it is that you are always so good, and so quick and ready to obey me, and never make a mistake by any