Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/260

244 junior. He rode up to the post, and reading the inscriptions on it, took out some pure gold, and wrote,—

"After Elie Muromitch rode Aleyosha Papovitch, junior."

He then galloped up to Elie Muromitch.

"Tell me, Elie Muromitch," he asked, "where I had better ride, in front of you, or behind you?"

"Ask my elder brother, Foma Berennekoff, and not me."

So Aleyosha Papovitch, junior, rode up to Foma Berennekoff, and asked with great politeness,—

"Brave champion, Foma Berennekoff! Where do you command Areyosha Papovitch to ride?"

"Ride on behind!" Foma returned

On they went, these three young fellows, through various unknown parts, until at last they came to some beautiful gardens. Elie Maromitch and Aleyosha Papovitch both pitched their white tents, while Foma Berennekoff stretched his smock-frock.

Now these gardens belonged to a king—the White King, as he was called—who was just then going to war with a false king and his six wonderfully powerful warriors, whom no one had yet been able to withstand.

When the white king heard of the arrival of Foma and his companions, he sent him (Foma Berennekoff) a note, in which was written as follows,—

"The false king has declared war against me. May I hope for your valuable assistance?"

Foma was not very good at reading. However after shaking his head, and turning the note over a