Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/263

Rh himself! Well, I will do the same! I am no worse than you, my friend! I will show that I have just as much confidence in myself!"

So he tied up his eyes, and jumped on his splendid horse.

Meanwhile, Foma Berennekoff grew very tired of waiting. He lifted up his handkerchief to look, and smiled to himself. Then galloping up to the warrior, he seized his steel sword, and with one blow cut his head off. Then catching hold of the warrior's horse, he tried to jump on its back, but in vain; every time he endeavoured to do so the animal threw him over and commenced kicking in all directions. At last Foma tied the creature to an old oak, and climbing up the tree sprang from it on to the horse's back. As soon as the animal scented the rider on him, he wrenched himself, and tearing the old oak out, roots and all, galloped away as hard as he possibly could, dragging the heavy old tree after him.

Foma Berennekoff meanwhile was in a dreadful fright as he sat on the horse's back, crying,—

"Help me! help me!"

The enemy trembled and ran about frightened in all directions; while the splendid horse trampled them under his feet, and beat them all round with the tree, and very soon killed every man there, not leaving a single one alive. When the animal at last quieted down, he allowed Foma to ride him properly, and do as he pleased with him.

The false king then sent one of his messengers with a note to Foma Berennekoff, in which it was said,—