Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/304

288 Thief again gave a loud roar, like a wild bull, so loud that the whole forest shook; the thief was determined to kill Elie Muromitch by his whistling.

Disregarding his parents' advice, Elie Muromitch drew out an arrow from the quiver, and adjusting it to the bow, let fly right into the midst of the nine oaks, and struck the Nightingale Thief in the right eye; from the effects of this wound the thief fell all of a heap on the ground. Elie seized him, and tying him to his saddle-bow, he sprang on to his horse and dragged the thief through his former place of shelter, all along the road which had for the last thirty years been impassable, and so arrived at the sacred city of Kiev.

Elie galloped straight into the prince's court, jumped off his noble steed, and tied him up to an old oak-post; this done, he went up to the sacred palace of the prince to pray, and after having offered up thanks for his recovery, he made a low bow to the prince and princess.

Now the great Prince Vladimir was holding a feast; there were princes and grand nobles present, and many a valiant warrior. When Elie Muromitch had finished praying, a mighty bowl large as a modern pail was handed to him, full of green wine. Elie took the bowl, and raising it to his lips drank off the contents at one draught.

Then up rose the great Prince Vladimir and spoke, for he and his people were greatly amazed,—

"Tell me thy name, young stranger; tell me thy father's name, that we may know what seat to give thee."