Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/308

292 that the king very soon had no sheep or oxen left in his fields.

"Give me my freedom now," said the eagle to the king.

The king gave him his liberty, and the bird tried to fly; but his wings had not become equal to the task of carrying such a heavy bird, so he said to the king,—

"Now, O king, you have fed me for two years; feed me yet another, it would be no great addition to what I have already cost."

The king did so; he took cattle wherever he possibly could, and after feeding the eagle for another whole year, he gave him his liberty again.

The eagle soared high, high into the air, and after flying about a long time, he flew down upon the earth once more, and entering the palace, he said to the king,—

"Come, O king! Sit on my back, and let us fly into the wide world together."

"Certainly," said the king, seating himself upon the eagle's back.

On, on they flew for a long, long time, until they came to the shores of the dark blue sea. Here the eagle threw the king off his back and let him fall into the water. However, he only sank to his knees in the waves, for the eagle did not allow him time enough to sink any deeper; he flew down upon him, and placing him on his wings again, soared away once more.

"I suppose you were sadly frightened just now O king?" said the bird.