Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/41

Rh "Oh, soldier! take as much of my money as you like, only let me off the blows,"

"What use would your money be to me? I don't want it. I played for blows, and not for your stupid money! However, if you like, I have got a younger brother; let us go to him. He may not give you such hard blows as I; but, of course, if you do not wish to go to him, I must give them to you myself."

"No! no! take me to your younger brother, by all means!"

So the soldier marched him off to the iron man. He touched the springs, and the iron man gave the unfortunate demon a blow which sent him spinning to the other side of the room. The soldier stopped him.

"Remember," he said, "you are still to receive nine blows. You have only had one. Come along."

But the demon had evidently had enough, for he jumped up and made off as best he could.

In the morning the king came and asked Princess Martha how she had passed the night.

"Very well, thank you, father dear," she answered; "no one disturbed me at all."

On the following night the demons came again to the palace, in order to torment the princess, but finding everything closed except that one door, one of them went in. But it was not our friend of the night before. This demon had also the pleasure of seeing the soldier, and conversing with him, and receiving an equally warm welcome.

Well, this went on for thirteen nights, each night bringing a different demon to the palace; and as each