Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/51

Rh was your son. Now you must come again at the end of another three years, but that will be the last time; if you do not know him then he will be lost to you for ever."

"Old swindler!" muttered the old woman as the sorcerer and the doves disappeared.

The years passed away, and the old woman found herself for the last time at the place where she and the sorcerer first met. This time she determined to keep her eyes open.

The sorcerer whistled again, and twelve little ponies came galloping up and stood in two rows before the old woman.

"Now, then, little mother, which is your son?" asked the sorcerer.

The old woman passed up one row, then down the other, but no sign of any kind did she see. She passed by again, and this time one of the ponies began stamping on the ground.

"This is my son!" she said, stopping in front of the little pony.

"Right for once, little mother; you have recognized him this time!" cried the sorcerer. "But you are not so very clever, you know; if it had not been for your son's stamping in the way he did you would have passed him. However, you may take him home now, and may the Lord bless you both!"

The horse then changed itself into the old woman's son, who had grown wonderfully handsome in those few years.

"How did you get on without me, mother mine?" asked the young fellow, as they walked homewards.