Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/80

64 seemed to see the use of jumping so high and breaking their necks, though they would not have minded having the princess. So when Ivan arrived he put spurs to his horse and tried to jump to where the beautiful creature sat, and had he only leapt an inch or two higher he would certainly have reached her. All the people stared in amazement, and applauded the daring young stranger. As Ivan turned his horse homewards he saw his brothers standing near the entrance looking at him, but of course they did not recognize him. How could they? As he galloped past he touched them lightly on their shoulders with his whip and rode home. When he arrived in the field where he had met this wonderful horse, he got into the animal's left ear and came out at the right, and was once more Ivan the Stupid, dirty and in rags. He asked the creature how he might be able to find him, if he should want him again.

"I am determined to get the ring off the princess's finger," he said to the horse; "and marry her afterwards. But of course I can do nothing without you."

"Well," replied the horse, "I am willing to help you, Ivan; and I think we shall succeed in getting that ring, if not to-morrow, on the following day. When you require me again, all you have to do is to come into this field and cry out in a loud voice, 'Chestnut horse, chestnut horse, stand before me like a leaf before a tree;' then will I appear."

Ivan thanked him, and went home with a basketful of poisonous mushrooms, which he gathered on