Page:The Russian story book, containing tales from the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod and other early sources.djvu/316

 "Ah, brother," he said, "how is it now with the Terrible Tsar?"

"He found his bride," said Timothy, "and she is indeed ruddier than the sun, fairer than the moon, and whiter than snow, but her heart is as black as night. The Terrible Tsar is now in great misfortune for he is herding his own pigs in the field! Each morning he has for breakfast a pound of sour bread, a jug of frozen water, and three stripes upon his back!"

"Alas," said Nikita. "We now have indeed a Terrible Tsaritza."

Then the two brothers began to discuss their present condition and their future plans, and of course Nikita was full of ideas. "Brother of mine," he said brightly, "you cannot see my condition so I must tell you that I am footless. Now as you are blind it seems to me that there is only one sound man between us. My plan is that you should carry me upon your back while I will tell you where to go."

"It is well," said the blind man, kneeling down at once so that his brother could get upon his back. Then he walked onward with his new burden, onward and ever onward, turning to the right hand or to the left as his brother directed him. After a long time they came to a dense forest in which stood the pine-wood cabin of the wicked Baba-Yaga.

Nikita directed his brother towards this hut, and the two in one entered the home of the wicked BabaYaga, but found no one inside. "Feel in the oven, brother," said Nikita, "perhaps there is some food