Page:The Russian story book, containing tales from the song-cycles of Kiev and Novgorod and other early sources.djvu/339

 Beauty clasping her hands, "Ivan Tsarevich has long ago been devoured by wild beasts of the plain, at least it must have been so and not otherwise." So they sat down to supper, and when Koschei had eaten well and drunk better Peerless Beauty said to him, "Tell me, now, Koschei, where is your death?"

"It is tied up in the broom, silly one," said Koschei; "why do you wish to know?"

Next morning Koschei Who Never Dies went out at the head of his men to fight, and as soon as he had gone Ivan Tsarevich came to Peerless Beauty and kissed her sugar lips. Then she took the broom from the corner near the stove and gilded it all over with pure beaten gold. When this was done—and it took a long time to cover each twig of the birch boughs with the gold—Ivan left his bride and Koschei Who Never Dies came in by another door.

"Phu! phu!" he said, "I smell the blood of a Russian. Was it Ivan Tsarevich who was with you just now, at this moment, and recently?"

"Why, Koschei Who Never Dies," said Peerless Beauty clasping her hands, "you have been flying through Russia and have caught up the odour of the country on your own garments. Where should I see Ivan Tsarevich?" Then they sat down to supper, and Koschei saw the gilded broom lying across the threshold. "What does this mean?" he asked sternly.

"See how I honour you," said Peerless Beauty, "for I gild even Death for you."

"Little simpleton, I fooled you," said Koschei.