rof_ also signifies blood.

[80] The last sentence of the story forms one of the conventional and
meaningless "tags" frequently attached to the skazkas. In future I
shall omit them. Kuzma and Demian (SS. Cosmas and Damian) figure in
Russian folk-lore as saintly and supernatural smiths, frequently at
war with snakes, which they maltreat in various ways. See A. de
Gubernatis, "Zoological Mythology," vol. ii. p. 397.

[81] Afanasief, Skazki, vol. vii. p. 3.

[82] _Chudo_ = prodigy. _Yudo_ may be a remembrance of Judas, or it
may be used merely for the sake of the rhyme.

[83] In an Indian story ("Kathasaritsagara," book vii. chap. 42),
Indrasena comes to a place in which sits a Rakshasa on a throne
between two fair ladies. He attacks the demon with a magic sword, and
soon cuts off his head. But the head always grows again, until at last
the younger of the ladies gives him a sign to split in half the head
he has just chopped off. Thereupon the demon dies, and the two ladies
greet the conqueror rapturously. The younger is the demon's sister,
the elder is a king's daughter whom the demon has carried off from her
home, after eating her father and all his followers. See Professor
Brockhaus's summary in the "Berichte der phil. hist. Classe der K.
Saechs. Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften," 1861. pp. 241-2.

[84] Khudyakof, No. 46.

[85] Afanasief, vol. i. No. 6. From the Chernigof Government. The
_Norka-Zvyer'_ (Norka-Beast) of this story is a fabulous creature, but
zoologically the name of Norka (from _nora_ = a hole) belongs to the
Otter.

[86] Literally "into _that_ world" as opposed to this in which we
live.

[87] This address is a formula, of frequent occurrence under similar
circumstances.

[88] Literally "seated the maidens and pulled the rope."

[89] Some sort of safe or bin.

[90] Khudyakof, ii. p. 17.

[91] "Kathasaritsagara," bk. vii. c. xxxix. Wilson's translation.

[92] Genesis, xxxvii. 3, 4.

[93] "Zoological Mythology," i. 25.

[94] Quoted from the "Nitimanjari," by Wilson, in his translation of
the "Rig-Veda-Sanhita," vol. i. p. 142.

[95] See also Juelg's "Kalmukische Maerchen," p. 19, where Massang, the
Calmuck Minotaur, is abandoned in the pit by his companions.

[96] Khudyakof, No. 42.

[97] Erlenvein, No. 41. A king's horses disappear. His youngest son
keeps watch and discovers that the thief is a white wolf. It escapes
into a hole. He kills his horse at its own request and makes from i