roaking hoarsely, and then
they flew away.

The Princess took the robes and jewels back into the chamber to hide
them, and while she was doing this Prince Ivan returned to his bed and
lay down and closed his eyes as though he were asleep. When the frog
came back she looked at him carefully, but he kept so still she never
guessed that he had stirred from where he lay.

The next morning the frog bade Ivan ride away alone to the palace of
the Tsar. "I will follow you," she said, "and when you hear a great
noise, say, 'That is my little Froggie, driving up in her basket made
of rushes.'"

The Prince promised to do this and then he rode away to the palace of
the Tsar.

His brothers were already there, and their two wives were with them,
both so handsome and so magnificently dressed that each looked finer
than the other.

When Ivan came in they all began to laugh. "Where is thy dear frog?"
they asked. "Is she still asleep among her reeds and rushes, or is she
too hoarse to come?"

Even as they spoke there was a great noise outside,--a roaring and
rumbling like thunder.

The palace shook until it seemed as though it would fall about their
ears. Every one was terrified. Only Prince Ivan was calm.

"There is my little Froggie now," he said; "she is driving up in her
little basket of rushes."

At once the noise ceased, the doors were flung open, and a magnificent
Princess swept into the room. Never was such a beauty seen before. Her
golden hair fell almost to the floor and was bound about with jewels.
Her robes were stiff with embroidery and gems. The other Princesses
paled before her as stars pale before the rising moon.

Prince Ivan took her by the hand and led her to the Tsar. "This is my
dear Princess," said he, "and surely it is she and she only who should
reign over this land."

Well, there were no two ways to that. The Tsar could hardly contain
himself for joy over the beauty of Prince Ivan's bride. A great feast
was spread, and the Tsar himself led the Princess to the table. She
sat at his right hand and drank from his jewelled cup, and all was joy
and merriment. Only the older brothers and their wives were sad, for
they knew they had missed all chance of gaining the kingdom.

Now while they were still at the table, all eating and drinking,
Prince Ivan arose and made some excuse for leaving the room. He went
quietly and mounted his horse and rode back to his own castle.

There he made haste to the room w