and how an old woman
had helped him, and begged their blessing on his travels. So his
parents gave him their blessing, and, mounting his good steed, he set
forth on his journey. And he went his way, and travelled until he came
at length to a place where three roads met; in the centre stood a
column, with three inscriptions, which ran as follows: "He who turns
to the right will have plenty to eat, but his steed will starve; he
who goes straight forward will hunger himself, but his steed will have
food enough; and whoever takes the left road will be slain by the
Winged Wolf."

When Lyubim Tsarevich read this, he pondered over it, and resolved to
go no other road but to choose the left, and either be slain himself,
or destroy the Winged Wolf, and free all those who might be travelling
that way. So he journeyed on until he came to the open plains, where
he pitched his tent to rest, when on a sudden he perceived in the west
the Winged Wolf come flying toward him. Instantly upstarted Lyubim
Tsarevich, put on his armour, and leaped upon his steed. And Lyubim
rode at the Wolf, which beat him so hard with his wings that he nearly
fell from his horse; nevertheless, Lyubim kept his seat, flew into a
violent rage, and with his battle-sword struck the Winged Wolf a blow
that felled him to the ground, and injured his right wing so that he
could no longer fly.

[Illustration: INSTANTLY UPSTARTED LYUBIM TSAREVICH, PUT ON HIS
ARMOUR, AND LEAPT UPON HIS STEED.]

When the Wolf came to himself he said to Lyubim Tsarevich, in a human
voice: "Do not kill me! I will be useful to you and serve you as your
trusty servant." Then Lyubim Tsarevich replied: "Know you where my
brothers are?" And the Wolf answered: "They have long ago been slain;
but we will bring them to life again when we have won the beautiful
Princess." "How shall we do that?" said Lyubim Tsarevich. "Hark ye,"
replied the Wolf; "leave your steed here, and----."

"How! What shall I do without my horse?" cried Lyubim.

"Only hear me out," said the Wolf; "I will change myself into a horse,
and carry you; but this steed of yours is not fit for the task we have
to do; in the city where the Princess lives, there are strings from
the walls to all the bells in the city; and we must leap over all
these without touching the smallest, otherwise we shall be taken."
Lyubim Tsarevich saw at once that the Wolf spoke wisely, so he
consented, and exclaimed, "On then!"

Away the