; but what will you give me for it?"

"Anything you ask," replied Ivan, "if you will give me what you
promise."

"Nay," said the man, "I want nothing more than that you will free me
from this place."

"And how and by whom were you caged up thus?"

"Your father imprisoned me here," replied the man. "I was a famous
robber, and was called Bulat the Brave Companion. He was enraged
against me, and ordered me to be taken and imprisoned; and here I have
been confined for three-and-thirty years."

"Hark ye, Bulat, brave Companion," said Ivan, "I cannot set you free
without my father's consent; were he to hear of it he would be wroth."

"Fear not," replied Bulat; "your father will hear nothing; for as soon
as you set me at liberty I shall go into other lands and not live
here."

"Well then," said Ivan Tsarevich, "I consent, only on condition that
you give me back my arrow and tell me where I can find a trusty
steed."

"Go into the open fields," said Bulat the Brave Companion, "and there
you will see three green oaks; and, on the ground under these oaks, an
iron door, with a copper ring. Under the door is a stable, in which
stands a good steed, shut in by twelve iron doors with twelve steel
locks. Heave up this door, strike off the twelve steel locks, and open
the twelve doors; there you will find a horse; mount him and come to
me; I will give you back your arrow, and then you will let me out of
this prison."

When Ivan Tsarevich heard this he went into the open fields, saw the
three green oaks, and found the iron door with the copper ring. So he
hove up the door, knocked off the twelve locks, and opened the twelve
doors, and entered a stable, where he beheld a knightly steed and a
suit of armour. Then Ivan Tsarevich laid his hand upon the horse, and
the horse fell not upon his knees, but merely bent himself a little.
And as soon as the horse saw a knight standing before him, he neighed
loudly, and let Ivan saddle and bridle him. Ivan Tsarevich took the
steed, the battle-axe, and sword, led the horse out of the stable,
leaped into the Tcherkess saddle, and took the silken bridle in his
white hand. Then Ivan wished to try his steed, and struck him on the
flank: the horse chafed his bit, and rose from the ground, and away he
went over the tall forests and under the flying clouds, left hill and
dale beneath his feet, covered small streams with his tail, bounded
over wide rivers and marshes; and so at last Ivan came to Bu