ur mother
Militissa, and what shall we say to them? Our youngest brother can
boast that he won the beautiful Princess and awakened us from death.
Is it not disgraceful for us to live with him? Had we not better kill
him at once?" So they agreed, and took the battle-sword and cut Lyubim
Tsarevich to pieces, and cast his remains to the winds. Then they
threatened the Princess with the same fate if she betrayed the secret
to anyone; and, drawing lots, the waters of life and death fell to
Hut, and the beautiful Princess to Aksof Tsarevich.

So they journeyed on to their father's kingdom; and when they reached
the forbidden meadows, and had pitched their tents, the Tsar Elidar
sent messengers to demand who had encamped there. Then Hut replied:
"Aksof and Hut Tsarevich are come, with a beautiful Princess; and tell
our father, the Tsar, that we have brought with us the waters of life
and death."

The messenger immediately returned to the Court and told this to the
Tsar, who inquired whether all his three sons were come; but the
messenger replied: "Only the two eldest, your Majesty; the youngest is
not with them." The Tsar, nevertheless, rejoiced greatly, and hastened
to tell the Tsarina, his wife, of the return of their two eldest sons.

Then Tsar Elidar and Tsarina Militissa arose and went to meet their
sons in the way, and unarmed them, and embraced them tenderly. And
when they returned to the palace a great banquet was made, and they
feasted seven days and seven nights. At the end of this time they
began to think of the wedding, and to make preparations, and invite
the guests, boyars, and brave warriors and knights.

Now, the Winged Wolf, who knew that they had slain their brother,
Lyubim Tsarevich, ran and fetched the waters of life and death,
collected all the remains of Lyubim, and sprinkled them with the water
of death; thereupon the bones grew together, and no sooner had he
sprinkled them with the water of life than the brave youth stood up,
as if nothing had happened to him, and said: "Ah, what a time I have
slept!" Then the Wolf answered: "Ay, you would have slept on for ever
had I not come to awaken you"; and he related to Lyubim all that his
brothers had done; and, changing himself into a horse, he said:
"Hasten after them--you will be sure to overtake them; to-morrow your
brother Aksof Tsarevich is to marry the Princess."

So Lyubim instantly set out, and the Wolf-steed galloped over hill and
dale, until the