ar and my
twelve knights. But since Yaroslav is dead we are punished for our
sins, and sit here in sightless solitude. If, however, you are really
the true Yaroslav Lasarevich, ride, I pray thee, beyond the Still
Waters and the Warm Sea, to the city of Shtchetin, where rules the
Tsar Fireshield. Slay him, and take some drops of his blood; and when
you return, anoint our eyes with it and we shall then see and shall
believe you."

Yaroslav made his obeisance to the Tsar, mounted his horse, and rode
forth. But the boys in the streets had observed him, and they told it
to their fathers, who said to Daniil the White: "O Prince, there has
been in our city a brave warrior; his horse was like a lion, and he
was armed from head to foot, and he rode away from the prison where
Tsar Kartaus and his companions are confined." Instantly Prince Daniil
sent his servant Mursa to enquire who had been in the prison. And when
he came there he found the doors standing open, and the guard slain;
then, entering the doors, he said: "O Tsar Kartaus, tell me who has
been with you here? Prince Daniil sends me to inquire." And Kartaus
answered: "My good fellow how can we tell who was here? A man was in
the prison who called himself Yaroslav, but we recognized not his
voice."

Then Mursa returned to Prince Daniil, and told him what Kartaus had
said; and forthwith Prince Daniil ordered the trumpets to sound and
the drums to beat; and a host of Tartars assembled around him to the
number of two hundred and fifty thousand men. And he commanded thirty
horsemen to pursue and take Yaroslav and to bring him before him. So
they went in pursuit, and after riding for some time they descried
Yaroslav asleep under an oak tree, and his horse standing beside him.
The horse perceived that the Tartars were in pursuit of his master,
and neighed loudly. Thereat Yaroslav awoke, and seeing the knights
afar, he mounted his steed and rode off, exclaiming: "First catch the
wind on the wide plains and then look to catch me!"

So saying he vanished from their sight, and rode beyond the Still
Waters and the Warm Seas to the Podolish Horde, to the city of
Shtchetin. Then the Tartars took counsel together what they should say
to the Prince, and they resolved to pretend that they had not seen
Yaroslav.

Yaroslav Lasarevich arrived in half a year at the city of Shtchetin,
before which lay the remains of an army slain, and in the midst the
head of a knight as big as a large