arrived at the enemy's camp. Then Prince Astrach
fell upon the Busurmen with fearful slaughter, and in a short time cut
them to pieces; and wherever he waved his arm, a way was opened, and
where he turned his horse there was a clear space for him; so he
routed and destroyed the whole army, took the Busurman Tsar himself
prisoner, and brought him to Tsar Afor, who threw him into prison.

Then there was great feasting and rejoicing, and the revels lasted
for a whole fortnight. At the end of this time, Prince Astrach
reminded Tsar Afor of his marriage contract with the Tsarevna Osida;
and Tsar Afor ordered a great banquet to be made, and bade his
daughter prepare for the wedding. When the Tsarevna heard this, she
called Prince Astrach and said: "My beloved friend and bridegroom, you
are in too great a haste to marry; only think how dull a wedding feast
would be without any music, for my father has no players. Therefore,
dear friend, ride off, I entreat you, through thrice nine lands, to
the thirtieth kingdom, in the domain of the deathless Kashtshei, and
win from him the Self-playing Harp; it plays all tunes so wonderfully
that every one is bound to listen to it, and it is beyond price: this
will enliven our wedding."

Then Astrach, the King's son, went to the royal stable and saddled his
steed; and, after taking leave of Tsar Afor and his betrothed
Princess, mounted his good horse and rode off to the kingdom of the
deathless Kashtshei, in search of the Self-playing Harp. As he rode
along he saw an old hut, standing in a garden facing a wood; and he
called out with his knightly voice: "Hut, hut, turn about, with your
back to the wood, and your front to me!" And instantly the hut turned
itself round. Then Prince Astrach dismounted and entered the hut, and
there was an old witch sitting on the floor spinning flax. And the
witch screamed with a frightful voice: "Fu! fu! fu! never before has
the sound of a Russian spirit been heard here; and now a Russian
spirit comes to sight!" Then she asked Prince Astrach: "Wherefore,
good youngling, Prince Astrach, art thou come hither--of thine own
free will or not? Hither no bird flies, no wild beast wanders, no
knight ever passes my hut. And how has God brought you here?"

But Prince Astrach replied: "You silly old wife, first give me food
and drink, and then put your questions." Thereupon the old witch
instantly set food before Prince Astrach, whipped him into the
bath-room, combed