r ten long years
sued for the hand of the beautiful Tsarina Helena in vain, and has
already lost many armies and great store of money. Who knows but that
this thief Simeon may in some way steal the fair Tsarina for your
Majesty."

"Well spoken, my friends," replied the Tsar; and, turning to the
thief Simeon, he said: "Hark you, friend, can you pass through thrice
nine lands into the thirtieth kingdom and steal for me the fair Queen
Helena? I am in love with her, and if you can bring her to me I will
reward you richly."

"Leave it to us," answered Simeon; "your Majesty has only to command."

"I do not order you, I entreat you then," said the Tsar, "not to tarry
longer at my Court, but take with you all the armies and treasure you
require." "I want not your armies nor your treasure," said Simeon;
"only send us brothers forth together; without the rest I can do
nothing." The Tsar was unwilling to let them all go; nevertheless he
was obliged to consent.

Meanwhile the eldest Simeon had finished the iron column in the smithy
of the palace-yard. Then the second Simeon climbed up it, and looked
around on all sides, to see whereabouts the kingdom of fair Helena's
father lay; and presently he called out to the Tsar Ador: "Please,
your Majesty, beyond thrice nine lands, in the thirtieth kingdom, sits
the fair Tsarina at her window. How beautiful she is! One can see the
very marrow of her bones, her skin is so clear." On hearing this the
Tsar was more in love than ever, and cried aloud to the Simeons: "My
friends, set out instantly on your journey, and come back as soon as
possible; I can no longer live without the fair Tsarina."

So the eldest Simeon made for the third brother a gun, and took bread
for their travels; and the thief Simeon took a cat with him, and so
they set out. Now thief Simeon had so accustomed this cat to him, that
she ran after him everywhere like a dog; and whenever he stopped, she
sat up on her hind legs, rubbed her coat against him and purred. So
they all went their way, until they came to the shore of the sea over
which they must sail. For a long time they wandered about, seeking
wood, to build a ship with. At last they found a huge oak. Then the
third Simeon took his axe and laid it at the root of the tree, and in
the twinkling of an eye the oak was felled, and a ship built from it,
fully rigged, and in the ship there were all kinds of costly wares.

After some months' voyage they arrived safely a