ya, the second the Princess Olga, the
third the Princess Anna. When their father and mother lay at the point
of death, they had thus enjoined their son: 'Give your sisters in
marriage to the very first suitors who come to woo them. Don't go
keeping them by you!'

They died, and the Prince buried them, and then, to solace his grief, he
went with his sisters into the garden green to stroll. Suddenly the sky
was covered by a black cloud; a terrible storm arose.

'Let us go home, sisters!' he cried.

Hardly had they got into the palace, when the thunder pealed, the
ceiling split open, and into the room where they were came flying a
falcon bright. The Falcon smote upon the ground, became a brave youth,
and said:

'Hail, Prince Ivan! Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a
wooer! I wish to propose for your sister, the Princess Marya.'

'If you find favour in the eyes of my sister, I will not interfere with
her wishes. Let her marry you, in God's name!'

The Princess Marya gave her consent; the Falcon married her and bore her
away into his own realm.

Days follow days, hours chase hours; a whole year goes by. One day
Prince Ivan and his two sisters went out to stroll in the garden green.
Again there arose a storm-cloud, with whirlwind and lightning.

'Let us go home, sisters!' cries the Prince. Scarcely had they entered
the palace when the thunder crashed, the roof burst into a blaze, the
ceiling split in twain, and in flew an eagle. The Eagle smote upon the
ground and became a brave youth.

'Hail, Prince Ivan! I Before I came as a guest, but now I have come as a
wooer!'

And he asked for the hand of the Princess Olga. Prince Ivan replied:

'If you find favour in the eyes of the Princess Olga, then let her marry
you. I will not interfere with her liberty of choice.'

The Princess Olga gave her consent and married the Eagle. The Eagle took
her and carried her off to his own kingdom.

Another year went by. Prince Ivan said to his youngest sister:

'Let us go out and stroll in the garden green!'

They strolled about for a time. Again there arose a storm-cloud, with
whirlwind and lightning.

'Let us return home, sister!' said he.

They returned home, but they hadn't had time to sit down when the
thunder crashed, the ceiling split open, and in flew a raven. The Raven
smote upon the floor and became a brave youth. The former youths had
been handsome, but this one was handsomer still.

'Well, Prince