im joyfully, and began kissing
and embracing him, asking after his health and telling him all about
herself. Prince Ivan stayed with them three days; then he said:

'Farewell! I am going to look for my wife, the fair Princess Marya
Morevna.'

'Hard will it be for you to find her,' replied the Raven. 'Anyhow, leave
your silver snuff-box with us. We will look at it and remember you.'

The Prince handed over his silver snuff-box, took his leave, and went
his way. One day he went, another day he went, and on the third day he
came to where Marya Morevna was. She caught sight of her love, flung her
arms around his neck, burst into tears, and exclaimed:

'Oh, Prince Ivan! why did you disobey me and go looking into the closet
and letting out Koshchei the Deathless?'

'Forgive me, Marya Morevna! Remember not the past; much better fly with
me while Koshchei the Deathless is out of sight. Perhaps he won't catch
us.'

So they got ready and fled. Now Koshchei was out hunting. Towards
evening he was returning home, when his good steed stumbled beneath him.

'Why stumblest thou, sorry jade? Scentest thou some ill?' The steed
replied:

'Prince Ivan has come and carried off Marya Morevna.' 'Is it possible to
catch them?'

'It is possible to sow wheat, to wait till it grows up, to reap it and
thresh it, to grind it to flour, to make five pies of it, to eat those
pies, and then to start in pursuit--and even then to be in time.'
Koshchei galloped off and caught up Prince Ivan.

'Now,' says he, 'this time I will forgive you, in return for your
kindness in giving me water to drink. And a second time I will forgive
you; but the third time beware! I will cut you to bits.'

Then he took Marya Morevna from him, and carried her off. But Prince
Ivan sat down on a stone and burst into tears. He wept and wept--and
then returned back again to Marya Morevna. Now Koshchei the Deathless
happened not to be at home.

'Let us fly, Marya Morevna!'

'Ah, Prince Ivan! he will catch us.'

'Suppose he does catch us. At all events we shall have spent an hour or
two together.'

So they got ready and fled. As Koshchei the Deathless was returning
home, his good steed stumbled beneath him.

'Why stumblest thou, sorry jade? Scentest thou some ill?'

'Prince Ivan has come and carried off Marya Morevna.'

'Is it possible to catch them?'

'It is possible to sow barley, to wait till it grows up, to reap it and
thresh it, to brew beer, to drink ou