single mare, and in return for that the Baba Yaga gave me a foal.'

'But how did you get across the fiery river?'

'Why, I've a handkerchief of this kind--when I wave it thrice on the
right hand, there springs up a very lofty bridge, and the fire cannot
reach it.'

Marya Morevna listened to all this, and repeated it to Prince Ivan, and
she carried off the handkerchief and gave it to him. So he managed to
get across the fiery river, and then went on to the Baba Yaga's. Long
went he on without getting anything either to eat or to drink. At last
he came across an outlandish bird and its young ones. Says Prince Ivan:

'I'll eat one of these chickens.'

'Don't eat it, Prince Ivan!' begs the outlandish bird; 'some time or
other I'll do you a good turn.'

He went on farther and saw a hive of bees in the forest.

'I'll get a bit of honeycomb,' says he.

'Don't disturb my honey, Prince Ivan!' exclaims the queen-bee; 'some
time or other I'll do you a good turn.'

So he didn't disturb it, but went on. Presently there met him a lioness
with her cub.

'Anyhow, I'll eat this lion cub,' says he; 'I'm so hungry I feel quite
unwell!'

'Please let us alone, Prince Ivan!' begs the lioness; 'some time or
other I'll do you a good turn.'

'Very well; have it your own way,' says he.

Hungry and faint he wandered on, walked farther and farther, and at last
came to where stood the house of the Baba Yaga. Round the house were set
twelve poles in a circle, and on each of eleven of these poles was stuck
a human head; the twelfth alone remained unoccupied.

'Hail, granny!'

'Hail, Prince Ivan! wherefore have you come? Is it of your own accord,
or on compulsion?'

'I have come to earn from you an heroic steed.'

'So be it, Prince! You won't have to serve a year with me, but just
three days. If you take good care of my mares, I'll give you an heroic
steed. But if you don't--why, then you mustn't be annoyed at finding
your head stuck on top of the last pole up there.'

Prince Ivan agreed to these terms. The Baba Yaga gave him food and
drink, and bade him set about his business. But the moment he had driven
the mares afield, they cocked up their tails, and away they tore across
the meadows in all directions. Before the Prince had time to look round
they were all out of sight. Thereupon he began to weep and to disquiet
himself, and then he sat down upon a stone and went to sleep. But when
the sun was near its setting the outlandis