Emelya and the PikeRussian folk tale Once upon a time there lived an old man who had three sons, two of them clever young men and the third, Emelya, a fool. The two elder brothers were always at work, while Emelya lay on the stove ledge all day long with not a care in the world. One day the two brothers rode away to market, and their wives said: Go and fetch some water, Emelya. And Emelya, lying on the stove ledge, replied: Not I. I dont want to. Go, Emelya, or your brothers will bring no presents for you from the market. Oh, all right then. Down climbed Emelya from the stove, put on his boots and caftan and, taking along two pails and an axe, went to the river. He cut a hole in the ice with his axe, scooped up two pailfuls of water, put down the pails and himself bent down to look into the ice-hole. He looked and he looked and what did he see but a Pike swimming in the water. Out shot his arm, and there was the Pike in his hands. WeH have some fine pike soup for dinner today! he exclaimed, delighted. But the Pike suddenly spoke up in a human voice and said: Let me go, Emelya, and Ill do you a good turn, too, some day Emelya only laughed. What good turn could you do me? No, I think Ill take you home and tell my sisters-in-law to make some soup. I do so love pike soup. But the Pike fell to begging him again and said: Do let me go, Emelya, and Ill do anything you wish. All right, Emelya replied, only first you must prove you arent trying to fool me. Said the Pike: Tell me what you want, Emelya. I want my pails to go home all by themselves without spilling a drop of water. Very well, Emelya, the Pike said. Whenever you wish something, you have only to say: By will of the Pike, do as I like, and it will all be done at once. And Emelya, nothing loath, said: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Off you go home, pails, by yourselves! O nce upon a time there lived an old man who had three sons, two of them clever young men and the third, Emelya, a fool. The two elder brothers were always at work, while Emelya lay on the stove ledge all day long with not a care in the world.One day the two brothers rode away to market, and their wives said: Go and fetch some water, Emelya. And Emelya, lying on the stove ledge, replied: Not 1. I dont want to.

Go, Emelya, or your brothers will bring no presents for you from the market. Oh, all right then. Down climbed Emelya from the stove, put on his boots and caftan and, taking along two pails and an axe, went to the river. He cut a hole in the ice with his axe, scooped up two pailfuls of water, put down the pails and himself bent down to look into the ice-hole. He looked and he looked and what did he see but a Pike swimming in the water. Out shot his arm, and there was the Pike in his hands. WeH have some fine pike soup for dinner today! he exclaimed, delighted. But the Pike suddenly spoke up in a human voice and said: Let me go, Emelya, and Ill do you a good turn, too, some day Emelya only laughed. What good turn could you do me? No, I think Ill take you home and tell my sisters-in-law to make some soup. I do so love pike soup. But the Pike fell to begging him again and said: "Do let me go, Emelya, and Ill do anything you wish. All right, Emelya replied, only first you must prove you arent trying to fool me. Said the Pike: Tell me what you want, Emelya. I want my pails to go home all by themselves without spilling adrop of water. Very well, Emelya, the Pike said. Whenever you wish some-thing, you have only to say: By will of the Pike, do as I like, and it will all be done at once. And Emelya, nothing loath, said: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Off you go home, pails, by yourselves! And, lo and behold! the pails turned and marched up the hill. Emelya put the Pike back into the ice-hole and himself walked after his pails. On went the pails along the village street, and the villagers stood round and marvelled while Emelya followed the pails, chuckling. The pails marched straight into Emelyas hut and jumped up on the bench, and Emelya climbed up on to the stove ledge again. A long time passed by and a little time, and his sisters-in-law said to Emelya: Why are you lying there, Emelya? Go and chop us some wood. Not I.I dont want to, Emelya said. If you dont do what we say, your brothers will bring no presents for you from the market. Emelya. was loath to leave the stove ledge. He remembered the Pike and said under his breath: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Go and chop some wood, axe, and you, wood, come inside the house and jump into the stove. And lo! the axe leapt out from under the bench and into the yard and began to chop the wood, and the logs filed into the hut all by themselves and jumped into the stove. A long time passed by and a little time, and his sister-in-law said to Emelva:

We have no more wood, Emelva. Go to the forest and cut some. And Emelya, lolling on the stove, replied: Andwhatareyou herefor? What do you mean by that, Emelya? the women said. Surelv its not out business to go to the forest for wood. But I dont much want to do it, Emelva said. Well, then you wont get any presents, they told him. There was no help for it, so Emelya climbed down from the stove and put on his boots and caftan. He took a length of rope and an axe, came out into the yard and, getting into the sledee; cried: Open the gates, women! And his sisters-in-law said to him: What are you doing in the sledge, fool? You havent harnessed the horse yet. I can do without the horse, Emelya replied. His sisters-in-law opened the gate and Emelya said under his breath: By will of the Pike; do as I like! Off you go to the forest, sledge And, lo and behold? the sledge whizzed out through the gate so quickly that one could scarcely have caught up with it even on horseback. Now the way to the forest lay through a town. and the sledge knocked down many people. The townsfolk cried: Hold him! Catch him But Emelya paid no heed and only urged the sledge on to go the faster. He came to the forest, stopped the sledge and said: By will of the Pike, do as I hke! Cut some dry wood, axe, and you. faggots, climb into the sledge and bind yourselves together. And, lo and behold ! the axe began to hack and split the dry wood, and the faggots dropped into the sledge one by one and bound themselves together. Emelya then ordered the axe to cut him a cudgel, so heavy that one could scarcely lift it. He got up on top of his load and said: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Off you go home, sledge! And the sledge drove off very fast indeed. Emelya again passed through the town where he had knocked down so many people, and there they were all ready and waiting for him. They seized him, pulled him out of the sledge and began to curse and to beat him. Seeing that he was in a bad plight, Emelya said under his breath: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Come, cudgel, give them a good thrashing! And the cudgel sprang up and laid to, right and left. The townsfolk took to their heels and Emelya went home and climbed up on the stove again. A long time passed by and a little time, and the Tsar heard of Emelyas doings and sent one of his officers to find him and bring him to the palace. The officer came to Emelyas village, entered his hut and asked him: Are you Emelya the Fool?

And Emelya replied from the stove ledge: What if I am? Dress quickly and I shall take you to the Tsars palace. Oh, no. I dont want to go, Emelya said. The officer flew into a temper and struck Emelya in the face. And Emelya said under his breath: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Come, cudgel, give him a good thrashing. And out the cudgel jumped and beat the officer so that it was all he could do to drag himself back to the palace. The Tsar was much surprised to learn that his officer had not been able to get the better ofEmelya and he sent for the greatest of his nobles. Find Emelya and bring him to my palace or Ill have your head chopped off, he said. The great noble bought a store of raisins and prunes and honey cakes, and then he came to the selfsame village and into the selfsame hut and he asked Emelyas sisters-in-law what it was Emelya liked best. Emelya likes to be spoken to kindly, they said. He will do anything you want if only you are gentle with him and promise him a red caftan for a present. The great noble then gave Emelya the raisins, prunes and honey cakes he had brought, and said: Please, Emelya, why do you lie on the stove ledge? Come with me to the Tsars palace. Im well enough where I am, Emelya replied. Ah, Emelya, the Tsar will feast you on sweetmeats and wines. Do let us go to the palace. Not I. I dont want to, Emelya replied. But, Emelya, the Tsar will give you a fine red caftan for a present and a pair of boots. Emelya thought for a while and then he said: Very well, then, I shall come. Only you must go on alone and I shall by follow by and by. The noble rode away and Emelya lay on the stove a while longer said: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Off you go to the Tsars palace, stove! And lo! the corners of the hut began to crack, the roof swayed, a wall crashed down and the stove whipped off all by itself into the street and down the road and made straight for the Tsars palace. The Tsar looked out of the window and marvelled. What is that? he asked. And the great noble replied: That is Emelya riding on his stove to your palace. The Tsar stepped out on his porch and said: I have had many complaints about you, Emelya. It seems you have knocked down many people. Why did they get in the way of my sledge ? said Emelya.

Now, the Tsars daughter Tsarevna Marya was loolong out of the palace window just then, and when Emelya saw her, he said under his breath: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Let the Tsars daughter fall in love with me. And he added: Go home, stove! The stove turned and made straight for Emelyas village. It whisked into the hut and went back to its place, and Emelya lay on fhe stove ledge as before. Meanwhile, there were tears and wails in the palace. Tsarevna Marya was crying her eyes out for Emelya. She told her father she could not live without him and begged him to let her marry Emelya. The Tsar was much troubled and grieved and he said to the great noble: Go and bring Emelya here, dead or alive. Do not fail, or Ill have your head chopped off. The great noble bought many kinds of dainties and sweet wines and set off for Emelyas village again. He entered the selfsame hut and he began to feast Emelya royally. Emelya had his fill of the good food and the wine, and his head swimming, lay down and fell asleep. And the noble put the sleeping Emelya into his carriage and rode off with him to the Tsars palace. The Tsar at once ordered a large barrel bound with iron hoops to be brought in. Emelya and Tsarevna Marya were placed into it and the barrel was tarred and cast into the sea. A long time passed by and a little time, and Emelya awoke. Finding himself in darkness and closely confined, he said: Where am I? And Tsarevna Marya replied: Sad and dreary is our lot, Emelya my love! They have put us in a tarred barrel and cast us into the blue sea. And who are you? Emelya asked. I am Tsarevna Marya. Said Emelya: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Come, o wild winds, cast the barrel on to the dry shore and let it rest on the yellow sand! And, lo and behold! the wild winds began to blow, the sea became troubled and the barrel was cast on to the dry shore and it came to rest on the yellow sand. Out stepped Emelya and Tsarevna Marya, and Tsarevna Marya said: Where are we going to live, Emelya my love? Do build us a hut of some kind. Not I. I dont want to, Emelya replied. But she begged and begged and at last he said: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Let a palace of stone with a roof of gold be built! And no sooner were the words out of his mouth than a stone palace with a roof of gold rose up before them. Round it there spread a green garden, where flowers bloomed and birds sang. Tsarevna Marya and Emelya came into the palace and sat down by the window. Said Tsarevna Marya:

Oh, Emelya, couldnt you become a little more handsome? And-Emelya did not think long before he said: By will of the Pike, do as I like! Change me into a tall and handsome man. And lo! Emelya turned into a youth as fair as the sky at dawn, the handsomest youth that ever was born. Now about that time the Tsar went hunting and he saw a palace where one had never been seen before. What dolt has dared to build a palace on my ground? he asked, and he sent hig messengers to learn who the culprit was. The Tsars messengers ran to the palace, stood under the window and called to Emelya, asking him to tell them who he was. Tell the Tsar to come and visit me, and he shall hear from my lips who I am, Emelya replied. The Tsar did as Emelya bade, and Emelya met him at the palace gate, led him into the palace, seated him at his table and feasted him royally. The Tsar ate and drank and marvelled. Who are you, my good fellow? he asked at last. Do you remember Emelya the Fool who came to visit you on top of a stove? Emelya said. Do you remember how you had him put in a tarred barrel together with your daughter Tsarevna Marya and cast into the sea? Well, I am that same Emelya. If I choose, I can set fire to your whole tsardom and level it with the ground. The Tsar was very frightened and he begged Emelya to forgive him. You can have my daughter in marriage and you can have my tsardom, too, only spare me, Emelya, said he. Then such a grand feast was held as the world had never seen. Emelya married Tsarevna Marya and began to rule the realm and they both lived happily ever after. And that is my faithful tales end, while he who listened is my own true friend.

Ilya the MuromIllya of Murom was born near the town of Murom into a family of poor peasants. His father and mother chopped wood in the forest for a living and farmed a small plot of land and they fed Illya who had weak legs and could not walk. For thirty years he lay on the stove without getting up and did no work. One day, when he was thirty years of age and lying on the stove as usual and his father and mother were away at work, three old men came up to their house. "Open the door, Illya!" they called. "I cannot!" Illya called back. "My legs are weak and I dare not get up. "You can do it if you try, Illya. Come, get up!" Illya tried hard. He pulled and strained, and, swinging his legs over the side of the stove, leapt down onto the floor. Then, walking easily across the room, he opened the door and let in the old

men. "You have been very ill, Illya, but you are well now," the old man said. "Rejoice and let your father and mother rejoice with you, for you will always be healthy and strong like a true bohatyr brave warrior! They held out a jug of water to him and said again: "Here, drink this water and a change will come over you. There.. How strong do you feel?" "Very strong." "That is good. Drink some more!" Illya lifted the jug to his lips and took a long drink. "Well, do you feel any stronger now?" "Yes! I feel so strong that if a ring were to be driven into the earth and I were to take hold of it, I could turn the earth upside down!" "Good! Very good! And now listen, Illya. You must not boast of your strength or tell anyone about it but do only that which will please your father and mother. Harm none but do good to all." Now, this was a time when Rus was overrun by the Tatars, and Illya of Murom decided to come to his country's defense. Kazan had been besieged, with three tsars, bohatyrs all three, leading the enemy host, and it was thither he hastened. He approached the town, and, pulling an oak tree up by the roots, began smiting the Tatars with it, and he struck down all but a few of them. Of the whole enemy host only the three tsars were still on their feet, and Illya came up to them and said: "Go back whence you came and tell your people never to cross our borders again. I only left you alive in order that you might do so. Rus has Illya of Murom defending her, and he is a great bohatyr whom none can vanquish." The Tatar tsars went back to their own land, and Illya of Murom rode into Kazan. The streets were empty, for the townsfolk had sought shelter in their homes and in the churches. Illya entered a church and found it full of people who were praying and weeping. "What are you doing here, good folk?" he asked. "Cannot you see for yourself!" said they. "The Tatars are at our gates and there is not a man or a woman among us who is not in danger of being slain." "Speak you of Tatars? But there are none anywhere near. Go and see for yourselves!" They went outside, and lo! the Tatars were indeed gone and it was as though they had never been.

After that there was much rejoicing and merrymaking, and the towns- folk thanked Illya of Murom and begged him to stay with them. But Illya said: "Nay, that I cannot do! I delivered Kazan from the Tatars, and now I must haste to other towns and free them too. Fear nothing, for no foe will come to bother you again. Live as you lived before and be at peace!" And Illya of Murom got on his horse and made for Kiev. Now, all who went there took a roundabout way as the regular road was blocked by Solovei the Whistler-Robber who slew all who came near: not a bird could fly, not a beast could run, not a bohatyr could ride past him. But Illya of Murom took the road that led straight to Kiev and so had to pass the forest where Solovei lay in wait. On three oaks he sat and nine branches in a nest he had built for himself and from which he could see over the whole of the forest. And the moment he spied anyone he would whistle like a bird and roar like a beast, and the leaves would rain from the trees, the trees crash to the ground, and all who happened to be passing by drop dead. Illya of Murom came riding past the forest, and Solovei the Whistler- Robber saw him and whistled like a bird, and the leaves rained down from the trees; he roared like a beast, and Illya's horse stumbled and fell onto its knees. But Illya of Murom drove his knee into the horse's flank and cried: "A horse of mine to fear Solovei the Whistler-Robber? Up now or I'll give you to the dogs!" The horse stood up, and Illya rode on. He was close now to where Solovei the Whistler-Robber was waiting, and, seeing him, Solovei leapt down to the ground and made for him. But Illya of Murom took aim and sent an arrow straight into Solovei's right eye. The arrow pierced Solovei's head and came out from the back of it, and Solovei fell to the ground. Illya sprang up to him, and, seizing him, held him in his grip, and Solovei knew Illya for one stronger than he and told himself that his end had come. Illya untied the stirrups from his saddle, and, binding the Whistler- Robber's arms and legs with strong leather thongs, tied him to it, sprang on the horse's back and made for Solovei's house. Now, Solovei the Whistler-Robber had a daughter who was as strong as any bohatyr, and when this daughter saw Illya of Murom come riding up, with her father hanging from his saddle, she seized an iron bar weighing all of ninety pods and hurled it at him. But Illya of Murom stopped the bar with his shoulder and sent it flying back and it struck Solovei's daughter and killed her on the spot. Solovei's wife came out, and, seeing that her husband's life was in danger, began to plead with Illya, begging him to spare Solovei and promising to pay him as large a ransom in either gold or silver as he wanted. But Illya of Murom would have none of it. "Nay, Solovei has lived long enough!" he said. "Never would I spare one who killed and orphaned so many! And I want none of your gold. It is not riches I covet I seek to defend the wronged and helpless!-" And turning round his horse, he headed for Kiev. Now, it was Prince Volodimir who reigned in Kiev at the time, and when Illya of Murom arrived

the Prince was holding a feast at which all his bohatyrs had gathered. Illya told the Prince who he was, and the Prince asked him by what road he had traveled. "By the road that runs straight to Kiev, Prince," Illya said. At this all the bohatyrs sprang up from their seats, and one who was more famed than any, Alyosha, Son of a Priest, said: "He lies, Prince, it cannot be! For who can travel by the road that runs straight to Kiev, with Solovei the Whistler-Robber lying in wait there and not a bird being able to fly nor a beast to run past him! "Do you then call yourself a true bohatyr, you who fear Solovei the Whistler-Robber?" said Illya of Murom. "Let me show you where Solovei is!" He led the Prince, his wife and the bohatyrs into the courtyard and pointed at the WhistlerRobber. "There he is?" he said. They looked, and, seeing Solovei dangling from the saddle, knew Illya of Murom to be a true bohatyr, for who but a true bohatyr could have vanquished such a one! Prince Volodimir said not a word to Illya, but addressed Solovei. "Come, Solovei, whistle like a bird and roar like a beast!" he said. But Solovei the Whistler-Robber only sneered. "It was not you who took me captive and it is not for you to tell me what to do!" he said. The Prince turned to Illya of Murom. "Bid him do as I said?" said he. Said Illya of Murom: "Come, Prince, and you, Princess, stand beside me, and I will throw my cape over you that your eardrums might not burst when Solovei whistles." He threw his cape over them and turned to Solovei. "Hark now, Solovei, do as I bid and whistle like a bird!" he cried. Solovei whistled like a bird, and lo! the leaves rained from the trees, and Prince Volodimir's bohatyrs fell to the ground and began crawling across the courtyard on all fours in their fright. Then Solovei roared like a beast, and they stumbled and fell and were so dazed that they knew

not where to go. But Prince Volodimir and his Princess were safe under Illya of Murom's cape. "And is this how brave you are, my gallants!" said Illya of Murom to the Prince's bohatyrs. "Why did I not fly from Solovei as you do!" He led Solovei the Whistler-Robber out into the field and cut off his head. And now that Solovei was dead, he stayed with the Prince and lived in his palace. One day the bohatyrs again came to visit the Prince. They spent the time in revelry, and they quarreled with Illya and so set the Prince against him that he threw him into a dungeon. He had an earthen wall put up around it, and, thinking to starve Illya to death, sent him no food for three years. But the Prince's daughter brought him food and drink in secret from her father, and though the Prince thought him dead, Illya was alive and well. Three years passed, and a Tatar tsar, Kalin by name, who was famed for his prowess in battle, sent a messenger to Prince Volodimir with a letter for him in which he wrote as follows: "Kalin, Tsar of the Tatars, writes you this. Of my own lands I have not enough and wish to add your Kiev lands to them. Should you refuse to surrender Kiev I shall lead my host against you and seize it, and you and the Princess shall work in my kitchens." Prince Volodimir read the letter and turned white with fear. He spoke to his wife, but as they could not think what to do they called their daughter and asked her counsel. "Send for Illya of Murom. Perhaps he is still alive," the daughter said. "You must be out of your senses, daughter!' said the Prince. "Illya has been kept in a dungeon without food for three years. So not only is he long dead by now but his bones have long turned to dust. "Send for him all the same, Father!" The Prince was vexed by this and said so, but the daughter said again: "But, Father, what if he is still alive?" Seeing her so insistent, the Prince argued no more. "Very well, I'll send someone there to see." He sent his men to the dungeon, and they dug a passage in the earthen wall and made their way into it. And lo! there sat Illya of Murom, alive and well, singing songs to pass the time. The men came back to the Prince. "Illya of Murom is alive, Prince, and as well as he ever was," said they. "Speak you truly?" the Prince demanded. "Aye, Prince."

"Then let us go there at once!" And the Prince hastened to the dungeon. He unlocked all the doors, let out Illya of Murom and said to him in pleading tones: "Be not wroth with me, Illya, for letting my anger get the better of me, help me out in my trouble." "Nay, Prince, ask not for my help. You kept me here in order to starve me to death!" said Illya. The Prince went away and sent the Princess, his wife, to talk to Illya, but he would have none of her and all her pleas availed her nothing. Then the Prince's daughter offered to speak to him and went to the dungeon, and when he saw her Illya said: "You brought me food, maid, and did not let me die, and I will fight for you and defend Rus. Lucky are your father and mother to have such a daughter!" Out he stepped from the dungeon and went forth to war against Tsar Kalin. He routed Tsar Kalin's host, but Tsar Kalin was a strong man and a true bohatyr and he said that now that his men had fallen in battle he would himself fight Illya of Murom. For three long days they fought, and Tsar Kalin got the better of Illya He threw him to the ground and held him in an iron grip." But Tsar Kalin, who had three beautiful daughters, did not mean to kill Illya of Murom but only to frighten him. So he pulled out his dagger and cried: "Beware, for I will cut you to ribbons, Illya of Murom!- And in the next breath: "Nay, live, bohatyr! Take one of my daughters to wife and join forces with me! Leave your princes! Why should you fight for them when they do nothing for you?" Now, Illya of Murom knew, for so the old men who had cured him of his long illness had told him, that he drew his strength from his native soil and that the longer he lay on the bare earth the stronger he would become. So when Tsar Kalin threw him down and held him pinned to the ground, he was glad, for he felt himself growing stronger. He lay there and waited, and Tsar Kalin, seeing him so calm, was enraged and said: "Refuse to do as I say, and you will die!" But Illya made no reply, and it was only when he felt himself to have become strong again, stronger than ever he was, that he caught Tsar Kalin with his legs and hurled him high. Up into the air a full ten meters flew Tsar Kalin and then he fell to the ground and there was little life left in him. And Illya of Murom seized him by the legs and began swinging him round and round, using his body to smite those men of his who were still alive. And in this way he slew them all. After that he came back to Kiev, married Prince Volodimir's daughter and lived out his life in peace.

The Princess Frog(All used here illustrations belong to the Russian Crafts and represent products which were sold or which are selling at the Russian Crafts store). Long, long ago, in days of yore, there lived a king who had three sons, all of them grown to manhood. One day the king called them to him and said, "My sons. let each of you make a bow for himself and shoot an arrow. The maiden who brings your arrow back will be your bride; and he whose arrow is not returned will stay unwed." The eldest son shot an arrow and a prince's daughter brought it back. The middle son loosed an arrow and a general's daughter brought it back. But young Prince Ivan's arrow fell into a marsh and was brought back by a frog holding it between her teeth. The first two brothers were joyful and happy, but Prince Ivan was downcast and cried: "How can I live with a frog? Marrying is for a lifetime, it isn't like wading a stream or crossing a field!" He wept and wept but there was nothing for it: he had to marry the frog. All three couples were wed together according to the customthe frog being held aloft on a platter. Some time passed. One day the king wished to see which bride was the best needle-woman. So he ordered them to make him a shirt. Poor Prince Ivan was again downcast and cried: "How can my frog sew? I'll be a laughing stock." The frog only jumped across the floor croaking. But no sooner was Prince Ivan asleep than she went outside, cast off her skin and turned into a beautiful maiden, calling. "Maids and matrons, sew me a shirt!" The maids and matrons straightway brought a finely-embroidered shirt: she took it, folded it and placed it alongside Prince Ivan. There upon she turned back into a frog as if nothing had happened. In the morning Prince Ivan awoke and was overjoyed to find the shirt which he took forthwith to the king. The king gazed at it and said: "Now there's a shirt for you, fit to wear on holy days!" Then the middle brother brought a shirt, at which the king said, "This shirt is fit only for the bath-house!" And taking the eldest brother's shirt, he said, "And this one is fit only for a smoky peasant hut!" The king's sons went their separate ways, with the two eldest muttering among themselves, "We were surely wrong to mock at Prince Ivan's wife; she must be a cunning sorceress, not a frog." Presently the king again issued a command: this time the daughters-in-law were each to bake a loaf of bread, and bring it to him to judge which bride was the best cook. The other two brides had made fun of the frog, but now they sent a chamber- maid to see how she would bake her loaf. The frog noticed the woman, so she kneaded some dough, rolled it out, made a hole in the stove and tipped the dough straight into the fire. The chambermaid ran to tell her mistresses, the royal brides, and they proceeded to do the same. But the crafty frog had tricked them; as soon as .the woman had gone, she retrieved the dough, cleaned and mended the stove as if nothing had happened, then went out on to the porch, cast off her skin and called, "Maids and matrons, bake me a loaf of bread such as my dear father used to eat on Sundays and holidays." In an instant the maids and matrons brought the bread. She took it, placed it beside Prince Ivan, and turned into a frog again. In the morning Prince Ivan awoke, took the loaf of bread and gave it to his father. His father was receiving the loaves brought by the elder brothers: their wives had dropped the dough into the fire just as the frog had done, so their bread was black and lumpy. First the king took the eldest son's loaf, inspected it and despatched it to the kitchen. then he took the middle son's loaf and despatched it thither too. Then came Prince Ivan's turn: he presented his loaf to his father who looked at it and said, "Now this is bread fit to grace a holy day. It is not at all like the burnt offerings of my elder daughters-in-law!" After that the king thought to hold a ball to see which of his sons' wives was the best dancer. AU the guests and daughters-in-law assembled; everyone was there except Prince Ivan, who thought:

"How can I go to the ball with a frog?" And the poor prince began- to weep bitterly. "Do not cry, Prince Ivan," said the frog. "Go to the ball. I shall follow in an hour." Prince Ivan was somewhat cheered at the frog's words, and left for the ball. Then the frog cast off her skin and turned into a lovely maid dressed in finery. When she arrived at the ball, Prince Ivan was overjoyed, and the guests clapped their hands at the sight of such beauty. They began to eat and drink. But the frogprincess would eat and slip the bones into her sleeve, then drink and pour the dregs into her other sleeve. The elder brothers' wives saw this and followed suit, slipping bones into one sleeve and dregs into the other. When the time came for dancing, the king called upon his elder sons' wives but they insisted on the frog-princess dancing first. And she straightway took Prince Ivan's arm and came forward to dance. She danced and danced, whirling round and round, to the delight of all. When she shook her right sleeve, woods and lakes appeared; when she shook her left sleeve, all kinds of birds flew about. The guests were filled with wonder. When she finished dancing, everything disappeared. Then the wives of the two elder sons began to dance. They wished to do as the frog-princess had done, so they shook their right sleeves and bones flew out hitting folk about them; and when they shook their left sleeves, water splashed all over the onlookers. The king was most displeased and soon called an end to the dancing. The ball was over. Prince Ivan rode off ahead of his wife, found the frogskin and burnt it. So when his wife returned and looked for the skin, it was nowhere to be seen. She lay down to sleep with Prince Ivan, but just before daybreak she said to him, "Oh, Prince Ivan, if only you had waited a little longer I would have been yours. Now God alone knows when we shall meet again. Farewell. If you wish to find me you must go beyond the Thrice-Nine Land to the Thrice-Ten Kingdom." And the frog-princess vanished. A year went by, and Prince Ivan still pined for his wife. As a second year began, he made ready to leave, seeking first the blessing of his father and mother. He rode for a long way and eventually chanced upon a little hut facing the trees, with its back to him. "Little hut, little hut," he called. 'Turn your face to me, please, and your back to the trees." The little hut did as he said and Prince Ivan entered. There before him sat an old woman, who cried, "Fie, Foh! There was neither sight nor sound of Russian bones, yet now they come marching in of their own free will! Whither go you, Prince Ivan?" "First give me food and drink and put me to bed, old woman, then ask your questions." So the old woman gave food and drink and put him to bed. Then Prince Ivan said to her, "Grannie, I have set out to rescue Yelena the Fair." "Oh, my child," the old woman said, "you've waited too long! At first she spoke of you often, but now she no longer remembers you. I haven't seen her for a long time. Go now to my middle sister, she knows more than me." In the morning Prince Ivan set out, came to another little hut, and cried, "Little hut, little hut, turn your face to me, please, and your back to the trees." The little hut did as he said and Prince Ivan entered. There before him sat an old woman, who cried, "Fie, Foh! There was neither sight nor sound of Russian bones, yet now they come marching in of their own free will! Whither go you. Prince Ivan?" "I seek Yelena the Fair, Grannie-," he replied. "Oh, Prince Ivan," the old woman said, "you've waited too long! She has begun to forget you and is to marry another. She is now living with my eldest sister; go there now, but beware: as you approach they will know it is you. Yelena will turn into a spindle, her dress will turn to gold. My sister will wind the gold thread around the spindle and put it into a box which she will lock. But you must find the key, open the box, break the spindle, toss the top over your shoulder and the bottom before you. Then she will appear." Off went Prince Ivan, came to the old woman's hut, entered and saw her wind- ing gold thread around a spindle; she then locked it in a box and hid the key. But Prince Ivan quickly found the

key, opened the box, took out the spindle, broke it as he had been told, tossed the top over his shoulder and the bottom before him. All of a sudden, there was Yelena the Fair standing in front of him. "Oh, Prince Ivan,'' she sighed, "how long you were in coming! I almost wed another." And she told him that the other bridegroom would soon arrive. But, taking a magic carpet from the old woman, Yelena the Fair sat upon it and they soared up and away like birds. The bridegroom set off quickly in pursuit. He was clever and guessed that they had fled. He was within ten feet of them when they flew on the carpet into Rus. Just in time! He could not follow them there, so he turned back. But Prince Ivan and Yelena the Fair flew home to the rejoicing of all; and lived happily ever after.

SadkoAdapted from an English version of the Russian byliny by K.N. Payne In the north of Holy Russia lies the mighty and glorious town of Novgorod, known to all as Lord Novgorod the Great. And once there lived in great Novgorod a bard, a musician of some repute, by name: Sadko. He had little in the way of gold, and to support himself he made the rounds of the noble feasts and banquets, entrancing and delighting everyone, whether prince or boyar, merchant or peasant, with his marvelous skill on the gusli and his golden voice and his skill at weaving words and music into mighty visions of the exploits of Russian folk. He was always in demand and he looked forward to a day when he might have saved enough money to allow him to sing and play simly for pleasure rather than sustenance. Alas! Misfortune strikes us all, and so it struck Sadko. A day arrived when no one called for his presence, and he did not sing that day, neither did he receive any payment for his music. A second day passed without feast or banquet calling for his songs, and then a third. His money pouch was quicky being depleted, and his plans for an easier life being thwarted. Sighing with regret, Sadko journeyed down to the shores of Lake Ilmen and sat upon a rock by the waters. He began to pluck the strings of his faithful gusli, and to sing a song of lament. All the day, from just after the rising of the great, red sun until late in the afternoon as that same sun sank toward the western hills, Sadko played and sang. First a lament, then a mighty ballad of a great bogatyr, then a love song, then another lament, and so on through the passing hours. Just as evening fell, as he finished another song, there was a disturbance in the waters of the lake. Suddenly the waves began to swirl and a great noise of thunder rose from the depths of the waters. Great clouds of sand darkened the lake still further. Sadko, quite frightened, tucked his gusli under his arm and fled back to the town of Novgorod. The dark night passed and once again the sun rose into the heavens, but once again no invitation to perform came to Sadko. Being forced into idleness is tremendously wearing, so the bard went once again to the lovely shores of Lake Ilmen, sat upon the rocks by the blue waters, and began to sing. This day he sang new songs, songs he was only then composing in his mind. He sang to the glory of Novgorod, and to the prince, and he sang to the glory of Christ our Lord and to His Mother, the Theotokos. He sang new tales of Russian bogatyri and of magical beings who played tricks on unwary travelers. All the day long he played, and as it grew on toward dusk, there was a disturbance in the waters of the lake. Suddenly the waves began to swirl and a great noise of thunder rose from the depths of the waters. Great clouds of sand darkened the lake still further. Sadko, once more afraid, returned swiftly back to Novgorod.

On the third morning the door remained undarkened by anyone inviting Sadko to play at feasting, and so for the third time he went again to the stones on the shore of Lake Ilmen and sat in the warm sun and played his gusli while he sang sweet songs. As on the previous two days, at dusk the waves began to swirl and a great noise of thunder rose from the depths of the waters. Great clouds of sand darkened the lake still further. This time, however, Sadko remained in his place atop a great boulder and continued to sing and to play. He played as the night came on, a long while or a short while, it matters not a bit, for all of a sudden the waves grew high and crashed at the baseof Sadko's stone, and the thunderous roar of the waters grew louder than ever before. Then, before the terrified bard could move a muscle, the waters sank back into quietude and parted! Up from the depths of Lake Ilmen strode the mighty form of the King of the Blue Seas! "Many thanks to you, O Sadko the Bard of Novgorod," cried the King, and his voice was like the crashing of waves and rushing of waters. "For three days now you have greatly entertained us, for I have been holding feastday in my palace beneath Lake Ilmen. All have been bewitched by the golden tones of your voice, the dexterity of your fingers on the gusli, and the wit and wisdom of your words. Would that we could reward you adequately, but I know not how I should... But wait! Go now to your home in Novgorod, O Sadko, and on the morrow you shall be called to perform at the banquet of the wealthiest merchant of the city. Everyone will be present, from the veche, to the prince, to the merchants. As always happens with men, when they have eaten and drunk all they desire, they will begin to boast, and oh, such boasting as would make a bard's ears tingle with ideas for rollicking songs! One will brag of his great wealth, another of his noble steed, yet another of his great might and prowess in battle, and even more of his youth. Wisdom will boast of his elderly father and mother, foolishness will boast of his sweet young wife. But you, Sadko the Bard, will make a boast to shame theirs! Say to them: 'I, Sadko the Bard, knowthat dwelling in Lake Ilmen are fish with fins of pure gold!" Those rich (and ignorant) merchants of Novgorod will delight t ridiculing your words, and they will contradict you and deny that such fish are in Lake Ilmen. Thereupon you must wager with them, setting your turbulent head against all their shops and precious goods. When they accept (and they will, for foolish men always do), take a net of silk and come here, casting the net into the lake three times. Whenyou do this, I will send you each time a fishwith fins of pure gold. And in this way you will win markets full of shops and become Sadko the richest merchant of Novgorod, and you will be able to play and sing solely for pleasure rather than sustenance!" Sadko returned to Novgorod, sighing over the tricks of a head left to sit too long in the heat of the sun. But lo and behold! on the morrow when he went forth from his bed he was greeted by the chamberlain of the richest merchant in town, and invited to grace a great feast with song and story. And everything happened just as the King of the Blue Sea had predicted. When everyone present, the veche, the prince, and the rich merchants, had eaten and drunk all they desired, they began to boast and oh! the braggarts told tales that would make fodder for many fine witticisms of Sadko the Bard for long years to come! One boasted of his great riches and endless treasures, another of his noble steed descended from the most ancient and worthy bloodlines, yet another of his knightly bearing on the field of battle and his prowess a arms, while a wise man boasted of his elderly and saintly father and mother, and a fool bragged of his sweet young wife. All the while, Sadko sat and spoke not a word. When the feasters had finished their bragging, the host of the banquet turned to the silent and smiling Sadko and asked him whether he had nothing to boast of. Laying aside his gusli, Sadko arose and said: "Aie me! O noble merchants of Novgorod, o mighty prince, o all-powerful veche, what could a poor man such as I, Sadko the Bard, have to match against your glorious boasts? I have no goden

treasure, I have no sweet wife. My music is a gift of God and not mine to boast of. I know of only one thing whereof I could boast, for I alone know that in Lake Ilmen swim fish with fins of gold!" At first there was silence, then a snicker, and finally the merchants of Novgorod roared with laughter! Then they began to argue and contend with the bard, asserting that no such fish existed in the lake, or even in the wide world. "Ah, if I were rich, like you," lamented Sadko, "I would be able to wager much gold on the truth of my words. But alas! I have nothing but my own turbulent head to offer as stakes." "We gladly accept your wager, Sadko!" chuckled the over-confident merchants. "We say no fish with fins of gold are in Lake Ilmen, and we shall wager all of our shops in the Great Market and all of their fine goods against your turbulent head!" Then Sadko took a net of silk and went straightaway to the shores of Lake Ilmen and cast it into the waters. When he drew it out, there lay within it a tiny fish with fins of pure gold. The merchants were amazed, but Sadko did as the King of the Blue Sea had bidden him and cast the net into the lake twice more, and each time he drew forth a tiny fish with fins of pure gold. Without argument and seeing that the bard had spoken truth (for the merchants of Novgorod prided themselves on their honesty), they turned over to Sadko the shops in the Great market and all their fine goods. Thus did Sadko the Bard become one of the richest merchants in the glorious town of Novgorod, and no more sang for sustenance, but rather for pleasure.

Ivan Tsarevitch and the Grey Wolf(All used here illustrations belong to the Russian Crafts and represent products which were sold or which are selling at the Russian Crafts store). Once upon a time there lived a Tsar who had three sons. The youngest was called Ivan. The Tsar had a wonderous garden. In it grew a tree with golden apples. Someone began coming to the Tsar's garden to steal the apples. The Tsar became upset about it. He sent some guards there. None of the guards were able to track the culprit. The Tsar stopped eating and drinking, he became listless. His sons tried to comfort him: "Dear Father, don't grieve, we ourselves will guard the garden." The oldest son said: "Today is my turn, I will go to watch over the garden." The oldest son set out for the garden. A little while before evening, there wasn't a trace of anyone, and he lay down on the soft grass and fell asleep. In the morning the Tsar asked him: "Well, enlighten me, did you see the culprit?" "No, Father, all night I didn't sleep, my eyes never closed, but I didn't see anything." On the next night the middle son went to stand guard and also slept the whole night, but in the morning said that he hadn't seen the culprit. At last it was time for the youngest son to stand watch. Ivan went to guard his father's garden, and even though he was sitting there afraid, he didn't lie down. When he started to dream, he took dew from the grass and wiped the dream from his eyes. Midnight came, and to him it appeared there was light in the garden. It got brighter and brighter. All the garden was lit up. He saw the Firebird sitting in the apple tree, pecking at the golden apples. Ivan Tsarevich crawled toward the apple tree and grabbed the bird by the tail. The Firebird flapped it's wings and flew away, leaving in Ivan's hand, one feather.

In the morning Ivan Tsarevich went to his father. "Well, my dear Vanya, you didn't see the culprit either?" "Dear Father, I remember but don't remember, who destroys our garden. Here is a memento from the culprit for you to take. It is, Dear Father, the Firebird." The Tsar took the feather, and from that time began to eat and to drink, and knew no more sorrow. It was a beautiful time to him and he pondered about the Firebird. He called his sons and said to them: "My dear children, saddle would you good steeds, go would you about the wide world, to places unknown, where you might catch the Firebird. The children bowed to their father, saddled good horses and set out on their way. The oldest in one direction, the middle in another, and Ivan Tsarevich in the third direction. Ivan went a long time, or a short time. The day was summery. Ivan Tsarevich grew tired, got down from his horse, fettered him, and tumbled down to sleep. A long time or a short time passed, Ivan Tsarevich woke up and saw, no horse. He went to look for him, he walked and walked and hoped to find his horse nibbling on a bush. Thought Ivan Tsarevich: where without a horse to go in such remoteness? "Well, what of it, he thought, set out, nothing else to do." And he went on foot. He walked and walked, grew tired to death. Sat on the soft grass and grew more sad. From out of nowhere ran toward him the Grey Wolf. "What, Ivan Tsarevich, sitting there grieving, your head hanging?" "How can I not grieve, Grey Wolf?" I am left alone without a good steed." "It is I, Ivan Tsarevich, who ate your horse...I'm sorry! Tell me, why are you traveling in this remote place, where are you going?" "My father sent us to go about the wide world to find the Firebird." "Pooh, pooh, you on your own good horse could not in three years go to the Firebird. I alone know where he lives. So, and it will be, I ate your horse, and I will serve you, it's only right. Sit on me and hold on tight." Ivan Tsarevich sat on his back and the Grey Wolf leapt flying through the blue forest faster than the eye could see, past rivers and lakes. For a long time, or a short time, they flew to a high fortress. The Grey Wolf said: "Listen to me, Ivan Tsarevich, and remember: crawl over the wall, don't be afraid, it's a lucky hour, all the guards are asleep. You will see in the terem window, on the window sill stands a golden cage, and in the cage sits the Firebird. Take the bird, lay him by your breast, and look but don't touch the cage!" Ivan Tsarevich crawled over the wall, saw the terem, on the window sill sat the golden cage, and in the cage sat the Firebird. He took the bird, laid him by his breast, and looked at the cage. His heart caught fire: "Ah, such golden decoration! How can I not take it!" And he remembered what the Grey Wolf had said to him. He only touched the cage, throughout the fortress sounds: pipes piped, the guards woke up, grabbed Ivan Tsarevich and carried him to Tsar Afron. Tsar Afron was enraged and said: "Who are you, where are you from?" "I am the son of Tsar Ferapont. Ivan Tsarevich." "Ah, what a disgrace! A tsar's son goes out and steals." "But what about when your bird flew into our garden and destroyed it?" "But if you had come to me to ask for advice, I would have given him to you, out of respect for your father Tsar Ferapont. But now, about all the city, the most uncomplimentary glory upon you... Well and all right, render to me a service, I ask you. In some-such principality Tsar Kusman has a horse with a golden mane. Bring him to me, then I will give you the Firebird with the cage. Ivan Tsarevich grew very excited, went to the Grey Wolf. But the wolf said to him: "I told you, don't disturb the cage! Why didn't you listen to my instructions?" "Well, I beg you, I beg you, Grey Wolf." "Well, well, I beg....Alright, sit on me. Take the rope, don't say that it is not strong." Again set off the Grey Wolf with Ivan Tsarevich.

For a long time, or a short time, they flew to the other fortress, where stood the horse with the golden mane. "Crawl, Ivan Tsarevich, over the wall, the guards are asleep, go to the stable, take the horse, and look, but don't touch the bridle." Ivan Tsarevich crawled into the fortress, all the guards were asleep. He went to the stables, took the horse with the golden mane, and looked at the bridle. It was gold with precious stones. Ivan Tsarevich touched the bridle, and a loud noise went all through the fortress: pipes piped, the guards awoke, grabbed Ivan and carried him to Tsar Kusman. "Who are you, where are you from?" "I am Ivan Tsarevich." "Eeh, such stupidity to undertake, to steal a horse! On this even a simple peasant would agree." "Well, all right, I beg you, Ivan Tsarevich, render me a service. Tsar Dalmat has a daughter, Elena Prekracnaya. (the beautiful) Go and get her, bring her to me, and I will give you the horse with the golden mane and his bridle." Ivan Tsarevich became more dejected than ever, he went toward the Grey Wolf. "I told you, Ivan Tsarevich: Don't touch the bridle! You didn't listen to my advice." "Well, I beg you, I beg you, Grey Wolf". "Well well, you beg...yes, all right, sit on my back." Again sped off the grey wolf with Ivan Tsarevich. They rushed to Tsar Dalmat. He had a garden in his fortress where Elena Prekrasnaya walked with her mother and her nurse. Grey Wolf said: "This time I myself will go. You go back the way we came. I will soon catch up with you." Ivan Tsarevich went back the way they had come, and the Grey Wolf jumped over the wall and into the garden. He sat in hiding behind a bush and watched. Elena Prekrasnaya came out with her mother and nurse. They walked and walked and her mother and nurse stopped for a bit. Grey Wolf grabbed Elena Prekrasnaya, leapt over the wall, and took flight. Ivan Tsarevich was going along the way, when suddenly the Grey Wolf caught up with him. On the wolf sat Elena Prekrasnaya. Ivan Tsarevich rejoiced, but the Grey Wolf said to him: "Sit on me quickly, for they will not be far behind." The Grey Wolf sped away with Ivan Tsarevich and Elena Prekrasnaya the way they had come, through the blue forest, faster than the eye could see, past rivers and lakes. For a long time, or for a short time, they hurried to Tsar Kusman. The Grey Wolf asked: "Why, Ivan Tsarevich have you become even more sad?" "But, how can I not be sad, Grey Wolf? How can I be parted with such beauty? How can I exchange Elena Prekrasnaya for a horse?" The Grey Wolf answered: "I won't part you with such beauty, we will hide her somewhere, I will turn myself into Elena Prekrasnaya, and you will bring me to the Tsar." They hid Elena Prekrasnaya in a forest isba. The Grey Wolf turned his head and became exactly like Elena Prekrasnaya. Ivan Tsarevich took him to Tsar Kusman. The Tsar rejoiced and began thanking him: "Thankyou, Ivan Tsarevich, for you have brought to me a bride. Take the horse with the golden mane and bridle." Ivan Tsarevich sat on the horse and went for Elena Prekracnaya. He picked her up and sat her on the horse and they set out on their way. Tsar Kusman had the wedding, and feasted all day until evening. Then he needed to lie down to sleep. But when he and his young wife went up the stairs, he looked, and in place of Elena Prekrasnaya was a wolf! The tsar turned angrily toward him, but the wolf ran off. The Grey Wolf caught up with Ivan Tsarevich and asked: "Why are you so sad, Ivan Tsarevich?" "How can I not be sad? It would be a pity to part with such a bridle, and to trade the horse with the golden mane for the Firebird." "Don't grieve, I will help you." And they traveled to Tsar Afron.

The wolf said: "Hide the horse and Elena Prekrasnaya. I will turn myself into the horse with the golden mane, and you will bring me to Tsar Afron." They hid Elena Prekrasnaya and the horse with the golden mane in the forest. The Grey Wolf looked over his back and turned himself into the horse with the golden mane. Ivan Tsarevich took him to Tsar Afron. The tsar was overjoyed and gave him the Firebird with the golden cage. Ivan Tsarevich returned on foot to the forest, sat Elena Prekrasnaya on the horse with the golden mane picked up the golden cage with the Firebird, and they traveled in the direction of his homeland. Tsar Afron commanded his servants to bring his horse to him. He wanted to sit on him, but the horse turned into the Grey Wolf. The tsar was so surprised that he fell down right where he was standing, and the Grey Wolf took flight, quickly catching up with Ivan Tsarevich. "Now, farewell, I am not allowed to go any further." Ivan Tsarevich got down from his horse, and three times bowed down to the ground, with respect he thanked the Grey Wolf. Then he said: "You won't be parted with me forever, I again will call you into service." Ivan Tsarevich thought: "Aren't you already in my service, all of my wishes you have fufilled." He sat on the horse with the golden mane, and again set out with Elena Prekrasnaya and the Firebird. They traveled into his region. They had only a little bread left. They traveled to a little spring and drank the water, and ate the bread, and lay down on the grass to rest. Ivan Tsarevich fell asleep. His brothers suddenly came upon him. They had traveled to other lands, seeking the firebird, and returned empty-handed. They came upon Ivan and saw all that he had acquired. Then they said: "Let us kill our brother, all that he has gained will be ours." This decided, they killed Ivan Tsarevich. They saddled the horse with the golden mane, picked up the Firebird, sat Elena Prekrasnaya on the horse, and threatened her: "At home, don't say anything>" Ivan Tsarevich lay dead, two crows were already flying over him. From out of no where ran the Grey Wolf, and grabbed the crow and his wife. "You fly, crow, for the water of life and death. Bring to me the water of life and the water of death, and then I will let go of your wife. The crow flew for a long time or a short time, bringing the water of life and the water of death. The Grey Wolf sprinkled the water of death on Ivan's wounds, the wounds healed. He sprinkled him with the water of life, and Ivan got up. Oh, how soundly I slept! You would have slept even sounder, said the Grey Wolf, if I hadnt sprinkled you with the water of life and the water of death! Your own brothers killed you and took all that you have gained. Even now one of your brothers is to marry Elena Prekrasnaya. Sit on me quickly! They rushed home, where, indeed, Ivans brother was preparing to marry Elena Prekrasnaya. No sooner had Ivan Tsarevich entered the castle, than Elena Prekrasnaya jumped up and threw her arms around him. This is my true bridegroom, Ivan! she cried, Not the evil brother sitting there! And she told the Tsar everything the brothers had done, and how they had threatened to kill her if she told anyone what had happened. The Tsar was very angry and threw the two oldest brothers into the dungeon. Then Ivan Tsarevich married Elena Prekrasnaya, and they lived happily ever after.

Pea-Roll AlongThere was once a man who had six sons and one daughter, Olenka by name. One day the sons went out to plough and they told their sister to bring them their dinner to the field. "How will I find you there?" Olenka asked.

"We will make a furrow stretching from our house to the place where we will be," said they. And with that they drove away. Now, in the forest beyond the field there lived a Dragon, and he came and filled in the furrow the brothers had made with earth and made a furrow of his own which led to the door of his house. And when Olenka went out to take her brothers dinner to them she followed it and walked straight into the Dragon's courtyard. And the Dragon seized her and held her captive. In the evening the brothers came home and they said to their mother: "We were ploughing all day. Why didn't you send us anything to eat, Mother?" "But I did!' the mother replied. "I sent Olenka to the field with your dinner. She must have lost her way." "We must go and look for her," the brothers said. They set out at once, and, seeing the Dragon's furrow, followed it and came to his house. They walked in through the gate, and there was their sister running out to meet them! "Oh, my brothers, my dear brothers, where will I hide you?" she cried. "The Dragon is out now but he will eat you up when he comes back!" And lo! there was the Dragon flying toward them. "I smell a man, I smell many men!" he cried. "Well, now, my lads, is it to fight me you have come or to make peace with me?" "To fight you!" "Very well, then, let us go to the iron threshing floor." They went to the iron threshing floor, but they did not fight long. For the Dragon struck them once and drove them into the floor. Then he pulled them out, more dead than alive, and threw them into a deep dungeon. The mother and father waited for their sons to return, but they waited in vain. One day the mother went to the river with her laundry, and what should she see rolling toward her along the road but a pea! She picked "Perhaps I can free you," said Pea-Roll Along. "My brothers, and there were six of them, tried and could not do it, so how can you!" "We shall see what we shall see!" said Pea-Roll Along. And he sat down to wait by a window. By and by the Dragon came flying back. He stepped into the house, sniffed and said: "I smell a man!" "Of course you do, for .here I am!" said Pea-Roll Along, coming forward. "And what brings you here, my lad? Do you want to fight me or to make peace with me?" "I want to fight you!" "Well, then, let us go to the iron threshing floor!" "Let's!" They came to the threshing floor, and the Dragon faced Pea-Roll Along.

"You strike first!" he said. "No, you do!" said Pea-Roll Along. At this the Dragon pounced on Pea-Roll Along and struck him such a blow that he sank ankledeep into the iron threshing floor. But Pea-Roll Along was out again in a flash and he gave the Dragon an answering blow with his mace and drove him knee-deep into the floor. The Dragon heaved himself out and he again came at Pea-Roll Along and drove him as deep into the floor as he had just been driven himself. But Pea-Roll Along was not one to be frightened. He struck the Dragon a blow which drove him waist-deep into the floor, and then another that killed him on the spot. After that he made his way to the dungeon, freed his brothers, who were more dead than alive, and, taking them and his sister Olenka with him, and all the gold and silver the Dragon had in the house too, set out for home. But he never told them that he was their brother. Whether they were long on their way or not nobody knows, but by and by they sat down for a rest under an oak tree, and so tired was Pea-Roll Along after having battled the Dragon that he fell fast asleep. And his six brothers talked it all over among themselves and said: "We will be mocked at when it becomes known that the six of us could not do away with the Dragon while this young lad here did it all by himself. And he will get all the Dragon's riches besides." And they decided to tie Pea-Roll Along while he was asleep and Helpless to the oak tree and leave him there to be eaten up by a wild beast. No sooner said than done. They bound Pea-Roll Along to the tree, left him there and went away. And Pea-Roll Along slept on and felt nothing. He slept for a day and he slept for a night, and he woke to find himself bound to the oak tree. But he jerked and heaved, and lo! out came the tree, roots and all, from the ground, and Pea-Roll Along threw it over his shoulder and went home. He came up to his house and he heard his brothers talking to their mother. "Did you have any more children, Mother, after we left home?" they asked. "Yes, indeed!" the mother replied. "I had a son, Pea-Roll Along by name, who went to seek you." "Then it must have been he we bound to the oak tree. We shall have to go back at once and untie him!" But Pea-Roll Along waved the oak tree he was carrying and it struck the roof of the hut so hard that the but all but tumbled to the ground. "Stay where you are since you are what you are and no better, my brothers!" he cried. "I will go off by myself and roam the wide world." And he shouldered his mace and away he went. He walked and he walked and he saw two mountains ahead. Between them stood a man who had his hands and his feet set against them and was trying to push them apart. "Good morning, friend!" Pea-Roll Along called out. "Good morning to you!" the man replied. "What are you doing?"

"Moving the mountains apart to make a path for passers-by." "Where are you going?" "To see the world and seek my fortune." "I am out to do the same. What is your name?" "Move-Mountain. What's yours?" "Pea-Roll Along. Let's go together!" "Let's!" They went along together, they walked and they walked, and they saw a man in the forest who was pulling out oak trees by their roots. And he had only to give a tree one twist, and out it came! "Good morning, friend!" called Pea-Roll Along and Move-Mountain. "Good morning to you, my lads!" the man called back. "What are you doing?" "Uprooting oak trees to make a path for anyone who wants to walk here." "Where are you going?" "To seek my fortune." "We are out to do the same. What's your name?" "Twist-Oak. And yours?" "Pea-Roll Along and Move-Mountain. Let's go together!" "Let's!" The three of them went on together, they walked and they walked, and they saw a man sitting on the bank of a river. The man had the longest of long whiskers, and he had only to twirl one of them for the waters to part and roll away, leaving a path for anyone who wanted to walk over the river bed. "Good morning, friend!" they called to him. "Good morning to you, my lads!" "What are you doing?" "Parting the waters in order to cross the river." "Where are you going?" "To seek my fortune." "We are out to do the same. What's your name?" "Twirl-Whisker. What are yours?" "Pea-Roll Along, Move-Mountain and Twist-Oak. Let's go together!" "Let's!" They went on together and had an easy time of it, for Move-Mountain moved aside every mountain, Twist-Oak uprooted every forest, and Twirl-Whisker parted the waters of every river that was in their way.

They walked and they walked, and they came to a small hut standing in the middle of a large forest. They stepped inside, and lo! there was no one there. "Here's where we will spend the night!" said Pea-Roll Along. They spent the night in the hut, and in the morning Pea-Roll Along said: "You stay at home, Move-Mountain, and make dinner, and we three will go hunting." They went away, and Move-Mountain cooked a big dinner and lay down for a sleep. All of a sudden there came a rap at the door: rap-tap-tap! "Open the door!" someone called. "I'm no servant of yours to open doors!" Move-Mountain called back. The door opened, and the same voice called again: "Carry me over the threshold!" "You're no lord of mine, so don't wail or whine!" Move-Mountain called back. And lo! there climbed over the threshold the tiniest old man that ever was, with a beard so long that it dragged over the floor. The little old man caught Move-Mountain by the hair and hung him on a nail on the wall. Then he ate all there was to eat and drank all there was to drink, and after cutting a long strip of skin from Move-Mountain's back, went away. Move-Mountain twisted and turned on the nail till he broke loose, and then he set to work making dinner anew. He was still at it when his friends returned. "Why are you so late getting dinner?" they asked. "I dozed off and forgot about it," said Move-Mountain. They ate their fill and went to bed, and on the following morning Pea-Roll Along said: "Now you stay at home, Twist-Oak, and the rest of us will go hunting." They went away, and Twist-Oak cooked a big dinner and lay down for a sleep. All of a sudden there came a rap at the door: rap-tap-tap! "Open the door!" a voice called. "I'm no servant of yours to open doors!" Twist-Oak called back. "Carry me over the threshold!" the same voice called again. "You're no lord of mine, so don't wail or whine!" Twist-Oak replied. And lo! there climbed over the threshold and stepped into the hut the tiniest little old man that ever was, with a beard so long that it trailed over the floor. The old man grabbed Twist-Oak by the hair and hung him on a nail, and then ate all there was to eat and drank all there was to drink, and, after cutting a long strip of skin from Twist-Oak's back, went away. Twist-Oak twisted and turned this way and that till he succeeded in breaking free, and then he started to make dinner again. He was still at it when his friends returned. "Why are you so late getting dinner?" they asked. "I dozed off and only woke a little while ago," said Twist-Oak. Move-Mountain, who guessed what had happened, said nothing.

On the third day Twirl-Whisker was the one to remain at home, and the same thing happened to him. Said Pea-Roll Along: "You three are very slow getting dinner. Tomorrow you'll go hunting and I'll stay home." Morning came, and Pea-Roll Along remained at home while his three friends went hunting. He cooked a big dinner, and just as he lay down for a nap there came a rap at the door: rap-tap-tap! "Open up!" a voice called. Pea-Roll Along opened the door, and there before him was the tiniest little old man that ever lived, with a beard so long that it trailed over the floor. "Carry me over the threshold, my lad!" said the little old man. Pea-Roll Along picked him up, carried him into the hut and set him down on the floor, and the little old man began dancing round and round and taking little flying jumps at him. "What do you want?" asked Pea-Roll Along. "You'll soon see what I want!" said the little old man. He stretched out his hand and was about to seize Pea-Roll Along by the hair, but Pea-Roll Along cried out, "Oh, so that's the sort you are!" and caught him by the beard instead. Then, taking an axe, he dragged the little old man outside and up to an oak tree, split the oak tree in two, and thrust the little old man's beard deep into the cleft, pinning it fast. "You were wicked enough to try to catch me by the hair, Grandpa," he said, "so now you'll have to stay here till I return." Back he went to the hut, and he found his three friends waiting for him there. "Is dinner ready?" they asked. "Yes, it's been ready and waiting a long time," Pea-Roll Along replied. They sat down and began eating, and after they had finished he said: "Come with me and I will show you a most strange sight." He led them outside, but oddly enough there was no oak tree there and no little old man either. For the little old man had pulled out the oak tree by the roots and dragged it away with him. Pea-Roll Along then told his friends of all that had happened to him, and they, on their part, confessed that the little old man had had them hanging from a nail and had cut strips of skin from their backs. "He's a wicked old thing, is the little old man, and we had better go and find him," said Pea-Roll Along. Now, the little old man had been dragging the oak tree and had thus left a trail which they found easy to follow. The trail led them to a hole in the ground so deep that it seemed bottomless. Pea-Roll Along turned to Move-Mountain. "Climb down the hole, Move-Mountain!" he said.

"Not I!" answered Move-Mountain. "How about you, Twist-Oak, or you, Twirl-Whisker?" But neither Twist-Oak nor Twirl-Whisker would risk climbing down the hole. "All right, then, I'll do it!" said Pea-Roll Along. "But I'll need a rope. Let's plait one!" They plaited a rope, and Pea-Roll Along wound one end of it round his wrist. "Now let me down!" he said. They began letting him down, and it took them a long time, for so deep was the hole that to reach its bottom was like trying to reach the nether world itself. But they got him down at last, and Pea-Roll Along set out to explore the place. On he walked, and by and by he came across a huge palace. He went inside, and everything in the palace sparkled and shone, for it was made of gold studded with precious stones. He passed from chamber to chamber, and all of a sudden who should come running toward him but a princess, and so beautiful was she that her equal could not have been found anywhere in the world. "What brings you here, good youth?" she asked. "I am looking for a little old man with a beard that trails over the ground," said Pea-Roll Along. "He got his beard stuck in the cleft of a tree and is now trying to pull it out," said the princess. "Don't go to him or he will kill you as he has killed others." "He won't kill me," said Pea-Roll Along. "It was I who caught him by the beard and stuck it in the cleft. But who are you?" "I am a princess, the daughter of a king. The little old man carried me off and is keeping me captive here." "I will free you, never fear! Just take me to him." The princess led Pea-Roll Along to the little old man, and lo!there he sat stroking his beard which he had pulled out of the cleft. At the sight of Pea-Roll Along he turned red with anger. "What brings you here have you come to fight me or to make peace with me?" he asked. "I am here to fight you!" said Pea-Roll Along. "Do you think I would make peace with the likes of you?" They began to fight, and they fought fiercely and long till at last Pea-Roll Along struck the little old man with his mace and killed him at once. After that Pea-Roll Along and the princess took all the gold and gems they could find in the palace, and, filling three sacks full of them, made for the hole down which Pea-Roll Along had climbed into the underground kingdom. They came to it soon enough, and Pea-Roll Along cupped his hands round his mouth and began calling to his friends. "Are you still there, my brothers?" he called. "We are!" came the reply. Pea-Roll Along tied one of the sacks to the rope. "Pull it up, brothers! he called again. "The sack is yours!" They pulled up the sack and let the rope down again, and Pea-Roll Along tied the second sack to it.

"Pull it up! This one is yours too!" he called. He sent up the third sack as well, and then he tied the princess to the rope. "The princess is mine!" he called. The three friends pulled out the princess, and now only Pea-Roll Along was left at the bottom of the hole. "Let's pull him up and then let go of the rope!" said they. "He will fall and be killed, and the princess will be ours." But Pea-Roll Along guessed what they were up to and tied a large stone to the rope "Now pull me up!" he called. They pulled up the rope nearly to the top and then let go of it, and down came the stone with a crash! "A fine lot of friends I have!" said Pea-Roll Along, and he set out to roam the kingdom at the bottom of the hole. On and on he walked, and all of a sudden the sky became overcast, and it began to rain and to hail. Pea-Roll Along hid under an oak tree, and as he stood there he heard the chirping of baby griffins coming from a nest at the top of the tree. He climbed the tree, and, taking off his coat, covered the birds with it. The rain stopped, and a huge griffin, the nestlings' father, came flying up. "Who was it that covered you, my little ones?" asked he. "We'll tell you if you promise not to eat him up," said the nestlings. "I won't, never fear!" "Well, do you see that man sitting under the tree? It was he who did it." The griffin flew down from the tree. "Ask of me whatever you want, and I will do it!" said he to Pea-Roll Along. "For this is the first time that none of my children has drowned in such a downpour, with me away." "Take me to my own kingdom," said Pea-Roll Along. "That is not easy to do, but if we take six barrels of meat and six of water with us I may be able to do it," the griffin said. "Every time I turn my head to the right you will throw a piece of meat into my mouth, and every time I turn it to the left you will give me a sip of water. If you don't do it we'll never get there, for I'll die on the way." They took six barrels of meat and six of water. Pea-Roll Along put them on the griffin's back and climbed on himself, and away they flew! And whenever the griffin turned his head to the right Pea-Roll Along put some meat into his mouth, and whenever he turned it to the left he gave him a sip of water. They flew for a long time and had nearly reached Pea-Roll Along's kingdom when the griffin turned his head to the right again. Pea-Roll Along looked into the barrel, the last of the six, and, seeing that there was not a scrap of meat left there, cut off a piece of his own leg and gave it to him. "What was it that I just ate? It was very good," the griffin asked. "A piece of my own flesh," replied Pea-Roll Along pointing to his leg.

The griffin said nothing, but spat out the piece, and leaving Pea-Roll Along to wait for him, flew off to fetch some living water. He was back with it before long, and no sooner had they put the piece that he had cut off to Pea-Roll Along's leg and sprinkled it with the living water than it grew fast to it again. After that the griffin flew home, and Pea-Roll Along went to seek his three faithless friends. Now, the three had made their way to the palace of the princess's father, the king, and they were now living there and quarrelling among themselves, for each of them wanted to marry the princess and would not give her up to the others. It was there that Pea-Roll Along found them, and when they saw him they turned white with fright. "Traitors deserve no mercy! cried Pea-Roll Along, and he struck them with his mace and killed them. Soon after that he married the princess, and they lived happily ever after.

SirkoUkrainian folk tale There was once a man who had a dog named Sirko. The dog was very, very old, and one day his master drove him out of the house. Sirko went roaming the fields, and he felt very sad and woebegone. "I served my master for so many years and watched over his house," said he to himself, "and now that I'm old and weak he grudges me even a crust of bread and has driven me out of the house." He wandered on, thinking these thoughts, when all of a sudden who should come up to him but a Wolf. "What are you doing, roaming about like that?" asked the Wolf. "There's nothing else I can do, for my master has driven me out of the house," Sirko replied. "I can help you if you like," the Wolf said. "If you do as I say, your master will take you back again." "Please, please help me, my dear friend!" Sirko cried. "I will find a way to repay you for your kindness." "Well, then, listen to me. Your master and mistress will soon go out to the fields to reap, and the mistress will leave her baby beside a stack of straw to sleep there while she is helping her husband. Now, you must stay close to the baby so I'll know where it is. I'll come running up and carry it off, and you must run after me and try to take it away. Then I'll pretend I'm frightened and let it go." The time to reap the wheat came, and the master and mistress went to the field. The mistress left her baby beside a straw stack and herself joined her husband and set to work. They were not at it very long when the Wolf ran up. He seized the baby and ran off with it across the field. Sirko ran after him, and his master cried:

"Catch him, Sirko!" Sirko caught up with the Wolf, snatched the baby away from him, and brought it back to his master. And his master got out some bread and a piece of bacon from a sack and said: "Here, Sirko, eat your fill! This is to thank you for saving our baby." Evening came, the master and mistress went home, and they took Sirko with them. They went into the house, and the master said: "Make us an extra dish of dumplings, wife, and don't spare the fat!" The dumplings were soon ready, and the master seated Sirko at the table and sat down beside him. "Serve the dumplings, wife!" said he. "We're going to have our supper." The mistress set the dumplings on the table, and the master filled a dish full of them and gave the dish to Sirko. And he blew on them lest Sirko burn himself while he ate. 63 "This is all the Wolf's doing," said Sirko to himself. "I must repa him for his kindness." Now, Sirko's master, who had waited till it was the season for eatin meat, prepared to marry off his eldest daughter. Sirko went out into the field, found the Wolf there and said to hin "Come to our vegetable garden toward evening on Sunday. I will tak you into the house and repay you for your kindness." The Wolf waited till Sunday came round and went where Sirko ha told him to. Now, it was on that very day that the wedding was held. Sirko wei outside, took the Wolf into the house and hid him under the table. The he seized a bottle of vodka and a big piece of meat from the tabi and gave them to the Wolf. The guests wanted to beat Sirko, but th master stopped them. "Do not touch Sirko!" he said. "He has done me a great service, an I will be kind to him always." And Sirko took some of the best pieces from the table and gave thei to the Wolf. So well did he feast him that the Wolf who had had to much to drink could not stop himself and said: "I'm going to sing!" "Please don't or you'll get into trouble," Sirko begged. "I'll give yo some more vodka if only you promise to keep quiet." He gave the Wolf another bottle of vodka, and the Wolf draine it dry. "I'm going to sing no matter what you say!" he cried. "Don't do it or we'll both pay with our lives for it!" Sirko said. "I can't help myself, I'm going to sing and that's the end of it!" the Wolf cried again, and he let out a terrific howl from under the table! The guests jumped up in fright, they rushed hither and thither, and some of them wanted to beat up the Wolf. So then Sirko jumped on top of him and made as though he was about to kill him. "Don't touch the Wolf or you'll hurt Sirko!" the master said. "And don't you worry, he'll teach him a good lesson!"

Sirko took the Wolf to the field and said: "You did me a kindness once, and now I have paid you back for it!" They bade each other goodbye and went their separate ways.