hunt. Quercillo having got ready
the dinner took his seat by the window and awaited the return of his
brethren. At that moment came Baba Yaga riding on an iron mortar, which
she urged on with the pestle, whilst with her tongue lolling out of her
mouth she drew a mark on the earth as she went, and entering into the
cabin she said:

"'_Till now ne'er a Russian wight_
_I've heard with ear_, _or seen with sight_,
_Now full clear I see and hear_."

Then turning to Quercillo she inquired, "Wherefore did you come hither,
Quercillo?" Thereupon she began to beat him, and continued beating him
until he was half dead, after which she devoured all the food which had
been got ready, and then rode off.

Upon the return of Quercillo's comrades from the chase they asked him for
their dinner, and he, not informing them that Baba Yaga had been there,
said that he had fallen into a swoon, and had got nothing ready.

In the very same manner did Baba Yaga treat Montano and Moustacho. At
last, it coming to the turn of Jack with the Bear's Ear to sit at home,
he remained whilst his comrades went forth in quest of game. Jack cooked
and roasted everything, and having found in Baba Yaga's cabin a pot of
honey he placed a post by the perch, and having split it at the top he
thrust in a wedge and emptied the honey upon the post. He himself sat on
the perch, concealing behind him the post whilst he prepared three iron
rods. After the lapse of a little time arrived Baba Yaga and screamed
forth:

"'_Till now ne'er a Russian true_
_I've heard with ear_, _or seen with view_,
_Now I do both hear and view_."

"Wherefore have you come hither, Jack with the Bear's Ear, and why dost
thou thus waste my property?" Whereupon she began to lick with her
tongue about the post, and no sooner did her tongue arrive at the fissure
than Jack snatched the wedge from out of the post, and having entrapped
her tongue he leaped up from the perch, and scourged her with the iron
rods until she begged that he would let her go, promising that he should
be in peace from her and that she would never more come to him.

Jack consented to her prayer, and having set her tongue at liberty he
placed Baba Yaga in a corner whilst he himself sat by the window awaiting
his companions, who soon returned and imagined that Baba Yaga had acted
with him in the same manner as with themselves. But perceiving that he
had the food all ready prepared they