looked in--there hung Koshchei the Deathless, fettered by
twelve chains. Then Koshchei entreated Prince Ivan, saying,--

"Have pity upon me and give me to drink! Ten years long
have I been here in torment, neither eating or drinking; my
throat is utterly dried up."

The Prince gave him a bucketful of water; he drank it up
and asked for more, saying:

"A single bucket of water will not quench my thirst; give
me more!"

The Prince gave him a second bucketful. Koshchei drank
it up and asked for a third, and when he had swallowed the
third bucketful, he regained his former strength, gave his chains
a shake, and broke all twelve at once.

"Thanks, Prince Ivan!" cried Koshchei the deathless,
"now you will sooner see your own ears than Marya Morevna!"
and out of the window he flew in the shape of a terrible whirlwind.
And he came up with the fair Princess Marya Morevna
as she was going her way, laid hold of her, and carried her off
home with him. But Prince Ivan wept full sore, and he arrayed
himself and set out a wandering, saying to himself: "Whatever
happens, I will go and look for Marya Morevna!"

One day passed, another day passed: at the dawn of the
third day he saw a wondrous palace, and by the side of the palace
stood an oak, and on the oak sat a falcon bright. Down flew
the Falcon from the oak, smote upon the ground, turned into a
brave youth and cried aloud:

"Ha, dear brother-in-law! how deals the Lord with you?"

Out came running the Princess Marya, joyfully greeted her
brother Ivan, and began enquiring after his health, and telling
him all about herself. The Prince spent three days with them,
then he said:

"I cannot abide with you; I must go in search of my wife
the fair Princess Marya Morevna."

"Hard will it be for you to find her," answered the Falcon.
"At all events leave with us your silver spoon. We will look at
it and remember you." So Prince Ivan left his silver spoon at
the Falcon's, and went on his way again.

On he went one day, on he went another day, and by the
dawn of the third day he saw a palace still grander than the former
one, and hard by the palace stood an oak, and on the oak
sat an eagle. Down flew the eagle from the oak, smote upon
the ground, turned into a brave youth, and cried aloud:

"Rise up, Princess Olga! Hither comes our brother dear!"

The Princess Olga immediately ran to mee