t him, and began
kissing him and embracing him, asking after his health and telling
him all about herself. With them Prince Ivan stopped three
days; then he said:

"I cannot stay here any longer. I am going to look for my
wife, the fair Princess Marya Morevna."

"Hard will it be for you to find her," replied the Eagle,
"Leave with us a silver fork. We will look at it and remember
you."

He left a silver fork behind, and went his way. He travelled
one day, he travelled two days; at daybreak on the third day he
saw a palace grander than the first two, and near the palace
stood an oak, and on the oak sat a raven. Down flew the Raven
from the oak, smote upon the ground, turned into a brave youth,
and cried aloud:

"Princess Anna, come forth quickly! our brother is coming!"

Out ran the Princess Anna, greeted him 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 forg