nce, and went in.

"Good day, Prince!" said the Baba Yaga. "Are you seeking
work or shunning work?"

"Eh, granny! First give me to eat and to drink, and then ask
me questions."

So she gave him food and drink, and the Prince told her
everything as to whither he was going and with what purpose.

Then the Baba Yaga said: "Go, my child, to the sea-shore;
there will fly thither twelve spoonbills, which will turn into fair
maidens, and begin bathing; do you steal quietly up and lay
your hands on the eldest maiden's shift. When you have come
to terms with her, go to the Water King, and there will meet
you on the way Obedalo and Opivalo, and also Moroz Treskum[144]--take
all of them with you; they will do you good service."

The Prince bid the Yaga farewell, went to the appointed spot
on the sea-shore, and hid behind the bushes. Presently twelve
spoonbills came flying thither, struck the moist earth, turned
into fair maidens, and began to bathe. The Prince stole the
eldest one's shift, and sat down behind a bush--didn't budge
an inch. The girls finished bathing and came out on the shore:
eleven of them put on their shifts, turned into birds, and
flew away home. There remained only the eldest, Vasilissa the
Wise. She began praying and begging the good youth:

"Do give me my shift!" she says. "You are on your way
to the house of my father, the Water King. When you come
I will do you good service."

So the Prince gave her back her shift, and she immediately
turned into a spoonbill and flew away after her companions.
The Prince went further on; there met him by the way three
heroes--Obedalo, Opivalo, and Moroz Treskum; he took them
with him and went on to the Water King's.

The Water King saw him, and said:

"Hail, friend! why have you been so long in coming to me?
I have grown weary of waiting for you. Now set to work.
Here is your first task. Build me in one night a great crystal
bridge, so that it shall be ready for use to-morrow. If you don't
build it--off goes your head!"

The Prince went away from the Water King, and burst into a
flood of tears. Vasilissa the Wise opened the window of her
upper chamber, and asked:

"What are you crying about, Prince?"

"Ah! Vasilissa the Wise! how can I help crying? Your
father has ordered me to build a crystal bridge in a single night,
and I don't even know how to handle an axe."

"No