ut what there is in the oven; I'm hungry."

Vasilissa lighted a splinter[189] at one of the skulls which were
on the fence, and began fetching meat from the oven and setting
it before the Baba Yaga; and meat enough had been provided
for a dozen people. Then she fetched from the cellar kvass,
mead, beer, and wine. The hag ate up everything, drank up
everything. All she left for Vasilissa was a few scraps--a crust
of bread and a morsel of sucking-pig. Then the Baba Yaga lay
down to sleep, saying:--

"When I go out to-morrow morning, mind you cleanse the
courtyard, sweep the room, cook the dinner, and get the linen
ready. Then go to the corn-bin, take out four quarters of wheat,
and clear it of other seed.[190] And mind you have it all done--if
you don't, I shall eat you!"

After giving these orders the Baba Yaga began to snore. But
Vasilissa set the remnants of the hag's supper before her doll,
burst into tears, and said:--

"Now, dolly, feed, listen to my need! The Baba Yaga has
set me a heavy task, and threatens to eat me if I don't do it all.
Do help me!"

The doll replied:

"Never fear, Vasilissa the Fair! Sup, say your prayers, and
go to bed. The morning is wiser than the evening!"

Vasilissa awoke very early, but the Baba Yaga was already up.
She looked out of the window. The light in the skull's eyes was
going out. All of a sudden there appeared the white horseman,
and all was light. The Baba Yaga went out into the courtyard and
whistled--before her appeared a mortar with a pestle and a broom.
The red horseman appeared--the sun rose. The Baba Yaga
seated herself in the mortar, and drove out of the courtyard,
shooting herself along with the pestle, sweeping away her traces
with the broom.

Vasilissa was left alone, so she examined the Baba Yaga's
house, wondered at the abundance there was in everything, and
remained lost in thought as to which work she ought to take to
first. She looked up; all her work was done already. The doll
had cleared the wheat to the very last grain.

"Ah, my preserver!" cried Vasilissa, "you've saved me
from danger!"

"All you've got to do now is to cook the dinner," answered
the doll, slipping into Vasilissa's pocket. "Cook away, in God's
name, and then take some rest for your health's sake!"

Towards evening Vasilissa got the table ready, and awaited
the Baba Yaga. It began to grow dusky