est of the story closely resembles the German tale of "The
Pink."[398] In the corresponding Bohemian story of "The Treacherous
Servant,"[399] it may be observed, the bridge-building incident has
been preserved.

But I will not dwell any longer on the story of the Fiddler, as I
propose to give some account in the next chapter of several other
tales of the same class, in most of which such descriptions of evil
spirits are introduced as have manifestly been altered into what their
narrators considered to be in accordance with Christian teaching. And
so I will revert to those ideas about the dead, and about their
abiding-place, which the modern Slavonians seem to have inherited from
their heathen ancestors, and I will attempt to illustrate them by a
few Russian ghost-stories. Those stories are, as a general rule, of a
most ghastly nature, but there are a few into the composition of which
the savage element does not enter. The "Dead Mother," which has
already been quoted,[400] belongs to the latter class; and so does the
following tale--which, as it bears no title in the original, we may
name,

THE RIDE ON THE GRAVESTONE.[401]

Late one evening a certain artisan happened to be returning
home from a jovial feast in a distant village. There met him
on the way an old friend, one who had been dead some ten
years.

"Good health to you!" said the dead man.

"I wish you good health!" replied the reveller, and straight
way forgot that his acquaintance had ever so long ago bidden
the world farewell.

"Let's go to my house. We'll quaff a cup or two once
more."

"Come along. On such a happy occasion as this meeting
of ours, we may as well have a drink."

They arrived at a dwelling and there they drank and revelled.

"Now then, good-bye! It's time for me to go home," said
the artisan.

"Stay a bit. Where do you want to go now? Spend the night
here with me."

"No, brother! don't ask me; it cannot be. I've business
to do to-morrow, so I must get home as early as possible."

"Well, good-bye! but why should you walk? Better get on
my horse; it will carry you home quickly."

"Thanks! let's have it."

He got on its back, and was carried off--just as a whirlwind
flies! All of a sudden a cock crew. It was awful! All around
were graves, and the rider found he had a gravestone under
him!

Of a somewhat similar nature is the story of--

THE TWO FRIENDS.[402]