ill
be glad to eat of."

The Prince did not believe this, but grief is heavy, so no sooner was
he in bed than he fell into a deep sleep.

Then the frog arose from beside him and went into a far-off room and
took off her frog-skin; for she was really a Princess who had been
enchanted. She combed her hair and washed herself and then she went
out on the balcony of the castle and cried, "Nurses dear, nurses dear,
bring me a loaf of bread such as I used to have in the palace of my
own dear father, the King."

After she had called this three times three crows appeared, carrying
among them a fine napkin embroidered with gold, and in this napkin was
a loaf of bread. They laid the napkin before the Princess and bowed
three times, croaking solemnly, and then they flew away again into the
night.

The Princess took up the bread and went back into the room and put on
her frog-skin again; after that she returned to her chamber and lay
down beside her husband.

The next day when the Prince was ready to set out for the Tsar's
palace, the frog brought him the loaf of bread still wrapped in the
napkin.

"Take this, dear husband," said she, "and carry it to your father, the
Tsar, but do not open it on the way lest the dust should spoil the
fineness of the bread."

The Prince took the loaf and rode away with it, but he could not
forbear from peeping into the napkin to see what was there, and what
he saw filled him with admiration and wonder. Quickly he rode on his
way, and soon reached the Tsar's palace.

The two older brothers were there, and each brought a loaf of fine
white bread that his wife had made.

When Prince Ivan entered his brothers could not forbear from smiling.
"Come!" said they, "show us quickly what kind of bread the Frog
Princess has made. Does it smell of reeds and rushes?"

The young Prince made no answer but gave what he carried to his
father.

When the Tsar saw the fineness of the napkin and the beautiful
embroidery upon it he was very much surprised. But he was still more
surprised when he opened the napkin and saw what it contained. Never
before had he seen such bread. Not only was it soft and light and
fine, but it was molded along the sides in cunning scenes, castles and
cities, moats and bridges, and upon the top was the imprint of the
royal eagle, perfect even to the claws and feathers.

The Tsar could not admire it enough. Still he was not willing to leave
the kingdom to Prince Ivan and so mak