ights, and she
said to them: "Now ye brave warriors, go forth and fetch hither this
youth and bring me his head; so shall his boldness be punished!"

And the valiant knights promised her: "We will not rest until we have
slain him, and brought his head to you, even if he were in the midst
of an army." So the Princess dismissed them, and went up into her
balcony, and gazed after her army and after the stranger who had dared
to intrude into the privacy of her court, and caress her in her sleep.

When the alarm was given, Lyubim Tsarevich had already ridden a great
distance on his Wolf-steed, and was half-way to his tent before he
could be overtaken. As soon as he saw them approach, he wheeled about
and grew furious at beholding such an array of Knights in the field.
Then they fell upon him; but Lyubim Tsarevich laid about him valiantly
with his sword, and slew many, whilst his horse trod down still more
under his hoofs, and it ended in their slaying nearly all the little
knightlets. And Lyubim Tsarevich saw one single knight mounted upon a
white steed, with a head like a beer-barrel, who rode at him; but
Lyubim Tsarevich slew him also, leaped on the white horse, and left
the Wolf to rest. When they had rested they betook themselves to their
tent.

When the beautiful Princess saw Lyubim Tsarevich overcome singly such
a large host, she collected a still larger army and sent them forth
against him, whilst she went back again to her balcony.

But Lyubim Tsarevich came to his tent, and there the Wolf transformed
himself into a valiant knight, such as no one could imagine except in
a fairy-tale. And presently the army of the beautiful Tsarevna was
seen approaching--a countless host; whereupon Lyubim Tsarevich mounted
his white steed, accompanied by his companion the Wolf, and awaited
their attack; and when the army of the beautiful Tsarevna was near,
Lyubim, taking the right wing, ordered the Wolf to attack the left,
and they made ready for the charge. Then on a sudden they fell upon
the warriors of the Tsarevna with a fierce onset, mowing them down
like grass, until only two persons remained on the field, the Wolf and
Lyubim Tsarevich. And after this dreadful fight was ended the brave
Wolf said to Lyubim: "See, yonder comes the beautiful Tsarevna
herself, and she will ask you to take her to wife; there is nothing
more to fear from her; I have expiated my crimes through my bravery;
dismiss me now, and let me return to my own