usiness?" "I
am from the kingdom of my father the Tsar Chotei," replied Sila; "my
name is Sila Tsarevich, and I am come to sue for your daughter, the
beautiful Queen Truda."

King Salom was overjoyed that the son of such a renowned Tsar should
be his son-in-law, and immediately ordered his daughter to prepare for
the wedding. And when the day for the marriage came, the King
commanded all his princes and boyars to assemble in the palace; and
they all went in procession to the church, and Sila Tsarevich was
married to the fair Queen Truda. Then they returned to the palace,
seated themselves at table, and feasted and made merry. When the time
came to retire to rest, Ivashka took Sila aside and whispered to him:
"Hark, ye, Sila Tsarevich, when you go to rest, beware lest you speak
a word to your bride or you will not remain alive, and your head will
be stuck on the last stake. She will in every way try to make you
embrace her, but attend to what I say."

Then Sila Tsarevich enquired why he warned him thus, and Ivashka
replied: "She is in league with an evil Spirit, who comes to her every
night in the shape of a man, but flies through the air in the shape of
a six-headed dragon; now, if she lays her hand upon your breast and
presses it, jump up and beat her with a stick until all her strength
is gone. I will meanwhile remain on watch at the door of your
apartment."

When Sila Tsarevich heard this, he went with his wife to rest, and
Queen Truda tried in every way to get him to kiss her, but Sila lay
quite still and spoke not a word. Then Truda laid her hand upon his
breast and pressed him so hard that he could scarcely breathe. But up
jumped Sila Tsarevich and seized the stick which Ivashka had laid
there ready for him, and fell to beating her as hard as he could. On a
sudden there arose a storm, and a six-headed dragon came flying into
the room and was going to devour Sila Tsarevich, but Ivashka seized a
sharp sword and attacked the dragon, and they fought three hours, and
Ivashka struck off two of the dragon's heads, whereupon the monster
flew away. Then Ivashka desired Sila Tsarevich to go to sleep and fear
nothing. Sila obeyed him, laid himself down, and fell asleep.

Early in the morning King Salom went to be informed whether his dear
son still lived, and when he heard that Sila was alive and well, the
King rejoiced, since he was the first who had been saved from his
daughter; and he instantly ordered Sila to be cal