Chapter II. MYTHOLOGICAL, part 12 · page 21 2101Vasilissa 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.102Then she fetched from the cellar kvass, mead, beer, and wine.103The hag ate up everything, drank up everything.104All she left for Vasilissa was a few scraps--a crust of bread and a morsel of sucking-pig.105Then the Baba Yaga lay down to sleep, saying:--106"When I go out to-morrow morning, mind you cleanse the courtyard, sweep the room, cook the dinner, and get the linen ready.107Then go to the corn-bin, take out four quarters of wheat, and clear it of other seed.108[190] And mind you have it all done--if you don't, I shall eat you!"109After giving these orders the Baba Yaga began to snore.110But Vasilissa set the remnants of the hag's supper before her doll, burst into tears, and said:--111"Now, dolly, feed, listen to my need!112The Baba Yaga has set me a heavy task, and threatens to eat me if I don't do it all.113Do help me!"114The doll replied:115"Never fear, Vasilissa the Fair!116Sup, say your prayers, and go to bed.117The morning is wiser than the evening!"118Vasilissa awoke very early, but the Baba Yaga was already up.119She looked out of the window.120The light in the skull's eyes was going out.121All of a sudden there appeared the white horseman, and all was light.122The Baba Yaga went out into the courtyard and whistled--before her appeared a mortar with a pestle and a broom.123The red horseman appeared--the sun rose.124The 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.125Vasilissa 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.126She looked up; all her work was done already.127The doll had cleared the wheat to the very last grain.128"Ah, my preserver!" cried Vasilissa, "you've saved me from danger!"129"All you've got to do now is to cook the dinner," answered the doll, slipping into Vasilissa's pocket. "130Cook away, in God's name, and then take some rest for your health's sake!"131Towards evening Vasilissa got the table ready, and awaited the Baba Yaga.132It began to grow dusky; the black rider appeared for a moment at the gate, and all grew dark.checked by a teacher133Only the eyes of the skulls sent forth their light.134The trees began to crack, the leaves began to rustle, up drove the Baba Yaga.135Vasilissa went out to meet her.136"Is everything done?" asks the Yaga.137"Please to look for yourself, granny!" says Vasilissa.138The Baba Yaga examined everything, was vexed that there was nothing to be angry about, and said:139"Well, well! very good!"140Afterwards she cried:141"My trusty servants, zealous friends, grind this my wheat!"142There appeared three pairs of hands, which gathered up the wheat, and carried it out of sight.143The Baba Yaga supped, went to bed, and again gave her orders to Vasilissa:144"Do just the same to-morrow as to-day; only besides that take out of the bin the poppy seed that is there, and clean the earth off it grain by grain.145Some one or other, you see, has mixed a lot of earth with it out of spite."146Having said this, the hag turned to the wall and began to snore, and Vasilissa took to feeding her doll.147The doll fed, and then said to her what it had said the day before:148"Pray to God, and go to sleep.149The morning is wiser than the evening.150All shall be done, Vasilissa dear!"151The next morning the Baba Yaga again drove out of the courtyard in her mortar, and Vasilissa and her doll immediately did all the work.152The hag returned, looked at everything, and cried, "My trusty servants, zealous friends, press forth oil from the poppy seed!"153Three pairs of hands appeared, gathered up the poppy seed, and bore it out of sight.154The Baba Yaga sat down to dinner.155She ate, but Vasilissa stood silently by.156"Why don't you speak to me?" said the Baba Yaga; "there you stand like a dumb creature!"157"I didn't dare," answered Vasilissa; "but if you give me leave, I should like to ask you about something."158"Ask away; only it isn't every question that brings good. '159Get much to know, and old soon you'll grow.'"160"I only want to ask you, granny, about something I saw.161As I was coming here, I was passed by one riding on a white horse; he was white himself, and dressed in white.162Who was he?"163"That was my bright Day!" answered the Baba Yaga.164"Afterwards there passed me another rider, on a red horse; red himself, and all in red clothes.165Who was he?"166"That was my red Sun!"167[191] answered the Baba Yaga.168"And who may be the black rider, granny, who passed by me just at your gate?"169"That was my dark Night; they are all trusty servants of mine."170Vasilissa thought of the three pairs of hands, but held her peace.171"Why don't you go on asking?" said the Baba Yaga.172"That's enough for me, granny.173You said yourself, 'Get too much to know, old you'll grow!'"174"It's just as well," said the Baba Yaga, "that you've only asked about what you saw out of doors, not indoors!175In my house I hate having dirt carried out of doors;[192] and as to over-inquisitive people--well, I eat them.176Now I'll ask you something.177How is it you manage to do the work I set you to do?"1 2← previousChapter II. 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