The Death of Koshchei the Deathless · page 31 2 3201‘So be it, Prince!202You won’t have to serve a year with me, but just three days.203If you take good care of my mares, I’ll give you an heroic steed.204But if you don’t—why, then you mustn’t be annoyed at finding your head stuck on top of the last pole up there.’205Prince Ivan agreed to these terms.206The Baba Yaga gave him food and drink, and bade him set about his business.207But the moment he had driven the mares afield, they cocked up their tails, and away they tore across the meadows in all directions.checked by a teacher208Before the Prince had time to look round they were all out of sight.209Thereupon he began to weep and to disquiet himself, and then he sat down upon a stone and went to sleep.210But when the sun was near its setting the outlandish bird came flying up to him, and awakened him, saying:211‘Arise, Prince Ivan!212The mares are at home now.’213The Prince arose and returned home.214There the Baba Yaga was storming and raging at her mares, and shrieking:215‘Whatever did ye come home for?’216‘How could we help coming home?’ said they.217‘There came flying birds from every part of the world, and all but pecked our eyes out.’218‘Well, well! to-morrow don’t go galloping over the meadows, but disperse amid the thick forests.’219Prince Ivan slept all night.220In the morning the Baba Yaga says to him:221‘Mind, Prince! if you don’t take good care of the mares, if you lose merely one of them—your bold head will be stuck on that pole!’222He drove the mares afield.223Immediately they cocked up their tails and dispersed among the thick forests.224Again did the Prince sit down on the stone, weep and weep, and then go to sleep.225The sun went down behind the forest.226Up came running the lioness.227‘Arise, Prince Ivan!228The mares are all collected.’229Prince Ivan arose and went home.230More than ever did the Baba Yaga storm at her mares and shriek:231‘Whatever did ye come back home for?’232‘How could we help coming back?233Beasts of prey came running at us from all parts of the world, and all but tore us utterly to pieces.’234‘Well, to-morrow run off into the blue sea.’235Again did Prince Ivan sleep through the night.236Next morning the Baba Yaga sent him forth to watch the mares.237‘If you don’t take good care of them,’ says she, ‘your bold head will be stuck on that pole!’238He drove the mares afield.239Immediately they cocked up their tails, disappeared from sight, and fled into the blue sea.240There they stood, up to their necks in water.241Prince Ivan sat down on the stone, wept, and fell asleep.242But when the sun had set behind the forest, up came flying a bee, and said:243‘Arise, Prince!244The mares are all collected.245But when you get home, don’t let the Baba Yaga set eyes on you, but go into the stable and hide behind the mangers.246There you will find a sorry colt rolling in the muck.247Do you steal it, and at the dead of night ride away from the house.’248Prince Ivan arose, slipped into the stable, and lay down behind the mangers, while the Baba Yaga was storming away at her mares and shrieking:249‘Why did ye come back?’250‘How could we help coming back?251There came flying bees in countless numbers from all parts of the world, and began stinging us on all sides till the blood came!’252The Baba Yaga went to sleep.253In the dead of the night Prince Ivan stole the sorry colt, saddled it, jumped on its back, and galloped away to the fiery river.254When he came to that river he waved the handkerchief three times on the right hand, and suddenly, springing goodness knows whence, there hung across the river, high in the air, a splendid bridge.255The Prince rode across the bridge and waved the handkerchief twice only on the left hand; there remained across the river a thin, ever so thin a bridge!256When the Baba Yaga got up in the morning the sorry colt was not to be seen!257Off she set in pursuit.checked by a teacher258At full speed did she fly in her iron mortar, urging it on with the pestle, sweeping away her traces with the broom.259She dashed up to the fiery river, gave a glance, and said, ‘A capital bridge!’260She drove on to the bridge, but had only got half-way when the bridge broke in two, and the Baba Yaga went flop into the river.261There truly did she meet with a cruel death!262Prince Ivan fattened up the colt in the green meadows, and it turned into a wondrous steed.263Then he rode to where Marya Morevna was.264She came running out, and flung herself on his neck, crying:265‘By what means has God brought you back to life?’266‘Thus and thus,’ says he.267‘Now come along with me.’268‘I am afraid, Prince Ivan!269If Koshchei catches us you will be cut in pieces again.’270‘No, he won’t catch us!271I have a splendid heroic steed now; it flies just like a bird.’272So they got on its back and rode away.273Koshchei the Deathless was returning home when his horse stumbled beneath him.274‘What art thou stumbling for, sorry jade?275Dost thou scent any ill?’276‘Prince Ivan has come and carried off Marya Morevna.’277‘Can we catch them?’278‘God knows!279Prince Ivan has a horse now which is better than I.’280‘Well, I can’t stand it,’ says Koshchei the Deathless.281‘I will pursue.’282After a time he came up with Prince Ivan, lighted on the ground, and was going to chop him up with his sharp sword.283But at that moment Prince Ivan’s horse smote Koshchei the Deathless full swing with its hoof, and cracked his skull, and the Prince made an end of him with a club.284Afterwards the Prince heaped up a pile of wood, set fire to it, burnt Koshchei the Deathless on the pyre, and scattered his ashes to the wind.285Then Marya Morevna mounted Koshchei’s horse and Prince Ivan got on his own, and they rode away to visit first the Raven, and then the Eagle, and then the Falcon.286Wherever they went they met with a joyful greeting.287‘Ah, Prince Ivan! why, we never expected to see you again.288Well, it wasn’t for nothing that you gave yourself so much trouble.289Such a beauty as Marya Morevna one might search for all the world over—and never find one like her!’290And so they visited, and they feasted; and afterwards they went off to their own realm.291[3]292[3] Ralston.1 2 3← previousSoria Moria Castlenext →The Black Thief and Knight of the Glen.↑ back to The Red Fairy BookThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg540/7/page/3/