shoes. It is not hard for you. But remember if you fail to do it, you shall pay for it with your life." Very much irritated, Ivan returned to his room. The bee-princess was waiting for him. "Why are you so sad again, my dear Prince Ivan?" "So, Prince Ivan, what are you going to do now?" "What can I do? I cannot make the boots. Let him take my head off. I do not care any longer!" "Oh, no, my dear prince! Are we not now bride and bridegroom? I will try to save you. We will both be saved or both perish. We must run away." Saying this the princess breathed upon the window. Her breath immediately froze to the panes. Then she and the prince left the room, locked the door, and threw the key far away. Arm in arm they went up, and in a minute they were in the place of entrance to the underground kingdom. The same lake, low grassy shore, fresh meadow, and upon it the good steed of Prince Ivan. As soon as the sturdy steed felt its rider, it neighed, jumped, ran straight towards him, and stood as if rooted to the spot. Ivan did not think long, but mounted the horse, lifted the princess, and off they went as quick as lightning. Meanwhile, King Koshchey sent his courtiers at the appointed hour for Prince Ivan. They came to the door and found it locked. They knocked, and from behind the Princess' breath answered in the voice of Prince Ivan, "I am coming." The servants took the answer to the king. He waited and waited and no prince came. The angry King Koshchey sent his servants again and they brought the same answer. Nobody came, King Koshchey was almost mad with anger. "Does he want to mock me? Run, break the door, and take by force that ill-bred fellow." The servants ran, the door was broken up. What a surprise! Nobody was inside, but the breath was loudly laughing at them. King Koshchey almost burst with anger. "O, you miserable thief! Come here, my people! All to me, my servants! Run, all of you, in pursuit of them. They have departed." "I hear the tramping of horses' feet," whispered the princess, clasping the prince. He dismounted, and putting his ear against the ground said, "Yes, I hear the chase, and it is quite near.""Then we must not lose our time," said Princess Mary, and in a minute she turned into a river, the prince into an iron bridge, the steed into a black raven, and the large road was divided into three smaller roads.

Swiftly the chase was coming by the fresh tracks, but when they came to the river, they stopped perplexed. Up to the bridge they could follow the track, but beyond it, the track was lost. Nothing could be done. They had to go back.

King Koshchey was terribly angry when he heard about their failure. "You fools!" cried he. "The river and 

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