Then the witch told Ivan Tsarevitch how and where to find the oak tree.  Ivan hastily went to the place.  But when he perceived the oak tree he was much discouraged, not knowing what to do or how to begin the work.  Lo and behold! that old acquaintance of his, the Russian bear, came running along, approached the tree, uprooted it, and the trunk fell and broke.  A hare jumped out of the trunk and began to run fast; but another hare, Ivan’s friend, came running after, caught it and tore it to pieces.  Out of the hare there flew a duck, a gray one which flew very high and was almost invisible, but the beautiful white duck followed the bird and struck its gray enemy, which lost an egg.  That egg fell into the deep sea.  Ivan meanwhile was anxiously watching his faithful friends helping him.  But when the egg disappeared in the blue waters he could not help weeping.  All of a sudden a big fish came swimming up, the same fish he had saved, and brought the egg in his mouth.  How happy Ivan was when he took it!  He broke it and found the needle inside, the magic needle upon which everything depended.

At the same moment Kostshei lost his strength and power forever.  Ivan Tsarevitch entered his vast dominions, killed him with the magic needle, and in one of the palaces found his own dear wife, his beautiful Vassilissa.  He took her home and they were very happy ever after.

[Illustration]

SEVEN SIMEONS

[Illustration] In an empire, in a country beyond many seas and islands, beyond high mountains, beyond large rivers, upon a level expanse, as if spread upon a table, there stood a large town, and in that town there lived a Tsar called Archidei, the son of Aggei; therefore he was called Aggeivitch.

A famous Tsar he was, and a clever one.  His wealth could not be counted; his warriors were innumerable.  There were forty times forty towns in his kingdom, and in each one of these towns there were ten palaces with silver doors and golden ceilings and magnificent crystal windows.

For his council twelve wise men were selected, each one of them having a beard half a yard long and a head full of wisdom.  These advisers offered nothing but truth to their father sovereign; none ever dared advance a lie.

How could such a Tsar be anything but happy?  But it is true, indeed, that neither wealth nor wisdom give happiness when the heart is not at ease, and even in golden palaces the poor heart often aches.

So it was with the Tsar Archidei; he was rich and clever, besides being a handsome fellow; but he could not find a bride to his taste, a bride with wit and beauty equal to his own.  And this was the cause of the Tsar Archidei’s sorrow and distress.