you up like a fly; even I am afraid of him. For a hundred years I have not stirred out of this cabin, for fear lest he should bear me away to his mountain which touches the clouds."

"He will not carry me off, for I am not so beautiful; and he will not carry me off for another reason-I have a hand of gold with which I can break everything.".

"Well, my dove, if you are not afraid, I will help you; but give me your word that you will bring me from that mountain some of the water of Jouvence, which possesses the virtue of instantly restoring to youthfulness whoever sprinkles herself with it."

"I promise to bring you some of it."

"This is what you must do, then. I'll give you a ball of thread to guide you; you must throw it before you and follow it wherever it goes. It will lead you up the mountain which touches the clouds, which, in the absence of Storm, is guarded by the Tempest of the North and the Wind of the South. If, while following the ball of thread upon the mountain, you feel yourself being overcome by cold, put on this warming-cap. When you have gone further and a burning heat begins to suffocate you, drink of this refreshing flask. By the aid of these three things you will reach the summit of the mountain, where Vikhar has imprisoned the princess with the golden locks. As to how you will deal with him, that is your affair; only, don't forget to bring me back with you some of the water that restores lost youthfulness."

The prince took the warming-cap, the refreshing-flask, and the guiding-ball of thread, and bowing to old Yaga and her two pretty daughters, sprang upon his horse, threw the ball of thread as far as he could throw it, and galloped away in the direction it indicated.

After passing across two kingdoms, he found himself in the centre of a third, in a beautiful and far-extending valley, above which rose a mountain, the top of which touched the clouds; its summit, indeed, was so prodigiously high as almost to reach the moon.

Leaving his horse to feed at liberty, the prince, still following his guiding-ball of thread, began to ascend the steep and stony side of the mountain. Higher and higher he mounted, until he had accomplished half the ascension.

Suddenly the north wind began to blow

violently; the cold became so intense that the trunks of trees creaked and the breath congealed into ice. The young prince felt himself becoming benumbed.

Instantly he drew from his pocket the warming-cap and placed it on his head, crying as he did so

"Warming-cap, lend me your warmth, that the cold may harm me not.'

The north wind redoubled its fury at that moment, but the prince was so warm as to be obliged to unbutton his doublet, and with his handkerchief to wipe the perspiration from his brow. Still upwards he followed the guid

which had again set off rolling in advance of his steps.

Just then a burning wind began to blow furiously from the south, and the sun's beams became so hot

THERE & FOUND A MARVELLOUS PALACE

that the leaves of the trees shrivelled, the grass dried up, and the earth opened. in wide chasms. Thirst, heat, and fatigue began to overcome the prince, but he drew from his pocket the refreshing-flask, and cried

"Flask of refreshing powers, preserve me from all harm."

He drank freely of its contents, and presently, feeling himself become stronger than ever, continued his way up the mountain. Not only did he suffer no more from the heat, but he was even obliged to button up his doublet, so cool had he become.

The guiding-ball still mounted, and the prince, keeping closely up with it,

passed through the region of clouds, and at last reached the summit of the mountain.

There he found a marvellous palace, made entirely of silver, with steel-barred gates, and roofed with gold. Standing upon a single cock's claw, the flight of steps leading up to its main entrance was turned towards a deep abyss, so that no living creature could gain access to it. From one of its windows the princess with the golden locks was looking forth, her beautiful hair streaming in the wind, her eyes shedding light, her breath embalming the air. The prince had hardly seen her before he sprang forward and cried

"Palace, palace, turn upon your sustaining claw-turn your back towards the precipice, your front towards me."

At these words, the palace turned creakingly upon its support, and set its flight of steps before the prince, who speedily opened the door and entered. No sooner was he within than the palace resumed its first position.

The prince penetrated a room that was as bright as the sun, of which the floor, the walls, and the ceiling were of glass. He paused, full of astonishment, for instead of one princess, he perceived twelve-all

"THE YOUNG PRINCE EMPTIED IT AT A DRAUGHT."