the copper realm to the ladder, and the brothers lifted her out, and they let the ladder down again. Then Iváshko laid hold of the maiden from the silver realm, and she was drawn up, and the ladder let down again. This time the maiden from the golden realm came, and was also drawn up. When the steps were let down again, Iváshko sat on them, and the brothers drew it up into the height. But when they saw that this time it was Iváshko Zapéchnik who sat on it, they began to reflect: "If we let him out perhaps he will not give us any of the maidens." So they cut the steps down, and Iváshko fell down. He wept bitterly, but it was no good. He went down farther, and he then came across a tiny old man, who sat on a tree-stem and had a long white beard. Iváshko told him how it had been.
The old man advised him once more to go on. "You will come to a little hut. Enter it and you will see a long man lying in it from one corner to the other. Ask him how you shall reach Russian land once more."
So Iváshko went up to the hut, stepped in and said: "Strong giant,[1] spare me, and tell me how I shall get home again."
"Fi, fo, fum, you Russian bones!" said Ídolishche, "I did not summon you, and still you have come. Go to the thrice-tenth sea, there there stands a hut on cocks' legs in which the Bába Yagá lives. She has an eagle who will carry you."
So the young boy went on and on, a far way, to the hut, and he stepped in.
The Bába Yagá cried out at once, "Fi, fo, fum, Russian bones, why have you come here?"
"Oh, mother, the giant Ídolishche sent me to ask you to lend me your mighty eagle to carry me to Russia."
"Go," said Bába Yagá, "into the garden. At the gate there stands a watchman; take his keys and pass
- ↑ Ídolishche, i.e. Big idol.
