devouring poor Ivan. The falcon was moved with compassion. Descending to the ground, he poured a few drops of the water of death into Ivan's mouth, and the flesh became whole again; then he sprinkled him with the water of life, and Ivan got up, thinking he was awakened from a long sleep.
"Without my assistance," said the falcon, "you would have slept long enough."
At first Ivan would not believe this. The falcon seized a sparrow, struck it with his wing and threw it on the ground. Then he sprinkled it with the water of life, and the sparrow flew away.
"It is as you say. I thank you, bright falcon, for your kind help. But where is my horse?"
"Your horse is in a certain kingdom far away. He lives in a town surrounded by marble walls with crystal gates."
"Oh, falcon, falcon! show me the way to my horse."
"Go in the direction in which you will see me fly."
A story is soon told; but it was a long time before Ivan arrived at the city with marble walls and crystal gates. The walls were high and the guards would not let Ivan pass through the gates. As soon as his horse scented him he began to neigh and to tear himself from his keepers. He kicked the wall, and knocked such an enormous stone out of it that the inhabitants could not possibly replace it. He was, however, seized, shut up
