selves on his back, and the gallant steed galloped away with the speed of an arrow.
At the hour appointed the enchanter waited for Prince Milan, and, not seeing him arrive, sent a footman in search of him. The door of his chamber was locked, and Wellena had thrown away the key. The servant knocked and delivered the message he was sent to give; the moisture on the window replied, in the tones of Prince Milan's voice: "I'm coming presently." Three times, at intervals of several minutes, the footman repeated the summons, and always received the same answer: "I'm coming presently." At last Czernuch cried furiously:
"The wretch is making game of me! Let his door be burst open, and let him be seized, gagged, and brought here to me!"
The door of the Prince's chamber was burst open: nobody was in the room.
"Ah, the scoundrel!" cried the magician, foaming with rage. "He has taken flight. I'll go and arrest the deserters."
A moment afterwards, the Princess said:
"I hear the beat of a horse's hoofs."
"We are pursued, and someone is quite near to us," said Prince Milan.
"Woe to us!" exclaimed the young girl, it is my father. But his power expires at the first church which stands beside his road; he cannot pass that barrier."
Czernuch and the hermit.
A moment later, Czernuch, perceiving a hermit, said to him:
"Reverend father, have you seen a man and a woman go by on horseback?"
"Yes, Prince Milan and the Princess Wellena. They have dismounted to pray in this church."
"Oh! why cannot I wring their necks?" cried the magician, furiously.
He went back to his subterranean kingdom growling, and, to satisfy his anger, had his servants flogged all round.
The two lovers continued their way peaceably, and came to a beautiful city. Prince Milan wished to enter it.
"I beg of you not to stop there," said the young girl. "I have a fatal presentiment as to that city."
"I only want to see it, and then we will continue our journey," replied the Prince.
"Alas! it is easy to enter, but difficult to leave it. But go, since it is your wish.
