are you? I want to eat you." And she looked, and she looked, and she could not find him, and then the cock crew, and she went once more into the grave. Then Iván got up, covered up the grave, and began to read once more.
In the morning they went there to collect his bones; but there Iván was, as large as life. And they went and told the king. And he bade him for the second time go and read prayers.
And Iván went to the old man and told him what had happened in the church by night.
Next night the old man told Iván to lie down on the left-hand side of the Holy Gates. And once more the witch could not find him.
On the third night the old man gave him three tapers and a ball of pitch; and the pitch was rolled round with hair. He said: "To-night, Ivánushka, is the last night. When you have burned out the last taper, lie down beside the grave, and when the witch rises out of it, go and lie in the grave in her place, and do not let her in until she shall read out the prayers 'Maiden Mother of God, rejoice!' and 'Our Father Which art in Heaven.'"
Iván went into the church and began to read the Psalter, and after lighting the third candle, lay down on the right-hand side of the grave. The witch broke out of the coffin and passed over Iván and began to look for him all over the church. When the time came for her to lie down, there was Iván in her place. "Ah! there art thou!" the witch cried. "For thrice twenty-four hours I have been hungry. Come out; I want to eat you." And Iván threw the ball covered with hair at her, and she nibbled and gnawed at it. And she at last said: "Let me go!" "No," said Iván, "I will not let you go." "Let me go!" the witch repeated. "Then do you," said Iván, "recite the prayer 'Maiden Mother of God, rejoice!' after me, and then I will let you go."
