the sunlight, for it was built entirely of gold. Like the others, it was unguarded, so he entered and explored it and in its inmost chamber he found a damsel sitting on a golden divan, making lace upon a golden pillow, and both the shuttle and the thread were of pure gold. The damsel was of such beauty that it could not be described but only told in a tale, and Tzarevich Petr could not look at her enough.
"Health to thee, beautiful maiden!" he said.
"Health to thee, Tzarevich," she replied. "But how comest thou hither? By thine own will or by force?"
"By mine own will," he answered. "I seek my little mother who has been stolen away from my father's Tzardom by Kastchey. Canst thou tell me where she is?"
"Why should I not be able?" she rejoined. "I, too, was stolen from my father's Tzardom by the Wizard, who visits me here once each month. But thy little mother he keeps in his fourth Palace, which is built of pearl, and thither thou must go. But, I implore thee, if thou dost overcome and slay the monster, remember me and take me with thee out into the white world."
"Sooner than leave thee here to Kastchey would
