what I came for? You might have thought that I was hungry."
The witch laughed.
"True, my prince, it was not kind of me I admit. Come! eat, drink, and make merry!"
So saying, the old lady hobbled to a little safe, and brought out some eatables and drinkables, which she put before the prince on a little wooden table.
When Prince Akem had done eating and drinking to his perfect satisfaction, he turned to the old witch and told her his tale.
"Oh, my dear child!" exclaimed the good-natured old witch, "why did you not come before? Your wife, Princess Vera, has been here, and waited for you, and was grieved that you did not come. She has not been gone very long. She may forget you if you don't make haste now; so go at once to my dearly-beloved sister, who lives in a hut not many miles off. She may be able to tell you where your wife is."
The prince thanked the witch, and, leaving the hut, followed the little ball until it stopped before a hut similar to the last one. Here the prince cried out as before,—
"Little hut, little hut, stand still, with your front to me and your back to the forest!"
This hut also obeyed him. Prince Akem walked in, and saw an old woman, much like the first only older, but she seemed very merry.
"I smell the blood of a Russian! Who is there?" she cried, looking up at the prince and smiling. "What do you want in my humble dwelling, Prince Akem?"
