from the Land of the Tzar.
143
"Olga! sister dear, awake!
Swim to the surface of the lake.
To roast me, fires bum and glow.
To boil me, kettles seethe below.
And to take thy brother's life
Glitters many a threatening knife."
But Olga only replied,—
"O! my brother, Oleg dear!
The stones will hold me down, I fear.
Round my feet the long grass clings;
And my heart the serpent stings."
The little kid called out again, and begged his sister to try to show herself to him, if only for a moment. He waited a little, and this time Olga swam up to the surface, smiled at her brother, and was just about to sink again, when the king rushed forward, sprang into the water, caught her in his arms, and, tearing off the stone from her neck, brought her safely to land again.
Olga told him the whole story. The king was very furious and ordered the witch to be killed and boiled instead of the kid, who, by-the-by, was afterwards changed into his proper form, and became king in his father's kingdom, while the young king and queen lived happily ever after.
