He refrained from touching it, and went on his way, and happened to fall in with a lioness and her cub.

"I have a mind to eat this lioness; I'm so hungry that it makes me sick."

"Do not touch me, Prince Ivan," she entreated, "sometime I may be able to help you."

"Very good, just as you please."

He went on slowly, half-starved, and he went and he went, and at last there stood the Baba Yaga's house, and around the house were a dozen stakes, and on each of the dozen stakes except one was a man's skull.

"Good afternoon, grannie!" he said.

"Good afternoon, Prince Ivan! Why did you come—of your own good will or because you had to?"

"I came to serve you for a gallant horse."

"So be it, prince! You need not serve me for a whole year, but three days will be enough! If you guard my mares well, I will give you a gallant steed. But if not, do not be angry; your head will be stuck on the last of the stakes."

Prince Ivan agreed; the Baba Yaga gave him food and drink and bade him attend to his work.

As soon as he had driven the mares out into