THE STORY OF LITTLE TSAR NOVISHNY. 51

Presently the serpent (for the Accursed One had
changed himself into a serpent) came flying up in
search of the children. He raged up and down
outside the hut—but there wag nothing to be seen.
At last he cried out to the stove - “Stove, stove,
where has the Tsar hidden his children ?’””—The
stove replied: “The Tsar has been a good master to

; he has put lots of warm fuel inside me; I hold
to ee "So, finding he could get maybe out of
the stove, he cried to the hearth- broom: “ Hearth-
broom, hearth-broom, where has the Tsar hidden hig
children ?”—But the hearth- broom answered: “The
Tsar has always been a good master to me, for he
always cleans the warm grate with me; I hold to
him.” So the Accursed One could get Reouine out
of the hearth-broom.—Then he cried to the hatchet :
“Hatchet, hatchet, where has the Tsar hidden his
children ?”—The hatchet replied: “The Tsar has
always been a good master to me. He chops his
wood with me, and gives me a place to lie down in ;
so I'll not have him disturbed.’—Then the Der
cried to the chisel: “ Chisel, chisel, where has the
Tsar hidden his children ?”—But the chisel replied :
“The Tsar has always been a good master to me.
He drills little holes with me, and then lets me rest ;
so I'll let him rest too.”—Then the serpent said to
the chisel: “So the Tsar’s a good master to thee, eh!