THE STORY OF LITTLE TSAR NOVISHNY. 57

they went a little mile, and jolted so that they nearly
tumbled off. The serpent however managed to gnaw
his way through the wood, and then flew after them
again. Then cried the little Tsar: “ Alas! bullock,
it begins to burn again. Thou wilt perish, and we
shall perish also!”—Then said the bullock: “Look
into my right ear, and pull out the brush thou dost
find there, and fling it behind thee!”—So he threw
it behind him, and it became a forest as thick as a
brush. Then the serpent came up to the wood and
began to gnaw at it; and at last he gnawed his way
right through it. But the bullock went on at his
old pace: every little while they went a little mile,
aud they jolted so that they nearly tumbled off.
But when the serpent had gnawed his way through
the forest, he again pursued them; and again they
felt a burning. And the little Tsar said: “ Alas!
bullock, look! look! how it burns. Look! look!
how we perish.” Now the bullock was already near-
ing the sea. “Look into my right ear,” said the
bullock, “draw out the little handkerchief thou
findest there, and throw it in front of me. He drew
it out and flung it, and before them stood a bridge.
Over this bridge they galloped, and by the time they
had done so, the serpent reached the sea. Then
said the bullock to the little Tsar: “Take up the
handkerchief again and wave it behind me.” Then