THE STORY OF LITTLE TSAR NO VISHNY, 63

dogs began snuffing at the needle in the wall and
barked at it, but the brother knew not the cause
thereof. But his sister burst into tears and said:
“Why dost thou keep such monstrous dogs? Such
a kennel of them makes me sweat with anguish !”
Then he shouted to the dogs, and they sat down
quite still, Then she said to him: “J am so ill,
brother, that nothing will make me well but hare’s
milk, Go and get it for me.”—* [’I] get it,” said he,
But first he laid him down to sleep. Nedviga
lay at his head, Protius at his feet, and Wowdhale
aud Medvedik* each on one side. He slept through
the night, but at dawn he mounted his steed,
took his pack with him, and departed. Again he
came to a little thicket, and a she-hare popped out.
Protius ran her down, Nedviga held her fast, then
he milked her and let her go. ‘Then the hare said :
“Hail to thee, little Tsar Novishny ; because thou
hast let me go—I thought thou wouldst have torn
me to pieces with thy dogs—l’ll give thee a leveret
for it.” But to the leveret she said: « Obey him,
as though he were thine own father.” Then he
went home, and again they saw him from afar
“What a wily rogue it is!” said they. “All five
are following him, and he is as well ag ever !”’
—‘Ask him to get thee fox’s milk!” said the
1 Little Bear.