THE STORY OF LITTLE TSAR NOVISHNY. 67

fast, little Tsar Novishny. Be as slow as thou
canst, for thy dogs have gnawed their way through
two doors.”

Then the little Tsar poured water into the caldron,
and put fire under it. But the wood that he had
cut was rotten and very very dry, so that it burned
most fiercely, and he took and sprinkled it with
water, and sprinkled it again and again, so that it
might not burn too much. And when he went out
into the courtyard for more water, the starling said
LOMmMIMEN Se SNOcesso taste note so fast, little Tsar
Novishny, for thy dogs have gnawed their way
through four doors!” As he was returning to the hut
his sister said to him: “That water does not boil up
quick enough! Take the fire-shovel and poke the
fire!” So he did so, and the faggots blazed up, but
when she had gone away he sprinkled them with
water again, so that they might burn more slowly.
Then he went into the courtyard again, aud the
starling met him and said: “Not so fast, not so
fast, little Tsar; be as slow as thou canst, for thy
dogs have gnawed their way through six doors.”
Then he returned to the hut, and his sister again
took up the shovel and made him poke up the fire,
and when she went away he again flung water on
the burning coals. So he kept going in and out of
the courtyard. “’Tis weary work!” cried he; but