THE VAMPIRE AND ST. MICHAEL. 89

he skipped into the coffin, with the image of St.
Michael by his side. She ran all over the church

 

secking him. ‘‘He was here—and now he is not
here!” cried she. Then she ran further on, felt all
about her, and cried again: “He was here—and now
he’s not here!” At last she sprang up to the coftin,
and there he was. Then she began to beg and pray
him: ‘Come down, come down! T’ll try and catch
thee no more, only come down, come down!” But
he only prayed to God, and answered her never a
word. Then the cock crew once: “ Cock-a-doodle-
doo !”—* Alas! come down, come down, my con-
sort!” cried she. Then he came down, and they
both fell on their knees and begau praying to God,
and wept sore and gave thanks to God because He
had had mercy on them both.

And at dawn of day crowds of people, with the
Tsar at the head of them, came to the church. ‘ Shall
we find him reading prayers, or shall we only find his
bones?” said they. And lo! there they both were
on their knees praying fervently to God. Then the
Tsar rejoiced greatly, and embraced both him and
her. After that they had a grand service in the
church, and sprinkled her with holy water, and
baptized her again, and the unclean spirit departed
from her. Then the Tsar gave the young man half
his power and half his kingdom, but the merchants