THE STORY OF TREMSIN. 97°

sea came the thrice-lovely Nastasia, and went up to
the tents and asked: “Merchant, merchant, what for
thy wares?” But he lay there, and moved never a
limb. She asked the same thing over and over again,
but, getting no answer, went into the tents where
stood the flasks and the bottles. She tasted of the
wine. How good it was! She tasted of the brandy.
That was still better. So from tasting she fell to
drinking. Firstshe drank a little, and then she drank
a little more, and at last she went asleep in the tent.
Then Tremsin seized the thrice-lovely Nastasia and
put her behind him on horseback, and carried her off
to the nobleman. The nobleman praised Tremsin
exceedingly, but the thrice-lovely Nastasia said :
“Look now ! since thou hast found the feather of the
Bird Zhar, and the Bird Zhar herself, since also thou
hast found me, thou must now fetch me also my little
coral necklace from the sea!” Then Tremsin went
out to his faithful steed and wept sorely, and told
him all about it. And the horse said to him: “ Did
I not tell thee that grievous woe would come upon
thee if thou didst pick up that feather?” But the
horse added: “Come! weep not! after all ’tis not a
task, but a trifle.” Then they went along by the
sea, and the horse said to him: “ Let me out to graze,
and then keep watch till thou see a crab come forth

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from the sea, and then say to him: ‘I’ll catch thee.
H