114 COSSACK FAIRY TALES.

damsel in gorgeous raiment, and opened the gate for
him. “Lead in thy horse,” said she, “and eat and
rest awhile.” So they went into the courtyard, and
in the midst of it stood two springs. The lady drew
out of one of these springs a little glass of water,
and strewing a handful of oats beside it, said;

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“Fasten up thy horse here!”—‘ What!” thought
he, “for these three days we have had nought to eat
or drink, and now she mocks us with a handful of
oats!”—Then they went together to the guest-
chamber, and she gave him there a little glass of
water and a small piece of wheaten bread.—“ Why,
what is this for a hungry man like me?” thought he.
But when he chanced to glance through the window,
he saw that the whole courtyard was full of oats
and water, and that his horse had already eaten its
fill. Then he nibbled his little piece of wheaten cake
and sipped his water, and his hunger was immediately
satisfied. ‘ Well,” said the lady, ‘hast thou eaten
thy fill?”—“ That I have,” he replied.‘ Then lie
down and rest awhile,” said she. And the next
morning, when he rose up, she said to him: “Give
me thy horse, thy armour, and thy raiment, and [ll
give thee mine in exchange.”—Then she gave him
her shift and her weapon, and said: “This sword is
of such a sort that, if thou do but wave it, all men
will fall down before thee; and as for this shift, when