194 COSSACK FAIRY TALES.

it flew about in the air like a gossamer, whereupon
she seized hold of it and threw it into the fire that
was burning on the hearth till it was all consumed,
and he stood before her no longer a serpent, but a
simple Tsarevich, Then they married and lived
happily together, but the husband never would go to
visit his old father the Tsar, nor would he allow his
bride to go near the palace.

The old Tsar sent for him again and again, but his
son would never go. At last the wife was ashamed,
and said to her husband one day: “ Dear heart!
let me go to thy father! I will only go for my own
pastime, lest he get angry. Why should I not go?”
Then he let her go, and she went to the court of the
old Tsar, and took her pastime there. She amused
herself finely, and ate and drank her fill of all good
things. Now her husband had laid this command
upon her: “Go and divert thyself if thou wilt, but if
thou tell my father and my mother what has hap-
pened to me, and how I have lost my twenty serpent
skins, thou shalt never see me more.” For they did
not know that he was now no longer a serpent, but a
simple T'sarevich. She vowed she would never tell;
but for all her promises, she nevertheless told them
at last how her husband had lost his twenty serpent
skins. Then she enjoyed herself to her heart’s con-
tent, but when she returned home she found no trace