IVAN GOLIK AND THE SERPENTS. 271

till evening, and then the serpent said: “ Early this
morning, my youngest daughter went bathing in the
sea and lost her ring in the water. She searched
and: searched for it, but could find it nowhere.
If thou canst find it to-morrow, and bring it hither
while we are sitting down to meat, thou shalt remain
alive ; if not, ’tis all over with thee !”

The prince returned to his own people and fell a-
weeping. Ivan Golik perceived it, and said to him :
“Wherefore dost thou weep ?”

‘For such and such a reason,” said he; “dost thou
not see that I am ruined ?”

Then said Ivan Golik: “The serpent lies. He
himself it was who took his daughter's ring and flew
over the sea early this morning, and dropped in the
water. But le down and sleep! I myself will go to
the sea to-morrow, haply I may find the ring.”

So, very early next morning, Ivan Golik went
down to the sea. He shouted with a heroic voice,
and whistled with a heroic whistle, till the whole sea
was troubled as by a storm. Then the two pike he
had thrown back into the sea came swimming to the
shore. ‘‘ Why dost thou call us, O Ivan Golik?”
said they.

“Why should I not call you? The serpent flew
over the sea early yesterday morning and dropped in
his daughter’s ring. Search for it everywhere. If