272 COSSACK FAIRY TALES.

you find it, I shall remain alive, but if you find it
not, know that the serpent will remove me from the
face of the earth !”

Then they swam offand searched, nor was there a
single corner of the sea where they searched not.
Yet they found nothing. At last they swam off to
their mother, and told her what a great woe was
about to befall. Their mother said to them: “ The
ring is with me. Jam sorry for him, and still more
sorry for you, so you may have it.” And with that
she drew off the ring, and they swam with it to Ivan
Golik, and said: ‘‘ Now we have requited thy service.
We have found it, but ’twas a hard task.”

Then Ivan Golik thanked the two pike and went on
his way. He found the prince weeping, for the serpent
had already sent for him twice, and there was no ring.
The moment he saw Ivan Golik he sprang to his feet,
and said: ‘‘ Hast thou the ring?”

“Yes, here itis! But look! the serpent himself is
coming !”

“Let him come!”

The serpent was already on the threshold as the
prince was going out. They ran against each other
with their foreheads, and the serpent was very angry.
“ Where's the ring ?” cried he.

“There itis! But I will not give it to thee, but
to her from whom thou didst take it.”