THE FLYING CARPET 143

noise they made was like that produced by a flock of birds
overtaken by a storm. They roared and hissed and twisted
themselves into a thousand knots, gradually disappearing one
by one. Then the club returned of its own accord to the
fisherman’s. hands, while he returned thanks to God for
having delivered him from such a horrible death. At that
moment there appeared upon the top of a steep rock his
friend, the old man. Overcome with joy at the sight of him,
the fisherman called out, “Save me! come to me, my divine
protector.”

The old man spread out his arms towards him, and
having blessed him drew him up, saying, “Now you are
free again, hasten to save your king, his daughter your bride,
and their kingdom. After he had left you in the valley as
food for serpents he was punished for his great crimes by
the return of the enemy, who again laid siege to the capital.
This happened at the very moment when he was surrounded
by his guests, and was boasting of his possession of the air-
car, the magic golden ring, and the rest of his evilly acquired
riches.

“His foes had consulted Yaga, a wicked sorceress; she
advised them to obtain the help of Kostey the magician, who
promised his aid in carrying off the princess. When he came
he fell in love with the beautiful maiden at first sight, and
determined to marry her himself. In order to bring this
about he threw the king, the courtiers, and all the inhabitants
of the land into a heavy sleep. Then he bore off the princess
to his own palace, where she has been shut up and ill-treated
because she refuses to have anything to do with him. His
castle is situated at the very end of the world, to the west.