THE SPIRIT OF THE STEPPES 203

“Get on my back, prince, I will be your bridge; only
take care to hold on tight.”

The prince held firmly to its mane, and the horse leapt into
the sea. At first they were plunged right beneath the waves,
but rising again to the surface swam easily across. The
sun was about to set when the prince dismounted on the
Island of Eternal Life. He first took off his horse’s harness,
and leaving him to browse on the green grass, hurried to the
top of a distant hill, whence he could see a large oak.
Without losing a moment he hastened towards it, seized
the tree with both hands, pulled at it with all his might,
and after the most violent efforts tore it up by the roots
from the place it had filled for centuries. The tree groaned
and fell, and the hole in which it had been planted appeared
like an immense case. Right at the bottom of this case
was a coffer bound with iron. The prince took it up, broke
the lock by striking it with a stone, opened it and seized
the hare that was trying to make its escape. The grey duck
that had lain underneath flew off towards the sea: the prince
fired, struck the bird, the latter dropped its egg into the
sea, and both were swallowed by the waves. Junak gave
a cry of despair and rushed to the beach. At first he
could see nothing. After a few minutes there was a slight
movement of the waves, while upon the surface swam the
fish whose life he had saved. It came towards him, right
on to the sand, and dropping the lost egg at his feet, said:
“Vou see, prince, I have not forgotten your kindness, and
now I have found it in my power to be of service to you.”

Having thus spoken it disappeared in the water. The
prince took the egg, mounted his horse, and crossing the