IMPERISHABLE 243

brothers came up. They wondered greatly to see the
youngest, and said, “Where on earth did you come from?
And whose horse is that?”

“T have come from home. The horse is the same I
chose at first. We have been waiting here twelve days; let
us go on together now.”

Within a short time they came to a house surrounded
by a high oaken paling, at the gate of which they knocked.
Old Yaga peeped out through a chink in the fence and
cried, “‘Who are you? What do you want?”

“We are twelve brothers come to ask the twelve daughters
of Yaga in marriage. If she is willing to be our mother-in-
law, let her open the door.”

The door was opened and Yaga appeared. She was a
frightful-looking creature, old as the hills; and being one of
those monsters who feed on human flesh, the unfortunate
wretches who once entered her house never came out again.
She had a lame leg, and because of this she leaned on a
great iron crutch, and when she went out removed all traces
of her steps with a broom.

She received the young travellers very graciously, shut
the gate of the courtyard behind them, and led them into
the house. Niezguinek’s brothers dismounted, and taking
their horses to the stables, tied them up to rings made of
silver; the youngest fastened his to a copper ring. The old
witch served her guests with a good supper, and gave them
wine and hydromel to drink. Then she made up twelve
beds on the right side of the room for the travellers, and
on the left side twelve beds for her daughters.

All were soon asleep except Niezguinek. He had been