OHNIVAK 285

had planted. His alone had become a spreading tree, theirs
were both withered. Delighted with this proof of divine
favour, he felt a strong desire to rest for a while under the
shadow of his own tree; he therefore dismounted, and assist-
ing the princess to do the same, fastened their horses to
one of the branches and hung up the cage containing
Ohnivak on another: within a few moments they were all
sound asleep. ‘
Meanwhile the two elder brothers arrived at the same
place by different roads, and both with empty hands. There
they found their two branches withered, that of their brother
having grown into a splendid tree. Under the shade of the
latter he lay sleeping; by his side was the Maid with the
Golden Locks ; the horse, Zlato-Nrivak, was fastened to a tree,
and the fire-bird roosted in his golden cage. ee
The hearts of the two brothers were filled with envious
and wicked thoughts, and they whispered thus to one another,
“Just think what will become of us—the youngest will receive
half of the kingdom during our father’s life and succeed to the
throne at his death ; why not cut his throat at once? One of
us will take the Maid with the Golden Locks, the other can
carry the bird to our father and keep the Horse with the Golden
Mane; as for the kingdom, we will divide it between us.”
After this debate they killed their youngest brother and
cut up his body into small pieces, while they threatened to
treat Zlato-Vlaska in the same way if she attempted to dis-
obey them.
On reaching home they sent the Horse with the Golden
Mane to the marble stables, the cage containing Ohnivak was
placed in the room where their father lay sick, and the princess