the very end of the world and I cannot travel so far in less than fifty years."
The old mother bade her daughters fetch a jar of milk and put into it the frog and gave it to the archer. "Take this with thee," she said, "and the frog will show thee the road." So Taraban took the jar and bidding the old mother and her six daughters farewell, set out.
Whether the way was short or long, or its end far or near, he came at length to the Tzardom of Tzar Zmey, to where was a high mountain covered with a forest. He ascended the mountain, and at its very top was an iron door. "Now, good youth," said the frog, "this door is the entrance to the cavern which is the abode of Muzhichek. As to Schmat-Razum, his servant, go with God, for I cannot aid thee!"
The archer thanked the frog, set the jar on the soft moss, and opening the iron door, entered the cavern. Within it was dark enough to put one's eyes out. Groping about, he found under a table an empty chest in which he hid himself and waited to see what would happen.
He lay there one hour, he waited another and a third, when suddenly there came a rumbling from without, the door was nearly torn from its hinges,
