Ivan began immediately to pluck some of the finest flowers. While doing so, a thorn pricked his hand, and the wound bled. At the sight of the blood the princess. was moved with pity. She took her own silk handkerchief, and bound the gardener's hand with it.

Now about this time news came that a neighbouring infidel king had declared war against the czar, and had advanced towards the capital with a powerful army. A great battle began.

Ivan cut down a lime tree, made a stout beam of it, went into the fields, and whistled and called loudly for his horse. In an instant his beautiful horse appeared. The earth shook as he galloped. Ivan mounted him and rushed against the enemy. He seized from one a sword, from another a golden helmet, put the helmet on his head and drew down the visor. He then fought and defeated the whole army.

The czar was amazed, and wondered who the knight could be, and whence he came. He did not suppose, even for a moment, that the knight was his own gardener. The people thought he was perhaps St. George himself on his white horse. The enemy was dispersed, and had left their baggage behind them. The strange knight galloped away, and was seen no more.

The czar returned home, and praising the unknown knight's bravery, said to his daughter,

"Whoever he may be, I would willingly give you to him for a wife as a reward of such valour."

The gardener stood beneath the window and heard it. Not long afterwards another hostile army advanced against the capital, and again a frightful battle began.

Ivan went into the fields and whistled; the horse galloped to him, and the dust from beneath his feet arose like smoke in the air. The horse was full of life and vigour.

"What is it you want?" asked the horse.

"Help me once more," said Ivan; "take me to the battle-field."

The horse flew with the swiftness of the wind, and the young knight, like an eagle, attacked the forces of the enemy, and routed them. The people again thought it was St. George. Ivan brandished his lance, and killed numbers of the enemy; he delivered the czar from death, and the people from slavery. The foe fled and never returned.

The czar ordered the unknown knight to be invited to his castle. The stranger appeared. The czar begged him to lift up his visor. When the princess saw her own handkerchief on the knight's arm, she blushed, but said not a word.

"Whoever you may be," said the czar, "I will keep my czar's word with you: if you are unmarried, I will

give you my daughter for a wife; if married, you shall have half of my kingdom."

Ivan drew up the visor of his golden helmet and bowed humbly to the czar. The surprised czar recognised in the knight his own gardener. Soon afterwards Ivan married the princess.

And now we have told you, in the old fashion, the story of Ivan, the son of the merchant Kruchina.

K

RIGHT AND WRONG.

(FROM THE SERVIAN.)

A CERTAIN king had two sons: the one cunning and unjust, the other just and good. After the death of their father, the unjust brother said to the just one,

"Get you away from me; we cannot live together any longer. Here you have three hundred gold pieces and a horse; this is your share of our father's inheritance. There is nothing more for you."

The just brother took the three hundred gold pieces and the horse, and departed, saying as he went,–

"Heaven be praised! although I have received only this much from the whole kingdom."

After some time the two brothers met on the high road, each mounted on his horse. The just brother called to the unjust one,

"God give you nothing but evil! Why do you always bring in the name of God? Wrong is better than Right."

Then the good brother answered,

"Come, I will lay you a wager that Wrong is not better than Right."

And they made a bet together for one hundred gold pieces, and agreed that the first man they met should decide the wager. Going farther on they met the demon on horseback, who had changed himself into a monk. They asked him to tell them which was better-Right or Wrong. The demon answered, "Wrong!" and so the good brother lost his one hundred gold pieces. they bet again for the second and third hundred pieces, and according to the decision of the demon, who assumed different shapes each time he appeared to them, the just brother lost all the three hundred gold pieces, and his horse as well. Then said he,

Then

"Heaven be praised! I have not a single gold piece left; but I have my eyes still, and will wager with you for them, once more."

And he wagered his eyes that Right was better than Wrong.

Then his brother, without seeking further for a judge, drew forth his knife, and cut the other's eyes out, and cried,