In certain tsardom, in a certain realm there lived a tsar and tsarina who had no children. One day they began prying to God to give them a child them to feast their eyes on while they were young and to care for them in their old age, and, their prayers said, went to bed.
They fell fast asleep, and both of them saw the same dream. They dreamt that in the lake near the palace, and a quiet little lake it was, there lived a gold-scaled ruff, and if the tsarina were to eat it she would at once find herself with child.
The tsar and tsarina woke, they called their maids and women and told them what they had seen in their dream. And the maids and women heard them out, and, after having thought it over, said that whatever one sees in one's dream is bound to happen in real life.
So the tsar had some fishermen summoned and bade them catch the gold-scaled ruff.
The fishermen came to the lake at daybreak, cast their net and had the good luck to catch the gold-scaled ruff at the first try. They took him out of the net and brought him to the palace, and, seeing them, the tsarina could not keep her seat. Up she jumped, snatched the ruff out of their hands and gave them a bag of money. And the reward was well deserved, for well had they their sovereigns served! The tsarina then called her favorite cook and gave the ruff to her.
"Here," says she. "Cook the ruff for my dinner and see that none save you touches it."
The cook cleaned and washed the ruff, cooked it and took the pail with the slops out into the yard. The tsarina ate the fish, the cook ate the leavings, and a cow that was out in the yard lapped up the slops, and all three of them became pregnant at one and the same time and gave birth at one the same time too.
The tsarina was delivered of a son whom she named Prince Ivan, the cook, of a son who went by the name of Ivan the Cook's Son, and the cow, of a son who was called Ivan the Bull's Son.
The three grew not by the day but by the hour, as fast as dough rises when the is good, and they all looked alike, so that none could say which of them was the Tsar's son, which the cook's and which the cow's. It was only by the way they behaved when they came back from a dance or a fete that they could be told apart at all, for Prince Ivan would call for a fresh shirt, the cook's son for a hearty meal and Ivan the Bull's Son would go straight to bed.
When the three were in their tenth year they came to the tsar and said: "Please, O Tsar, our father, have an iron stick fifty poods (1 pood=16 kilos) in weight made for us."
The tsar ordered his blacksmiths to forge an iron stick weight fifty poods, and the blacksmiths set to work and had it ready by the end of the week. So heavy was the stick that none could so much as lift it, but Prince Ivan, Ivan the Cook's Son and Ivan the Bull's Son could twirl it between their fingers as easily as though it was a goose quill.
The three of them stepped out into the palace courtyard, and Prince Ivan said: "Let us test our strength, brothers, and he who proves to be the strongest shall be as an elder brother to us, and we shall do as he says."
"Agreed," said Ivan the Bull's Son. "Take the stick and beat us over the shoulders with it."
Prince Ivan took the iron stick, struck Ivan the Cook's Son and Ivan the Bull's Son with it and drove them knee-deep into the ground. Then Ivan the Cook's Son took the stick, he struck Prince Ivan and Ivan the Bull's Son with it, and drove them chest-deep into the ground. But when the turn of Ivan the Bull's Son came to wield the stick, he drove his two brothers neck-deep into the ground.
"Let us test our strength once again," said Prince Ivan. "Let us each throw the stick into the air, and he who throws it higher than the other two shall be as an elder brother to us, and we shall do as he says."
"Well, then, you be the first to throw it!"
Prince Ivan hurled the stick into the air, and it was back on the ground again before a quarter of an hour had passed. Ivan the Cook's Son hurled the stick into the air, and it fell to the ground in half an hour. But when came the turn of Ivan the Bull's Son, he hurled the stick so high that it only came flying back a whole hour had passed.
"You have proved your worth and shall be as brother to us, and we shall do as you say, Ivan the Bull's Son," said his brothers.
This settled, they went for a walk in the garden and soon came upon a huge stone lying on the ground before them.
"Isn't that stone big! I wonder if it can be lifted," Prince Ivan said. He took hold of the stone, but try hard as he would, he could not so much as move it.
Ivan the Cook's Son was the next to take hold of the stone, but all he could do was move it a little.
"Pooh! Not equal to it, you two!" Ivan the Bull's Son said. "Now let me try and see if I can lift it."
He came up to the stone and gave it a push with his foot, and the stone gave out a booming sound and went rolling to the other end of the garden, felling many trees as it rolled. And where the stone had been now gaped a hole in the ground, a kind of deep cellar in which three giant steeds, while on the walls hung harness of kind used by warriors. Here was something for the three brothers - something that could help them show their prowess!
Nor did they tarry but at once went to see the tsar. "Please, O Tsar, our father," they said, "give us your blessing. For we wish to go to faraway lands to take a look at the folk who live there and to show ourselves to them!"
The tsar gave them his blessing and some money too, they bade him goodbye, mounted the three giant steeds and set out on their way.
On they rode across hills and dales, along rocky roads and weed-grown trails, and they came to a dark forest where, turning round and round without a sound, stood a hut on chicken feet, on sheep horns.
"Please, hut, stand as one you stood, with your face to us and your back to the wood," said they. "We're all done in and dead on our feet, and we want to ask for a bite to eat."
The hut turned and faced them, three brothers stepped inside, and there before them, lying on a stone ledge, was Baba-Yaga the Leg of Stone, a very, very old and wicked crone. And so twisted was she that seemed to be kneeling, for her mouth reached the floor and her nose touched the ceiling.
"Fee-fo-fum! Russian blood! I never smelt it before, no, nor even heard of it. But now it's here and asking to be put on a spoon and eaten by me."
"Enough, old one! Don't you scold and don't you drool, but get off the stove and sit on a stool," said Ivan the Bull's Son. "Ask us where we are bound, and I'll answer you politely."
And Baba-Yaga at once climbed down from the stove and came up to Ivan the Bull's Son. She no longer looked grim and she bowed to him.
"Good morrow to you, Ivan the Bull's Son!" said she. "I'm right glad to see you, my lad. Whither bound? For what far land?"
"We are on our way to the Currant River, Grandma, which is spanned by the Cranberry Bridge. I hear that that is where the three Chudo-Yudo live."
"Good for you! You're doing right to be doing there. Those dragons are villains, every one, and it's much evil they have done. They have overrun all the neighbouring realms, laid them waste and taken the people captive."
The three brothers spent the night in Baba-Yaga's house and as soon as it was morning set out on their way again. They came to the Currant River, and they saw that human bones lay piled knee-high on the shore. A hut stood there, they came inside, and, seeing that it was empty, decided to put up in it.
Evening came, and Ivan the Bull's Son said: "We find ourselves in a strange land, brothers, and we must beware of danger. Let us take turns keeping watch."
They cast lots then and there, and the lot fell upon Prince Ivan to keep watch the first night, Ivan the Cook's Son, the second night, and Ivan the Bull's Son, the third night.
Off went Prince Ivan to keep watch, but instead of doing so he lay down behind some bushes and fell fast asleep. Now, Ivan the Bull's Son felt he could not put much trust in him, and no sooner was it midnight than he was up and on his feet, and, taking his sword and shield with him, stepped outside and stationed himself under the Cranberry Bridge.
All of a sudden waves rose on the river, the eagles sitting on the tops of the oak-trees uttered a shrill cry, and Chudo-Yudo the Dragon, he of the six heads, came riding up. But his horse stumbled under him, the black raven perching on his shoulder shook his wings, and the hunting dog that ran behind him bristled.
Said Chudo-Yudo the Dragon, he of six heads: "Why do you stumble, you old piece of horse flesh? Why do you shake your wings, you heap of feathers? Why does your hair stand on end, you bag of bristles? Think you that Ivan the Bull's Son is here? Why, the lad hasn't been born yet. And even if he has, he is not fit to do battle with a man of mettle. I'll put him on the palm of one hand and strike him with my other hand, and nothing will be left of him!"
At this, Ivan the Bull's Son leapt out from under the bridge.
"Do not brag, evil one!" he cried. "First catch a falcon and then pluck his feathers. First fight a man of stout heart, aye, and vanquish him, and then revile him. Let us cross swords, and he who overcomes the other will boast of his prowess."
They came together and crossed swords with such force that the ground beneath them quaked and groaned. And it was Chudo-Yudo who got the worst of it, for Ivan the Bull's Son smote off three of his heads with one blow.
"Stay, Ivan the Bull's Son, stay and let me rest!" he begged.
"Rest not, Chudo-Yudo, for you have three heads and I have but one. When only one head is left you, then will we rest," said Ivan the Bull's Son.
They came together and crossed their swords again, and Ivan the Bull's Son smote off Chudo-Yudo's other three heads. Then he cut up his body into small pieces, threw them into the Currant River, laid the six heads under the Cranberry Bridge and himself went back to the hut.
Morning came, and there was Prince Ivan at the door.
"Well, did you see anything to alarm you?" Ivan the Bull's Son asked him.
"No, not even a fly flew past me."
On the following night it was Ivan the Cook's Son who went to keep watch, but he too lay down behind some bushes and fell asleep. Now, Ivan the Bull's Son felt that he could not put much trust in him. He wanted till it past midnight, and then, taking his sword and shield, stepped outside and stationed himself under the Cranberry Bridge.
All of a sudden waves rose on the river, the eagles sitting on the tops of the oak-trees uttered a shrill cry, and Chudo-Yudo the Dragon, he of the nine heads, came riding up. His horse stumbled under him, the black raven perching on his shoulder shook his wings, and the hunting dog that ran behind him bristled, and Chudo-Yudo raised his whip and sent it whistling over the horse's flanks, the raven's wings and the dog's ears.
"Why do you stumble, you old piece of horse flesh? Why do you shake your wings, you heap of feathers? Why does your hair stand on end, you bag of bristles?" he roared. "Think you that Ivan the Bull's Son is here? Well, he hasn't been born yet, and even if he has, he is not fit to do battle with a man of mettle. Why, I'll kill him with one finger!"
At this Ivan the Bull's Son leapt out from under the bridge.
"Wait, brag not, evil one!" he cried. "First wash your hands and pray the Lord and only then take up your sword. None knows yet who is to be the victor!"
He waved his sharp sword once and then again and smote off six of Chudo-Yudo's heads. But Chudo-Yudo struck him and drove him knee-deep into the ground.
This did not daunt Ivan the Bull's Son. He picked up a handful of sand and flung it into his foe's face, and as Chudo-Yudo was rubbing his eyes, trying to get the sand out of them, the youth smote off the rest of his heads, cut up his body into small pieces, threw them into the river and laid his nine heads under the bridge.
Morning came, and there was Ivan the Cook's Son at the door.
"Well, did you see anything to alarm you?" Ivan the Bull's Son asked.
"No, not a fly flew past me, not a gnat went piping by."
Ivan the Bull's Son led his brothers under the Cranberry Bridge, showed them the dragon's heads and said: "You loafers you! It's not for you to do battle or the plains to rove, but to lie on a ledge above the stove."
The third night came, and Ivan the Bull's Son prepared to go out to keep watch. He took a towel, hung it on the wall, and placing a bowl on the floor beneath it, said: "I'm off to do battle to the death! And you, my brothers, must stay awake and never take your eyes off the towel. Blood will start running from it, but if it fills half the bowl or even the whole of it, think nothing of it. It is only if the blood flows over the edges that you must untether my horse and yourselves haste to my side."
Ivan the Bull's Son placed himself under the Cranberry Bridge, and just after midnight, waves rose on the river, the eagles sitting on the tops of the oak-trees uttered a shrill cry, and Chudo-Yudo, he of the twelve heads, came riding up on a horse had twelve wings, a coat of silver and a tail and mane of gold. Chudo-Yudo spurred him on, and the horse stumbled, the black raven perching on the dragon's shoulder shook his wings, and the hunting dog that ran behind him bristled.
At this Chudo-Yudo waved his whip and sent it whistling over the horse's flanks, the raven's wings and the dog's ears. "Why do you stumble, you old piece of horse flesh? Why do you shake your wings, you heap of feathers? Why does you r hair stand on end, you bag of bristles?" he roared. "Think you that Ivan the Bull's Son is here? Well, he hasn't been born yet. And even if he has, he's not fit to do battle with a man of mettle. All I need do is blow at him, and nothing, not even a handful of dust, will be left of him."
At this Ivan the Bull's Son leapt out from under the bridge and faced Chudo-Yudo.
"Wait, do not boast!" he cried. "First wash your hands and pray to the Lord, and only then take up your sword!"
"Ah, so it's you, Ivan the Bull's Son! What brings you here?"
"I'm here to take a look at you, evil one, and to test your strength."
"To test my strength?" You're not up to it, my lad, you are as a flea beside me!"
"I'm not here to tell tales or to hear you tell yours," said Ivan the Bull's Son. "I'm here to fight you to the death!"
And he waved his sword and smote off three of Chudo-Yudo's heads. But Chudo-Yudo caught them up and passed his fiery finger over them, and all three of them grew fast to the necks again just as if they had never been smitten off at all. And now Ivan the Bull's Son fared badly, for Chudo-Yudo got the better of him and drove him knee-deep into the ground.
"Stay, evil one!" Ivan the Bull's Son cried. "Even when one tsar fights another they sometimes call for a truce and take a rest. Are you and I better than they that we should fight without respite?"
Chudo-Yudo agreed that they should stop fighting and rest a while, and Ivan the Bull's Son pulled off his right glove and sent it flying at the hut where he had left his brothers. The glove hit the windows and smashed them, but the two brothers slept and heard nothing.
Ivan the Bull's Son waved his sword harder and smote off six of Chudo-Yudo's heads. But Chudo-Yudo caught them up and passed his fiery finger over them, and all the heads grew fast to the necks again. Then he fell on Ivan the Bull's Son and drove him waist-deep into the ground.
Now, Ivan the Bull's Son was wise, and he asked Chudo-Yudo to stop fighting and let him rest a while. To this Chudo-Yudo agreed, and Ivan the Bull's Son pulled off his left glove and sent it flying at the hut. The glove crashed the roof, but the two brothers slept on and heard nothing, so he waved his sword for the third time and smote off nine of Chudo-Yudo's heads. But Chudo-Yudo caught them up, he passed his fiery finger over them, and they grew fast to the necks again. Then he fell on Ivan the Bull's Son and drove him shoulder-deep into the ground.
But Ivan the Bull's Son asked him to let him rest again, and when Chudo-Yudo agreed to this, he took off his helmet and sent it flying at the hut. The hut fell to pieces, and the logs it was built of rolled the ground with a mighty sound.
Only then the brothers wake. They looked about them and saw that blood filled the bowl to the brim and flowed over its edges and that their brother's horse, neighing loudly, was straining him and themselves made for the bridge.
"So you have tricked me!" Chudo-Yudo roared. "It seems there are those at hand who would help you/"Now Ivan's great steed came galloping up and struck Chudo-Yudo with his hooves, and this gave Ivan the Bull's Son time to climb out of the ground. He was quick and at once cut off Chudo-Yudo's fiery finger and then went at the dragon's heads. He smote off every one of them, cut up the dragon's body into small pieces and threw them into the Currant River.
Only then was he joined by his brothers.
"You are loafers, both of you!" said Ivan the Bull's Son. "I nearly paid with my life because you could not stay awake!"
Came the dawn, and Ivan the Bull's Son strode out into the open field, flung himself on the ground and turned into a sparrow. And it was in this guise that he flew up to the palace of white stone where the three dragons had lived. He perched on a windowsill, and the old witch, the dragon's mother-in-law, saw him, threw him a handful of grain and said: "Peck away, little bird, at this yellow grain while I pour out my sorrow and speak of my pain. Ivan the Bull's Son has brought misfortune to me and mine, he has slain all my three sons-in-law!"
"Do not grieve, Mother, we will pay him back for everything!" her three daughters, the wives of the dragons said.
"I am going to make Ivan the Bull's Son and his two brothers very, very hungry, and then out I'll come on the road and turn myself into apple-tree with apples of gold and silver growing on it," said the youngest of the three. "And he who plucks one of them and eats of it will drop dead."
"I am going to make Ivan the Bull's Son and his two brothers very, very thirsty and myself turn into a well with two dippers, one of gold and the other of silver, floating on top of it," said the middle daughter. "And he who touches either of the dippers will drown."
"As for me," said the eldest daughter, "I am going to make Ivan the Bull's Son and his two brothers fell very sleepy and myself turn into a bed of gold. And he who lies down on it will be burnt to death."
Ivan the Bull's Son heard out all they had to say, flew quickly away and turned back into the tall and handsome lad he had been before. And the three brothers mounted their steeds and rode home.
On they rode along the road, and as the hours passed, began to feel faint with hunger. All of a sudden there before them they saw an apple-tree, its branches heavy with gold and silver apples. Prince Ivan and Ivan the Cook's Son urged on their steeds in hope of plucking an apple, but Ivan the Bull's Son got to the tree ahead of them and began cutting it down, making the blood

Spurt of it with every thrust of his sword.
And he did the same with golden well and the golden bed, killing in this way all three of the witch's daughters.
As soon as the witch learnt of her daughter's death she dressed herself like a beggar woman, hung a sack on her back, ran out on the road and stood there. By and by Ivan the Bull's Son and his brothers came riding towards her, and she stretched out her hand and began begging for alms.
"Our father has enough gold and to spare, brother!" said Prince Ivan. "So why don't you give this old beggar woman a coin or two?"
Ivan the Bull's Son brought out some coins and held them out to the old woman, but instead of taking them she seized him by hand and vanished together with him. Prince Ivan and Ivan the Cook's Son looked about them, but not seeing either the old woman or their brother, were frightened half out of their wits, and, putting their horses into a gallop, rode home.
And the witch dragged Ivan the Bull's Son to a deep cellar and led him to her husband's beside.
"Here is the one who slew all who were dear to us!" she said.
Now, the witch's husband, who was lying on a bed of iron, was very, very old, and so long were his lashes and so thick his brows that they hung over his eyes so that he could see nothing. He had twelve mighty knights summoned and said to them: "Take a pitchfork, my lads, and lift up my brows and lashes so that I can take a look at the one who slew my sons-in-law and see what he is like."
The knights did as he bade, and the old man looked Ivan the Bull's Son over and said: "Good for you, Ivan, my lad! So it was you that got up the courage to fight my sons-in-law and then slew them! Now speak and tell me what I am to do with you."
"Do with me whatever you like, it's for you to decide," said Ivan the Bull's Son.
"Let us not waste words then, for I cannot bring my children back to life again. Better do me a service. Go to the tsardom-that-never-was-heard-of, to the realm-that-never-was-seen, carry off Queen-Locks of Gold and bring her to me. I wish to marry her."
"You're much too old for that, you old devil, it's young lads like me that ought to marry," Ivan the Bull's Son thought.
And as for the old witch, she was filled with such fury that her wits forsook her, and she tied a stone round her neck, jumped into a river and drowned herself. "Here is a club for you, Ivan, my lad," the old man said. "Go to such-and-such an oak-tree, strike it thrice with the club and say: "Open, tree! Out with you, ship! Repeat these words three times, and as soon as the ship is before you, tell the oak-tree to close, and repeat this three times too. And mind that you do it all or you'll forfeit my good will."
Ivan the Bull's Son found the oak-tree, struck it with the club over and over again and called out: "Open, tree! Out with all that is within you!"
At this a ship appeared from out of the tree, and Ivan the Bull's Son got into it, and, calling "Follow me, all!" sailed off down the river.
By and by he glanced back, and there sailing after him, were boats of all kinds, so many that was no counting them! And all who were in the boats were singing his praises.
By and by an old man rowed up to him.
"Long may you live and long may you prosper, Ivan the Bull's Son!" he said. "You are a man like no other! Take me on board, and I will be a good friend to you."
"What can you do?"
"I can eat, and eat heartily, my lad!"
"The devil take you! That's something I can do, too. But you can join me all the same, for I'm always glad of a friend."
Some time passed, and another old man rowed up to the ship.
"Greetings, Ivan the Bull's Son!" he called. "Do take me on board!"
"What can you do?"
"I can drink much ale and much wine, my lad."
"Is that all? But, oh, well, get on board, I'll be glad to have you."
By and by a third old man rowed up to the ship.
"Greetings to you, Ivan the Bull's Son!" he called. "Won't you take me on board too?"
"Tell me what you can do."
"I can steam myself in a bathhouse."
"What the devil! A wise lot, all of you!"
But he took the third old man on board too.
By and by a fourth old man rowed up to the ship.
"Long may you live and long may you prosper, Ivan the Bull's Son!" he called. "Pray take me on board, too."
"And who may you be?"
"An astrologer, my lad."
"An astrologer? Well, there you go me one better, for to count the stars is something I cannot do. So get on board and welcome!"
The fourth old man had only just joined Ivan the Bull's Son when a fifth old man rowed up and asked to be taken on board.
"A plague on the lot of you! What am I to do with you all! Be quick now and tell me what you can do," said Ivan the Bull's Son.
"I can swim like a fish, my lad."
"Well, then, get on board and welcome!"
Off they sailed together to fetch Queen-Locks of Gold, and when they came to the tsardom-never-heard-of, the realm-never-before-seen they learnt that Ivan the Bull's Son had long been expected there and for three whole months bread had been baked, wine made and ale brewed in preparation for his coming.
Seeing the wagonloads of bread and of casks of wine and of ale set before him, Ivan the Bull's Son was quite taken aback.
"What does this mean?" he asked.
"All of this is yours to eat and to drink," they told him.
"What the devil! Why, I couldn't eat or drink that much in a year!"
But the next moment he remembered the old men he had with him and called out: "Come, old men, you who are stout of heart and strong of frame, which of you is a great eater and which a great drinker?"
And Big Eater and Big Drinker called back: "We are, Ivan the Bull's Son! All that food and drink is as nothing for us!"
"Well, then, set to and prove it!"
At this Big Eater came running up, and it wasn't merely whole loaves but whole wagonloads of bread that he stuffed into his mouth and swallowed. Soon all of bread was gone, and he shouted: ""ring more! I'' still hungry!"
Big Drinker was the next to come running up. He began swilling the wine and the ale, and when none was left, swallowed the casks as well.
"Bring more! "I'm thirsty still!" he cried.
Now, the servants of Queen-Locks of Gold were quite flustered by this. They ran to see her and they told her that all of the bread and wine was gone. But Queen-Locks of Gold was not at all put out and ordered them to take Ivan the Bull's Son to the bathhouse for him to be streamed there.
Now, the bathhouse had been heated for three months on end, and was now so hot that none could come within a distance of even five miles to it without getting badly burnt. The queen's servants told Ivan the Bull's Son to come with them and be steamed there, but when he saw how hot the bathhouse was he said: "You must be mad. Why, I'll be burnt to death there!"
But no sooner were the words out of his mouth than he remembered the old men he had with him and called out: "Come, old men, you who are stout of heart and strong of frame, which of you likes to be steamed in a bathhouse?"
At this the third old man came running up to him. "I do, my lad!" he cried. "It's as nothing to me."
He ran into the bathhouse, blew into one of its corners and spat into the other, and the bathhouse cooled at once, and snow piled up on the floor.
"I'm freezing!" he shouted. "Heat this bathhouse and don't stop heating it for another three years!"
The servants of Queen-Locks of Gold rushed to her chamber to tell her about it, but Ivan the Bull's Son did not wait for them to come back and demanded that the queen be given up to him.
At this the queen stepped out of her chamber, put her snow-white hand in his and got aboard the ship together with him.
They set sail at once, but when a day and another had passed, Queen-Locks of Gold felt very sad and woebegone. She struck herself on the chest, turned into a star and soared up to the sky.
"I don't suppose I'll see her again," said Ivan the Bull's So. But the next moment he remembered the old men he had with him and called out: "Come, old men, you who are stout of heart and strong of frame, which of you can count the stars?"
"I can, my lad, it's as nothing for me!" the fourth old man told him.
He flung himself down on the deck, turned into a star, flew up into the sky and began counting the stars. He found one that had not been there before and gave it a push, and it rolled from its place and down the sky, fell on the deck and turned into Queen-Locks of Gold again.
They sailed on, but when a day and another had passed, Queen-Locks of Gold was overcome with sadness. She struck herself on the chest, turned into a pike and swam away.
"Well, I don't suppose I'll ever see her again!" Ivan the Bull's Son told himself, but he remembered the last of the old men and called him to his side.
"It is not you who can swim like a fish?" he asked.
"Yes, indeed, my lad, it's as nothing to me!" the old man said.
He flung himself on the deck, turned into a fish, slipped into the sea, and going after the pike, pricked it with his spiky fins.
The pike could not bear the pain. It leapt up on the deck and turned back again into Queen-Lock of Gold.
After this the five old men, with many a sigh, bade Ivan the Bull's Son a fond goodbye and went home, and Ivan the Bull's Son and Queen-Locks of Gold sailed back to the realm of the father-in-law of three Chudo-Yudos. The old man had twelve mighty knights summoned, and he bade them fetch an iron pitchfork and lift up his brows and lashes.
This they did, and he looked at Queen-Locks of Gold, and, turning to Ivan the Bull's Son, said: "Well done, Ivan the Bull's Son! I forgive you and set you free, and you need not fear any vengeance from me."
"Stay!" said Ivan the Bull's Son. "Think before you speak."
"What is it now?"
"Well, it is this way. I have had a deep pit dug and a plank laid across it, and whichever of us crosses the pit, and 'twill take some courage and also some wit, shall wed Queen-Locks of Gold."
"Very well," the old man said. "Come, Ivan the Bull's Son, you cross the pit first."
Ivan the Bull's Son stepped on the plank, and Queen-Locks of Gold said half under her breath: "Light as a swan's down shall you be and so walk across and marry me!"
And Ivan the Bull's Son walked across very easily, and the plank did not so much as bend under him. But when the old man tried to do the same, he stumbled when he was halfway across and fell into the pit.
After this Ivan the Bull's Son went home, taking Queen-Locks of Gold with him. They were married soon after, and so rich a feast was the one they as never before had been beheld! There sat Ivan the Bull's Son at the table, and he said to his brothers: "Long did I fight and far did I sail, and by my bride's side all other maids pale! As for you, my brothers, loafers that you are, you'd better sit on that stove ledge yonder and chew at bricks to everyone's wonder!"

(Translated by Irina Zheleznova)