The Crystal Mountain
In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, there once lived a king who had three sons. One day, the sons said to him:"Gracious sovereign and father! Bless us, for we wish to go hunting."
The father gave them his blessing, and they set off in different directions.
The youngest son rode and rode until he became lost. He came upon a clearing where a dead horse lay, and around the carcass had gathered many beasts, birds, and reptiles.
A falcon rose up, flew to the prince, perched on his shoulder, and said:
"Ivan Tsarevich, divide this horse for us. It has lain here for thirty-three years, and we have been arguing all this time, unable to decide how to divide it."
The prince dismounted from his good steed and divided the carcass: the bones to the beasts, the meat to the birds, the skin to the reptiles, and the head to the ants.
"Thank you, Ivan Tsarevich!" said the falcon. "For this service, you may transform into a bright falcon and an ant whenever you wish."
Ivan Tsarevich struck the damp earth, turned into a bright falcon, soared into the air, and flew to the thirtieth kingdom. More than half of that kingdom had been swallowed by a crystal mountain.
He flew straight to the palace, transformed back into a fine young man, and asked the palace guards:
"Would your sovereign take me into his service?"
"Why wouldn’t he take such a fine young man?" they replied. And so, he entered the king’s service and lived there for one week, then another, and then a third. The princess began to plead:
"My sovereign father! Allow me to take a walk with Ivan Tsarevich on the crystal mountain."
The king consented. They mounted their good horses and rode off.
As they approached the crystal mountain, suddenly, out of nowhere, a golden goat leapt out.
The prince chased after it; he galloped and galloped but could not catch the goat. When he returned, the princess was gone! What was he to do? How could he face the king?
He disguised himself as an ancient old man, unrecognizable to anyone, went to the palace, and said to the king:
"Your Majesty! Hire me to tend your herd."
"Very well, be my shepherd. If a three-headed serpent comes, give it three cows; if a six-headed serpent comes, give it six cows; and if a twelve-headed serpent comes, count out twelve cows for it."
Ivan Tsarevich drove the herd through the mountains and valleys. Suddenly, a three-headed serpent flew in from the lake:
"Ah, Ivan Tsarevich, what kind of work have you taken up? A fine young man like you should be fighting, not herding cattle! Well, then," it said, "drive three cows to me."
"Wouldn’t that be a bit rich?" replied the prince. "I myself eat only one duck a day, and you want three cows... You’ll get none!"
The serpent grew angry and instead of three, it seized six cows. Ivan Tsarevich immediately transformed into a bright falcon, tore off three of the serpent’s heads, and drove the herd home.
"Well, old man," asked the king, "did the three-headed serpent come? Did you give it three cows?"
"No, Your Majesty, I gave it none!"
The next day, the prince drove the herd through the mountains and valleys. A six-headed serpent flew in from the lake and demanded six cows.
"Ah, you gluttonous monster! I myself eat only one duck a day, and what are you asking for! You’ll get nothing from me!"
The serpent grew angry and instead of six, it seized twelve cows. The prince transformed into a bright falcon, attacked the serpent, and tore off six of its heads.
He drove the herd home, and the king asked:
"Well, old man, did the six-headed serpent come? Did it take many of my cows?"
"It came, but it took nothing!"
Late in the evening, Ivan Tsarevich transformed into an ant and crawled through a small crack into the crystal mountain. Inside, he saw the princess sitting there.
"Hello," said Ivan Tsarevich, "how did you end up here?"
"A twelve-headed serpent carried me off. He lives on my father’s lake. Inside that serpent is a chest; inside the chest is a hare; inside the hare is a duck; inside the duck is an egg; and inside the egg is a seed. If you kill the serpent and retrieve that seed, you can destroy the crystal mountain and free me."
Ivan Tsarevich crawled out of the mountain, disguised himself as a shepherd, and drove the herd.
Suddenly, a twelve-headed serpent flew in:
"Ah, Ivan Tsarevich! You’ve taken up the wrong task: a fine young man like you should be fighting, not herding cattle... Well, then, count out twelve cows for me!"
"Too rich for you! I myself eat only one duck a day, and what are you asking for!"
They began to fight, and whether it was long or short, Ivan Tsarevich defeated the twelve-headed serpent. He cut open its body and on the right side found the chest: inside the chest was the hare, inside the hare was the duck, inside the duck was the egg, and inside the egg was the seed.
He took the seed, lit it, and held it to the crystal mountain—the mountain melted away.
Ivan Tsarevich led the princess out and brought her to her father. The king rejoiced and said to the prince:
"Be my son-in-law!"
And so, they were wed. I was at that wedding, drank mead and beer, it ran down my beard but didn’t reach my mouth.
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