Princess [in great distress]. But we must let our father know we are safe!
Kolinka. We will send a messenger as soon as we can, but there is no one in the village to-night——
Sascha. The wolves have been so bad that all the men have gone out to hunt them.
Kolinka. Perhaps someone will be back soon, and then we can send. It isn't safe for the boys to go alone into the forest so late.
Sascha [to Prince]. Father made me promise not to go away until he came home. I'm not a bit afraid, though.
Kolinka. Sascha, run and ask old Semyon what he thinks. [Exit Sascha.] Sascha will bring Semyon back with him.
Nicolas. Perhaps Ivan will come, too.
Matrena. Ivan and Semyon play their violins and sing—Ivan is Semyon's grandson, you know.
Pavlo. And we sing, too.
Nicolas. We'll sing for you when they come.