“Take each one a whip and flog him back home.”
The eldest Tsarevich returned, looking as if he had eaten something unsalted.
The maiden continued her threats, demanded the guilty man. The Tsar sent his second son, and the same thing happened to him as to the eldest. Now the Tsar gave command to find the youngest Tsarevich.
When the Tsarevich was found, his father wished him to go on the ship to the maiden. But he said: “I will go when a crystal bridge is built to the ship, and on the bridge there shall be many kinds of food and wine set out.”
There was no help for it; they built the bridge, prepared the food, brought wines and meat.
The Tsarevich collected his comrades. “Come with me, attend me,” said he; “eat ye and drink, spare nothing.”
While he was walking on the bridge the little boys cried out: “Mother, who is that?”
“That is your father.”
“How shall we meet him?”
“Take him by the hands and lead him to me.”