“Let me go, Tremsin,” it cried, “and I will bring you such treasures that you will be a rich man forever.”
“I will not let you go,” said Tremsin, “until you promise to bring me the pearl necklace of the thrice-lovely Nastasia from the bottom of the sea.”
Well, the crab did not want to promise, but there was nothing else for it. He had to say he would do it, and then Tremsin lifted his cap and let him go.
The crab sidled off and disappeared in the water and he was gone three hours. When he came back he held the necklace in his claws.
Tremsin took the necklace and thanked him, and hurried away to the palace of the nobleman.
When his master saw that he had brought the pearl necklace he could not do enough to show his gratitude.
But the thrice-lovely Nastasia sat in her chamber, and would do nothing but weep and weep.
“I will never marry any man,” she said, “until I can ride to the church on my own fierce wild charger of the sea.”
Well, there was nothing else for it; the nobleman sent for Tremsin again. “This one more thing you must do for me,” he said. “You must bring me the thrice-lovely Nastasia’s wild fierce charger from the sea. Bring me that and I will make you rich for all your life, but fail and your head shall surely be parted from your shoulders.”