Now while they were still at the table, all eating and drinking, Prince Ivan arose and made some excuse for leaving the room. He went quietly and mounted his horse and rode back to his own castle.
There he made haste to the room where his wife had left her frog-skin. He hunted about until he found it, and then he threw it into the fire, for he did not intend that she should ever hide herself away in it again.
At once a clap of thunder sounded, and the Princess stood before him. Her eyes were streaming with tears, and she wrung her hands in grief.
“Alas and woe is me!” she cried. “Why did you burn my frog-skin? A little longer, and I would have been free. Now I must go away and leave you forever.”
“But where are you going?” cried the Prince in despair. “Wherever it is I will follow and find you.”
“Seek me beyond the seven mountains, beyond the seven seas, in the kingdom of Koshchei the Deathless, for it is in his house I will be,” answered the Princess. Then she turned into a great white swan and flew out through the window and far, far away; so far the Prince could no longer see her.
Then Prince Ivan was filled with grief; and he neither stayed nor tarried but set out at once in search of his Princess.
He journeyed on and journeyed on a short way and a long way, and then he met an old man with a grey beard that hung down far below his belt.
“Good day, good youth,” said the old man.
“Good day, grandfather,” answered Ivan.