Meanwhile at home the mother waited and waited for Peter to come back from the river with his fish. Then at last she went down to look for him. There was his boat drawn up on the shore empty, and all round it were marks of the Baba Yaga’s feet, and the trees and bushes were broken where she had rushed away through the forest. Then the mother knew that a witch had carried off the little boy.
She went back home, weeping and wailing.
Now the woman had a very faithful servant, and when this girl heard her mistress wailing, she asked her what the matter was.
The woman told her all that she had seen down at the river, and how she was sure a Baba Yaga had flown away with Peter.
“Mistress,” said the girl, “there is no reason for you to despair. Just give me a little wheaten cake to keep the life in me, and I will set out and find Peter, even though I have to travel to the end of the world.”
Then the woman was comforted. She gave the servant a cake, and the girl set out in search of Peter.
She went on and on, and after a while she came to the Baba Yaga’s house. It stood on fowls’ legs, and turned whichever way the wind blew. The girl knocked at the door, and the Baba Yaga opened it.
“What do you want here?” she asked. “Are you seeking work or shunning work?”
“I am seeking work,” answered the girl. “Can you give me anything to do?”
The witch scowled at her terribly. “You may come in,” she said, “and set my house in order, but do not go peeping and prying about, or it will be the worse for you.”