“He decided to marry at seventy, did her? Tell my daughter that her mother is always with her and that no old, bearded fellow but only a young, handsome man will bring her to the altar.”

“I promised the miraculous whale,” Ivan said, “to ask you how much longer he will be punished and for what sin he suffers.”

“He suffers because he swallowed thirty ships without God’s command.  If he sets them free, God will heal all his wounds and grant him long life,” said the moon.  Ivan sat upon the little horse and flew off on a return course.

At the ocean again, Ivan warned the village on the whale: “Whoever doesn’t want to sink in the sea, leave at once! A miracle will soon take place.  The whale-fish will turn over.” Every living thing left the whale.

“Miraculous whale-fish!” shouted the little horse. “Your suffering is for the thirty ships you swallowed without God’s command.  Set them free and God will heal all your wounds and grant you a long life.” The great whale began to stir, and ship after ship emerged from his jaws.  Finally the happy giant flipped over and swam freely about.  “How can I help you?” asked the whale. “Do you need golden fish and colorful shells or enormous shiny pearls?”

“No, we need the ring of the czar maiden,” said Ivan.

“Fine, fine!” the whale replied.  “I will find her ring before the dawn.”  And like a key, he sank to the bottom.  He called on all the sturgeons to find the ring at once: “It’s urgent!” They searched for hours, without success, and suggested the ruff knew the sea bottom best.  When two dolphin messengers finally found the ruff, he was fighting a carp and didn’t want to help.  “This is an important fight,” said the ruff, but the dolphins grabbed him by his bristle fins and took him to find the ring.  In between scuffles, he found a small box on the bottom of the sea.  With the help of the sturgeons, they pried it loose and gave it to the whale.

Ivan and the little horse were waiting for the rising sun when the miraculous whale-fish reappeared. “For your good deed, I kept my promise,” said the whale and gave them the box.

Ivan’s final reward. Back in the capital, Ivan presented the czar with the small box. “Here is your ring, dear maiden,” said the czar.  “Now will you marry me?”