“I am only fifteen years old,” she said.  “Become a young man and I will marry at once.”

“But how?”

“Make fires under three large cauldrons tomorrow in the yard.  Fill the first with scalding milk; the second, with boiling water; and the third, with cold water.  Without clothes, jump into the boiling milk, the boiling water, and then the cold water.  Do this and you will be a handsome young man!”

Without hesitation, the frightened czar called Ivan and explained the recipe for youth. “You will have to test the three cauldrons for me.”

“Boil pigs, turkeys, or chickens, that’s fine, but I, dear czar, am neither fowl nor swine,” said Ivan.

“If you don’t fulfill my wishes, I will torture you,” said the czar.  Ivan went to the hayloft where this friend lay and related his latest calamity.

“Now this is a true service I will perform for you,” said the little horse. “Before you jump in, call me to say good-bye.  I will swish my tail, dip my nose in the cauldrons, spray you twice, and whistle loudly.  But now, go to sleep.”

The next day all was ready.  The czar and czar maiden came to watch Ivan test the cauldrons.  The little horse cast his spell, and Ivan jumped from scalding milk to boiling water to cold water.  And how handsome he became! “It’s a miracle!” everyone shouted.

Then the czar jumped in the cauldron and was boiled alive!

The czar maiden stood up and spoke to the people: “I want to be your czarina.  Do you approve of me? If you do, then say so and accept him as my husband,” she said, pointing at Ivan.