The fool placed the things in a bag, dressed a little more warmly, sat on his little horse, and flew off to the east.  They traveled to a thick forest where the little horse said to Ivan: “You see the boat there, gleaming? That’s the czar maiden sailing.  She only comes off it two days a year.  Set up the tent; put the service and sweets on the towels.  Lie down behind the tent and wait to grab her.” The little horse disappeared from view.

A clear midday arrived. The czar maiden sailed up, walked into the tent, and sat down behind the service. “So this is the czar maiden,” said Ivan.  “She is too thin to be a beauty.” Then the czar maiden began to play her gusli (hand-held harp) and sing so wetly that Ivan fell asleep.

At sunset the little horse shouted in an angry voice, “Sleep yourself full of troubles, my man!” Ivan began to cry, asking the little horse to forgive him.

“God has already forgiven you! Tomorrow the maiden will again sail to the golden-threaded tent.”

Again the little horse hid.  Ivan went down to collect sharp stones and nails from shipwrecks to prick himself if he dozed off again.  Early the next morning the czar maiden sailed up to the golden-threaded tent.  She sang so sweetly that Ivan again wanted to sleep.  “Stop!” said Ivan. “You can’t fool me another time.” Ivan ran into the tent and grabbed her long braid. “Help, little friend!” he cried, and in an instant the humpbacked horse appeared.

“Get on my back and hold her tightly!” it instructed Ivan.

When they reached the capital, the czar led the czar maiden to the palace. He gazed tenderly into her eyes and said: “Incomparable maiden, agree to be my wife!” The czar maiden, saying nothing, turned away from the czar.  Finally, she said, “If you want to take me, then within three days get me my ring from the ocean.”

“Call Ivan!” the czar shouted and almost ran for Ivan himself.  When he appeared, the czar told him to get the czar maiden’s ring from the ocean.