The Magic Swan-Geese

Once upon a time, a peasant husband and wife lived at the edge of a village with their two children: a little daughter and her baby brother, Ivanushka. One day the parents had to journey to town for market. The mother told the daughter, "Listen well and look after your little brother while we are away. Stay in the yard and don't go wandering off. If you mind us, we'll bring you a nice kerchief." "I'll take good care of him, Mama, don't worry," the girl promised.

The parents left, and for a time the sister played with baby Vanya. But soon some neighbor girls came by and called to her, "Come play with us in the meadow!" Forgetting her mother's warning, the sister placed Ivanushka on the grass outside the cottage and ran off with her friends. They played tag and gathered flowers, and time flew by.

Suddenly the girl remembered her brother and looked around – he was nowhere to be seen! She heard a rush of wings and distant honking. Oh no… She recalled the tales of the local Gusi-Lebedi – the swan-geese of the witch Baba Yaga – who often snatch unattended children. The girl's heart sank. She ran here and there calling, "Ivanushka, Ivanushka!" But there was no baby – only a few tiny footprints in the dirt leading toward the deep woods, and the fading cries of geese on the wind.

The panicked sister dashed into the forest following the trail of the swan-geese. Soon she came upon a wood-fired oven in a clearing, full of hot coals. "Oven, oven! Did you see a small boy carried by geese?" she asked. "Yes," creaked the Oven, "the geese rushed by overhead. But I am so hungry, dear girl. Please taste one of my freshly baked rye pies – I've been waiting so long for someone." The girl was in such haste that she wrinkled her nose. "No time for pies, silly Oven!" she exclaimed, and ran on.

Deeper in the forest she next encountered an apple tree laden with rosy apples. "Apple tree, have you seen the geese fly past with a little boy?" The Apple Tree sighed, "Yes, my branches did shake from their wind. Have a crispy apple, good girl – I've so many this year, and none to taste them." But the sister barely stopped. "Not now, I'm in a hurry!" she huffed, dashing onward.

Next the girl came to the banks of a Milk River, flowing smooth and white, with pudding shores (a river of milk kissel). "Oh River, did you see swan-geese carrying a baby?" The Milk River gurgled gently, "I did, child. Won't you pause to sip of my sweet milk and taste my pudding banks? You look tired." The girl shook her head impatiently. "I can't, no time!" she cried, splashing through the shallows without a thank you.

At last, beyond the river, the girl found a little hut on chicken legs spinning in the forest – the very house of Baba Yaga. Peeking through the window, she saw her baby brother sitting on the floor, playing with golden apples. And there nearby was frightful Baba Yaga herself, sharpening a huge knife – planning to cook poor Ivanushka! The sister burst into the hut when Baba Yaga's back was turned, grabbed her brother, and fled as fast as she could.

✦Baba Yaga's strange hut stood on chicken legs, turning and twisting in the forest clearing.✦

Soon the swan-geese returning from another mission spotted the escape. With loud shrieks, they swirled down in pursuit. The sister ran and ran, clutching Ivanushka. She reached the Milk River, but the geese were close behind – their wings nearly tugging at her apron. Exhausted, she pleaded, "Oh Milk River, hide us, please!" "You declined to taste my kissel – but still, you are polite now. Very well," replied the river. The milk waters swallowed the children in an instant, and the pudding banks covered them. The swan-geese arrived and searched, but found no trace except some faint footprints leading to the river. Grumbling, the flock turned back.

Once the coast was clear, the Milk River gently released the sister and brother. The girl thanked the kind river sincerely and hurried on. Next they came to the Apple Tree. The swan-geese, having doubled back, were gaining again – a dark cloud on the horizon. "Dear Apple Tree, save us!" the girl cried. "Hide under my branches," rustled the Apple Tree. The children crouched among the thick leaves and the tree closed its boughs tightly. The geese swooped by, scanning below, but the Apple Tree did not betray its guests. Frustrated, the geese circled away.

The sister and little Ivanushka continued running. When the geese caught up once more, the girl reached the big Oven. "Mother Oven, please, hide us from the geese!" The Oven replied, "Slide inside, quick!" The children crawled into the still-warm oven, and the Oven closed its iron door but for a crack. The swan-geese flock arrived, honking and cawing, but they couldn't find the children anywhere. Under Baba Yaga's furious cries in the distance, the geese finally gave up and flew back to their mistress empty-handed.

The kind Oven let the brother and sister out safe and sound. "Thank you, thank you!" the girl said gratefully, even taking a spare pie to nibble as they made their way home. She also stopped to enjoy a sweet apple from the Apple Tree and a cool sip from the Milk River – making sure to thank each for helping her. Carrying little Ivan, who cooed happily, the sister reached home before their parents returned.

That evening the father and mother came back from market. They were pleased to find both children alive and well. The daughter never told them what had happened – how close she had come to losing her brother – but she remembered the lesson. Never again did she neglect her watch or disobey her elders. Thanks to her courage (and some friendly magical helpers), the brother and sister escaped Baba Yaga's fearsome swan-geese and lived to tell the tale.