They are sharpening knives of steel."

And Alenoushka, lamenting, answered the lamb from the bottom of the
river:--

"O my brother Ivanoushka,
A heavy stone is round my throat,
Silken grass grows through my fingers,
Yellow sand lies on my breast."

The servant listened, and marvelled at the miracle of the lamb
singing, and the sweet voice answering him from the river. He crept
away quietly, and came to the fine gentleman, and told him what he had
heard; and they set out together to the river, to watch the lamb, and
listen, and see what was happening.

[Illustration: He stepped on one of its fiery wings and pressed it to
The ground.]

The little white lamb stood on the bank of the river weeping, so that
his tears fell into the water. And presently he sang again:--

"Alenoushka, little sister,
They are going to slaughter me;
They are cutting wooden fagots,
They are heating iron cauldrons,
They are sharpening knives of steel."

And Alenoushka answered him, lamenting, from the bottom of the
river:--