Then his eyes began to distinguish a small, iron-bound coffer.

He tried to seize it; but the chest began to sink into the earth, deeper, farther, and deeper still: whilst behind him he heard a laugh like a serpent's hiss.
"No, you shall not have the gold until you shed human blood," said the witch, and she led up to him a child of six, covered with a white sheet, and indicated by a sign that he was to cut off his head.
Peter was stunned.

A trifle, indeed, to cut off a man's, or even an innocent child's, head for no reason whatever! In wrath he tore off the sheet enveloping the victim's head, and behold! before him stood Ivas.
The poor child crossed his little hands, and hung his head.

Peter flew at the witch with the knife like a madman, and was on the point of laying hands on her.
"What did you promise for the girl ?" thundered Basavriuk; and like a shot he was on his back.

The witch stamped her foot: a blue flame flashed from the earth and illumined all within it.