An old couple, desperate for children, follows the advice of a mysterious old man and collects eggs from their village. To their astonishment, the eggs hatch into forty-one children, with one weakling named Zamorýshek. While the other children grow strong and work in the fields, Zamorýshek stays home. When a hayrick goes missing, he proposes to catch the thief, leading to a series of events where he acquires a magical mare from the sea, which produces forty-one exceptional foals. The brothers, now grown, set out to find brides, determined to marry together. They encounter a formidable witch, Bába Yagá, who has forty-one daughters. After being welcomed into her home, they become betrothed to her daughters. However, Zamorýshek receives a warning from his horse to disguise themselves while sleeping, as Bába Yagá plans to kill them. When the witch commands her servants to behead the brothers' brides, Zamorýshek awakens his brothers, and they escape with the heads. Bába Yagá pursues them with a fiery shield, but Zamorýshek cleverly uses her handkerchief to create a bridge over the sea, allowing them to cross safely. He then makes the bridge disappear, thwarting Bába Yagá's chase. The brothers return home, victorious and united with their brides.
By Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev · First published 1860 · Genre: Fairy Tale, Fantasy, Folklore