Ghost Stories., part 3 · page 21 2101Have the fear of God before your eyes!" cried the moujik.102Then he told them everything that had happened to him during the night.103Well, they spread the news through the village; the whole population assembled and swarmed into the graveyard.104They found out the grave from which the dead man had come out, they tore it open, and they drove an aspen stake right into the heart of the corpse, so that it might no more rise up and slay.105But they rewarded the moujik richly, and sent him away home with great honor.106It is not only during sleep that the Vampire is to be dreaded.107At cross-roads, or in the neighborhood of cemeteries, an animated corpse of this description often lurks, watching for some unwary wayfarer whom it may be able to slay and eat.108Past such dangerous spots as these the belated villager will speed with timorous steps, remembering, perhaps, some such uncanny tale as that which comes next.109THE TWO CORPSES.110[409]111A soldier had obtained leave to go home on furlough--to pray to the holy images, and to bow down before his parents.112And as he was going his way, at a time when the sun had long set, and all was dark around, it chanced that he had to pass by a graveyard.113Just then he heard that some one was running after him, and crying:114"Stop! you can't escape!"115He looked back and there was a corpse running and gnashing its teeth.116The Soldier sprang on one side with all his might to get away from it, caught sight of a little chapel,[410] and bolted straight into it.117There wasn't a soul in the chapel, but stretched out on a table there lay another corpse, with tapers burning in front of it.118The Soldier hid himself in a corner, and remained there, hardly knowing whether he was alive or dead, but waiting to see what would happen.119Presently up ran the first corpse--the one that had chased the Soldier--and dashed into the chapel.checked by a teacher120Thereupon the one that was lying on the table jumped up, and cried to it:121"What hast thou come here for?"122"I've chased a soldier in here, so I'm going to eat him."123"Come now, brother! he's run into my house.124I shall eat him myself."125"No, I shall!"126"No, I shall!"127And they set to work fighting; the dust flew like anything.128They'd have gone on fighting ever so much longer, only the cocks began to crow.129Then both the corpses fell lifeless to the ground, and the Soldier went on his way homeward in peace, saying:130"Glory be to Thee, O Lord!131I am saved from the wizards!"132Even the possession of arms and the presence of a dog will not always, it seems, render a man secure from this terrible species of cut-throat.133THE DOG AND THE CORPSE.134[411]135A moujik went out in pursuit of game one day, and took a favorite dog with him.136He walked and walked through woods and bogs, but got nothing for his pains.137At last the darkness of night surprised him.138At an uncanny hour he passed by a graveyard, and there, at a place where two roads met, he saw standing a corpse in a white shroud.139The moujik was horrified, and knew not which way to go--whether to keep on or to turn back.140"Well, whatever happens, I'll go on," he thought; and on he went, his dog running at his heels.141When the corpse perceived him, it came to meet him; not touching the earth with its feet, but keeping about a foot above it--the shroud fluttering after it.142When it had come up with the sportsman, it made a rush at him; but the dog seized hold of it by its bare calves, and began a tussle with it.143When the moujik saw his dog and the corpse grappling with each other, he was delighted that things had turned out so well for himself, and he set off running home with all his might.144The dog kept up the struggle until cock-crow, when the corpse fell motionless to the ground.145Then the dog ran off in pursuit of its master, caught him up just as he reached home, and rushed at him, furiously trying to bite and to rend him.146So savage was it, and so persistent, that it was as much as the people of the house could do to beat it off.147"Whatever has come over the dog?" asked the moujik's old mother. "148Why should it hate its master so?"149The moujik told her all that had happened.150"A bad piece of work, my son!" said the old woman. "151The dog was disgusted at your not helping it.152There it was fighting with the corpse--and you deserted it, and thought only of saving yourself!153Now it will owe you a grudge for ever so long."154Next morning, while the family were going about the farmyard, the dog was perfectly quiet.155But the moment its master made his appearance, it began to growl like anything.156They fastened it to a chain; for a whole year they kept it chained up.157But in spite of that, it never forgot how its master had offended it.158One day it got loose, flew straight at him, and began trying to throttle him.159So they had to kill it.160In the next story a most detailed account is given of the manner in which a Vampire sets to work, and also of the best means of ridding the world of it.161THE SOLDIER AND THE VAMPIRE.162[412]163A certain soldier was allowed to go home on furlough.164Well, he walked and walked, and after a time he began to draw near to his native village.165Not far off from that village lived a miller in his mill.166In old times the Soldier had been very intimate with him: why shouldn't he go and see his friend?167He went.168The Miller received him cordially, and at once brought out liquor; and the two began drinking, and chattering about their ways and doings.169All this took place towards nightfall, and the Soldier stopped so long at the Miller's that it grew quite dark.170When he proposed to start for his village, his host exclaimed:171"Spend the night here, trooper!172It's very late now, and perhaps you might run into mischief."173"How so?"174"God is punishing us!175A terrible warlock has died among us, and by night he rises from his grave, wanders through the village, and does such things as bring fear upon the very boldest!176How could even you help being afraid of him?"177"Not a bit of it!178A soldier is a man who belongs to the crown, and 'crown property cannot be drowned in water nor burnt in fire.'179I'll be off: I'm tremendously anxious to see my people as soon as possible."180Off he set.181His road lay in front of a graveyard.182On one of the graves he saw a great fire blazing. "183What's that?" thinks he. "184Let's have a look."185When he drew near, he saw that the Warlock was sitting by the fire, sewing boots.186"Hail, brother!" calls out the Soldier.187The Warlock looked up and said:188"What have you come here for?"189"Why, I wanted to see what you're doing."190The Warlock threw his work aside and invited the Soldier to a wedding.1 2← previousGhost Stories., part 2next →Ghost Stories., part 4↑ back to Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-loreThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg22373/53/page/2/