🧚 Opening, part 12 · page 2

Then the old man took the morsels of the Tsarévna’s body, bit by bit, breathed on them, and she arose alive and well.90

Then the Tsar rewarded them both with gold and silver.91

“Now let us go and divide the money,” said the old man.92

So they started.93 They put all the money into three little piles, and the pope looked on, and said: “What do you mean?94 There are only two of us.95 Who is to have the third?”96

Said the old man: “That is for the thief who ate up my wafers.”97

“Oh, it was I who ate them up!” the pope cried out.98 “I really did!99 I swear it!”100

“Then you may have all the money, and my own share as well.101 Henceforth serve your parish faithfully.102 Do not be a miser, and do not beat St. Nicholas on the shoulders with the keys!” the old man said, and vanished.103

THE SOLDIER AND DEATH104

Once upon a time there was a soldier who had served God and the Great Sovereign for twenty-five whole years, and had only in the end earned three biscuits, and was journeying back home.105 And, as he went along, he thought: “Lord! here am I; I have served my Tsar for twenty-five years, have received my food and dress, and what have I lived for after all?106 I am cold and hungry, and have only three biscuits to eat.”107 So he pondered and thought, and decided to desert and run away whither his eyes might lead him.108

As he went along he met a poor beggar who asked alms of him.109 The soldier gave him one biscuit, and kept two.110 And, as he trudged on, he soon came across another poor beggar, who bowed down low and asked for alms.111 So the soldier gave him another biscuit, and had only one left.112 Again on he went, and met a third beggar.113 The old fellow bowed low and asked for alms.114 The soldier got his last biscuit out, and thought: “If I give him the whole, I shall have none left; if I give half, why, this old man will come across brother-beggars, will see they have a whole biscuit, and be offended.115 Better let him have it all, and I shall get on somehow.”116 So he gave his last biscuit, and had nothing left.117

Then the old man asked him: “Tell me, good man, what do you wish?118 Of what have you need?119 I will help you.”120

“God bless you!” the soldier answered.121 “How should I take anything of you?—you are old and poor.”122

“Don’t think of my poverty,” he replied.123 “Just say what you would like, and I will requite you according to your own goodness.”124

“I want nothing; but, if you have any cards, give me some as a keepsake.”125

For the old man was Christ Himself walking on earth in a beggar’s guise.126 The old man put his hand into his breast and drew out a pack of cards, saying: “Take them.127 With whomsoever you play, you will win the game; and here you have a nosebag.128 Whatever you meet on the way, whether wild beast or bird that you would like to catch, just say to it: ‘Jump in here, beast or bird!’ and your wish will be carried out.”129

“Thank you!” said the soldier, took the cards and the nosebag, and fared forth.130

He went on and on, may-be far, may-be near, may-be short, may-be long, and arrived at a lake, on which three wild geese were swimming.131 Then the soldier suddenly remembered the nosebag and thought: “I’ll just test this nosebag”; took it out, opened it, and said: “Hi! you wild geese, fly into my nosebag!”132 No sooner uttered than the geese flew straight up from the lake into the bag.133 The soldier grabbed the bag, tied it up, and went on his way.134

He travelled on and on and came to a town.135 He entered an eating-house and told the inn-keeper: “Take this goose and cook it for my supper, and I will give you another goose for your pains.136 Change me this third one for vódka.”137 So there the soldier sat like a lord in the inn, at his ease, drinking wine and feasting on roast goose.138

It occurred to him suddenly he might peer out of the window, and he saw opposite a big palace, but not one pane of glass was whole.139 “What is this?” he asked the inn-keeper.140 “What is this palace?141 Why does it stand empty?”142

“Why, don’t you know?” the master replied.143 “Our Tsar built himself this palace, but cannot inhabit it; and, for seven years, it has been standing empty.144 Some unholy power drives every one out of the place.145 Every night an assemblage of devils meets there, make a row, dance, play cards, and perpetrate every sort of vileness!”146

So off the soldier went to the Tsar.147 “Your Imperial Majesty,” quoth he, “please let me spend one night in your empty palace!”148

“What do you mean, fellow?” said the Tsar.149 “God bless you; but there have been some dare-devils like you who passed a night in this palace, and not one emerged alive!”150

“Well, still, a Russian soldier cannot drown in water, or burn in fire.151 I served God and the Great Sovereign five-and-twenty years, and never died of it; and, for one night’s service for you, I am to die!152 No!”153

“But I tell you: a man enters the palace at night alive, and only his bones are found there in the morning!”154

But the soldier stood firm: he must be admitted into the palace.155

“Well,” said the Tsar, “go, and God help you.156 Stay the night there if you will; you are free, and I won’t hinder you!”157

So the soldier marched into the palace, and settled himself down in the biggest saloon, took his knapsack off and his sabre, put the knapsack in a corner and the sabre on a hand-peg, sat down on a chair, put his hand into his pocket for his tobacco-pouch, lit his pipe, and smoked at his ease.158 Then about midnight, I don’t know where from, hordes of devils, seen and unseen, scurried up, and made such a turmoil and row, and set up a dance with wild music.159 “What, you here, discharged soldier!” all the devils began yelling.160 “Welcome!161 Will you play cards with us?”162

“Certainly; here I have a set ready.163 Let’s start!”164

He took them out and dealt round.165 They began, played a game out, and the soldier won; another, and the same luck; and all the finessing of the devils availed them nothing; the soldier won all the money, and raked it all together.166

“Stop, soldier,” the devils said.167 “We still have sixty ounces of silver and forty of gold.168 We’ll stake them on the last game.”169 And they sent a little devil-boy to fetch the silver.170

So a new game commenced; and then the little devil had to pry in every nook and come back and tell the old devil: “It’s no use, grandfather—we have no more.”171

“Off you go; find some gold!”172 And the urchin went and hunted up gold from everywhere, turned an entire mine inside out and still found nothing: the soldier had played everything away.173

The devils got angry at losing all their money, and began to assault the soldier, roaring out: “Smash him up, brothers!174 Eat him up!”175