🧚 Opening, part 28

But, although Chufíl-Fílyushka was small, he was no fool!1 He stuffed her at once into the oven, and shut the oven door with a bang.2

About two or three hours later Fílyushka smelt a smell of good roast meat, opened the door, and took out the daughter of the Yagá-Búra well cooked; buttered it over, put it into the frying-pan and covered it with a towel, and put it into the bunk; then he climbed up to the roof-tree and took away the business-day pestle and mortar of the Yagá-Búra.3

About evening time, the Yagá-Búra came in, went straight to the bunk and took the roast meat out; ate it all up, collected all the bones, laid them out on the ground in rows, and began to roll on them.4 But somehow she could not find her daughter, and thought she had gone away to another cottage to weave.5 But suddenly, whilst she was rolling, she said, “My dear daughter, do come to me and help me roll Fílyushka’s little bones!”6

Then Fílyushka cried out from the rafters: “Roll away, mother, and stand on your daughter’s little bones!”7

“Are you there, you brigand!8 You just wait, and I’ll give it you!”9

But little Chufíl was not frightened, and when the Yagá-Búra, gnashing her teeth, stamping on the ground, had got up to the ceiling, he just got hold of the pestle and with all his might struck her on the forehead, and down she flopped.10 Then Fílyushka climbed up on to the roof, and saw some geese flying, and called out to them, “Lend me your wings; I want wings to carry me home.”11

They lent him their wings, and he flew home.12

But they had long, long ago been praying for the repose of his soul at home, and how glad they were to see him turn up alive and sound!13 So they changed the requiem for a merry festival, and lived out their lives, and lived on to receive more good yet!14

DONOTKNOW15

Here begins the tale of a grey horse, a chestnut horse and of the wise fallow-bay.16 On the shore of the ocean, in the isle of Buyán, there stood a roasted ox, and behind pounded garlic: on the one side cut your meat, on the other dip deep and eat.17

Once upon a time there lived a merchant who had a son, and when the son grew up he was taken into the shop.18 Now, the first wife of the merchant died, and he married a second.19

After some months the merchant made ready to sail to foreign lands, and he loaded his ship with goods and he bade his son look after the house well and attend to business duly.20

Then the merchant’s son asked, “_Bátyushka_,[40] when you go, get me my luck!”21

“My beloved son,” answered the old man, “where shall I find it?”22

“It is not far to seek, my luck.23 When you get up to-morrow morning, stand at the gates and buy the first thing that meets you and give it to me.”24

“Very well, my son.”25

So next day the father got up very early, stood outside the gates, and the first thing that met him was a peasant who was selling a sorry, scabby foal—mere dog’s meat.26 So the merchant bargained for it and got it for a silver rouble, took the foal into the courtyard and put it into the stable.27

Then the merchant’s son asked him, “Well, _bátyushka_, what have you found as my luck?”28

“I went out to find it, and it turned into a very poor thing.”29

“Well, so it really had to be: whatever luck the Lord has given us we must use.”30

Then the father set sail with his goods into foreign lands, and the son sat on the counter and engaged in trade.31 He grew into the habit, whether he were going into the shop or returning home, always to go and stand in front of his foal.32

Now, his stepmother did not love her stepson, and looked out for fortune-tellers to learn how to get rid of him.33 At last she found an old wise woman, who gave her a poison and bade her put it under the threshold just when her stepson was coming in.34 As he came back from the shop, the merchant’s son went into the stable and saw that his foal was standing in tears, and so he stroked him and asked, “Why, my good horse, do you weep?35 Why your counsel do you keep?”36

Then the foal answered, “Oh, Iván the merchant’s son, my beloved master, why should I not weep?37 Your stepmother is trying to ruin you.38 You have a dog: when you go home let it go in front of you, and you will see what will come to it.”39

So the merchant’s son listened, and as soon as ever the dog crossed the threshold it was torn into small atoms.40

Iván the merchant’s son never let his stepmother know that he saw through her spite, and set out next day to the shop, whilst the stepmother went to see the soothsayer.41 So the old woman got a second poison, and bade her put it into the trough.42 In the evening, as he went home, the merchant’s son went into the stable; and once more the foal was standing on tip-toes and in tears; and he struck him on the haunches and said, “Why, my good horse, do you weep?43 Why your counsel do you keep?”44

Then the foal answered, “Why should I not weep, my master, Iván the merchant’s son?45 I hear a very great misfortune—that your stepmother wishes to ruin you.46 Look when you go into the room and sit down at the table: your mother will bring you a draught in the glass.47 Do you not drink it, but pour it out of the window: you will yourself see what will happen outside.”48

Iván the merchant’s son did as he was bidden and as soon as ever he had thrown the draught out of the window it began to rend the earth; and again he never said a single word to his stepmother; so she still thought that he was in the dark.49

On the third day he went to the shop, and the stepmother again went to the soothsayer.50 The old woman gave her an enchanted shirt.51 In the evening, as he was going out of the shop, the merchant’s son went up to the foal, and he saw that there stood his good horse on tip-toes and in tears.52 So he struck him by the bridle and said, “Why do you weep, my good horse?53 Why your counsel do you keep?”54

Then the foal answered him, “Why should I not weep?55 Do I not know that your stepmother is wishing to destroy you?56 Listen to what I say.57 When you go home your stepmother will send you to the bath, and she will send the boy to you with a shirt.58 Do not put on the shirt yourself, but put it on the boy, and you will see yourself what will come of it.”59

So the merchant’s son went up to his attic, and his stepmother came and said to him, “Would you not like to have a steam bath?60 The bath is now ready.”61

“Very well,” said Iván, and he went into the bath, and very soon after the boy brought him a shirt.62 As soon as ever the merchant’s son put it on the boy he that very instant closed his eyes and fell on the floor, as though he were dead.63 And when he took the shirt off him and cast it into the stove, the boy revived, but the stove was split into small pieces.64