“At the pike’s behest, and at my request, fall, hatchet, now to cutting wood; and do you, wood, gather yourself into the sledge and be corded.” Scarcely had the fool said these words when the hatchet began to cut wood, and the wood, gathering itself up, placed itself in the sledge, and tied itself with the cord. After he had cut as much wood as he wanted, he ordered the hatchet to cut down a small oak; and when the hatchet had done so, he placed himself upon the load, and said: “At the pike’s behest, and at my request, O sledge, now travel home.” The sledge instantly set off very briskly. But when Emelian arrived at the city in which he had run over so many people, the folks were waiting for him in order to seize him, and as soon as he drove into the city they set about dragging him off the load and began to belabour him. The fool, seeing that they were pulling him and beating him, said these words, in an undertone: “At the pike’s behest, and at my request, now, sapling, break their arms and legs.” Forthwith the sapling, springing out, began to beat them in a pretty manner, and the people taking to flight, the fool drove out of the town to his own village, whilst the sapling drubbed all soundly, and went in pursuit of them. Emelian, on reaching his home, mounted upon the petsch. In the meantime, after he had driven out of the city, there was much talk of him everywhere,—not because he had driven over a number of people, but because he had come driving to the city on a sledge without horses; and by degrees the news reached the court, and came to the ears of the king himself. The king, on hearing the story, felt no little desire to see the fool, and sent an officer with some soldiers to seek him. The officer proceeded without delay out of the city, taking the road by which the fool had travelled in order to go to the forest. On arriving at the village where Emelian lived, the officer sent for the starost, or head man of the village, and said to him: “I am sent by the king to take your fool, and convey him to his presence.” The starost immediately showed him the house where Emelian lived, and the officer, going into the kitchen, demanded— “Where’s the fool?” The fool, who was lying on the petsch, answered— “What’s that to you?” “What’s that to me? Dress yourself quickly that I may carry you to the presence of the king.” Quoth Emelian: “What have I to do there?” The officer, enraged at his answering so disrespectfully, struck him on the cheek. The fool, feeling himself struck, said softly: “At the pike’s behest, and at my request, oak sapling, break their hands and shins.”