They shut them both into the bath-house, and thought that that was the
end of them. But the moujik scattered his straw before them as they
went in, and it became so cold in there that the Fool of the World had
scarcely time to wash himself before the water in the cauldrons froze
to solid ice. They lay down on the very stove itself, and spent the
night there, shivering.
In the morning the servants opened the bath-house, and there were the
Fool of the World and the moujik, alive and well, lying on the stove
and singing songs.
They told the Tzar, and the Tzar raged with anger. "There is no
getting rid of this fellow," says he. "But go and tell him that I send
him this message: 'If you are to marry my daughter, you must show that
you are able to defend her. Let me see that you have at least a
regiment of soldiers,'" Thinks he to himself, "How can a simple
peasant raise a troop? He will find it hard enough to raise a single
soldier."
The Listener told the Fool of the World, and the Fool began to lament.
"This time," says he, "I am done indeed. You, my brothers, have saved
me from misfortune more than once, but this time, alas, there is
nothing to be done."
"Oh, what a fellow you are!" says the peasant with the fagot of wood.
"I suppose you've forgotten about me. Remember that I am the man for
this little affair, and don't you worry about it at all."
The Tzar's servant came along and gave his message.
"Very good," says the Fool; "but tell the Tzar that if after this he
puts me off again, I'll make war on his country, and take the Princess
by force."
And then, as the servant went back with the message, the whole crew on
the flying ship set to their singing again, and sang and laughed and
made jokes as if they had not a care in the world.
During the night, while the others slept, the peasant with the fagot
of wood went hither and thither, scattering his sticks. Instantly
where they fell there appeared a gigantic army. Nobody could count
the number of soldiers in it--cavalry, foot soldiers, yes, and guns,
and all the guns new and bright, and the men in the finest uniforms
that ever were seen.
In the morning, as the Tzar woke and looked from the windows of the
palace, he found himself surrounded by troops upon troops of soldiers,
and generals in cocked hats bowing in the courtyard and taking orders
from the Fool of the World, who sat there joking with his companions
in the flying ship. Now it was the Tzar's turn to be afraid. As
quickly as he could he sent his servants to the Fool with presents of
rich jewels and fine clothes, invited him to come to the palace, and
begged him to marry the Princess.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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