had plenty of beer for them to drink. The brothers, however, declined Ivan's hospitality, saying, 'We have seen the beer moujiks drink, and want none of it.'
Ivan then gathered around him all the peasants in the village and with them drank beer until he became intoxicated, when he joined the Khorovody (a street gathering of the village boys and girls, who sing songs), and told them they must sing his praises, saying that in return he would show them such sights as they had never before seen in their lives. The little girls laughed and began to sing songs praising Ivan, and when they had finished they said: 'Very well; now give us what you said you would.'
Ivan replied, 'I will soon show you,' and, taking an empty bag in his hand, he started for the woods. The little girls laughed as they said, 'What a fool he is!' and resuming their play they forgot all about him.
Some time after Ivan suddenly appeared among them carrying in his hand the bag, which was now filled.
'Shall I divide this with you?' he said.
'Yes; divide!' they sang in chorus.
So Ivan put his hand into the bag and drew it out full of gold coins, which he scattered among them.
'Batiushka,' they cried as they ran to gather up the precious pieces.
The moujiks then appeared on the scene and began to fight among themselves for the possession of the yellow objects. In the melee one old woman was nearly crushed to death.
Ivan laughed and was greatly amused at the sight of so many persons quarrelling over a few pieces of gold.
'Oh! you duratchki' (little fools), he said, 'why did you almost crush the life out of the old grandmother? Be more gentle. I have plenty more, and I will give them to you;' whereupon he began throwing about more of the coins.
The people gathered around him, and Ivan continued throwing until he emptied his bag. They clamored for more, but Ivan replied: 'The gold is all gone. Another time I will give you more. Now we will resume our singing and dancing.'
The little children sang, but Ivan said to them, 'Your songs are no good.'
The children said, 'Then show us how to sing better.'
To this Ivan replied, 'I will show you people who can sing better than you.' With that remark Ivan went to the barn and, securing a bundle of straw, did as the little devil had directed him; and presently a regiment of soldiers appeared in the village street, and he ordered them to sing and dance.
The people were astonished and could not understand how Ivan had produced the strangers.
The soldiers sang for some time, to the great delight of the villagers; and when Ivan commanded them to stop they instantly ceased.
Ivan then ordered them off to the barn, telling the astonished and mystified moujiks that they must not follow him. Reaching the barn, he turned the soldiers again into straw and went home to sleep off the effects of his debauch.
CHAPTER VII.
The next morning Ivan's exploits were the talk of the village, and news of the wonderful things he had done reached the ears of his brother Simeon, who immediately went to Ivan to learn all about it.
'Explain to me,' he said; 'from whence did you bring the soldiers, and where did you take them?'
'And what do you wish to know for?' asked Ivan.
'Why, with soldiers we can do almost anything we wish—whole kingdoms can be conquered,' replied Simeon.
This information greatly surprised Ivan, who said: 'Well, why did you not tell me about this before? I can make as many as you want.'
Ivan then took his brother to the barn, but he said: 'While I am willing to create the soldiers, you must take them away from here; for if it should become necessary to feed them, all the food in the village would last them only one day.'
Simeon promised to do as Ivan wished, whereupon Ivan proceeded to convert the straw into soldiers. Out of one bundle of straw he made an entire regiment; in fact, so many soldiers appeared as if by magic that there was not a vacant spot in the field.
Turning to Simeon Ivan said, 'Well, is there a sufficient number?'
Beaming with joy, Simeon replied: 'Enough! enough! Thank you, Ivan!'
'Glad you are satisfied,' said Ivan, 'and if you wish more I will make them for you. I have plenty of straw now.'
Simeon divided his soldiers into battalions and regiments, and after having drilled them he went forth to fight and to conquer.
Simeon had just gotten safely out of the village with his soldiers when Tarras, the other brother, appeared before Ivan—he also having heard of the previous day's performance and wanting to learn the secret of his power. He sought Ivan, saying: 'Tell me the secret of your supply of gold, for if I had plenty of money I could with its assistance gather in all the wealth in the world.'
Ivan was greatly surprised on hearing this statement, and said: 'You might have told me this before, for I can obtain for you as much money as you wish.'
Tarras was delighted, and he said, 'You might get me about three bushels.'
'Well,' said Ivan, 'we will go to the woods, or, better still, we will harness the horse, as we could not possibly carry so much money ourselves.'
The brothers went to the woods and Ivan proceeded to gather the oak leaves, which he rubbed between his hands, the dust falling to the ground and turning into gold pieces as quickly as it fell.
When quite a pile had accumulated Ivan turned to Tarras and asked if he had rubbed enough leaves into money, whereupon Tarras replied: 'Thank you, Ivan; that will be sufficient for this time.'
Ivan then said: 'If you wish more, come to me and I will rub as much as you want, for there are plenty of leaves.'
Tarras, with his tarantas (wagon) filled with gold, rode away to the city to engage in trade and increase his wealth; and thus both brothers went their way, Simeon to fight and Tarras to trade.
Simeon's soldiers conquered a kingdom for him and Tarras-Briukhan made plenty of money.
Some time afterward the two brothers met and confessed to each other the source from whence sprang their prosperity, but they were not yet satisfied.
Simeon said: 'I have conquered a kingdom and enjoy a very pleasant life, but I have not sufficient money to procure food for my soldiers;' while Tarras confessed that he was the possessor of enormous wealth, but the care of it caused him much uneasiness.
'Let us go again to our brother,' said Simeon; 'I will order him to make more soldiers and will give them to you, and you may then tell him that he must make more money so that we can buy food for them.'
They went again to Ivan, and Simeon said: 'I have not sufficient soldiers; I want you to make me at least two divisions more.' But Ivan shook his head as he said: 'I will not create soldiers for nothing; you must pay me for doing it.'
'Well, but you promised,' said Simeon.
'I know I did,' replied Ivan; 'but I have changed my mind since that time.'
'But, fool, why will you not do as you promised?'
'For the reason that your soldiers kill men, and I will not make any more for such a cruel purpose.' With this reply Ivan remained stubborn and would not create any more soldiers.
Tarras-Briukhan next approached Ivan and ordered him to make more money; but, as in the case of Tarras,
