Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 9, 1898.djvu/256

230 He did so. The uncle hummed and hawed, and ended by giving him three hundred roubles.

There are three hundred roubles; do with them what you will.'

"Hans thanks his uncle, and goes out into the world.

"When he had wandered two weeks he arrived in another government. There he sees people running, and hurries after them. They have caught an infidel and are tearing his veins out.

Here, sell him to me,' says Hans.

Right gladly.'

What do you want?'

Three hundred roubles.'

"He gave them all his money, took the infidel, brought him to the priest, and had him baptized. But the poor wretch suffers terribly with his wounds. Hans begs the priest next morning to read a mass. It w^as done, the infidel received the sacrament, and on the third day died. There was no money left to bury him with. When the merchants and the people heard this they collected a lot of money. The dead man was buried with all honours, and there was a good deal of money left over. But Hans departed and took not a single kopeck.

"As he wanders on he sees all of a sudden an angel come down from heaven.

Good man, whither goest thou?'

I'm looking for work,' Hans answered.

Let's go together.'

Good.'

"So they went on further.

Wilt thou, good man, have me for an uncle? What we get we'll divide. Hold me in reverence, and what I command thee, do.'

Good,' said Hans.

"They came to another country, to a king. This king had a daughter.

Now, nephew, go to the market-place, hire yourself out. If anyone takes you, come and tell me that I may go with you.'

"Hans went, and had long to stand idle; no one would take him. Then the king came driving by.

Are you a Russian?'

Yes, from such and such a government.'