Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/334

318 but when I looked over the edge of the cloud I found that the big tree was there no longer, it had evidently been cut down. I was greatly troubled in my mind, and began to wonder what I had better do, how I could best descend. At last I decided to make a rope and let myself down; to do this I had to cut up the cattle. When I had made a very long strap I began to descend; down, down I went until I came to the end of the strap, and then I found that it was not long enough, another piece of skin much longer than your hut is high was wanting, and I did not care to jump it, for I was afraid. Are you listening, little father?"

"Yes, yes, my son; go on!"

"Well, just as I was hanging there a very high wind arose and began blowing me about from one place to another, first to Moscow, then to St. Petersburg, until the strap broke and I was thrown into the mire, where I sunk and sunk so deep that at last nothing but my head remained above the surface. I tried to get out but could not, I had to stop in that position for a very long time, unable to move or do anything. At last a wild duck built her nest upon my head, and I could do nothing to prevent it! One day a wolf who was walking about in the fields came up to the nest on my head, and commenced eating the eggs. I somehow managed to free my hand from the mire, and seizing the wolf by the tail, yelled out as loud as ever I could, 'Too-loo-loo-whoo!' And he ran off dragging me out after him. Are you listening, little father?"

"Yes, yes, my son!"