Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/43

Rh palace. At last, after a great deal of talking and thinking, they decided to give him (the soldier) all their gold, and coax him out of the place. Off ran the demons to the soldier, who, when he saw them all coming together, was seriously alarmed, and cried out in a loud voice,—

"Run away, brothers, as fast as ever you can, some creditors are coming this way, and if they catch sight of you they will give you more soldier-blows, worse than those my little brother gave you; so if you don't want to get killed, run for your lives."

"Enough, soldier! we have only come to pay our respects, and thank you for the kind way in which you received us every night, and also to offer you as much gold as you like, on condition that you leave this palace, and promise to trouble it no more with your presence."

The soldier thought for a moment before answering them.

"No," he replied at last; "gold is of no use to me, but if you really do wish me to leave the palace, I have an idea, which won't deprive you of your gold, and which I think will prove very satisfactory."

"What is it, soldier? What is it?" cried the delighted little demons.

"Well, just get into my knapsack, every blessed one of you; it is not a very difficult task."

"Yes! yes! but what then?"

"What then?—why, after you have all got in, so that I can close it up, you can, after a time—get out again, that's all."