登陆注册
15449200000051

第51章 CHAPTER V.

The small devil who had charge of Tarras finished with him that night, and according to agreement proceeded to the assistance of the other two to help them conquer Ivan. Arriving at the plowed field he looked around for his comrades, but found only the hole through which one had disappeared; and on going to the meadow he discovered the severed tail of the other, and in the rye-field he found yet another hole.

"Well," he thought, "it is quite clear that my comrades have met with some great misfortune, and that I will have to take their places and arrange the feud between the brothers."The small devil then went in search of Ivan. But he, having finished with the field, was nowhere to be found. He had gone to the forest to cut logs to build homes for his brothers, as they found it inconvenient for so many to live under the same roof.

The small devil at last discovered his whereabouts, and going to the forest climbed into the branches of the trees and began to interfere with Ivan's work. Ivan cut down a tree, which failed, however, to fall to the ground, becoming entangled in the branches of other trees; yet he succeeded in getting it down after a hard struggle. In chopping down the next tree he met with the same difficulties, and also with the third. Ivan had supposed he could cut down fifty trees in a day, but he succeeded in chopping but ten before darkness put an end to his labors for a time. He was now exhausted, and, perspiring profusely, he sat down alone in the woods to rest. He soon after resumed his work, cutting down one more tree; but the effort gave him a pain in his back, and he was obliged to rest again. Seeing this, the small devil was full of joy.

"Well," he thought, "now he is exhausted and will stop work, and I will rest also." He then seated himself on some branches and rejoiced.

Ivan again arose, however, and, taking his axe, gave the tree a terrific blow from the opposite side, which felled it instantly to the ground, carrying the little devil with it; and Ivan, proceeding to cut the branches, found the devil alive. Very much astonished, Ivan exclaimed:

"Look you! Such nastiness! Are you again here?""I am another one," replied the devil. "I was with your brother Tarras.""Well," said Ivan, "that makes no difference; I will fix you."And he was about to strike him a blow with the axe when the devil pleaded:

"Do not kill me, and whatever you wish you shall have."Ivan asked, "What can you do?"

"I can make for you all the money you wish."

Ivan then told the devil he might proceed, whereupon the latter began to explain to him how he might become rich.

"Take," said he to Ivan, "the leaves of this oak tree and rub them in your hands, and the gold will fall to the ground."Ivan did as he was directed, and immediately the gold began to drop about his feet; and he remarked:

"This will be a fine trick to amuse the village boys with.""Can I now take my departure?" asked the devil, to which Ivan replied, "With God's blessing you may go."At the mention of the name of God, the devil disappeared into the earth.

同类推荐
  • 小品方

    小品方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 剑侠奇中奇全传

    剑侠奇中奇全传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 闲居编

    闲居编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 广嗣五种备要

    广嗣五种备要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 石点头

    石点头

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 宇宙之成长录

    宇宙之成长录

    地球人类居然只是外星人类的试验品,地球陷入了危机,只有强者才能够得到承认。看一个少年是如何成长,如何战胜外星入侵者。
  • 余幕未了

    余幕未了

    课本里偷偷涂鸦的都是你操场上追逐的身影也都是你利落短发果决又绝不服输的脾气所有的一切都让我更喜欢你
  • 穿越之和亲新娘也落跑

    穿越之和亲新娘也落跑

    【原创作者社团未央宫出品】
  • 异能教皇

    异能教皇

    异能这东西到底怎么出现的,没有人知道。但这对林城而言,异能就是他从一场又一场游戏里获胜后,所得到的一个个小礼物……
  • 太上极

    太上极

    仅仅只是留下这么一块玉佩?一把断剑?找到家人这是他谨记于心的一件事情,奈何这世间太过于的残酷,经历重重的他想要变强起来。夜雨之中那热乎乎的包子,给了他所想要追求的目标。逃脱经历生死?进入一处奇异之地,五年之修谨记师傅话语。重出少年又会经历多少?最初言语,终究实现可否?
  • 办事方与圆

    办事方与圆

    办事的高手能人无不对方圆之道有着深刻的理解和运用。方,代表原则性和是非观:圆,代表经验的成熟和方法的灵活。在办事过程中只有将二者有机地结合起来,办事才会更有效率,易出成果。本书讲解了以方圆之道开创办事的新局面。
  • 麻雀专属的甜蜜

    麻雀专属的甜蜜

    这是一个女生喜欢一个男生,可男生并不喜欢她,她一直默默的为他做一些事,(虽然总会搞砸)就在发生一些事后,女生决定要离开男生时,男生忽然觉得自己离不开她。事情会怎么发展呢!
  • 地铁歌手

    地铁歌手

    每个生命的起起落落,都会会给人一种内心的悸动。当我们作为一个路人,一个旁观者的姿态去观察,感受的时候总是带着我们的思想。作为一个生命个体,只要是为自己而真实的活着,活得是内心深处的那个自己,她都应该得到应有的理解与尊重。每个人在世间的旅行,都是一个充满奇幻色彩的经历。有的人走着走着忘记了出发的初衷,诱惑与坎坷太多,希望渺茫,让人大多数人失去了继续的动力,亦或是偏离了之前的路线。有的人始终在起点徘徊,根本就在原地踏步而浑然不觉。