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THE FLYING SHIP＇24＇
＇24＇ From the Russian。
Once upon a time there lived an old couple who had three sons；
the two elder were clever； but the third was a regular dunce。
The clever sons were very fond of their mother； gave her good
clothes； and always spoke pleasantly to her； but the youngest was
always getting in her way； and she had no patience with him。
Now； one day it was announced in the village that the King had
issued a decree； offering his daughter； the Princess； in marriage
to whoever should build a ship that could fly。 Immediately the
two elder brothers determined to try their luck； and asked their
parents' blessing。 So the old mother smartened up their clothes；
and gave them a store of provisions for their journey； not
forgetting to add a bottle of brandy。 When they had gone the
poor Simpleton began to tease his mother to smarten him up and
let him start off。
'What would become of a dolt like you？' she answered。 'Why； you
would be eaten up by wolves。'
But the foolish youth kept repeating； 'I will go； I will go； I
will go！'
Seeing that she could do nothing with him； the mother gave him a
crust of bread and a bottle of water； and took no further heed of
him。
So the Simpleton set off on his way。 When he had gone a short
distance he met a little old manikin。 They greeted one another；
and the manikin asked him where he was going。
'I am off to the King's Court；' he answered。 'He has promised to
give his daughter to whoever can make a flying ship。'
'And can you make such a ship？'
'Not I。'
'Then why in the world are you going？'
'Can't tell；' replied the Simpleton。
'Well； if that is the case；' said the manikin； 'sit down beside
me； we can rest for a little and have something to eat。 Give me
what you have got in your satchel。'
Now； the poor Simpleton was ashamed to show what was in it。
However； he thought it best not to make a fuss； so he opened the
satchel； and could scarcely believe his own eyes； for； instead of
the hard crust； he saw two beautiful fresh rolls and some cold
meat。 He shared them with the manikin； who licked his lips and
said：
'Now； go into that wood； and stop in front of the first tree； bow
three times； and then strike the tree with your axe； fall on your
knees on the ground； with your face on the earth； and remain
there till you are raised up。 You will then find a ship at your
side； step into it and fly to the King's Palace。 If you meet
anyone on the way； take him with you。'
The Simpleton thanked the manikin very kindly； bade him farewell；
and went into the road。 When he got to the first tree he stopped
in front of it； did everything just as he had been told； and；
kneeling on the ground with his face to the earth； fell asleep。
After a little time he was aroused； he awoke and； rubbing his
eyes； saw a ready…made ship at his side； and at once got into it。
And the ship rose and rose； and in another minute was flying
through the air； when the Simpleton； who was on the look out；
cast his eyes down to the earth and saw a man beneath him on the
road； who was kneeling with his ear upon the damp ground。
'Hallo！' he called out； 'what are you doing down there？'
'I am listening to what is going on in the world；' replied the
man。
'Come with me in my ship；' said the Simpleton。
So the man was only too glad； and got in beside him； and the ship
flew； and flew； and flew through the air； till again from his
outlook the Simpleton saw a man on the road below； who was
hopping on one leg； while his other leg was tied up behind his
ear。 So he hailed him； calling out：
'Hallo！ what are you doing； hopping on one leg？'
'I can't help it；' replied the man。 'I walk so fast that unless
I tied up one leg I should be at the end of the earth in a
bound。'
'Come with us on my ship；' he answered； and the man made no
objections； but joined them； and the ship flew on； and on； and
on； till suddenly the Simpleton； looking down on the road below；
beheld a man aiming with a gun into the distance。
'Hallo！' he shouted to him； 'what are you aiming at？ As far as
eye can see； there is no bird in sight。'
'What would be the good of my taking a near shot？' replied the
man； 'I can hit beast or bird at a hundred miles' distance。 That
is the kind of shot I enjoy。'
'Come into the ship with us；' answered the Simpleton； and the man
was only too glad to join them； and he got in； and the ship flew
on； farther and farther； till again the Simpleton from his
outlook saw a man on the road below； carrying on his back a
basket full of bread。 And he waved to him； calling out：
'Hallo！ where are you going？'
'To fetch bread for my breakfast。'
'Bread？ Why； you have got a whole basket…load of it on your
back。'
'That's nothing；' answered the man； 'I should finish that in one
mouthful。'
'Come along with us in my ship； then。'
And so the glutton joined the party； and the ship mounted again
into the air； and flew up and onward； till the Simpleton from his
outlook saw a man walking by the shore of a great lake； and
evidently looking for something。
'Hallo！' he cried to him；' what are you seeking？
'I want water to drink； I'm so thirsty；' replied the man。
'Well； there's a whole lake in front of you； why don't you drink
some of that？'
'Do you call that enough？' answered the other。 'Why； I should
drink it up in one gulp。'
'Well； come with us in the ship。'
And so the mighty drinker was added to the company； and the ship
flew farther； and even farther； till again the Simpleton looked
out； and this time he saw a man dragging a bundle of wood；
walking through the forest beneath them。
'Hallo！' he shouted to him； 'why are you carrying wood through a
forest？'
'This is not common wood；' answered the other。
'What sort of wood is it； then？' said the Simpleton。
'If you throw it upon the ground；' said the man； 'it will be
changed into an army of soldiers。'
'Come into the ship with us； then。'
And so he too joined them； and away the ship flew on； and on； and
on； and once more the Simpleton looked out； and this time he saw
a man carrying straw upon his back。
'Hallo！ Where are you carrying that straw to？'
'To the village；' said the man。
'Do you mean to say there is no straw in the village？'
'Ah！ but this is quite a peculiar straw。 If you strew it about
even in the hottest summer the air at once becomes cold； and snow
falls； and the people freeze。'
Then the Simpleton asked him also to join them。
At last the ship； with its strange crew； arrived at the King's
Court。 The King was having his dinner； but he at once despatched
one of his courtiers to find out what the huge； strange new bird
could be that had come flying through the air。 The courtier
peeped into the ship； and； seeing what it was； instantly went
back to the King and told him that it was a flying ship； and that
it was manned by a few peasants。
Then the King remembered his royal oath； but he made up his mind
that he would never consent to let the Princess marry a poor
peasant。 So he thought and thought； and then said to himself：
'I will give him some impossible tasks to perform； that will be
the best way of getting rid of him。' And he there and then
decided to despatch one of his courtiers to the Simpleton； with
the command that he was to fetch the King the healing water from
the world's end before he had finished his dinner。
But while the King was still instructing the courtier exactly
what he was to say； the first man of the ship's company； the one
with the miraculous power of hearing； had overheard the King's
words； and hastily reported them to the poor Simpleton。
'Alas； alas！' he cried； 'what am I to do now？ It would take me
quite a year； possibly my whole life； to find the water。'
'Never fear；' said his fleet…footed comrade； 'I will fetch what
the King wants。'
Just then the courtier arrived； bearing the King's command。
'Tell his Majesty；' said the Simpleton； 'that his orders shall be
obeyed； 'and forthwith the swift runner unbound the foot that was
strung up behind his ear and started off； and in less than no
time had reached the world's end and drawn the healing water from
the well。
'Dear me；' he thought to himself； 'that's rather tiring！ I'll
just rest for a few minutes； it will be some little time yet
before the King has got to dessert。' So he threw himself down on
the grass； and； as the sun was very dazzling； he closed his eyes；
and in a few seconds had fallen sound asleep。
In the meantime all the ship's crew were anxiously awaiting him；
the King's dinner would soon be finished； and their comrade had
not yet returned。 So the man with the marvellous quick hearing
lay down and； putting his ear to the ground；