ier took the phials of blood out of the Warlock's
pockets, and went on to the house of his own people. When he
had got there, and had exchanged greetings with his relatives,
they said:

"Did you see any disturbance, Soldier?"

"No, I saw none."

"There now! Why we've a terrible piece of work going
on in the village. A Warlock has taken to haunting it!"

After talking awhile, they lay down to sleep. Next morning
the Soldier awoke, and began asking:

"I'm told you've got a wedding going on somewhere here?"

"There was a wedding in the house of a rich moujik,"
replied his relatives, "but the bride and bridegroom have died
this very night--what from, nobody knows."

"Where does this moujik live?"

They showed him the house. Thither he went without
speaking a word. When he got there, he found the whole
family in tears.

"What are you mourning about?" says he.

"Such and such is the state of things, Soldier," say they.

"I can bring your young people to life again. What will
you give me if I do?"

"Take what you like, even were it half of what we've got!"

The Soldier did as the Warlock had instructed him, and
brought the young people back to life. Instead of weeping
there began to be happiness and rejoicing; the Soldier was
hospitably treated and well rewarded. Then--left about, face!
off he marched to the Starosta, and told him to call the peasants
together and to get ready a hundred loads of aspen wood.
Well, they took the wood into the graveyard, dragged the Warlock
out of his grave, placed him on the pyre, and set it alight--the
people all standing round in a circle with brooms, shovels,
and fire-irons. The pyre became wrapped in flames, the Warlock
began to burn. His corpse burst, and out of it crept snakes,
worms, and all sorts of reptiles, and up came flying crows, magpies,
and jackdaws. The peasants knocked them down and
flung them into the fire, not allowing so much as a single maggot
to creep away! And so the Warlock was thoroughly consumed,
and the Soldier collected his ashes and strewed them
to the winds. From that time forth there was peace in the
village.

The Soldier received the thanks of the whole community.
He stayed at home some time, enjoying himself thoroughly.
Then he went back to the Tsar's service with money in his
pocket. When he had served his time, he retired from the
army, and began to l