o see him on his way. She saw the
last of him at the door of the hut, and he had not taken two steps
before she had gone back into the hut to see to more important
business.

No matter. The Fool of the World set off with his bag over his
shoulder, singing as he went, for he was off to seek his fortune and
marry the Tzar's daughter. He was sorry his mother had not given him
any corn brandy; but he sang merrily for all that. He would have liked
white rolls instead of the dry black crusts; but, after all, the main
thing on a journey is to have something to eat. So he trudged merrily
along the road, and sang because the trees were green and there was a
blue sky overhead.

He had not gone very far when he met an ancient old man with a bent
back, and a long beard, and eyes hidden under his bushy eyebrows.

"Good-day, young fellow," says the ancient old man.

"Good-day, grandfather," says the Fool of the World.

"And where are you off to?" says the ancient old man.

"What!" says the Fool; "haven't you heard? The Tzar is going to give
his daughter to any one who can bring him a flying ship."

"And you can really make a flying ship?" says the ancient old man.

"No, I do not know how."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"God knows," says the Fool of the World.

"Well," says the ancient, "if things are like that, sit you down here.
We will rest together and have a bite of food. Bring out what you have
in your bag."

"I am ashamed to offer you what I have here. It is good enough for me,
but it is not the sort of meal to which one can ask guests."

"Never mind that. Out with it. Let us eat what God has given."

The Fool of the World opened his bag, and could hardly believe his
eyes. Instead of black crusts he saw fresh white rolls and cooked
meats. He handed them out to the ancient, who said, "You see how God
loves simple folk. Although your own mother does not love you, you
have not been done out of your share of the good things. Let's have a
sip at the corn brandy...."

The Fool of the World opened his flask, and instead of water there
came out corn brandy, and that of the best. So the Fool and the
ancient made merry, eating and drinking; and when they had done, and
sung a song or two together, the ancient says to the Fool,--

"Listen to me. Off with you into the forest. Go up to the first big
tree you see. Make the sacred sign of the cross three times before it.
Strike it a blow with your little hatchet. Fall