30 COSSACK FAIRY TALES.

and went, leaving everything behind him. And the
poor wife put everything to rights, and reproached
and railed at her husband.

So the man came to the Wind for the third time
and said: “Wilt thou tell me, please, if thou art
really the Wind or no?”—‘ What's the matter with
thee?” asked the Wind.—‘“T'll tell thee what's the
matter,” said the man; “why hast thou laughed at
and mocked me and made such a fool of me?”—“ 1
laugh at thee!” thundered the old father as he lay
there on the floor and turned round on the other ear ;
“why didst thou not hold fast what I gave thee ?
Why didst thou not listen to me when I told thee
not to go into the tavern, eh? ”__«What tavern dost
thou mean?” asked the man proudly; “as for the
sack and the ram thou didst give me, they only did
me a mischief; give me something else.” —‘* What’s
the use of giving thee anything?” said the Wind;
“thou wilt only take it to the tavern. Out of the
drum, my twelve henchmen !” eried the Wind, “ and
just give this accursed drunkard a good lesson that
he may keep his throat dry and listen a little more
to old people !”—Immediately the twelve henchmen
leaped out of the drum and began giving the man
a sound thrashing. Then the man saw that it was
no joke and begged for mercy: “Dear old father
Wind,” cried he, “be merciful, and let me get off