104 COSSACK FAIRY TALES.

said, “and thou wilt find thy master angry because
thou hast tarried go long, and there was none to work
for him, so that his corn has to remain standing im
the field. Then he will send thee to bring in his
sheaves, and I’ll help thee. Load the wagon well,
but don’t take quite all the sheaves from the field.
Leave one little sheaf behind; more than that thou
needst not leave, but that thou must leave. Then
beg thy master to let thee have this little sheaf by
way of wages. Take no money from him, but that
one little sheaf only. Then, when thy master has
given thee this sheaf, burn it, and a fair lady will
leap out of it; take her to wife!”

The labourer obeyed, and went and worked for his
master as the Serpent had told him. He went out
into the field to bring home his master’s corn, and
marvellously he managed it. He did all the carrying
himself, and loaded the wagon so heavily that it
creaked beneath its burden. Then when he had
brought home all his master’s corn, he begged that
he might have the remaining little sheaf for himself.
He refused to be rewarded for his smart labour, he
would take no money; he wanted nothing for himself,
he said, but the little sheaf he had left in the field.
So his master let him have the sheaf. Then he went
out by himself into the field, burnt the sheaf, just as
the Serpent had told him, and immediately a lovely