THE STORY OF UNLUCKY DANIEL, lil

him: “Listen now! thou that art so unlucky, why
dost thou not go to the Tsar? He is the father of us
all, and will therefore certainly care for thee!” So
he listened to them and went, and the Tsar gave him
a place at his court. One day the Tsar said to him:
“T marvel that thou art so unlucky, for do whatso-
ever thou wilt, thou art none the better for it. I
would fain requite thee for all thy labours.” Then
he took and filled three barrels, the first with gold,

and the second with coal, and the third with sand,

and said to Daniel: “Look now! if thou dost pitch
upon that which is filled with gold, thou shalt be a
Tsar; if thou dost choose the one that is filled with
coal, thou shalt be a blacksmith ; but if thou dost
pick out the one that is full of sand, why then thou

att indeed hopelessly unlucky, and out of my tsardom
thou must go straightway, yet I will give thee a
horse and armour to take along with thee.” So.
Daniel was brought to the place where were the three

barrels, and went about them and felt and felt them

one after the other. “This one is full of gold!” said

he. They broke it open and it was full of sand.

“Well,” said the Tsar, “I see that thou art hope-

lessly unlucky. Depart from my tsardom, for I have

no need at all of such as thou.” Then he gave him

a charger and armour, and the full equipment of a

Cossack, and sent him away.