124 COSSACK FAIRY TALES.

swing.”—But the Tartars said: “We won’t slay the
people!” and the people said: “ We won’t kill the
wolf!” and the wolf said: “I won’t eat the goat!”
aud the goat said: “I won't nibble the bush!”
and the bush said: “I won’t give the good little
Sparrow a swing.”—“Go!” said the bush, “to the
fire, for the Tartars won’t slay the people, and the
people won’t kill the wolf, and the wolf won’t eat
the goat, and the goat won’t nibble the bush, and
the bush won’t give the dear little sparrow a
swing.”—But the fire also said: “I won’t!” (they
were all alike)—“ eo to the water,” said he,—So
the sparrow went to the water and said: “Come
water, quench fire, fire won’t burn Tartars, Tartars
won't slay people, people won’t kill wolf, wolf won’t
eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give
good little sparrow a swing.”—But the water also
said: “I won’t!” So the sparrow went to the
ox and said: “Ox, ox, drink water, water won’t
quench fire, fire won’t burn Tartars, Tartars won’t
slay people, people won’t kill wolf, wolf won't
eat goat, goat won’t nibble bush, bush won’t give
little sparrow a swing.”—“I won't!” said the ox.
—Then the sparrow went to the pole-axe and said :
“ Pole-axe, pole-axe, strike Ox, ox won't drink
water, water won’t quench fire, fire won’t burn
Tartars, Tartars won’t slay people, people won’t kill