316 SLAV TALES

“Bother ! do it yourselves.”

“Tt is not fit work for women. Besides, if you don’t do it
the stove will be cold, and then you will be the chief sufferer.
Moreover, pay attention to what we say, for if you do not
obey us, there will be no red boots, nor any other pretty
things.”

The sluggard then just sat up and said:

“ At my behest, and by the orders of the pike,
Let what my sisters want be done—that’s what I like.”

Instantly the hatchet came out from behind a stool and
chopped up a large heap of wood, put a part of it on the stove,
and retired to its corner. All this time the sluggard was
eating and drinking at his ease.

Another day some wood had to be brought from the forest.
Our sluggard now thought he would like to show off before
the villagers, so he pulled a sledge out of the shed, loaded it
with onions and soup, after which he pronounced the magic
words.

The sledge started off, and passing through the village at
a rattling pace, ran over several people, and frightened the
women and children.

When the forest was reached, our friend looked on while
the blocks of wood and faggots cut, tied, and laid them-
selves on the sledge, after which they set off home again.
But when they got to the middle of the village the
men, who had been hurt and frightened in the morning,
seized hold of the sluggard and pulled him off the sledge,
dragging him along by the hair to give him a sound
thrashing.