“How is this, Emelian? you have got into the sledge without putting the horses to it.”
But he said to them that he had no need of horses, and only wanted them to open the gate. The sisters-in-law did so, and the fool as he sat in the sledge, said:
“At the pike’s behest, and at my request, set forward, sledge, to the forest.”
At these words the sledge forthwith went forth. The country people living around were quite astounded to see Emelian riding in the sledge without horses, and going with such speed that, even if the best pair of horses in the world had been fastened to the sledge, it would have been impossible to go quicker. Now as it was necessary for the fool, in order to reach the forest, to go through the town, he drove through it at full speed; but as he did not know that it was necessary for him to cry out, in order that the people might not be run over, he drove through the city without crying to the people to get out of the way, and ran over a great number of them, and although they gave chase to him, yet it was impossible to overtake him. Emelian, having passed through the city and reached the wood, stopped the sledge. The fool then getting out of the sledge, said:
“At the pike’s behest, and at my request, fall, hatchet, now to cutting wood; and do you, wood, gather yourself into the sledge and be corded.”
Scarcely had the fool said these words when the hatchet began to cut wood, and the wood, gathering itself up, placed itself in the sledge, and tied itself with the cord. After he had cut as much wood as he wanted, he ordered the hatchet to cut down a small oak; and when the hatchet had done so, he placed himself upon the load, and said:
“At the pike’s behest, and at my request, O sledge, now travel home.”
The sledge instantly set off very briskly. But when Emelian arrived at the city in which he had run over so many people, the folks were waiting for him in order to seize him, and as soon as he drove into the city they set about dragging him off the load and began to belabour him. The fool, seeing that they were pulling him and beating him, said these words, in an undertone:
“At the pike’s behest, and at my request, now, sapling, break their arms and legs.”