One day the sleds decided to go hunting. Having learned about this, Shauei approached old Kanzhu and said:
- Dear father! Brave sledges led by Nasren Longbeard are going hunting. They say that the Narts are brave and courageous. Having been with them, I will become braver, more resourceful, more resilient. Although I am young, I will not disgrace your name. Am I born to sit at home and herd chickens? No, not for that, father! Let me go with the sledge!
Kanju liked the young man’s desire to test his valor, and he willingly released Shauei.
According to custom, before leaving, the sleds gathered with the eldest, who led the hunt. This time the sledges gathered at Nasren Longbeard.
Having received his father’s permission, Shauei called his Jamidej and cheerfully said to him:
- Well, finally we are going hunting. Don't let me down, Jamidezh, who gets little and eats a lot.
Jamidezh realized that his owner was joking and answered without offense:
- Good morning, my Shauei, born not for idleness, striving for achievements, despising greed!
And they set off.
Driving past a small village, Shauei decided to rest and have a snack. Shepherds sitting on a hill called to him and cordially treated him to milk, bread and cheese. But as soon as the guest was satisfied, the shepherds asked him to leave as soon as possible.
- Why are you rushing me? — Shauei was offended.
“We are rushing you not because we don’t respect the guests, but because it will be bad for you if you are delayed.” Evening is approaching. The herd will return soon, and we have a mad bull in our herd. Your nag will not be happy. The bull will hook Jamidezh on his horns and throw him up with such force that you won’t even be able to pick up the unfortunate man’s bones. If a mad bull rushes at you, we will not be able to help you - we are afraid of it. That’s why we ask you to leave before trouble comes!
But the more the shepherds intimidated Shauei, the more he wanted to see the ferocious bull. Making the excuse that he would drive in the evening chill, Shauei did not move from his place.
Soon the mooing of cows was heard. A large herd was approaching in a thick cloud of dust. The mighty bull walked proudly ahead. Seeing Jamidej, his eyes became bloodshot. Bowing his head, throwing up the ground with his hooves, he rushed towards his horse.
Jamidez, tied to an old tree, browsed the grass carefree. Hearing an angry roar, he raised his head. “Poor bull,” thought Jamidezh, “it’s obvious that you are destined to die, otherwise you wouldn’t have contacted me!”
The shepherds shouted to Shauei:
“You didn’t listen to us, say goodbye to your horse.” Look what happens!
“Look at you too,” Shauei grinned. - It will be what it should be.
At this time, the bull's horns flashed under the horse's belly, but Jamidez pulled back and kicked the bull in the forehead. The bull with a broken skull fell to the ground and died immediately.
“Well, we looked and saw!” said the people there, Shauei. “And know that Jamidez kicked the bull only half-heartedly!”
Shauei jumped on his horse and disappeared into a wide field, as if he had never been there. The shepherds silently looked after him, amazed at the unprecedented strength of Jamidej.
And Shauei arrived safely at the sledge. Jamidez, pretending to be an unhappy nag, falling on all four hooves, barely dragged his rider into the courtyard of Nasren Longbeard, where the sledges had already gathered, ready to leave. They didn't even look at the young ragamuffin.
Leading Jamidej by the bridle, Shauei approached a tall sled with a large white beard, in whom he recognized the hunters' thamada.
- Good Nasren! said Shauei. “Having learned that the brave sledges, led by you, were going hunting, I could not sit at home. Let me ride with you! I am the son of a lonely, poor old woman and I am poor myself. During the hunt, I will serve the sledges, flawlessly carry out all their orders, and at rest stops I will guard their equipment. When the hunt is over, the generous sledges will reward me for my honest work - they will give me some small amount of their rich booty!
“Poor young man, you are asking for the impossible,” answered Nasren Longbeard, looking sympathetically at Shauei and his exhausted nag. “You are still too young to endure the difficulties of hunting, and your horse is no good.” Look what the Nart horses are like. There are no insurmountable obstacles for them; they do not notice heat, cold, or hunger. You will disappear on your lame nag. Come home. I will tell you to be given strong clothes, and for your mother to take a bag of millet and a leg of lamb.
- May your path be decorated with goodness and glory, worthy of the master of hunters! - Shauei exclaimed. - Live for many years! May you continue to be the first to proclaim the heroic greeting at Khas Nartov! But your generous alms will only last us for a few days, and what to do next? And isn’t it better to live by honest labor than by random handouts? Is it bad that I want to learn from the Narts their fearlessness and resourcefulness? If you wish well for the poor young man, take me with you!
Shauei's words touched old Nasren. He said:
- So be it! I'll take you hunting. You will carry out the orders of the sledges, and also prepare food for us. Go to my wife - she will give you a cauldron and a spit.
The Narts, led by Nasren Longbeard, left the village, and Shauei lingered in the yard, tying a huge cauldron to the pommel of his saddle. Seated on his horse, holding a skewer in one hand and a whip in the other, he urged Jamidej, but he did not budge. Then Shauei began to shout at him and whip him.
At Shauei’s cry, the Nart children came running, then the adult Narts who had stayed at home also came up. And everyone together made fun of Shauei and Dzhamidezh. The children lashed Dzhamidezh on the sides with long twigs, tickled his ears, and pulled his mangy tail. The adults tried to push Jamidej, but he seemed rooted to the ground. Only when they piled up behind them in a whole crowd, and the children pulled the bridle, did they somehow manage to pull Jamidezh and his rider out of the gate.
“Here is a real Nart horseman!” someone from the crowd shouted mockingly.
- Be careful, he will kill everyone! - picked up another.
- Needless to say, just don’t let his horse stretch out on the road!
Finally, the sledges pushed Dzhamidezh and Shauei out of the village and went back, laughing. And Shauei and Jamidej laughed heartily at them.
When the sledges disappeared from sight, Dzhamidez shook himself and in one jump caught up with the detachment. Behind the tall bushes he shook himself again and approached the sledge at a jog, falling on all four hooves.
Nasren Longbeard was amazed when he saw Shauei.
- How did you catch up with us? We were driving fast!
“I killed the horse and tortured myself.” - Shauei was breathing heavily, as if he was really exhausted, foam was falling from Jami’s lips, he was smoking with perspiration.
“Well, boy,” Nasren Longbeard remarked good-naturedly. - It’s good that you didn’t get lost.
The Narts continued on their way, and Shauei rode behind them, rattling his cauldron.
At noon the sleigh stopped at the edge of the forest. Having rested, they went hunting, and Shauei was instructed to find a place for a hut, make a fire and wait for their return.
As soon as the sledges disappeared, Shauei built a hut in the hazel bushes, jumped on Dzhamidezh and rushed lightly into the forest. In the silence of the forest, he soon heard rustling, splashing and noisy sighs. As he approached, Shauei saw a herd of deer near a stream.
Having ripped out several oak stumps, the hunter crept up and threw them one after another, aiming for the deer's heads. The deer rushed into the forest, but not all of them: several killed remained by the stream. Shauei put the deer carcasses on the back of the horse and brought them to the place. Having skinned the carcasses, Shauei covered the hut with deer skins, brought water from the stream in a cauldron and lit a fire. Having hung the cauldron over the fire, Shauei threw half of the meat into the cauldron, and cut the other into small pieces, put it on a spit and placed it at the edge of the fire to fry. And he himself sat down near the fire, waiting for the sledges.
It was already dark when the sledges returned, tired, angry and empty-handed. They were dumbfounded when they saw a large hut covered with deer skins. A fragrant brew bubbled and smoked in the cauldron. Smelling the smell of fried meat, the hungry sleds licked their lips.
- Whose good is this? - they asked Shauei.
- Mighty and lucky sledges! - Shauei answered modestly. “It was like this: on your orders, I was looking for a convenient place to spend the night and wandered onto this lawn. Here I saw deer carcasses hanging on the trees and a hut, in front of which sat four people unknown to me. They called me over and gave me some food. When I had had my fill, strangers began to ask me how I got to these deserted places. I admitted that I accompany eminent sledges on hunts and serve them. Then the strangers began to beg me to name the most famous participants in the campaign. As soon as I said that Nasren Longbeard, Badynoko, Sosruko and Khimysh had arrived here, the strangers jumped up in fear and ran away without looking back, leaving all their belongings behind.
- See, heroes, how great your glory is! Your names alone leave people in awe.
The Narts believed Shauei. Proud of their loud fame, they sat around the fire, enjoying a rich and tasty dinner. Having had their fill, they fell asleep. At dawn the sledges set off further. Shauei followed them on his fold-eared Jamidezh.
Whether it was long or short, it was midday when we arrived at the edge of an unfamiliar forest. Here, too, they ordered Shauei to find a place for a hut and make a fire, and they themselves went hunting.
Shauei took a fancy to a hollow shaded by bushes, erected a hut even better than yesterday and, jumping on Dzhamidezh, rushed into the forest.
Through the thicket trees he saw deer peacefully grazing on the lawn. Shauei quietly drew his father's sword from its scabbard, and Jamidezh found himself in the middle of the herd in one leap. Taken by surprise, the deer fell under the mighty blows of the sword. With rich booty, Shauei returned to the place where he spent the night and, having lit a fire, prepared dinner even more abundant and tastier than yesterday. And the sledges returned late, exhausted and hungry. They were amazed to see here a hut covered with skins, a steaming brew, meat on a spit and deer carcasses hanging on the trees.
Shauei was sitting by the fire as if nothing had happened, and nearby Jamidez was nibbling grass.
Not knowing what to think, the Narts vying with each other asked Shauei:
-Where did all this come from? What lucky chance has gifted us so generously?
Shauei repeated yesterday’s invention word for word, and the Narts believed him.
On the third day the same thing happened. The Narts returned again without any spoils. They were unlucky: boasting to each other about their strength and luck, they often quarreled, and the hunt was unsuccessful. This time too, the Narts were sure that the skin-covered hut and rich booty had come to them thanks to their fearsome fame. It never occurred to them that the young ragamuffin, whom Nasren Longbeard took with him out of pity, was building huts for them and getting food. But Shauei was tired of their arrogance. “I’ll make the Narts think, it’s time to teach the braggarts a lesson,” Shauei decided and exclaimed:
- Oshkhomakho, abode of the gods, Mountain of Happiness! You, like a mother, fed me and were my cradle! Cold, wind and snow came here from their peak! I ask you as a son!
In response to Shauei, an icy wind whistled, snow began to fall, and a blizzard began to swirl. Ice blocks fell from the mountains and flew down with a roar.
Shauei again built a hut and killed many deer in the forest. I boiled and fried the meat again. Then he tore up a huge oak tree, cut off all the branches and, sitting down by a bright fire, waited for the sledge. It took a long time to wait. Only when it was past midnight did Shauei hear the clatter of hooves and realize that the sledges were returning. Pretending that he did not recognize them, Shauei rushed towards them and, waving a tree, did not let them approach the hut.
-Who is this coming here? - Shauei shouted. “This is the hut of the glorious Narts, and I won’t let anyone in here without their permission.” If you don't understand me, I'll knock some sense into your empty heads! Get away!
The Nart horses backed away from the angry shout, and the Narts could not say a word in response to Shauei - they were so frozen.
For a long time Shauei held the numb sledges in the bitter cold, amused by their helplessness. No one could move their hand or jump to the ground - the sleds were frozen to their saddles.
Shauei peered at each one in turn, as if not recognizing them. Finally he approached Nasren Longbeard, peered at him and exclaimed in fear:
- What have I done! After all, this is the mighty Nasren on his bay horse! Forgive me, brave man! I didn’t recognize you or your brave sledges.
Seizing the bay by the bridle, Shauei dragged him to the hut. Having cut the girths, Shauei took Nasren off along with the saddle and sat him down by the fire, closer to the fire. Returning to the sledge, he took off each one along with the saddle and threw them towards the fire at random: some by the collar, some by the legs, some by the head. The sledges fell and lay there.
Shauei threw dry branches into the fire, the fire flared up hot, and the sledges began to thaw. Coming to their senses, they looked in confusion, first at each other, then at Shauei, who stunned them with his mighty strength.
And Shauei was still modest and helpful. When the Narts were full and wanted to sleep, he turned to Nasren Longbeard:
- While the glorious Narts are resting, I will graze their horses so that they do not freeze in the fierce cold. Just allow me, good Nasren, to saddle your bay, so that if I’m cold, I can quickly get to the fire. On my weak Jami dezha you will perish in this cold!
- I would like to give this to you. I allow it,” Nasren Longbeard answered good-naturedly. - Make sure you don’t freeze! My horse is not more valuable to me than you.
The Narts entered the hut and went to bed. And Shauei jumped on the bay, grabbed Dzhamidezh by the bridle and drove the horses.
Having driven further away, Shauei again turned to Mount Oshkhomakho, asking to pacify the frost and blizzard, to return a blooming summer to this deserted region.
And again the trees were dressed with green foliage, it became warm. Then Shauei jumped on Dzhamidej, took the bay horse by the bridle and galloped on. Instantly they found themselves on the bank of a wide river. It was Psyzh. On the other bank a large herd was grazing. Noticing him, Jamidez said to Shauei:
- Change to the bay, and I will drive these horses here.
Shauei mounted the bay horse, and Dzhamidezh jumped over the river and, with a fierce neigh, swam his horses to Shauei. Along the way, Jamidez bit the best horses. When the herd ended up on the shore where Shauei was waiting, he asked Jamidej in surprise why he did it.
“When you drive the herd to the sledges, they want to take the best horses for themselves and give you the worse ones.” I tempted the most zealous so that they would consider them worthless and give them to you.
When the Narts heard through their sleep the tramping and neighing of many horses, they jumped up in fear, thinking that a great army had attacked them.
Shauei reassured them:
“Don’t worry, brave sledges, nothing happened.” While walking your horses nearby, I saw that a pack of wolves was driving a large herd out of the forest. Having noticed me, the wolves ran away in fear, and I drove the horses here.
The Narts believed Shauei - there were many bitten horses in the herd.
“How easy it is for us to do everything!” explained the sledges. -Without the slightest effort we got great wealth!
And the Narts thought: “The unexpected prey is so great that we can already finish the hunt.”
Then Shauei decided to leave them.
“Glorious sledges,” he said, “our paths diverge.” It's time for me to return to my poor lonely mother. I will be pleased and grateful if you give me at least these skilled horses for my modest work.
The Narts answered arrogantly:
“We won’t share anything here.” But when we reach the place of division, then we’ll see - maybe we’ll give you two or three horses, if you’re worth it.
- If so, I myself will take what belongs to me! - Shauei exclaimed angrily. He gave a sign to Jamidej, who shook himself and, strong and powerful, walked up to the owner. Shauei tightened his girths, jumped into the saddle and, at full gallop, uprooted several centuries-old oak trees. Before the sledges had time to come to their senses, Shauei fenced off a spacious corral and locked all the horses in it. Having counted the sledges, Shauei instantly built several small fences. Standing in the middle of the herd, he began to throw the horses into the fences, grabbing them at random - some by the mane, some by the tail, some by the legs. In each fence there was an equal number of horses, and Shauei kept only the marked ones for himself.
“You see,” Shauei said to the Narts, “I take no more than I should.” I only take bitten horses. See you soon, sledges! - he shouted and, whipping Dzhamidezh, drove off his herd.
The confused sledges silently looked after him. Only when Shauei disappeared did they come to their senses.
It was only then that they realized that he, this ragamuffin, fed them, built huts for them, and the horses that were huddled in the fences were also his prey.
Having come to their senses, the sledges began to rustle. They shouted that the boy had treated them shamelessly, and reproached each other for allowing the impudent man, who had insulted the honor of the Narts, to escape with impunity, without even knowing his name.
- We need to quickly catch up with him, let him identify himself! - And the Nart Araksha was sent after Shauei. Arakshu galloped after Shauei for a long time. Having caught up, he got ahead of Shauei and, blocking his path, asked on behalf of the Narts:
- Tell me, who are you? Say your name!
Instead of answering, Shauei beat Araksha and, without saying a word, moved on.
Groaning and groaning, Arakshu returned to the sledge and told everything as it happened. Then they sent Psabyd after the offender. But the same thing happened to him as to Arakshu, only Shauei beat Psabyda even harder without saying a word. When the beaten Psabyda returned to the sledge with nothing, Nasren Longbeard became angry.
- I will overtake the unknown and will not let go until he answers who he is, where he is from and what his name is! - Nasren shouted.
He killed the bay while chasing Shauei. Overtaking the rider, Nasren shouted after him:
- Stop, talk to me! I promise to give you my only daughter, the beautiful Akunda, as a wife.
But Shauei did not stop, did not look back, did not answer.
Then Nasren Longbeard shouted:
“My dear guest, if you don’t want to stop for the sake of my daughter, then for the sake of my gray beard, stop and talk to me!”
Shauei stopped and, turning to Nasren, said:
- My father is Kanj, my mother is Naribgeya. I grew up on the icy peak of Oshkhomakho. My name is Shaueya. The Narts you sent after me were insolent and ignorant: contrary to custom, they overtook me and blocked my way. That's why I beat them.
And, having whipped Jamidej, Shauei continued on his way.
Nasren Longbeard really wanted to find out more about the mighty knight, but he did not dare to speak again.
Returning to the sledges, Nasren Longbeard told them what he had heard. And the sledges, driving the herd, went home in deep thought.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru