Three brothers lived in one camp. They were famous throughout the area for their strength and agility.
Neither among the gypsies nor among the peasants they had equals. They could beat, knock down, overcome anyone.
One day, when the camp was moving to a new location, the brothers went ahead. Night found them on the road. They lit a fire and began to cook food. They drink tea and talk to each other about how strong and clever they are.
“I swear, brothers, if the devil himself had come our way, we would have defeated him too!” - exclaimed the younger brother, and the other two laughed approvingly.
And at that moment an old man appeared in the clearing in a black jacket, belted with a rope, simple shoes on his feet, and a hat on his head. The old man had a cane in his hands, on which he leaned while walking. The old man bowed to the brothers and asked:
- Who are you, gypsies, where are you from, where did you come from?
- So and so, so and so... Who are you?
- Yes, I’m the local forester.
- Well, sit down and drink tea.
The old man sat down by the fire, drinking tea, and he kept looking at his brothers. Finally he gets up and approaches his younger brother:
- Darling, let's go fight!
“Why, old man, are you crazy,” the younger brother waved his hands, “why should you fight me, I’ll lift you with one hand and slam you with the other.”
But the old man still doesn’t let up:
- Let's fight, I really want to see how brave you are!
“Okay,” agreed the younger brother, “I wanted it myself, don’t judge...
They started to fight. The old man's younger brother grabbed him by the collar, lifted him up and threw him to the ground. And he returned to the fire.
- Probably killed? - asked the older brother.
- No, I quit quietly.
Lo and behold, the old man approaches the fire again and immediately addresses the middle brother:
- Darling, let's fight!
- What, isn’t my brother enough for you? If he beat you, so much the better did I.
“It doesn’t matter, dear, let’s fight, I really want to see how brave you are.”
“Well, okay, old man,” agreed the middle brother, “just keep in mind that I, as a younger brother, will not feel sorry for you.” I'll treat you, I'll treat you!
They also began to fight. The middle brother grabbed the old man by the legs and arms and hit the ground with all his might. And he walked away without looking back. And the old man runs behind and turns to his older brother:
- My dear, I saw your brothers, I know how they fight, I want to try with you.
- No, you won’t get me to do this.
And the old man bursts into tears, asks to fight him, and that’s all.
- What to do? - the older brother turns to the middle and younger ones. “Still, he won’t lag behind.” I’d better kill him, otherwise I’m tired of him.
The older brother came out to fight the old man. They grabbed each other. And suddenly the old man began to grow right before his eyes, he grew taller than the trees. He grabbed his older brother and hit the ground.
That's it. And then middle and junior. The old man whistled so loudly that the trees bent, laughed and went on his way.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru