Once upon a time there lived five brothers. They sowed half a acre of wheat near one large tree. When the wheat ripened, the brothers began to notice that someone was coming at night and eating it. And so they began to guard the wheat. The elder brother was the first to remain on guard, but he did not see anyone. Then the other three brothers began to guard, and on the fifth day - a younger brother named Karaglysh.
While he was on guard, a black mare flew from the sky towards the wheat and began to eat it. Karaglysh caught the mare. Then she suddenly spoke:
- Let me go, Karaglysh. I have five foals.
If you let me go, then I will give them all to you and your brothers.
Karaglysh released the mare. She brought the foals and distributed them to the brothers. She gave the youngest foal to Karaglysh.
When the brothers let the foals race, Karaglysh's foal came first.
One day Karaglysh saw smoke in one place. He drove closer and saw the witch’s home. This witch had five daughters. Karaglysh entered the witch’s home: her daughters were sitting on the floor and playing. When they saw Karaglysh, they all ran away, Karaglysh hid under the carpet. When the witch's daughters returned, he caught them all: he took four under their arms, the fifth on his shoulder, mounted his horse and rode off. But the witch caught up with him and said:
- Karaglysh, tomorrow I will give you my daughters, and now you yourself spend the night with me.
Karaglysh returned to the witch and gave her his daughters. At night, the witch arranged a yurt for Karaglysh and brought him a bed. After some time, Karaglysh came out and saw that his foal was crying:
“The witch wants to kill you this night and has already gone to the forge to sharpen an iron tooth.”
Karaglysh listened to his foal and returned to the yurt. He couldn't sleep out of fear. Suddenly someone came up. It was a witch. She checked whether Karaglysh had fallen asleep. And when she saw that he was still awake, she said:
- Sleep, well done!
But Karaglysh could not sleep.
After some time, the witch again approached Karaglysh’s yurt and looked through the crack. And when she saw that he was still awake, she said:
- Sleep, well done!
So she came several times until the morning, but Karaglysh did not sleep. Then the witch was forced to give her daughters to the brothers, who soon arrived at Karaglysh. Giving her daughters away, the witch said:
– Not far from here there are three mountains. Don't even think about spending the night on the middle one.
When evening came, Karaglysh's brothers settled down for the night on the middle mountain, and Karaglysh himself stayed overnight on the extreme one.
The next morning, Karaglysh hears that his brothers are crying, and someone says to them:
- Bring Karaglysh to me, then I will let you go!
Karaglysh entered the brothers' yurt and saw a snake there that would not let the brothers go. Karaglysh stayed with the snake, and the brothers left. The snake says to Karaglysh:
“One strong king has an immortal daughter, bring her to me!” Bring it, I'll let you go!
Karaglysh agreed and hit the road. On the way, he met a man who was pushing one mountain onto another. Karaglysh asked him:
-What are you doing here?
He answered him:
– I wish to be Karaglysh’s companion and am waiting for him.
Karaglysh went further with this giant. As they were driving, they were met by another man who could take all the water from the lake into his mouth. They took him with them too. Then they met a man who had excellent hearing; then they came across a good shooter and, finally, a runner. The latter was so dexterous that he imperceptibly changed the tails of two magpies sitting on a tree.
They all mounted Karaglysh's horse and went in search of the princess. They drove for a long time and suddenly they saw two mountains: on one there was a stream of blood flowing, and on the other - evil spirits. Behind these mountains was the village of the same king who had an immortal daughter. These mountains consisted of the bones of those who came for the king’s daughter and, not reaching their goal, died. Karaglysh went straight to the king and said:
- I came for your daughter!..
“Okay,” said the king. - I will offer you five assignments. If you fulfill them, you will receive my daughter, if not, then I will order you to be killed.
Karaglysh agreed to these conditions.
First they let the horses race: and it turned out that Karaglysh’s horse came first. Then a race was held between people. Karaglysh let in his runner companion, and the king – some old woman. This old woman took a bucket of honey with her. On the way, she gave honey to her opponent and thus made him drunk. The runner fell asleep. The old woman put a bucket next to him and ran...
Karaglysh ordered his listener to find out: how many people are walking along the road? He listened and said:
- Only one person is coming!
Karaglysh ordered his fellow shooter to shoot at the bucket. He fired, and the runner woke up. And when he saw that the old woman ran ahead, he took a handful of sand and began to catch up with her. The runner caught up with the old woman and said:
- Come on, old woman, look here!..
And as soon as she looked back towards the runner, he threw sand into her eyes. She covered her eyes with her hand and could not run any further. The runner arrived first. Karaglysh won again.
Finally, the king ordered everyone to go to an iron house built on hot coals, and began to blow bellows from all sides. Karaglysh's second companion took a mouthful of water from the isozer. And when the house began to get very hot, he released all the water and thus saved everyone from death.
The king was forced to give his daughter to Karaglysh. He took it and returned to the serpent, and his companions remained where they first met him. At parting, Karaglysh offered them his clothes, but they refused and did not take them.
Karaglysh gave the king's daughter to the snake, and he himself returned safely to his brothers.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru