Once upon a time there lived a shepherd, and he had a large flock of sheep, which were guarded by an old faithful dog... He destroyed many wolves and bears in his lifetime. Yes, for some time now his strength began to weaken - he could hardly rise from the ground, his fur began to peel off. The shepherd, seeing that one fine day he might be left without a guardian, found a puppy somewhere and began to tame it. And since he was a good owner, he continued to look after both dogs. But then the puppy began to fight with the old dog over food. Greedy and insatiable, he was still afraid that he would remain hungry.
Somehow he sweetened himself to the shepherd, rubbed himself against his legs, and then said to him:
- Master, you should drive this old dog away, he only wastes food.
Otherwise, I’ll get more: I’ll grow up faster, I’ll get stronger, because all your hope is in me, and let him go in all four directions, anyway, there’s nothing to be expected from him.
The shepherd listened to the advice and began to shout at the old dog, today quietly, tomorrow - louder, when he offends with a word, when he uses a stick. The poor dog saw that he was not living with his owner, but hard labor, and, hanging his head, ran away. He ran for as long as he could and ran until he reached the forest. There he began to scour in search of food, looking here and there, but finding nothing. From hunger and vain searches, he completely lost his strength. But then he met a hut on the way. He entered it, sat down and thought: Well, this puppy has made me a friend! Now, apparently, there is nothing left to do but say goodbye to life.
He sat there and cursed his life, when suddenly he saw through the window a wolf approaching the hut—the path of the wolves passed right here. The dog did not bristle: she knew that wolves, when they are full, do not touch anyone. The wolf approached the hut and asked:
- May, who are you?
“Shoemaker,” answers the dog.
- And what can you do?
- Postols, boots, everything that can be made from leather. - That's good, shoemaker, since when am I going to order boots for myself.
- Do you have any skin?
- No. Which one is required?
- For the soles - calf, for the fronts - pork, for the tops - goose.
- So, it's dealt with. If it works, my boots!
- Hands down, godfather, just drag me a live calf, I’ll skin it myself and tan it myself.
- Okay, shoemaker.
The wolf scoured and scoured through the fields, through the herds, and now he was dragging a young bull.
- Good?
- Good. And in three days I will need a pig too.
The wolf ran away, and the dog took on the bull. He eats and eats, rests a little, drinks water and eats again. In three days I managed to handle the bull just right. The wolf, thinking only about boots, kept his word: on the third day he dragged a huge boar.
- Here, the shoemaker brought it, will it fit on the limbers?
- It’s better not to.
- When will the boots be ready?
“Now bring four geese for the insoles and the tops - I’ll do it in three days.”
The wolf couldn't be happier. On the second day, he brought four geese and couldn’t find all the places for himself; he couldn’t wait to put on his boots. And the dog, my brother, you know, eats and sleeps. He snacks on pork or goose, good - and spring water is nearby. If it wasn't heaven, it was close to heaven. From the hearty food the dog grew stronger, gained strength, his skin began to shine with fat, so that he seemed like a two-year-old - he was so rejuvenated. Then the time has come - the wolf appears.
- Well, are your boots ready, shoemaker?
“What kind of boots are you asking for, beast?” — the dog jumped out of the hut. The wolf sat down on his tail in surprise, but the dog rushed at him and started tearing him apart with his teeth. The poor wolf, sensing the end, howled so much that all the wolves from the nearby forest came running to them. The dog dealt with everyone in such a way that only the trees swayed. Once he bit into it with his teeth, he immediately leveled three of them to the ground. After some time, the king of wolves rushed over. I saw such a dump and shouted:
- Enough, wolves! Leave the dog alone and run to me. The wolves retreated, and the king began to reprimand them.
- May, fanged ones, why did you get involved with this dog, or do you want
Did he rip your throats out, so that your family is no longer left? Don’t you see how strong and dexterous he is—none of you can resist him! Go, give him money, do everything so that he leaves here wherever he looks, otherwise there will be no peace for us. Then four wolves ran to the dog:
- Your Highness, how much should I pay you or what should I do so that you leave the forest and leave us?
“If you steal two sheep from the flock of such and such a shepherd (here he named his owner) I don’t need any other reward.”
The wolves liked the assignment. They ran down the hill where the dog pointed; and not far from the flock of sheep they began to howl and clatter their teeth. The young dog raised his tail out of fear and - remember his name. The poor shepherd could not cope with four wolves with one stick. He whistled and shouted, but all in vain: the wolves rushed to the sheep, grabbed two of them and prepared to head back. Then our dog ran out to meet them (he had quietly made his way to the flock earlier) and began tearing the wolves with his teeth, shredding them, so that they barely ran away.
Oh, the shepherd was delighted to see how his old friend dealt with the wolves! He caressed him, fed him, and when the young dog returned, he beat him and drove him away from the pen.
The old dog, as before, began to live in contentment with the shepherd: and food from
he had care and a roof over his head.
And the older he became, the more diligently the shepherd looked after him. And when the time came for the shepherd to look for another dog, he found one that was similar to the old one: he diligently guarded the flock and was not afraid of wolves.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru