Once upon a time there lived a soldier. Having served his term, he went home. Passing by some castle, he knocked on the door to ask for a drink, as he was tormented by thirst. A lion opened the door for him - in those days lions were often kept instead of servants. The owner and hostess were absent. The soldier asked the lion to give him a glass of water.
“I won’t give you water, soldier,” answered the lion, “you will drink wine with me.”
The soldier did not take long to ask. The two of them drank several bottles, then the lion said:
- Soldier, do you want to play a game of picket with me? I know that military people play this game because they have nothing better to do.
- With great pleasure.
They played seven or eight games. Leo kept losing and finally became furious. He dropped the card on purpose and asked the soldier to pick it up; and he, realizing that the lion was just waiting for him to bend down and immediately pounce on him, did not move from his place and said:
“I’m not your servant, pick it up yourself.” Because you seem to be angry with me, let’s better play another game - bring me a block, a rope and a board.
The lion brought everything that the soldier demanded; the soldier made a swing and was the first to climb on it.
He had barely taken off once or twice when the lion shouted to him:
- Get off, soldier, get off, now it’s my turn!
“Not yet, lion,” answered the soldier, “you’ll have time!” Finally the soldier got down from the swing, helped the lion climb on it and said:
“Lev, you don’t know the game, I’m afraid you might fall and break your ribs.” I'll tie you by the paws.
No sooner said than done. The soldier tied the lion and threw it all the way to the ceiling.
- Ay! Soldier, soldier, take me down,” the lion screamed, “I’ve had enough!”
“I’ll take you off when I get to these parts again,” the soldier answered and left the castle.
The lion screamed at the top of his lungs, so that it could be heard three leagues away. The owner of the castle and his wife, who were walking in the forest, hurried home. After a long search, they finally found the lion hanging on the swing.
“Hey, lion,” they said to him, “what are you doing here?”
- Oh, don’t talk! Some nasty, ugly little soldier put me here.
- If we take you down, what will you do with it?
“I’ll go after him, and if I catch him, I’ll kill him and eat him.”
Meanwhile, the soldier kept walking and walking. On the way he met a wolf who was chopping wood.
“Wolf,” said the soldier, “you’re going about things in the wrong way.” I myself will take up your cleaver; and you put your paw into the crack, it will be like a wedge.
As soon as the wolf stuck his paw into the crack, the soldier pulled out the cleaver and the paw got stuck in the log.
- Soldier, soldier, release my paw!
“Okay,” said the soldier, “I’ll do it when I get to these parts again.”
At the desperate howl of the wolf, a lion came running and set off in pursuit of the soldier.
- What's wrong with you, wolf? he asked.
- Oh, don’t talk! Some nasty, ugly little soldier pinched my paw.
- What will you do if I let you out?
“I’ll run after him with you, we’ll catch him and eat him.”
The lion released the wolf's paw, and the two of them set off to catch up with the soldier.
But the soldier had already gone far ahead. On the way, he met a fox standing by a tall tree with its head raised.
“Hey, fox,” said the soldier, “what were you looking at there?”
- Look at those cherries.
“If you want,” said the soldier, “I will help you climb the tree.”
Then he took a sharpened stick, pierced the fox, and then, swinging it well, threw it and the stick into a tree. The stick got stuck in the branches, and the fox remained on it, as if on a spit.
- Ay! Soldier, soldier, take me down! - the fox screamed.
“When I get to these parts again,” said the soldier, “the cherries will be ripe.”
The fox moaned pitifully. A lion and a wolf came running to her moans.
- What are you doing there, fox?
- Don’t talk! It was some nasty, ugly little soldier who played such a joke on me.
- What will you do if we help you out?
“I’ll set out with you in pursuit of him; we will catch him and eat him.
Meanwhile the soldier kept walking and walking; On the way he met a young girl.
“Madam,” he told her, “three fierce beasts are chasing me, they will devour us.” Take my advice, let's make a swing!
The girl agreed, and when the lion, who had outpaced his companions, overtook them, they were already flying high on the swing.
“How,” said the lion, “is it the same fun again?” We must run as fast as we can!
A little later the soldier began to chop wood. The wolf, having overtaken them, cried out:
- What, the same thing again? - and took off running. The same thing happened with the fox.
The soldier delivered the girl safely to her parents; they were incredibly happy to learn that she had happily escaped such a great danger; they did not know how to thank the soldier, and they married their daughter to him.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru