ill
understand the language of the animals."

So the shepherd put his mouth close to the mouth of the Tsar of the
Snakes and breathed into it three times. Then the Tsar of the Snakes
breathed into the shepherd's mouth three times.

"Now you will understand the language of all animals," the Tsar of the
Snakes said. "It is a dangerous gift but if you remember my warning it
may bring you great prosperity. Farewell."

So the shepherd went back to his flocks and lay down under a fir tree to
rest. Presently he wondered whether he hadn't been asleep and dreamed
about the burning bush and the snake and the Tsar of the Snakes.

"It can't be real!" he said to himself. "How can I or any man understand
the language of the animals!"

[Illustration: _The Tsar of the Snakes Listened Carefully_]

Just then two ravens alighted on the tree above his head.

"Caw! Caw!" said one of them. "Wouldn't that shepherd be surprised if he
knew he was lying on some buried treasure!"

"Caw! Caw!" laughed the other. "He'll never know for he's only one of
those poor stupid human beings who can't understand a word we say!"

The ravens flew off and the shepherd sat up and rubbed his eyes to make
sure he was awake.

"Am I dreaming again?" he asked himself, "or did I really understand
them? Well, I'll soon find out. To-morrow I'll bring a spade and then if
there's any treasure buried under this tree I won't be long in digging
it up."

He marked the spot where he had been lying when the ravens spoke and the
next day came back and dug. Three feet below the surface his spade hit
something that proved to be a big iron pot chock-full of golden ducats.

He carried the treasure to his master and his master was so pleased at
his honesty that he gave him half of it.

So now the shepherd was able to set up in life for himself. He bought a
farm and married and "settled down" as the saying is. The years went by
and he grew prosperous and rich.

One Christmas Eve he said to his wife:

"I'm thinking, wife, of my youth when I was a shepherd and how lonely it
was at times like this when other folk were at home seated about the
fire and making merry. Let us give our shepherds out on the hills a
surprise to-night. We can take them meats and wine and other food and
then I'll go out and guard the sheep while you serve them a fine
Christmas supper."

His wife agreed and they mounted their horses and rode out to the hills
taking with them great hampers of fo