hing for roots,
and when he found them he gave them to Ivan, saying: "If you will
swallow some of these you will be immediately cured of whatsoever
disease you are afflicted with."

Ivan did as directed, and obtained instant relief.

"I beg of you to let me go now," the little devil pleaded; "I will pass
into the earth, never to return."

"Very well; you may go, and God bless you;" and as Ivan pronounced the
name of God, the small devil disappeared into the earth like a flash,
and only a slight opening in the ground remained.

Ivan placed in his hat what roots he had left, and proceeded to plow.
Soon finishing his work, he turned his plow over and returned home.

When he reached the house he found his brother Simeon and his wife
seated at the supper-table. His estate had been confiscated, and he
himself had barely escaped execution by making his way out of prison,
and having nothing to live upon had come back to his father for support.

Turning to Ivan he said: "I came to ask you to care for us until I can
find something to do."

"Very well," Ivan replied; "you may remain with us."

Just as Ivan was about to sit down to the table Simeon's wife made a wry
face, indicating that she did not like the smell of Ivan's sheep-skin
coat; and turning to her husband she said, "I shall not sit at the table
with a moujik [peasant] who smells like that."

Simeon the soldier turned to his brother and said: "My lady objects to
the smell of your clothes. You may eat in the porch."

Ivan said: "Very well, it is all the same to me. I will soon have to go
and feed my horse any way."

Ivan took some bread in one hand, and his kaftan (coat) in the other,
and left the room.

CHAPTER IV.

The small devil finished with Simeon that night, and according to
agreement went to the assistance of his comrade who had charge of
Ivan, that he might help to conquer the Fool. He went to the field and
searched everywhere, but could find nothing but the hole through which
the small devil had disappeared.

"Well, this is strange," he said; "something must have happened to my
companion, and I will have to take his place and continue the work he
began. The Fool is through with his plowing, so I must look about me
for some other means of compassing his destruction. I must overflow his
meadow and prevent him from cutting the grass."

The little devil accordingly overflowed the meadow with muddy water,
and, when Ivan went at dawn next morning