ht Abrosim and his son Ivanushka came home, and, looking in vain
for the duck, he asked his wife what had become of her. Fetinia
replied that she knew nothing of the duck; but Ivanushka said: "My
father and benefactor, when I came home to dinner, my mother was not
there; so, looking into the oven, and seeing a roast duck, I took it
out and ate it up; but, indeed, I know not whether it was our duck or
a strange one."

Then Abrosim flew into a rage with his wife, and beat her till she was
half-dead, and hunted his son out of the house.

Little Ivan betook himself to the road, and walked on and on,
following the way his eyes led him. And he journeyed for ten days and
ten nights, until at length he came to a great city; and as he was
entering the gates, he saw a crowd of people assembled, holding a
moot; for their Tsar was dead, and they did not know whom to choose to
rule over them. Then they agreed that whoever first passed through the
city gates should be elected Tsar.

Now just at this time it happened that Little Ivan came through the
city gates, whereupon all the people cried with one voice: "Here comes
our Tsar!" and the Elders of the people took Ivanushka by the arms,
and brought him into the royal apartments, clad him in the Tsar's
robes, seated him on the Tsar's throne, made their obeisance to him as
their sovereign Tsar, and waited to receive his commands. Ivanushka
fancied it was all a dream; but when he collected himself, he saw that
he was in reality a Tsar. Then he rejoiced with his whole heart, and
began to rule over the people, and appointed various officers. Amongst
others he chose one named Luga, and calling him, spoke as follows: "My
faithful servant and brave knight Luga, render me one service; travel
to my native country, go straight to the King, greet him for me, and
beg of him to deliver up to me the merchant Abrosim and his wife; if
he gives them up, bring them hither; but if he refuses, threaten him
that I will lay waste his kingdom with fire and sword, and make him
prisoner."

When the servant Luga arrived at Ivanushka's native country he went to
the Tsar, and asked him to give up Abrosim and Fetinia. The Tsar knew
that Abrosim was a rich merchant living in his city, and was not
willing to let him go; nevertheless, when he reflected that
Ivanushka's kingdom was a large and powerful one, fearing to offend
him, he handed over Abrosim and Fetinia. And Luga received them from
the Tsar, and return