y to tell their father that it was the elder brothers who had
found and rescued them.

Ivan Tsarevich was thus left alone on the mountain, and knew not how
to get down. Lost in thought he wandered about; and, throwing by
chance the magic wand from one hand to the other, on a sudden a man
stood before him, who said: "What is your pleasure, Ivan Tsarevich?"
Thereat Ivan wondered greatly, and asked the man who he was, and how
he had come to that uninhabited mountain. "I am a Spirit," replied the
figure, "and was subject to him whom you have destroyed; but as you
now possess his magic wand, and have changed it from one hand to the
other--which you must always do when you have need of me--I am here
ready to obey you." "Good!" said Ivan Tsarevich; "then do me now the
first service, and carry me back to my own kingdom."

No sooner had Ivan uttered these words than he found himself at once
transported to his native city. He wished first to know what was
passing in the castle; but instead of going in directly, he went and
took work in a shoemaker's shop, thinking that he should not be easily
recognised in such a place. The next morning the shoemaker went into
the city to buy leather, and returned home so tipsy that he was unable
to work, and left it all to his new assistant. But Ivan, being quite
ignorant of shoemaking, called the Spirit to his aid, ordered him to
take the leather and make it into shoes, and then lay down to sleep.

Early the next morning, when the shoemaker awoke, he went to see what
work Ivan had done; but, perceiving him still fast asleep, he flew
into a rage, and exclaimed: "Up, you lazy loon! have I engaged you
only to sleep?" Ivan, stretching himself slowly, replied: "Have
patience, master; first go to the workshop, and see what you shall
find." So the shoemaker went to the shop; and what was his
astonishment at beholding a quantity of shoes all made and ready! And
when he took up a shoe, and examined the work closely, his amazement
only increased, and he could scarcely believe his eyes, for the shoes
had not a single stitch, but were just as if cast in a mould.

The shoemaker now took his goods, and went into the city to sell
them; and no sooner were these wonderful shoes seen than they were all
bought in the twinkling of an eye. In a short time the man became so
renowned that his fame reached the palace; then the Princesses desired
him to be summoned, and ordered of him many dozens of pairs of shoes;