PAGE 3
The Fool Of The World And The Flying Ship
by
The man was willing enough, and sat down in the ship with the Fool, and they flew on together singing songs.
They flew on and on, and looked down, and there was a man on one leg, with the other tied up to his head.
“Good-day, uncle,” says the Fool, bringing the ship to the ground. “Why are you hopping along on one foot?”
“If I were to untie the other I should move too fast. I should be stepping across the world in a single stride.”
“Sit down with us,” says the Fool.
The man sat down with them in the ship, and they flew on together singing songs.
They flew on and on, and looked down, and there was a man with a gun, and he was taking aim, but what he was aiming at they could not see.
“Good health to you, uncle,” says the Fool. “But what are you shooting at? There isn’t a bird to be seen.”
“What!” says the man. “If there were a bird that you could see, I should not shoot at it. A bird or a beast a thousand versts away, that’s the sort of mark for me.”
“Take your seat with us,” says the Fool.
The man sat down with them in the ship, and they flew on together. Louder and louder rose their songs.
They flew on and on, and looked down, and there was a man carrying a sack full of bread on his back.
“Good health to you, uncle,” says the Fool, sailing down. “And where are you off to?”
“I am going to get bread for my dinner.”
“But you’ve got a full sack on your back.”
“That–that little scrap! Why, that’s not enough for a single mouthful.”
“Take your seat with us,” says the Fool.
The Eater sat down with them in the ship, and they flew on together, singing louder than ever.
They flew on and on, and looked down, and there was a man walking round and round a lake.
“Good health to you, uncle,” says the Fool. “What are you looking for?”
“I want a drink, and I can’t find any water.”
“But there’s a whole lake in front of your eyes. Why can’t you take a drink from that?”
“That little drop!” says the man. “Why, there’s not enough water there to wet the back of my throat if I were to drink it at one gulp.”
“Take your seat with us,” says the Fool.
The Drinker sat down with them, and again they flew on, singing in chorus.
They flew on and on, and looked down, and there was a man walking towards the forest, with a fagot of wood on his shoulders.
“Good-day to you, uncle,” says the Fool. “Why are you taking wood to the forest?”
“This isn’t simple wood,” says the man.
“What is it, then?” says the Fool.
“If it is scattered about, a whole army of soldiers leaps up out of the ground.”
“There’s a place for you with us,” says the Fool.
The man sat down with them, and the ship rose up into the air, and flew on, carrying its singing crew.
They flew on and on, and looked down, and there was a man carrying a sack of straw.
“Good health to you, uncle,” says the Fool; “and where are you taking your straw?”
“To the village.”
“Why, are they short of straw in your village?”
“No; but this is such straw that if you scatter it abroad in the very hottest of the summer, instantly the weather turns cold, and there is snow and frost.”
“There’s a place here for you too,” says the Fool.
“Very kind of you,” says the man, and steps in and sits down, and away they all sail together, singing like to burst their lungs.
They did not meet any one else, and presently came flying up to the palace of the Tzar. They flew down and cast anchor in the courtyard.
Just then the Tzar was eating his dinner. He heard their loud singing, and looked out of the window and saw the ship come sailing down into his courtyard. He sent his servant out to ask who was the great prince who had brought him the flying ship, and had come sailing down with such a merry noise of singing.