“At the pike’s command, and at my request, cast us, O sea, on the shore,
where we may dwell on a dry place, only let us be near our own country,
and do thou, cask, fall to pieces on the dry land.”
Scarcely had the fool spoken the words, when the waves began to roll,
and the cask was thrown up on a dry place and fell to pieces of itself.
Emelyan got up and went with the princess about the place where they
were cast. The fool saw that they were in a very fine island, where
there was an abundance of trees, with all kinds of fruit on them. When
the princess saw that, she rejoiced greatly at their being on such an
island, and she said—
“But, Emelyan, where shall we live? there is not even a nook here.”
“You want too much,” said the fool.
“Grant me the favour,” said the princess; “let there be, if nothing
more, a little cottage in which we may shelter us from the rain”—for the
princess knew he could do anything he wished.
“I am lazy,” said the fool.
The princess began again to urge him, and Emelyan, overcome by her
entreaties, was obliged to do as she desired.