Emelian’s spirits fell lower than ever and he went home to his wife in a sad mood.
“Why so sad?” asked his wife. “Has the King set you a new task?”
Emelian told her what it was.
“We must run away,” he concluded.
And the wife said, “We cannot escape the soldiers. You must obey.”
“But how can I?”
“My dear, don’t worry. Have your supper and go to bed. Get up early in the morning and all will be ready in time.”
Emelian went to bed. In the morning his wife woke him.
“Go to the palace,” she said; “everything is finished. Only by the harbour, opposite the palace, there is a little mound that wants levelling; take the spade and level it.”
Emelian set out. He came to the town and there around the palace a river flowed with ships sailing on it. Emelian went up to the harbour opposite the palace and he saw an uneven place and began to level it.