“What is thy pleasure?” asked Lame and Crooked.
“Everything can be done, then?”
“Everything is possible, Ivan Tsarevich. Whoever blows that whistle, we will do everything for him. As we served Whirlwind before, so we are glad to serve thee now; it is only necessary to keep the whistle by thee at all times.”
“Well,” said Ivan, “let me be in my own kingdom this minute.”
He had barely spoken when he appeared in his own kingdom, in the middle of the market square. He was walking along the square, when a shoemaker came toward him,—such a jolly fellow! The Tsarevich asked: “Whither art thou going, good man?”
“I am taking shoes to sell; I am a shoemaker.”
“Take me into thy service,” said Ivan.
“Dost thou know how to make shoes?”
“Yes, I can do everything. I can make not only shoes, but clothes.”
“Well, come on.”