“I desire that my pails of water should march of themselves up the hill” (for the village stood upon a hill), “but so that none of the water be spilt out of them.”
The pike immediately said to him:
“Remember, Emelian, the words which I am about to say to you, and the words are as follows: ‘At the pike’s behest, and at my request, march, pails, by yourselves up the hill.’”
The fool repeated the words after the pike:
“At the pike’s behest, and at my request march, pails, by yourselves up the hill.”
Forthwith the pails, and the yoke by which he was wont to carry them, marched of themselves up the hill. Emelian, seeing this, was very much surprised, and said to the pike:
To which the pike made answer:
“All things you wish will be done, even as this has been done: only don’t forget the words which I have taught you.”
Thereupon he released the pike into the water, and went himself after his pails. The neighbours, seeing what was going on, were filled with wonder, and said, amongst, themselves—