The fool heard what they said, and, as he was very desirous to get the red coat and cap, he saw that he must go. So he got down from by the stove, and began to put on his shoes and stockings, and to dress himself. When he was ready he took the buckets and the axe, and went down to the river, which ran near their village. When he arrived there, he cut an enormous hole in the ice. He then drew water in the buckets, and, setting them on the ice, he stood by the hole, looking into the water. As he looked he saw a large pike swimming about in the open water. Fool as Emelyan was he felt a wish to catch this pike. So he stole on softly and cautiously to the edge of the hole, and, making a sudden grasp at the pike, he caught him, and pulled him out of the water. Putting him in his bosom, he was hurrying home, when the pike cried out—
“Ho, fool! why have you caught me?”
“To take you home,” answered he, “to get my sisters-in-law to cook you.”
“Ho, fool!” said the pike; “do not take me home, but let me go again into the water, and I will make a rich man of you.”
Emelyan, however, would not consent, and was going on homewards. When the pike clearly saw that the fool was not inclined to let him go, he said—
“Hark ye, fool! let me go, and I will do for you everything you do not like to do for yourself. You will only have to wish, and it will be done.”
When the fool heard that he rejoiced very much, for, as he was uncommonly lazy, he thought to himself—
“If the pike does everything that I have no mind to do, all will be done without my having any occasion to work.”
So he said to the pike—
“I will let you go in the water if you will do all you promise.”