The Rogue Reason

The Mother asks them with her sweet voice resounding on the boudless sea.

"Hark! Ye fishes and creeping things of the sea. Ye who swim everywhere, have ye perchance heard how to go to the end of the world and fetch one that can fulfill all wishes?"

And all the fishes and creeping things exclaimed with one voice,

"No, we have never heard of it."

Suddenly a lame old croaking frog forced its way to the front and said, "Kwa, kwa; I know where this marvel is to be found."

"Well, dear, that is just what I want to know," said the old woman, and she took up the frog and bade the giants carry her and her son in law home.

In an instant they found themselves in their own courtyard. Then the old woman began to question the frog.

"How and by what road can my son in law go?"

And the frog answered, "This place is at the end of the world. Far, far away. I would gladly lead him thither myself, but I am so frightfully old, I can scarcely move my legs. I could not get there in fifty years."

The old woman sent for a big jar, filled it with fresh milk, put the frog inside, and said to her son in law,

"Hold this jar in your hand and the frog will show thee the way."

The hunter took the jar with the frog, took leave of his mother-in-law and his sisters-in-law, and set out on his way. On he went, and the frog showed him the way. Whether it be far or near, long or short, matters not; suffice it that he came to the fiery river, beyond this river was a high mountain, and on this mountain a door was to be seen.

"Kwa, kwa," said the frog, "let me out of the jar, we must cross over this river."

The hunter took it out of the jar and placed it on the ground.

"Now, my good youth, sit on me. More firmly. Don't be afraid. Thou wilt not smash me."

The youth sat on the frog and pressed it to the very earth. The frog began to swell; it swelled and swelled till it was as large as a haystack. All that the hunter now thought of was the risk of falling off.

"If I fall off it will be the death of me," thought him.

The frog, when it had done swelling, took a leap and leaped with one big bound right across the fiery stream, and again made itself quite little.

"Now, good youth, go through that door and I'll wait for thee here; thou wilt come into a cavern, and take care to hide yourself well. In a short time two old men will come; listen to what they are saying, and see what they do, and when they are gone, say and do as they."

The hunter went into the mountain, opened the door, and in the cavern it was dark enough to put one's eyes out. He fumbled his way along and felt all about him with his arms till he felt an empty chest, into which he got and hid himself. And now, after he had waited some time, two old men entered and said:

"Hi! Shmat-Razum! Come and feed us."

At that very instant,there's no telling how, lightning-flashes lit candelabras, it thundered plates and dishes, and various wines and meats appeared upon the table. The old men ate and drank, and then they commanded again,

"Shmat-Razum! Take it all away."

And immediately there was nothing, neither table, nor wine, nor meats, and the candelabras all went out. The hunter heard the two old men going out, crept out of the chest, and cried:

"Hi! Shmat-Razum!"

"What is your wish, Master?"

"Feed me."

Again everything appeared. The candelabras were lighted, the table was covered, and all the meats and drinks appeared upon it. The hunter sat down at the table and said,

"Hi! Shmat-Razum. Come, brother, and sit down with me, let us eat and drink together. I can't stand eating all alone."

And an invisible voice answered him:

"Alas! good man, whence hath God sent thee? On this thirty years since I have served right trustily the two old men here, and during all that time they have never once asked me to sit down together with them."

The hunter looked about him and was amazed. He saw nobody, yet the meats disappeared from the dishes as if some one was sweeping them away, and the wine bottles lifted themselves up, poured themselves into the glasses, and in a trice the glasses were empty. Then the hunter went on eating and drinking, and then he said:

"Hey, Shmat-Razum! Will you be my servant? You shall have a good time of it with me."

"Why should I not? I have long been growing weary here, and thou, I see, art a good man."

"Well, get everything ready and come with me."

The hunter came out of the cave, looked around him, and there was nothing.

"Shmat-Razum, are you there?"

"I am here. Fear not. I'll never desert thee."

"Right," replied the hunter, and he sat himself on the frog.

The frog swelled out and leaped across the fiery stream; he placed it in the jar, and set off on his return journey. He came to his mother in law and made his new servant regale her and her daughters right royally.

Shmat-Razum feasted them so bountifully that the beautiful woman is very nearly danced for joy, and ordered the frog three jars of fresh milk every nine days for its faithful services.