Swan-stone

On the bank of our lake the stone lays. As sandy мысок you will pass, at first a cane you will see, and further on a high hillock - a stone. Whence it here was? Around on fifty versts of a simple pebble you will not find, everywhere the black earth. And here suddenly a stone! You will look narrowly at it, and the stone on a swan is similar. As if the white swan lays, wings on the parties has stretched also a neck has extended.

Our muzhiks tried a stone to break - does not break. Holes round it dug, wished to learn, whether deeply it in the earth leaves, but and have not got to the bottom.

Maids long since round a game stone conduct, and guys here choose girl-friends. At them a song here the such is sung:

Oh you, white лебедушко! You, darling ours батюшко
Save up our friendship pure,
Keep friendship strong!
Oh you, white лебедушко!

In the spring when snow when waves on lake заплещутся and the cane will turn green will descend, swans arrive to us. At them too the order is. Will turn round and round over a white stone and only then to canes fall, start nests to twist.

Leaves, as for a bird this stone not idle time.

Why and as it has turned out, I to you will tell.

Once veins in our village Ignatko. The guy it was a figure статный, the person beautiful, character удалый. Only one trouble: neither house nor home had no. Its parents have died, избенка has collapsed, and it was necessary to it to go on another's people.

Earlier spoke: be not born it is beautiful, and be born it is rich. At whom the purse was thick, to that and a share. And poor and shares were not. From a water beautiful face you will not get drunk, you will shake curls - a family you will not feed. So it also left. Any matchmaker did not undertake for Игнатка the bride высватать.

Well, and Игнатко and understood, that on a naked place wedding you will not celebrate, under ракитовым a bush you will not live. For this reason avoided people. Whether on a holiday, whether in everyday life in the evening when people on an economy will cope, and maids and guys on игрище gather, it in the field left. Will lay down on a grass and listens, where what bird sings. In one place the nightingale of a trill deduces, in other - the cuckoo cuckoos, in the third - the gold oriole screams.

But more all he loved titmouses and from all birds allocated. The nightingale only also knows, that songs on any frets are sung, by a cuckoo - all the century long бездомовница, the oriole that and is good, that is richly dressed. And the titmouse though growth the clothes at it simple are small also, but the clear head. All the day this small bird works: that nest corrects, baby birds feeds, will start to tell, what affairs on a this world are created, - all not переслушаешь. In places much it happens, when departs to warm edges in the autumn. But also that it has had Игнатку to liking, that itself in insult does not give. Long since its nest people зорить are afraid. Try, carry away baby birds, it there and then in клювике to your court yard of a spark will bring also all court yard will burn.

With one such birdie Игнат the big friendship has got. This children somewhere from a slingshot have lined the titmouse, a wing to it have broken. Игнатко a titmouse at children has selected, has carried in a nest, and a wing has cured. While treated, every day for its small baby birds meal brought: worms, kernels and small insects of everyones.

Then, when the titmouse оздоровела, they with Игнатком became absolutely unseparable. The guy in the field of pair ploughs, and the birdie at it on a shoulder sits and chirps in own way. To other people a miracle, and Игнатко the bird's language has learnt to understand well.

In the autumn when have started leaves to turn yellow on birches, the titmouse in a long journey has gathered.

- To well you, to birds, - has envied it Игнатко, - will act in film from our places and depart. And me here it is bad. Will begin to whirl over fields snow, and again it is necessary to go somewhere, in another's court yard in workers to be employed.

- And that you wish? - The titmouse has asked. - only tell, I for you will make all.

- Anything it is not necessary to me: neither gold, nor silver, other riches. Well wings to fit and a bird of a manumission to become...

- Kind desire, - the titmouse has praised. - make it I can, but after all it will be difficult to one you. All birds steams live.

- Where to me the girl-friend to take? - Has sighed Игнатко.

The titmouse has encouraged:

- Time will come, will meet. Then also your desire will be executed.

- How it can be executed, if you leave me, and I know nothing?

- I will learn. Here listen: as you will find the girl-friend and it will want to become you birds, go on Cherry mountain. There spring wait. In the spring on a grief the bird cherry will blossom white colour. Here then...

And that the birdie-titmouse further has told, nobody knows.

Only one Игнатко listened to secret words which she has whispered it on an ear.

After that the titmouse has flushed, has risen over wood and has departed for Urals Mountains.

This very day, towards evening, went Игнатко from a field, carried wheat sheaves on a barn to the owner. Goes near to a cart, eyebrows has frowned. And was to frown paternal: with whom it now a word перемолвится? In the sky jambs of cranes fly. They too leave local places. Курлыкают: whether rejoice to that from winter leave, whether it is a pity to them of old nests. People soon молотьбу will finish and will start home-made beer to put, weddings to celebrate. In the poorest families - and that will become warmer. Only it, Игнатку, does not have pleasure. Spring, summer and autumn on the owner the hump bent, and for it the owner and thanks will not tell. Bitterly, it is insulting, alone, but to disappear there is no place, suffer!

Only has called in in a lane, and here to it towards the girl. Has looked at it Игнатко - heart at it has stood.

The girl has stopped, looks at the guy, the eye cannot take away.

Stood Игнатко, stood, all the same has uttered:

- What is your name?

That was called Катериной. Then and itself has interrogated:

- And you how to call-call?

Well, Игнатко too the name has told.

Little by little also have got to talking.

Lived the guy with the girl in one village, yes went different roads. But now their roads together here have converged.

About all they had a talk, much have each other told, as if to davngm-having given th did not see.

Before leaving, has asked Игнатко at Катерины:

- With me you will be on friendly terms?

- I will be, - the girl has told.

- Yes after all I the farm laborer.

- To me all the same.

After these words it took the girl for hands:

- Nobody will break our friendship. All the century long we will be together.

However to tell it it has told, yes a little bit was mistaken. First of all, Katya has appeared to it неровня. Not that to itself Игнатко a birch заломал, highly the falcon has flown.

Here in village of veins one rich muzhik by a nickname the Humpback: on a back the hump, one foot is shorter, the second is longer. All were afraid of it. And not only because by sight the terrible. It was known with evil spirit. Affected about it everyone: as if at night it a soup any cooked also gold coins cast; that of children uro-chil cattle spoilt. Here for this villain Katya and просватали. He for the girl when срядился with her parents, has given a cow with the calf, gold рублевиков and the whole week of the future father-in-law wine gave to drink to hundred. Winters, мясоеда that wedding to celebrate waited only.

The girl has told about this trouble and has begun to cry.

- Better, - speaks, - not to meet to me you, and that still тошнее will follow now not darling.

Игнатко it on a fair-haired head has stroked and has tenderly calmed:

- To anybody you I will not give. Tomorrow I will go to your father, in feet I will bow.

- And if it gives up?

- Then in another way we will make. We will escape from village, we will live free birds.

Katya and on it has agreed. Here, the brother you mine, what friendship at them has begun! Would tell Катерине in fire for Игнатком to go, it and in fire has rushed.

For other day the guy to Катиному to the father has gone. However неспроста the girl of refusal was afraid. Its parent, Мосей Ипатыч, the muzhik was severe, greedy, for a penny a family and workers in an arch bent. Barns in a court yard from wheat broke, and it with the account gave out each pound of a flour. Квашню.без its checks did not get mixed up, тасто in the furnace did not put.

Игнатка he and to listen did not become. Has shouted at it, feet затопал, and in the end also dogs from a chain has lowered. Here, say, to you the bride, be not put, where do not ask. Well, Игнатко too has not endured, dogs has interrupted. Do not look at it, that the farm laborer, soul at it probably too human, proud.

Where was after that to the guy to move? It was necessary убегом to take the bride. But it is again wrong: the girl not a needle, in hay you will not throw, from a human eye you will not hide. And more than all Humpback it was necessary to be afraid. He over them could create any dirty trick.

Many days went Игнатко close Катиного a court yard. The girl as if from a this world has disappeared, anywhere it not to see. And it in a room has been locked. Parents to it to a step to step from a court yard did not order.

Here already and frosts have begun in the mornings. Then snow has dropped out. The cover has come. Further and to мясоеда nearby.

There was at Katya girl-friend Feklusha. Not the maid, and the spindle is direct. In round dances the first to dance better it was able nobody, that want will get, though from a bottom sea.

To it also has gone Игнатко, all has told, in all has confessed.

She has listened to him and even a foot has stamped:

- If so, not to happen Катюше for the Humpback. Wait this night in загумнах, from hands to hands I will transfer you the bride.

In the same evening it was to Katin to parents and has started to ask:

- Release Katya to us. To me one melancholy houses to sit, boringly to spin a yarn.

Мосей Ипатыч and on it was has started to shout, yes only not at that, hear, has attacked. It to it has found at once the answer:

- You, - speak, - uncle Mosej as a dog, on all you bark.

The maid soon the woman, maybe, to spill a century of tear it begins necessary, and you at last even songs to sweat do not give.

And nevertheless the has beaten out. It is visible, has bothered Мосею Феклушу to listen, has agreed.

- Well, ин it is fine, start up goes. Only you to me it home result.

- I will result! Wait! - has laughed бедовуха, and itself as soon as left with Katya on street, at once by the house yes it is direct in загумны. On road has pleased the girl-friend. Rolling only here has understood, that from bondage it was pulled out.

From загумен Игнатко with Katya have gone to wood, on Cherry mountain.

There was there a clearing, and on a clearing the bird cherry grew. Yes now between its naked branches the wind walked also last leaflets what from summer remained, on the earth upholstered.

Before bird cherry Игнатко has stopped, any word has told, - it is visible, what the titmouse has whispered it. Suddenly under a bird cherry the hole has opened, and therefrom light as if the solar beam, has scattered also dark night has shined.

Fugitives downwards on steps have gone down. Also there were they in the underground house. Walls and floors in each room are covered by a swan's down, and from fuzzes light flows also heat blows. There and then in the big jugs krep kvass-travnichok is poured, on regiments fresh kalatches and шанежки lay.

About everything, it is visible, the titmouse has taken care, that Игнатко and Katya could wait spring.

And Мосей with the Humpback this night all village on ноти have lifted. Have rushed to search for the fugitive, a pursuit on roads and paths have started up. But it is vain. Traces have finished to Cherry mountain, and were gone further. Мосей from a rage hardly a beard at itself has not torn out: to it not the daughter there was жалко1, and that with the calf and золотишко it was necessary to the Humpback to give a cow back.

At daybreak the Humpback at home again in a pig-iron copper cooked any potion. However this time not coins cast, and looked, where the maid disappeared. Saw, how Феклуша with Katya in загумны went, saw, how Игнатко the girl on hands bore, and as has reached mountain - it became visible nothing, all soup was stirred up. Means, did not suffice at the Humpback of forces against a small titmouse.

Has hissed humpbacked in a snake way, has seized a copper, has banged it on a floor, has broken into small pieces. Then on-wolf has raised a howl, on-carrion crows му закаркал. The beginnings on the house from a corner in a corner to rush about, everything, that under hands will get, to destroy.

Since then every night on the Cherry mountain the wolf flights gathered, ravens were flied. He/she is the Humpback them convoked, interrogated:

- Where were? What saw? Whether have found traces Катерины and Игнатка?

- U-u-u-u-u! U-u-u! - wolves answered. - on all fields, woods, villages we ran, each trace smelt-anywhere Катерины are not present.

- Penalties-r-r! Penalties-r-r! - ravens croaked. - and we for hundred versts of wood and village have flown - anywhere Катерины are not present.

There has passed a pancake week. Ice icicles have hung from roofs. Snowdrifts have thawn. Soon in woods snowdrops зажелтели. Muzhiks on arable lands have gone. Here already on birches, on тальниках and willows leaflets have appeared. It became nice in wood: birds chirp, the mother-earth in solar heat is soared, in thawed snow washes.

In May on the Cherry mountain the bird cherry has blossomed. Just the dawn was engaged. Only the first solar beam has fallen to mountain, all bush of a bird cherry as if a white cloud has tightened. At the same o'clock under a bush the hole has opened. Left therefrom Игнатко and Katya. Both cheerful, happy as if at them a grief never was.

Has looked Игнатко at the sky, a white bird cherry a sight has thrown and has told:

- Well, Катюша, here and we is time has come.

Both of them undertook hands. Игнатко again any words has whispered. The bird cherry has begun to rock, white petals have departed from it. As a swan's down.

On that place where the young pair stood, a swan with лебедушкой have appeared.

Swans have waved wings and have risen in the sky.

Have roamed, have roamed over village, to canes have fallen.

Ah, Игнатко, Игнатко! It was necessary to it with the girl-friend on other lakes to fly, and he did not want a native place локинуть. He did not know, that the Cherry mountain has ceased to protect them.

The Humpback has seen on lake of swans. People look on лебедушек, rejoice, and he in the house has run, has kindled the furnace, a soup has welded and has started to guess: what for swans, whence here have appeared? So Humpback Ignatkovu has learnt secret. Since then some bread did not eat, a Russian cabbage soup did not sup, nights did not sleep - on лебедушек hunted. Has made from an ash-tree of self-arrows, a bowstring from the wolf veins has pulled, an arrow has ground. In the evenings and in the mornings ashore sat, watched. But swans close did not swim up, kept near canes. Sees at the Humpback an eye, yes a tooth неймет.

In the autumn, as before, were pulled in the sky of flight of cranes.

Kurly y, kurly y! Good-bye, till next spring!

And once our swans have risen also.

Have flied up in the pure sky, have begun to spin over lake, but then, it is visible, to village have wanted to say goodbye. Have given a circle on-over coast and only the second have begun, here their Humpback and has caught. Has pulled a bowstring, already self-arrows has cracked, and as soon as swans have overtaken it, has started up upwards an arrow.

Has screamed лебедушка, has fallen to the earth. The arrow to it in the breast has guessed.

The Humpback has attacked on it, has started a body to tear teeth.

The swan has loudly cried. Be Игнатко the person, would not give the girlfriend in insult. And what the swan will make? It a bird proud, free, but, except wings, nothing it to protect.

And nevertheless, though the Humpback was strong, the friendship and a liberty swan have appeared more strongly.

The swan above clouds has flown, wings has combined and as if the stone, has rushed downwards, on that place where лебедушка has fallen. So has hit, that the coast has trembled and on lake as in a storm, waves came. The humpback deeply into the earth has hammered, and Katya with a wing has covered and there and then to a stone has turned.

Since then on the bank of our lake the Swan-stone also lays.

In the spring when other swans to us arrive and are turned over a hillock where the stone lays, you can be sure of that: it they Игнатку and Katya bow.

And at us in custom has entered: who to itself(himself) on the Swan-stone has chosen the girl-friend, at that friendship for all life strong and true.

Oh you, white лебедушко! You, darling ours батюшко! You protect our love pure, Keep friendship true! Oh you, white лебедушко!