Jack and a gold snuffbox

In kind old time, - and it and the truth was kind time though there was it not my time and not your time, and nobody's time, - lived in dense wood the old man with the old woman, and there was at them an one and only son Jack. They lived is lonely, and Jack saw nobody, except the parents though knew from books, that on light there live also other people. Books at it was much, and he read them and when read about fine princesses every day, he to death would like to see though one. And here time when the old man has left to cut fire wood, Jack has told mothers that is going to leave the native house - wishes to live in another's edges that to show and people to look: not nevertheless to it with the father-mother to sit!

- What I here see? Only all trees yes trees! - Jack spoke. - here сиднем you will sit, that and look you will become crazy, so anything and not having seen!

Its father long did not come back, and the poor old woman herself has begun to edify the son:

- Well, hapless mine! Has wanted to see light - means better to you to leave, and bless you the Lord... - the Old woman after all wished the son of good. - but postoj, take your time! Tell, what flat cake to you to bake on road, small with my blessing or big with mine проклятьем?

- Ah, the god you mine! - the son has answered. - well, of course, big - can, I in road will get hungry.

And mother has baked to it the big flat cake. And has then risen on an attic and while Jack has not passed out of sight, sent it following damnations.

Soon the young man has met the father, and the old man has asked it:

- Where you go, hapless you mine?

Jack has told to the father the same, as mothers.

- Эх, - the father has responded, - is bitter to me, that you leave us, but time you has decided to leave, means better to you to leave.

However has not had time poor small to depart, as the father has called to him. The old man from a pocket has pulled out a gold snuffbox and has told to Jack:

- On, take this box and put in a pocket. Only look do not open it, it will not appear yet on a hair from death!

And here has gone poor creature Jack the road and all went and went, while from forces it was not beat out. And is it wanted - he has already eaten a flat cake. Night by then has come, and he hardly distinguished road. Suddenly in the distance затеплился a spark, and Jack has walked in that party. Has approached to any house, has found for a rear entrance and it was knocked at a door. The house left the servant and has asked, that it is necessary to it. Jack has answered, that on a court yard night, and it has no place to spend the night. Then the servant has invited him in rooms, has set before the centre and has submitted to it of any meal: both fried meat, and bread, and beer.

For now Jack sat at fire and had supper, the young lady, the master's daughter has entered into a room to look at it. She has there and then fallen in love with it, and it in it. And here the young lady has run to the father and has told, that in kitchen at them the beautiful young man sits. The gentleman immediately left to Jack, began to ask him and in the end has asked, that he is able to do. And Jack by nonsense take and tell:

- All I am able!

He after all thought, that it is a question of trifling work on the house.

- So! - the gentleman has told. - well time you all are able, make here that: tomorrow to eight mornings before my house the huge lake let will spread, and on lake the military ships, the greatest what exists let will float; one ship let will give royal salute and last shot will beat out a leg at a bed on which my younger daughter sleeps. And if you of it do not make all, say goodbye to a life!

- All right! - Jack has answered and has gone to sleep. Has whispered a pray, has fallen asleep and has overslept till eight mornings without small, so there was no time to deliberate - how now to be? But suddenly he has recollected about a fatherly snuffbox and has thought: "Well, now I indeed on a hair from death!"

Has rummaged around at itself a pocket and has pulled out a snuffbox.

And only it has opened it as three red little men have jumped out of it and have asked:

- What you will order?

- Here that! - Jack has answered. - make so that before this house the huge lake has spread, and on it the military ships, the greatest what exists have floated. One ship let will give royal salute, yes so that last shot to beat out a leg at a bed on which the young lady - the master's daughter sleeps.

- Do not worry, all we will make! - little men have told. Jack also has not had time to give the order to little men as has punched eight and - бух! бух! - the volley from the biggest military ship was distributed. Jack has jumped from bed, has rushed to a window and has seen such miracles what never видывал, and could not see while veins with parents in wood.

Here Jack has put on, has prayed and left laughing, very happy, that all so has well turned out. And the gentleman has approached to it and speaks:

- Well, well, the young man, should recognise, that you and really the dexterous guy. We will go we will have breakfast! However it is necessary to you to make two more business. You will make, then you marry my daughter.

At breakfast Jack did not reduce eyes from the young lady, and it from it. After a breakfast the gentleman has ordered to Jack to cut down all high trees on many miles around and all it - by eight o'clock next morning.

Not spending superfluous words, say, that trees have been cut down, and the gentleman remained is very happy and has told to Jack:

- Now I order to you to make one more business, and it already will be the last. Construct to me the huge lock on twelve gold columns. And to the lock regiments of soldiers let are and will spend ученье. And in eight o'clock in the morning the commander should order: "On ple-cho!"

- All right! - Jack has answered.

And when there has come the third morning, the third has been created, and last, great miracle. And Jack married the young lady. But, my God, that only he had not to test then!

Soon the gentleman has arranged the big hunting. It has called with all округи notable visitors to hunt and look the new lock. In this case to Jack have presented an excellent horse and a red hunting dress.

Day of hunting has come. The servant has brought in the morning Jack's new dress and began to clean the old. Has put a hand in a pocket of a camisole and has pulled out therefrom a small gold snuffbox. Jack has forgotten it there on the trouble! The servant has opened a snuffbox, here three red little men have jumped out of it and have asked:

- What you will order?

- Here that, - has answered the servant, - transfer the new lock far away from here, somewhere for the sea!

- Well, - red little men said. - and you together with it?

- Certainly! - has answered the servant.

- Well, keep! - little men have told and have carried away it in the lock far-far for the wide sea.

Notable visitors from hunting have returned, and the lock on twelve gold columns as did not happen! And most those who yet did not manage to see him were annoyed. To poor creature Jack have threatened, that in наказанье for a deceit at it will take away its young beauty the wife. But eventually the father-in-law has told, that gives to the son-in-law twelve months and one day on searches of the gone lock, and Jack has got under way in a way-road on a kind game and with money in a pocket.

And here began to search poor creature Jack for the gone lock on mountains and on dales, on plains and hills, on dense woods, on animal tracks. Where only did not get - to tell it is impossible, and it would not be desirable!

At last has reached those places where there lived the king of all mice on light. At the first gate, it is direct against an input in a royal castle the small little mouse was on guard duty. He has tried was to detain Jack, but that has asked:

- And where the king? I should see it!

Then the little mouse has called other little mouse, and that spent Jack to the king. The mouse king has begun to ask the visitor, and Jack has told all truth: as it has lost the fine lock and as has gone it to search, and that to term to it a distance exactly year and one day. In the end Jack has asked the mouse king, whether where the lock disappeared knows.

- No, - the king, - but I the lord of all mice on light has answered. Tomorrow morning I will call them. Perhaps they also saw your lock.

Then Jack have properly fed and have put to bed, and in the morning it together with the king left in the field. The king has called mice from all light and has asked, whether it happened to them to see the big beautiful lock on gold columns. But mice have answered "are not present" - any did not see the lock. Then the old king has told to Jack that there are at it two brothers:

- One of them - the king of all frogs, and other, senior, - the king of all birds. Go to them! Perhaps they know something about the gone lock. The horse while leave at me, and to itself take any of my best racers. Yes transfer to my brother here this flat cake - then he learns, from whom you have come. Also do not forget to tell to it, that I am healthy and very much I wish it to see.

And the mouse king has said goodbye to Jack.

When Jack left gate, the little mouse-guard has told to it:

- You want, I will go with you?

- It is not necessary, - Jack has answered, - as though the king has not become angry!

But the kid stood on the:

- Take better than me with itself! Perhaps I will be useful to you.

- Well, jump! - Jack has agreed.

The little mouse has run upwards on a foot of a horse, and the horse and has risen, but Jack has picked up a little mouse and has put it in a pocket.

And here Jack has got under way in a way. Long it was a way, but after a while Jack has reached the lock лягушечьего the king. Here on hours there was a young frog with a gun on a shoulder. He at first did not want was to let in Jack but when that has told that wishes to see the king, has passed it.

Here Jack has approached to a porch. There was лягушечий a king and has asked, that it is necessary to it, and Jack has told to the king all from the beginning up to the end.

- Well, well, come! - its king has invited. Jack that evening have well treated, and in the morning лягушечий the king квакнул somehow in a miraculously way, and on its call frogs from all light have run together. The king has asked them, whether it happened to them to see the lock on twelve gold columns but frogs заквакали "Kva-kva, kva-kva" and have answered: "Is not present!"

It was necessary to Jack to take other horse and other flat cake and to go to the third brother - to the king of all birds on light.

When Jack left gate, the young frog-sentry has told to it:

- Take me with itself!

At first Jack has refused, has then shouted: "Jump!", has picked up the young frog hurriedly and has put it in other pocket. And here it has again gone to the difficult and long way.

This time Jack had to pass three times more, but all the same it has reached the lock of the bird's king. Here on hours there was a charming birdie. Jack has passed by it, and the birdie words to it has not told. And then he has seen the bird's king and has told to it about the gone lock.

- So, - the bird's king said. - tomorrow morning you learn, my birds about your lock have heard or not!

Jack has taken away the horse on a stable, has had a snack and has settled to sleep. And when has risen in the morning, there were they with the king in the field. The bird's king has shouted somehow in a miraculously way, and on its call birds from all light were flied.

The king has asked them:

- Saw you the beautiful lock on gold columns? And all birds have answered:

- No!

- So! - the king said. - and where our greatest bird?

Long it was necessary to them to wait an eagle. At last behind it have sent two birdies. They have risen highly-highly, have whistled, calling an eagle, and here it has arrived, absolutely having been out of breath. The king has asked an eagle, whether he saw the lock on gold columns, and the eagle has answered:

- Saw! I just therefrom.

- Listen, - the king has told to it, - this young gentleman has lost the lock so you carry it there. But at first support!

Killed the calf and the best pieces have submitted to an eagle that he was full - the way was coming long, through the sea, moreover with Jack on a back.

At last Jack has seen the lock. To See has seen, and here is how to it to find a gold snuffbox, he did not know it. Then the little mouse has told to it:

- Lower me on the earth, and I will bring your box! And here the little mouse has slipped in the lock and has seized a snuffbox. But while he ran downwards on a ladder, the snuffbox has fallen, and a little mouse nearly have not caught. It hardly managed to get away.

- Has brought? - Its Jack has asked.

- Has brought! - the little mouse has answered.

Here they were started up in a way back, and the lock remained far behind.

Happens so, that when all of them are Jack, a little mouse, the young frog and an eagle - flew by over the wide sea, they have suddenly begun to argue: who all the same has got a snuffbox? A little mouse what has taken out it from the lock? An eagle what delivered there travellers, or Jack? After all it it has found the bird's king and has received from it an eagle. They examined a gold box and so much time handed it, that at last have dropped. And the snuffbox has fallen to a bottom sea.

- Well, Jack, - has told the young frog. - so I also knew, that too I will be useful. Start up me - I will jump off in the sea!

Jack has let out it, and the young frog has stayed under water exactly three days and three nights. But here it has put out a head from water, and all have rushed to ask it:

- Has got? Has got? But he has answered:

- No.

- So what for you have emerged?

- I wish to type more air, - the young frog has answered.

And it has again left under water. It has stayed in water one more day and one night and, at last, has got a snuffbox.

So has passed four days and four nights, and here the eagle has departed further. It long flied over the seas and mountains, and at last travellers have arrived to a palace of the old king, the lord of all feathery on light. The bird's king very much was delighted, has tenderly welcomed visitors and long talked to them. Then Jack has opened the gold snuffbox and has ordered to little men to return back and to bring to it the lock.

- Fly at full speed and come back more likely! - he has told.

Little men have dashed away, but when have flown up to the lock, were afraid to enter and waited, while the owner with the mistress and their servants will not leave on ball. When in the lock does not remain anybody, except поварихи moreover one servant, red little men have asked them, they wish to leave or remain. Both have answered:

- We wish to go with you!

Then little men have ordered to them to run more likely upward, and only they have risen in a drawing room as owners have unexpectedly approached to lock collars with servants. But they were late! As the wind has rushed the lock. And повариха and the servant were put out from a window and laughed at the misters. Those signs ordered to them to remain, but - where there!

In total they were in a way nine days. And here, when Sunday has come, have decided to serve a mass. One little man has begun to serve to the priest, another for причетника, the third played body, and women sang for choristers. In the lock after all there was a chapel - in it they and served. But music sounded dissonantly, and one little man has scrambled on органную a pipe - to look, paternal it is false. Sees - the small organist very much bangs handles and legs on bass keys, and on a head at it the red night cap sticks out. Women look at it and roll with laughter - such they, in a life not видывали! Before have dispersed, that the trouble nearly have not done: still a little bit, and the lock would sink in the sea.

But here cheerful travel has come to an end, and they were to Jack and the bird's king. The king directly was gave to a miracle, when has seen the lock. It has risen on a gold ladder, has examined all rooms and long still would admire the lock, yes Jack's term - twelve months and one day - came to an end. Poor Jack would not like to come back home to the young wife, and he has ordered to the three little men to get under way in a way back tomorrow in eight mornings.

Next morning Jack has said goodbye to the bird's king, has thanked him for hospitality and has again got under way in a way together with the lock. Has spent the night at лягушечьего the king and has gone to the mouse. Here Jack has left the lock on its care, and itself has sat down on a horse - that, that stood on a stable at the mouse king while Jack wandered on light.

And so, our poor Jack has left the lock and has gone home. But it had successively fun three nights at three brothers - kings, because and has fallen asleep in a saddle and for certain would lose the way, yes little men have deduced it on road.

Poor Jack has absolutely got exhausted, from forces was beat out, but all the same has arrived to the father-in-law and the mother-in-law. They have met him coldly, - after all it has returned without the lock! And still горше was to Jack because, that he has not seen the young beauty of the wife: parents to it towards have not allowed it to leave. Then Jack has without thinking twice ordered to little men to transfer it to the mouse king. He has thanked the king that that has kept its lock, and has said goodbye to it, and to little men has ordered to lift the lock and to fly at full speed.

Here they have rushed and have quickly reached quickly back. Also had not time to go down on the earth, lo and behold - towards to Jack its young wife with the very nice cheerful sonny on hands runs! And since then all of them lived happily.