Cowhide boots

Cowhide boots

There was such a retired soldier who had no skills and could not make a living, so he had to wander around and live by begging. He wore a raincoat and a pair of cowhide boots left over from his service.

One day, as he was walking aimlessly, he walked straight through the open field and into a forest. He didn't know where he was when he saw a man sitting on a felled tree, wearing a green hunting suit. The soldier shook hands with him kindly and sat down on the grass beside him.

"Your boots are very delicate," he said to the hunter. "If you wander around like me, they will wear out quickly. Look at my boots, made of cowhide, worn long ago, but in them I can overcome any difficulties and obstacles."

After a while, the soldier stood up and said, "I have to go, my stomach is growling with hunger. Brother Bright Boots, do you know where this road leads?"

"I don't know," replied the hunter. "I got lost in the forest."

So they decided to go together. They walked and walked together until night fell. "We haven't come out of the forest yet," said the soldier. "Look, there are lights in the distance, maybe we can get something to eat there." There, he found a stone hut, knocked on the door, and an old woman opened the door. "Can we stay with you for the night, old lady?" said the soldier. "Our stomachs are as empty as skins, can you give us something to eat?"

"You can't stay here long," replied the old woman. "This is a robber's den, and if you're smart, you'd better leave before they come back, or you'll lose your lives." "It can't be that bad," said the soldier. "I haven't eaten for two days. What's the difference between dying here and starving to death in the forest? I'm coming in." The hunter wouldn't go in, and the soldier dragged him through the door by the sleeve. "Come on, good brother, we're not going to see God so soon." The old woman took pity on them and said, "You hide behind the stove. If they have any leftovers, I will secretly give them to you while they are sleeping." The soldiers and hunters had just sat down in the corner when the twelve robbers rushed in, sat down at the table that had been set, and roared for something to eat.

The old woman brought large saucers of barbecue, and the robbers enjoyed themselves and ate. When the soldier smelled the meat, he said to the hunter, "I can't bear it anymore, I'm going to sit at the table and eat with them." "You will be killed." As the hunter spoke, he pulled the soldier back, but the soldier began to cough loudly. The robbers heard the sound, threw down their knives and forks, jumped up, found the stranger hiding behind the stove, and shouted: "Haha, gentlemen, what are you doing hiding at the foot of the wall? Who sent you to be spies? Wait and see, wait until the dead branches and see how you fly. "" Please be polite, "the soldier said," I'm starving, let me eat something, and you can do whatever you want with me. "The robbers were all stunned, only to hear the robber leader say:" It seems that you are not afraid at all, then fine, I'll give you something to eat, and you will die after eating. "" Wait and see, "the soldier said, and sat down at the table and ate the barbecue without fear." Brother Bright Boots, come and eat! " He shouted to the hunter, "You must be as hungry as I am, come on, there is nothing better than this barbecue." The hunter refused to eat. The robbers looked at the soldier in surprise and said, "This rascal is really rude." After a while, the soldier said, "I'm full, give me something to drink." The leader of the robber was in a good mood that day, and complied with the soldier's request, and cried to the old woman: "Bring a bottle of wine from the cellar, ask for the best." The soldier opened the wine bottle, walked up to the hunter and said, "Watch out, brother, you will make an unexpected discovery, come and toast to everyone's health." Then, as he waved the wine bottle over the robber's head, he shouted: "I wish you a long life! Open your mouth and raise your right hand." Then, he took a sip to his heart's content. As soon as the words fell, the robbers were as motionless as stones, their mouths open and their right hands raised in the air. The hunter persuaded the soldier: "I know you have other tricks, but let's go home now!" " Oh, dear brother, it would be too early for us to withdraw. Since we have won the battle, we will take the spoils! Those fellows sat dead, their mouths wide open in surprise, and they could not move without my permission. Come, eat and drink! "The old woman brought a bottle of the best wine, and the soldier had eaten enough for three days before leaving. At dawn, the soldier said," It's time to withdraw. Let's ask the old woman to show her the nearest way to the castle. "

Arriving in the city, the soldier said to his old companions, "I found a litter of robbers in the forest, come with me, and we'll go and get rid of them." The soldier told his companions to surround the robbers, then picked up the wine bottle, took a gulp, waved it over their heads, and shouted, "I wish you a long life!" In the blink of an eye, they all regained the ability to move, but they were all thrown to the ground and tied their hands and feet with ropes. Then the soldier threw the robbers on the carts like sacks and said, "Now take them to the prison." The hunter took one of the soldiers aside and gave him another mission.

"Brother Bright Boots," said the soldier, "we were lucky enough to catch the enemy, and we have enough to eat, now we just have to follow like outdated soldiers." As they approached the castle, the soldiers saw a large crowd at the gate of the city, cheering and waving green branches in the air. Then the whole Praetorian Guard came towards them. "What's the matter?" he asked the hunter in surprise. "Don't you know?" The hunter replied, "The king has been away from the castle for a long time, and he is coming back today, and everyone is coming to meet him." "But where is the king?" The hunter replied, "It's near!" Then he untied his hunting clothes, revealing the yellow hug inside. The soldier knelt on the ground in horror, begging the king to forgive his ignorance, treating the king as a commoner like himself, and daring to call the king so irreverently. But the king took the soldier's hand and said, "You are a warrior, and I will take care of you. If you ever want to eat the roast meat you ate at the robber's place, come to my kitchen, but if you want to drink a birthday toast, you must ask my permission."