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prevent him from mowing the rye, but I will surely stop him from mowing
the oats when the morning comes."
Early next day, when the devil came to the field, he found that the oats
had been already mowed. Ivan did it during the night, so as to avoid
the loss that might have resulted from the grain being too ripe and dry.
Seeing that Ivan again had escaped him, the little devil became greatly
enraged, saying:
"
He cut me all over and made me tired, that fool. I did not meet such
misfortune even on the battle-field. He does not even sleep;" and the
devil began to swear. "I cannot follow him," he continued. "I will go
now to the heaps and make everything rotten."
Accordingly he went to a heap of the new-mown grain and began his
fiendish work. After wetting it he built a fire and warmed himself, and
soon was fast asleep.
Ivan harnessed his horse, and, with his sister, went to bring the rye
home from the field.
After lifting a couple of sheaves from the first heap his pitchfork came
into contact with the little devil's back, which caused the latter to
howl with pain and to jump around in every direction. Ivan exclaimed:
"See here! What nastiness! You again here?"
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