"Really! Then why didn't you tell me before?" he said. "I will make you as many soldiers as you like. It is well Malania and I have threshed so much straw."
Ivan took his brother to the barn and said, "Look here, if I make the soldiers you must take them away at once, for if we have to feed them they will eat up the whole village in a day."
Simon the Warrior promised to take the soldiers away, and Ivan began to make them. He banged a sheaf on the threshing-floor and a company appeared. He banged another sheaf and a second company appeared. He made so many soldiers that they filled the whole field.
"Are there enough now?" he asked.
Simon was overjoyed and said, "That will do, Ivan, thank you."
"Very well. If you want more, come back and I'll make them for you. There is plenty of straw this year.'"
Simon the Warrior soon put his troops in order, and went away to make war.
He had no sooner gone than Taras the
