"What a donkey you are to be sure!" cried the second brother. "Fancy coming back without any fire after all! Let me go, I shall be sure to bring it in a moment!"
So off he went, and on arriving at the hut he said to the old man,—
"Give me some fire, little father!"
"First sing me a song."
"I can't; I never learnt singing."
"Well then, tell me a story."
"I can't, little father; I know nothing!"
"Well then, send somebody who is more clever than you, and who understands something."
So this one also returned to his brothers, and the two clever ones sat looking at each other, wondering what they had best do.
Meanwhile the fool of the family looked at his brothers and laughed to himself,—
"They call themselves clever, indeed; but yet could not get the fire!" So he went to the hut to try his luck.
"Have you got any fire to spare, little father?" asked the fool.
"Yes, my boy; but first of all you must let me see you dance!"
"I can't dance, little father."
"Well then, tell me a story!"
"Ah, that is more in my line! Come outside and sit upon the hurdle which is lying on the ground near the door, and I will tell you a story. But do not interrupt me; if you do—then you must give me a hundred roubles. Do you understand?"
