work, self-slaying sword, and despoil all the dreamy forest." So the sword flew out of his hands, cut down the trees, and laid them all down in regular boards. Then, after it had cut them down, it came back to its master.
So the Cossack did not long bethink him, but gave the old man his keg and took the self-slaying sword waved the sword, and killed the old man. Then he tied the keg to his saddle, mounted his horse, and thought he would go back to the King. But just then a terrible enemy was besieging the capital city of that King, and the Cossack saw an incalculable host and array, waved his sword and said, "Self-slaying sword, serve me a service and spill the hostile host." And then there was a fine sight— heads flying about, blood flowing freely—and within one hour all the field was covered with corpses.
Then the King came out, kissed him, and decided to give him the fair princess to wife.
It was a gorgeous wedding. I was there at the wedding. I drank mead and wine: it flowed up to my whiskers, but it never entered my mouth.
