She ran into the passage in her terror, but, on recovering herself a little, wished to help Peter. In vain! The door had slammed to behind her, so that she could not open it. People ran up, and began to knock: they broke in the door, as though there were but one mind among llictn. The whole cottage was full of smoke; and just in the middle, where Peter had stood, was aheap of ashes from whence smoke was still fining. They flung themselves upon the sacks: only broken potsherds lity Inere instead of ducats. The Cossacks stood with staring eyes and open mouths, as if rooted to the earth, not daring to move a hair, such terror did this wonder inspire in them.
Officious old women
I do not remember what happened next. Pidorka made a vow to go upon a pilgrimage, collected the property left her by her father, and in lew days it was as if she had never been in the village. Whither she llnd gone, no one could tell. Officious old women would have des- JjRtcncd her to the same place whither Peter had gone; but a Cossack from Kief reported that he had seen, in a cloister, a nun withered to a mere skeleton who prayed unceasingly. Her fellow-villagers recognized her as Pidorka by the tokens that no one heard her utter a word; and that she had come on foot, and had brought a frame for the picture of God`s mother, set with such brilliant stones that all were dazzled at the sight.
But this was not the end, if you please. On the same day that the Evil One made away with Peter, Basavriuk appeared again; but all fled from him. They knew what sort of a being he was none else than Satan, who had assumed human form in order to unearth treasures; and, since treasures do not yield to unclean hands, he seduced the young. That same year, all deserted their earthen huts and collected in a village; but even there was no peace an account of that accursed Basavriuk.
My late grandfather`s aunt said that he was particularly angry with her because she had abandoned her former tavern, and tried with all his might to revenge himself upon her. Once the village elders were assembled in the tavern, and, as the saying goes, were arranging the precedence at the table, in the middle of which was placed a small roasted lamb, shame to say.
Read More about Eulenspiegel and the Merchant part 3
