Having done with the two brothers, the old Devil went to Iván. He changed himself into a General, and coming to Iván began to persuade him that he ought to have an army.
“It does not become a king,” said he, “to be without an army. Only give me the order, and I will collect soldiers from among your people, and form one.”
Iván listened to him. “All right,” said Iván, “form an army, and teach them to sing songs well. I like to hear them do that.”
So the old Devil went through Iván’s kingdom to enlist men. He told them to go and be entered as soldiers, and each should have a quart of spirits and a fine red cap.
The people laughed.
“We have plenty of spirits,” said they. “We make it ourselves; and as for caps, the women make all kinds of them, even striped ones with tassels.”
So nobody would enlist.
The old Devil came to Iván and said: “Your fools won’t enlist of their own free will. We shall have to make them.”
“All right,” said Iván, “you can try.”
So the old Devil gave notice that all the people were to enlist, and that Iván would put to death anyone who refused.
The people came to the General and said, “You say that if we do not go as soldiers the King will put us to death, but you don’t say what will