“That’s not the right place,” said the King. “What have you brought?”
Emelyán pointed to the drum, but the King did not look at it.
“That is not it.”
“If it is not the right thing,” said Emelyán, “it must be smashed, and may the devil take it!”
And Emelyán left the palace, carrying the drum and beating it. And as he beat it all the King’s army ran out to follow Emelyán, and they saluted him and waited his commands.
The King, from his window, began to shout at his army telling them not to follow Emelyán. They did not listen to what he said, but all followed Emelyán.
When the King saw that, he gave orders that Emelyán’s wife should be taken back to him, and he sent to ask Emelyán to give him the drum.
“It can’t be done,” said Emelyán. “I was told to smash it and to throw the splinters into the river.”
So Emelyán went down to the river carrying the drum, and the soldiers followed him. When he reached the river bank Emelyán smashed the drum to splinters, and threw the splinters into the stream. And then all the soldiers ran away.
Emelyán took his wife and went home with her. And after that the King ceased to trouble him; and so they lived happily ever after.