A young shepherd discovers a snake trapped in a burning bush and rescues it. The snake, grateful for its life, promises to reward the shepherd and leads him to the Tsar of the Snakes. The Tsar, impressed by the shepherd's bravery, offers him a wish. The shepherd requests the ability to understand animal language, despite the Tsar's warnings about the dangers of this gift. The Tsar reluctantly grants the wish through a breathing ritual. Upon returning to his flock, the shepherd realizes he can indeed understand animals. He overhears two ravens discussing buried treasure and successfully digs it up, leading to his newfound wealth and prosperity. Years later, he decides to surprise his shepherds with a Christmas feast while he guards the sheep. During the night, wolves attempt to persuade the dogs to betray the flock, but only one old sheepdog remains loyal. The next morning, the shepherd recognizes the worthlessness of the young dogs and decides to replace them. On the way home, the shepherd's wife becomes curious about his laughter and pressures him to reveal a secret he learned from the animals. To appease her, he pretends he will die if he tells her, leading to a series of humorous events where he ultimately jumps out of a coffin he had prepared. The animals, witnessing the commotion, express their opinions, with a rooster mocking the shepherd for being dominated by his wife. This prompts the shepherd to regain his authority by punishing his wife for her incessant curiosity. The story concludes with the shepherd asserting his role, having learned valuable lessons about loyalty, authority, and the consequences of curiosity.
By Parker Fillmore · First published 1930 · Genre: Fantasy, Fable, Adventure