Page 100 - Animals of the Sakhalin Region in myths and legends
P. 100

He did just that. He swung his mighty tail and rushed into the depths
                     of the river. So, cutting through the dense streams of water, the Sturgeon

                     rushed, leaving long ropes behind it.
                        Soon, the Sturgeon feels — it seems that he has become light. I looked
                     back: his steel armor, which had served him faithfully for centuries,
                     as if someone had taken it off him, and they plunged into the murky
                     depths of the river. Again the Sturgeon hit the water with its tail — but
                     the former strength is gone, there are no longer those waves that were

                     crushing everything in their path. The Sturgeon again floated to the
                     surface of the water and looked around — it turns out that it became
                     the size of a small stump of a log. The once mighty and omnipotent
                     Sturgeon became ashamed, and out of vexation he quickly plunged
                     into the river, away from the eyes of animals, birds and people. While
                     swimming under water, I suddenly felt that I was confused. It was he
                     who fell into the net, woven by a man from the veins of a tree, from

                     coarse threads of spruce. The sturgeon began to torn and rush, but
                     became even more confused. And, exhausted, he wept. Meanwhile, from
                     the direction of the Ob slope came the weak words of little Christmas
                     Tree:
                        — Never brag about your strength, never brag about your strength.
















































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