Page 99 - Animals of the Sakhalin Region in myths and legends

It was a quiet sunny day. Suddenly, in the middle of the river,

something rumbled, as if thousands of waves during a storm hit the
high steep bank. This, it turns out, is a huge Sturgeon, like a large
island overgrown with larch, floated up. From its ascent, high waves
rose, which, overflowing and foaming, rushed along the river from

one cape to another. Such big waves were raised by the Sturgeon. It
was as if a strong squall rushed along the banks of the river, crushing
everything in its path.
— Ha ha ha! — Sturgeon laughed, showing off his strength. — I

am the strongest on the river. The plates of my steel chain mail are
the strongest. If a human hand touches them, they will instantly be
cut in two. And if a log comes across, then it will instantly be sawn
in two. A man’s boat will meet — I will smash it into pieces with my

steel head and throw the fragments at a distance of seven river bends,
seven capes. Who on the banks of the river can be stronger than me?
— Boasting, asked the Sturgeon.
The earth quieted down, as if holding its breath. Four-legged
animals living in the forest, dipteran birds living in the forest, having

heard such a threat, shuddered, hid and held their breath.
— Ha ha ha, — Sturgeon boasted again. — I knew it. I am the
strongest. I am invincible!
And Sturgeon came up with the idea: I’ll swing my mighty tail once
more, I’ll hit the water and once again turn the muddy and deep waters
of the river. He wanted to wash away the animals hiding in the coastal

forests in waves, which swells up with his powerful tail, and throw
them into the river abyss. At this time, from the side of the steep, a
small Christmas tree spoke quietly, barely showing its prickly head
from under the soft and wet moss:
— I am stronger than you.
— Who is that barely mumbles there? Why can’t I see you? Where
are you? — The mighty Sturgeon raised its large head higher above
the surface of the water.

— I, a little Christmas tree. I am stronger than you, boastful Sturgeon.
The offended Sturgeon was outright angry. And the idea came to him
to punish this stupid Christmas tree, wash it off in waves and throw it
to the mouth of the river, where it flows into the icy sea. The arrogant
Sturgeon gathered his strength and intended to use a powerful blow of
his tail to wave the waters of the river and finish off the daredevil on

the bank.

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