Aldar had a goat as white as snow, with sharp, saber-like horns, fierce and aggressive. To prevent it from butting the children, the owner kept it tied up in the yard, under a shed.
One day, after returning from a neighboring aiyl, Aldar found that the horned one was missing. "It seems the goat broke the rope and ran off into the field," thought Aldar, and he set off in search of it. He looked for the goat everywhere: in the fields and mountains, in gardens and ravines. But it had vanished without a trace.
Surprised by the disappearance and frustrated by his unsuccessful search, Aldar returned home and carefully examined the corner where the white goat usually stood. He looked around—and could not believe his eyes: in the dark corner lay the horns, beard, and hooves—everything that remained of his beloved goat. Aldar immediately guessed what had happened here.
Gathering the horns, hooves, and beard into a gray hair sack, he went to the lair of the wolf that lived in the bushes on the hill. He arrived and shouted:
— Hey, bandit, confess: did you commit this black deed—tearing apart my white goat? Well, you cowardly wolf, come out of your den before I break your ribs! I also want to check if your skin is tough!
Hearing the man's voice, the wolf cowered even further into the corner of the den and curled up in a ball from fear. Aldar decided to climb into the den himself and drag the Gray one out by the ears, but his shoulders wouldn't fit. Aldar thought and thought and decided to lure the bandit out of his lair with cunning.
— Hey, shepherd,— he called out softly, but loud enough for the wolf to hear,— you have always been my faithful helper. Prove your loyalty to our friendship today as well. Over there, beyond those black and pale mountains, in the green valley, near the white-foamed lake lives the hunter Karabay.
Go to him for help. He has strong traps. Let him bring them along with a shovel and come here quickly. We will catch the wolf in no time, skin him, and sew a collar.
Upon hearing this, the wolf jumped out of the den. He jumped out—and fell into the sack that Aldar had opened right by the den.
The trickster smirked, having outsmarted the wolf so cleverly, tied the sack tightly with rawhide twine, threw Gray over his shoulders, and carried him home. The wolf remained silent for a long time, then asked in a trembling voice:
— Aldar, tell me the truth, what do you want to do with me?
— You will see no more meat; you will perform the work of a goat,— the man replied calmly.
Upon arriving home, Aldar immediately set to work. He tightly bound the wolf's legs and mouth so it couldn't scratch or bite, and so it couldn't escape to the mountains, glued on the goat's beard, attached the hooves, and to the head—goat's saber-like horns. He sprinkled the wolf with flour. It looked like a white goat.
Aldar was satisfied with his work.
— Now you are no longer a wolf, but my white goat; you will not roam in the mountains, but serve me. Listen carefully: soon there will be a big holiday at the khan's— a toy. Do you know that during the feast the Khan arranges goat fights? Know this: instead of my white goat, which you destroyed, this time you will have to fight the khan's fierce black goat.
What could the wolf do? He had to submit to Aldar.
KYRGYZ TALES
