some time after this the merchant's son happened to be hunting in a forest. the winds rose, the sky became clouded, the lightning flashed, the thunder roared loudly, and the rain fell in torrents. ivan soon came near a large tree and saw a big nest in the branches. four small birds were in the nest; they were quite alone, and neither father nor mother was there to protect them from the cold and wet. the good ivan pitied them, climbed the tree and covered the little ones with his "kaftan," a long-skirted coat which the russian peasants and merchants usually wear. the thunderstorm passed by and a big bird came flying and sat down on a branch near the nest and spoke very kindly to ivan.