Page:Korolenko - Makar's Dream and Other Stories.djvu/50

26 Makar looked sharply at one horseman, and then suddenly turned off the road and pursued him.

"Stop! Stop!" cried the priest, but Makar did not even hear him. He had recognised a Tartar, an old acquaintance of his, who had stolen a piebald horse from him once, and who had died five years ago. There was that same Tartar now, riding along on the very same horse! The animal was skimming over the ground, clouds of snowy dust were rising from under its hoofs, glittering with the rainbow colours of twinkling stars. Makar was surprised that he should be able, on foot, to overtake the Tartar so easily in his mad gallop. Besides, when he perceived Makar a few steps behind him, he stopped with great readiness. Makar fell upon him with passion.

"Come to the sheriff with me!" he cried. "That is my horse; he has a split in his right ear. Look at the man, how smart he is, riding along on a stolen horse while the owner follows on foot like a beggar!"

"Gently," said the Tartar. "No need to go for the sheriff! You say this is your horse, take him and be damned to the brute! This is the fifth year I have been riding him up and down on one and the same spot! Every foot-passenger overtakes me. It is humiliating for a good Tartar, it is indeed!"

He threw his leg over the saddle in act to alight, but at that moment the panting priest came running up and seized Makar by the arm.

"Unfortunate man!" he cried. "What are you