Page:Korolenko - Makar's Dream and Other Stories.djvu/65

MAKAR'S DREAM 41 Then, turning to Father Ivan, the old Toyon asked:

"Who in Chalgan gives the heaviest loads to his horses to pull, and who works them the hardest?"

Father Ivan answered:

"The church warden. He carries the mail and drives the district policeman."

To that the Toyon answered:

"Hand over this sluggard to the church warden for a horse and let him pull the policeman until he drops—we shall see what will happen next."

Just as the Toyon was saying these words, the door opened; his son entered the hut and sat down at his right hand.

And the son said:

"I have heard the sentence pronounced by you. I have lived long on the earth, and I know the ways of the world. It will be hard for the poor man to take the place of the district policeman's horse. However, so be it, only mayhap he still has something to say: speak baraksan! (poor fellow!)"

Then there happened a strange thing. Makar, the Makar who had never before in his life uttered more than ten words at a time, suddenly felt himself possessed of the gift of eloquence. He began speaking, and wondered at himself. There seemed to be two Makars, the one talking, the other listening and marvelling. He could scarcely believe his ears. His discourse flowed from his lips with fluency and