Page:Leskov - The Sentry and other Stories.djvu/296

 280 under my feet, and turned round, but at once resumed the performance of his mysteries.

"Well, have you not bowed enough?" I said, after standing beside him for about a minute.

"Enough, Bachka"—and returning at once to the sledge, he began to reharness the remaining dogs. When they were harnessed we started.

"To whom were you making that sacrifice?" I asked him, pointing back.

"I don't know, Bachka."

"But you sacrificed the dog to some one?—to God or to the devil?—to Shaytan?

"To Shaytan, Bachka, of course, to Shaytan."

"Why did you make him this gift?"

"Because he did not freeze us, Bachka; it was for that I gave him the dog for him grub."

"H'm! yes, for him grub—he won't burst, but I'm sorry for the dog."

"Why, Bachka, why are you sorry? The dog was a bad one, it would soon have died; it does not matter—let him have it—let him grub?"

"So that's how you reckon? You gave him a dog that was half dead."

"Of course, Bachka."

"Please tell me, where are you driving now?"

"Don't know, Bachka, we're looking for the track."