Page:RussianFolkTales Afanasev 368pgs.djvu/250



begins the tale of a grey horse, a chestnut horse and of the wise fallow-bay. On the shore of the ocean, in the isle of Buyán, there stood a roasted ox, and behind pounded garlic: on the one side cut your meat, on the other dip deep and eat.

Once upon a time there lived a merchant who had a son, and when the son grew up he was taken into the shop. Now, the first wife of the merchant died, and he married a second.

After some months the merchant made ready to sail to foreign lands, and he loaded his ship with goods and he bade his son look after the house well and attend to business duly.

Then the merchant's son asked, "Bátyushka, when you go, get me my luck!"

"My beloved son," answered the old man, "where shall I find it?"

"It is not far to seek, my luck. When you get up to-morrow morning, stand at the gates and buy the first thing that meets you and give it to me."

"Very well, my son."

So next day the father got up very early, stood outside the gates, and the first thing that met him was a peasant who was selling a sorry, scabby foal—mere dog's meat. So the merchant bargained for it and got it for a silver rouble, took the foal into the courtyard and put it into the stable.