Page:Russian Wonder Tales.djvu/182

144 neighbor's and borrow a horse and drive to town to buy bread. With it we may somehow drag through the winter, and when spring comes we can search for work."

Martin borrowed the horse and went to town. There, as he passed a butcher's shop, he saw the street full of people and heard a great noise of scolding. He stopped and found that the butchers had caught a hunting-dog with drooping ears, and having tied it to a post, were beating it with a stick, while the poor dog, whining and crying, was struggling to tear himself free.

Martin ran to the butchers and stayed their hands. "Brothers," he said, "why do ye treat so unmercifully this poor dog?"

The butchers answered: "Why should we not beat the wretched brute? He has spoiled for us a whole side of beef!" And again they began belaboring him.

"Enough!" said Martin. "There is no profit for you in that. Better sell him to me."

The butchers thought this an excellent jest. "Very good," they replied. "Buy him if thou wilt, but thou shalt give us a hundred roubles for him."

"That I will," said Martin, and taking out his