Page:Russian Wonder Tales.djvu/204

166 small hole in its side, stretched in her paw, found the ring and ran off with it, thinking: "While that glutton is dining, I shall run to our master and give him the ring, and he will think that I have found it unaided and will prefer me henceforth over Jourka."

The dog, not noticing Vaska's disappearance, continued to eat the fish until nothing remained save the head. "It is strange," he said to himself, "that my teeth have not yet found the ring." Missing his companion at that moment, however, he guessed what had happened, and ran in pursuit, barking: "Thou cheat! Thou swindler! If I but catch thee I shall tear thee into small pieces!"

Whether in a long time or a short time, he at length overtook the cat, but Vaska, coming to a birch-tree, climbed to its top and sat there with the ring in her mouth.

"Very well," said the dog, "thou wilt not sit there for the rest of thy life, and as for me I shall not stir from this spot."

For three days Vaska sat in the birch-tree, and during that time the dog did not take his eyes from her. Then the cat said: "Well, Jourka, there is no profit in quarreling. Let us make peace, for if