Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/52

36 "Very badly, my boy; I have hardly had anything to eat all the time."

"Well, mother, I shall see that you have plenty of everything now. Will a hundred roubles be enough to start with?"

"A hundred roubles!" cried the old woman. "I never had so much in all my born days; in fact, I never saw so much. Where have you got them?"

"I have not got them yet, but I shall get them for you in a minute. Listen. Do you see those hunters galloping about yonder after a fox? Well, I shall change myself into a hound and catch the fox for them; they will then want to buy me, and ask you how much you want for me. 'A hundred roubles, gentlemen,' you must say. They will, of course, bargain with you, but you must not on any account give me for less. And another thing you must not forget; that is, to be sure and take my collar off before you part with me. The hunters are sure to make a fuss, but no matter; do as I tell you, and all will be right."

As soon as he had finished speaking he changed himself into a beautiful dog, and ran after the fox, which he very soon caught.

The old woman went up to the hunters, who had ridden up to the dog and were now stroking it, wondering whose it was.

"Why do you interrupt our hunting, old woman?" they asked, when they saw her coming up to them.