Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/53

Rh "Because, gentlemen, it is my dog, and I have come to fetch it away."

"No, old woman, don't take him away; we want to keep him ourselves."

"Very well, gentlemen, if you like to buy him you are welcome."

"How much do you want?"

"A hundred roubles, gentlemen."

"That is rather high, my good woman."

"No, gentlemen, not at all. Look at the dog yourselves; see what a splendid animal it is."

The hunters, after a little bargaining, counted out the money, while the old woman began taking the collar off; but when the hunters saw what she was doing, they would not hear of it.

"But I don't intend selling the collar," said the old woman; "I only sell the dog."

"Nonsense!" cried the hunters; "we must have the collar, too. Who ever thought of buying a dog without a collar? Why, the animal would be sure to get lost."

The old woman, after a great deal of arguing, at last consented, and giving them the dog as well as the collar, took the money, and went away.

Off rode the hunters, when suddenly a fox ran past. They unloosened their dogs and away they went; but the creature was not to be caught so easily.

"Let us try the new hound; he may be able to catch it," said one of the hunters.

They loosened him, too, but the cunning dog had hardly been set free when away he went in exactly