Page:Three stories by Vítězslav Hálek (1886).pdf/164

 Here Poldik suddenly turned his vehicle round loaded with sand, and tarried no longer. When he drove away his first word was “Heesta!” His horses got a severe belabouriugbelabouring [sic] until at last they flung out with their hoofs, and after this Poldik discharged a whole volley of oaths. But with this volley his store of ammunition seemed to become exhausted, and a considerable portion of the road and several streets were passed, and Poldik neither swore nor smacked his whip nor cried “gee up” to his horses. He looked continually at the cobble stones as if he had lost something among them, and was now searching for it.

He had been already some time at this amusement before Francis returned with the little boat on which he had given Malka a trip. “To-morrow we must take another trip,” said the young waterman to Malka when she stepped out upon the beach.

“Poldik has gone off on account of you,” said the wherrymen.

“He is in a precious huff on your account,” added others.

And they laughed; Malka also laughed. Malka thought that she would meet Poldik and excuse herself, but she did not meet him.

The next day Poldik halted for the dinner hour in the old place by the high wall, and there waited until Malka should bring his dinner. He had already looked eagerly on his way thither to see whether she