Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/229

Rh on till morning. Elisyei awoke early. He went to the rich muzhik and bought the crops from him, and gave him money for the meadow as well. He bought back the scythe (for that had been sold too), and brought it home. He sent the muzhik to reap, and he himself went about among the other muzhiks. He found out a horse and cart at the innkeeper's for sale; after some haggling he bought them, and went to buy a cow. Elisyei went along the street and overtook two ragged-haired peasant women. The women were chattering together, and Elisyei heard what they said. One of the women was speaking about him.

"First of all," said she, "they don't know what manner of man he is; they think he is a simple pilgrim. He went there, they say, for a drink, and has lived there ever since. He buys everything for them, they say. I myself saw him to-day at the innkeeper's buying a horse and cart. To think that there really should be such people in the world; let us go and see him."

Elisyei heard this, and understood that they were praising him, and he did not go and buy the cow. He turned in to the innkeeper and gave him the money for the horse. He inspanned it, and went on to the hut. He drove up to the door, stopped there, and dismounted. The people of the hut saw the horse, and were astonished. They thought indeed that he had bought the horse for them, but they dared not say so. The master went out to open the door.

"So you've brought a nag along with you, grandad. Whence didst get it?" 179