Page:Tolstoy - Tales from Tolstoi.djvu/230

Tales from Tolstoi "I've bought it," said he. "I've got it cheap. Chop up a little grass for him in the trough for the night," said he.

The master unyoked the horse, chopped up a little grass, and put it in the trough. They lay down to sleep. Elisyei laid him down in the courtyard whither he had already taken his knapsack. All the people were asleep. Then Elisyei arose, tied on his knapsack, tied on his boots, threw his kaftan over him, and went on his way after Efim.

Elisyei went along for five versts—it began to dawn. He sat down under a tree, undid his knapsack, and began to count up his money. He counted it all over and found that he had seventeen roubles and twenty kopecks left. "Well," thought he, "I shall never make my way across the sea with this, and to beg the money in Christ's Name would be a sin. Efim must go on his way alone, and light a candle for me, and I can work off my vow before I die. Yet, thank God, the Master is merciful, and will bear with me."

Elisyei arose, fastened his knapsack to his shoulder, and turned back, only he went a long circuit round the village so that the people might not see him, and so Elisyei soon got on his way. From home he had found it hard, nay, oftentimes beyond his strength, and it had been as much as he could do to drag him-

180