“Very good,” he said, and gave the peasant a glass to smell, out of which he had drunk vodka two days before.
“Thank you,” said the peasant. “That was very kind.”
Then he went to mend the dam. The water was seething like a boiling pot. He got the job done at last, but the water swept him down right under the mill-wheel.
“He’s lost!” thought the steward; “the kopeck he has earned remains with me.”
But the peasant dived, and so got out of the water safe and sound, and the steward had to give him his kopeck. The peasant walked home with the kopeck, thinking—
“God be thanked! Now the barine won’t demand the tax for a week. I shall have time to do some work for myself, and to rest enough for the whole year as well.”
“‘VERY GOOD,’ HE SAID, AND GAVE THE PEASANT A GLASS TO SMELL, OUT OF WHICH HE HAD DRUNK VODKA TWO DAYS BEFORE.”
He went straight to the manor. All the court was strewn with juniper—every one was in black clothes, and there were two candles in the window.
“What has happened?” asked the peasant.