Of. 13

as supple as a serpent, and so fiery that it was

dangerous to approach him. The father led the
horse along by the halter, it. pranced about and
struck sparks from the ground with its hoofs. Then
the horse-dealers came together and began to bargain
for it. “A thousand rubles down,” said he, “and you
may have it, but without the halter.” What do we
want with thy halter? we will make for it a silver.
gilt halter. Come, we'll give thee five hundred!
“No!” said he.—Then up there came a gipsy, blind
of one eye. “Oman! what dost thou want for that
horse?” said hé.—* A thousand rubles without the
halter.” —*“ N ay! but that is dear, little father! Wilt
thou not take five hundred with the halter 2?—<« No,
not a bit of it !”—“ Take six hundred, then!” Then
the gipsy began higgling and haggling, but the man
would not give way. “Come, sell it!” said he,
“with the halter.”—“ No, thou gipsy, I have a liking
for that halter.”— But, my good man, when didst
thou ever see them sell a horse without a halter ?
How then can one lead him off 4” —“ Nevertheless,
the halter must remain mine.”—* Look now, my
father, [ll give thee five rubles extra, only I must
have the halter.’—The old man fell a-thinking, “A
halter of this kind is worth but three grivnt,’ and

the gipsy offers me five rubles for it; let him have °

1 A grivna is the tenth part of a ruble, about 22d,

aN