,KHOL/OM] 
,! ,/ORY ( A ,HORSE 

#ahfc 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,LEO ,TOL/OY 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,L\ISE ,MAUDE 

,TRANSLATOR 3 ,AYLM] ,MAUDE 

,TEXT 3 

,HI<] & HI<] REC$$ ! SKY1 WID] & WID] SPREAD ! /REAK ( DAWN1  
:IT] GREW ! PALLID SILV] ( ! DEW1 MORE LIFELESS ! SICKLE ( ! MOON1  
& MORE VOCAL ! =E/4 ,PEOPLE BEGAN TO GET UP1 & 9 ! [N]'S  
/ABLE-Y>D ! S\NDS ( SNORT+1 ! RU/L+ ( LITT]1 & EV5 ! %RILL  
ANGRY NEI<+ ( HORSES CR[D$ TOGE!R & AT V>IANCE AB\T SOME?+1 GREW  
MORE & MORE FREQU5T4 

0,HOLD ON6 ,PL5TY ( TIME6 ,HUNGRY80 SAID ! OLD HUNTSMAN1 QUICKLY OP5+ !  
CREAK+ GATE4 0,:]E >E Y\ GO+80 HE %\T$1 ?REAT5+LY RAIS+ HIS >M  
AT A M>E ?AT WAS PU%+ ?R\< ! GATE4 

,! KEEP]1 ,NE/]1 WORE A %ORT ,COSSACK COAT ) AN ORNAM5TAL LEA!R  
GIRDLE1 HAD A :IP SLUNG OV] HIS %\LD]1 & A HUNK ( BREAD WRAPP$ 9 A  
CLO? /UCK 9 HIS GIRDLE4 ,HE C>RI$ A SADDLE & BRIDLE 9 HIS >MS4 

,! HORSES W]E NOT AT ALL FRI<T5$ OR (F5D$ AT ! HORSEMAN'S S>CA/IC  
TONE3 !Y PRET5D$ ?AT IT WAS ALL ! SAME TO !M & MOV$ LEISURELY AWAY  
FROM ! GATE2 ONLY ONE OLD BR[N M>E1 ) A ?ICK MANE1 LAID BACK AN E> &  
QUICKLY TURN$ H] BACK ON HIM4 ,A SMALL FILLY /&+ BEH9D H] & NOT AT ALL  
CONC]N$ 9 ! MATT] TOOK ?IS OPPORTUNITY TO :9NY & KICK \T AT A HORSE  
?AT HAPP5$ TO BE NE>4 

0,N[ !N60 %\T$ ! KEEP] /ILL L\D] & MORE /]NLY1 & HE W5T TO  
! OPPOSITE CORN] ( ! Y>D4 

     
    ,( ALL ! HORSES 9 ! 5CLOSURE 7!RE W]E AB\T A  
    HUNDR$ ( !M71 A PIEBALD GELD+1 /&+ BY HIMSELF 9 A CORN] UND]  
    ! P5?\SE & LICK+ AN OAK PO/ ) HALF-CLOS$ EYES1 DISPLAY$ LEA/  
    IMPATI5CE4 

,IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY :AT FLAVOR ! PIEBALD GELD+ F\ND  
    9 ! PO/1 BUT HIS EXPRESSION WAS S]I\S & ?\<TFUL :ILE HE LICK$4 
     

0,/OP ?AT60 %\T$ ! GROOM1 DRAW+ NE>] TO HIM & PUTT+ !  
    SADDLE & A GLOSSY SADDLE-CLO? ON ! MANURE HEAP BESIDE HIM4 
   

,! PIEBALD GELD+ /OPP$ LICK+ & )\T MOV+ GAVE ,NE/] A LONG  
LOOK4 ,! GELD+ DID NOT LAU<1 NOR GR[ ANGRY1 NOR FR[N1 BUT HIS :OLE BELLY  
HEAV$ ) A PR(\ND SI< & HE TURN$ AWAY4 ,! HORSEMAN PUT HIS >M R\ND  
! GELD+'S NECK & PLAC$ ! BRIDLE ON HIM4 

0,:AT >E Y\ SI<+ =80 SAID ,NE/]4 

,! GELD+ SWIT*$ HIS TAIL AS IF TO SAY1 0,NO?+ 9 P>TICUL>1 ,NE/]60  
,NE/] PUT ! SADDLE-CLO? & SADDLE ON HIM1 & ?IS CAUS$ ! GELD+ TO  
LAY BACK HIS E>S1 PROBABLY TO EXPRESS DISSATISFACTION1 BUT HE WAS ONLY CALL$ A  
0GOOD-=-NO?+0 = IT & HIS SADDLE-GIR?S W]E TI<T5$4 

,AT ?IS ! GELD+ BLEW HIMSELF \T1 BUT A F+] WAS ?RU/ 9TO HIS M\?  
& A KNEE HIT HIM 9 ! /OMA*1 SO ?AT HE HAD TO LET \T HIS BREA?4 ,9  
SPITE ( ?IS1 :5 ! SADDLE-CLO? WAS BE+ BUCKL$ ON HE AGA9 LAID BACK HIS  
E>S & EV5 LOOK$ R\ND4 ,?\< HE KNEW IT W\LD DO NO GOOD HE CONSID]$ IT  
NECESS>Y TO %[ ?AT IT WAS DISAGREEABLE TO HIM & ?AT HE W\LD ALWAYS  
EXPRESS HIS DISSATISFACTION ) IT4 ,:5 HE WAS SADDL$ HE ?RU/ =W>D HIS  
SWOLL5 (F FOOT & BEGAN *AMP+ HIS BIT1 ?IS TOO = SOME REASON ( HIS  
[N1 = HE \<T TO HAVE KN[N BY ?AT TIME ?AT A BIT CANNOT HAVE ANY FLAVOR  
AT ALL4 

,NE/] M\NT$ ! GELD+ BY ! %ORT /IRRUP1 UNW\ND HIS LONG :IP1  
/RAI<T5$ HIS COAT \T FROM UND] HIS KNEE1 SEAT$ HIMSELF 9 ! MANN]  
PECULI> TO COA*M51 HUNTSM51 & HORSEM51 & J]K$ ! RE9S4 ,! GELD+  
LIFT$ HIS HEAD TO %[ HIS READ9ESS TO GO :]E ORD]$ BUT DID NOT MOVE4 ,HE  
KNEW ?AT BE=E />T+ !RE W\LD BE MU* %\T+ & ?AT ,NE/]1 FROM !  
SEAT ON HIS BACK1 W\LD GIVE MANY ORD]S TO ,VASKA1 ! O!R GROOM1 & TO !  
HORSES4 ,& ,NE/] DID %\T3 0,VASKA6 ,HULLO1 ,VASKA4 ,HAVE Y\ LET \T ! BROOD  
M>ES8 ,:]E >E Y\ GO+1 Y\ DEVIL8 ,N[ !N6 ,>E Y\ ASLEEP8 444 ,OP5 !  
GATE6 ,LET ! BROOD M>ES GET \T FIR/60 & SO ON4 

,! GATE CREAK$4 ,VASKA1 CROSS & SLEEPY1 /OOD AT ! GATE-PO/ HOLD+ HIS  
HORSE BY ! BRIDLE & LETT+ ! O!R HORSES PASS \T4 ,! HORSES FOLL[$  
ONE ANO!R & /EPP$ C>EFULLY OV] ! /RAW1 SMELL+ AT IT3 FILLIES1  
YE>L+ COLTS ) !IR MANES & TAILS CUT1 SUCKL+ FOALS1 & M>ES 9 FOAL  
C>RY+ !IR BURD5 HE$FULLY PASS$ ONE BY ONE ?R\< ! GATEWAY4 ,!  
FILLIES SOMETIMES CR[D$ TOGE!R 9 TWOS & ?REES1 ?R[+ !IR HEADS  
ACROSS ONE ANO!R'S BACKS & HITT+ !IR HO(S AGA9/ ! GATE1 = :I*  
!Y RECEIV$ A REBUKE FROM ! GROOMS EV]Y TIME4 ,! FOALS SOMETIMES D>T$  
UND] ! LEGS ( ! WRONG M>ES & NEI<$ L\DLY 9 RESPONSE TO ! %ORT  
:9NY ( !IR [N MO!RS4 

,A PLAYFUL FILLY1 DIRECTLY %E HAD GOT \T AT ! GATE1 B5T H] HEAD  
SIDEWAYS1 KICK$ UP H] H9D LEGS1 & SQUEAL$1 BUT ALL ! SAME %E DID NOT  
D>E TO RUN AHEAD ( OLD DAPPL$ ,ZHULDYBA :O AT A SL[ & HEAVY PACE1 SW++  
H] BELLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE1 M>*$ AS USUAL AHEAD ( ALL ! O!R HORSES4 

,9 A FEW M9UTES ! 5CLOSURE ?AT HAD BE5 SO ANIMAT$ BECAME DES]T$1 !  
PO/S /OOD GLOOMILY UND] ! EMPTY P5?\SE1 & ONLY TRAMPL$ /RAW MIX$  
) MANURE WAS TO BE SE54 ,US$ AS HE WAS TO ?AT DESOLATE SI<T IT PROBABLY  
DEPRESS$ ! PIEBALD GELD+4 ,AS IF MAK+ A B[ HE SL[LY L[]$ HIS HEAD &  
RAIS$ IT AGA91 SI<$ AS DEEPLY AS ! TI<TLY DRAWN GIR? W\LD ALL[1 &  
HOBBL+ ALONG ON HIS /IFF & CROOK$ LEGS %AMBL$ AFT] ! H]D1 BE>+  
OLD ,NE/] ON HIS BONY BACK4 

0,I KN[ ?AT AS SOON AS WE GET \T ON ! ROAD HE WILL BEG9 TO /RIKE A  
LI<T & SMOKE HIS WOOD5 PIPE ) ITS BRASS M\NT+S & LITTLE *A910  
?\<T ! GELD+4 0,I AM GLAD ( IT BECAUSE E>LY 9 ! MORN+ :5 IT IS  
DEWY ,I LIKE ?AT SMELL1 IT REM9DS ME ( MU* ?AT WAS PLEASANT2 BUT IT'S  
ANNOY+ ?AT :5 HIS PIPE IS BETWE5 HIS TEE? ! OLD MAN ALWAYS BEG9S TO  
SWAGG] & ?9KS HIMSELF SOMEBODY & SITS SIDEWAYS1 ALWAYS SIDEWAYS - &  
?AT SIDE HURTS4 ,H[EV]1 IT CAN'T BE HELP$6 ,SUFF]+ = ! PLEASURE (  
O!RS IS NO?+ NEW TO ME4 ,I HAVE EV5 BEGUN TO F9D A C]TA9 EQU9E PLEASURE  
9 IT4 ,LET HIM SWAGG]1 POOR FELL[6 ,( C\RSE HE CAN ONLY DO ?AT :5 HE IS  
ALONE & NO ONE SEES HIM - LET HIM SIT SIDEWAYS60 ?\<T ! GELD+1 &  
/EPP+ C>EFULLY ON HIS CROOK$ LEGS HE W5T ALONG ! MIDDLE ( ! ROAD4 

,HAV+ DRIV5 ! HORSES TO ! RIV]SIDE :]E !Y W]E TO GRAZE1 ,NE/]  
DISM\NT$ & UNSADDL$4 ,MEAN:ILE ! H]D HAD BEGUN GRADUALLY TO SPREAD OV]  
! UNTRAMPL$ MEAD[1 COV]$ ) DEW & BY ! MI/ ?AT ROSE FROM IT &  
! 5CIRCL+ RIV]4 

,:5 HE HAD TAK5 ! BRIDLE (F ! PIEBALD GELD+1 ,NE/] SCRAT*$ HIM  
UND] ! NECK1 9 RESPONSE TO :I* ! GELD+ EXPRESS$ HIS GRATITUDE &  
SATISFACTION BY CLOS+ HIS EYES4 0,HE LIKES IT1 ! OLD DOG60 MUTT]$ ,NE/]4  
,! GELD+ H[EV] DID NOT REALLY C>E = ! SCRAT*+ AT ALL & PRET5D$  
?AT IT WAS AGREEABLE M]ELY \T ( C\RTESY4 ,HE NODD$ HIS HEAD 9 ASS5T TO  
,NE/]'S WORDS1 BUT SUDD5LY ,NE/]1 QUITE UNEXPECT$LY & )\T ANY REASON1  
P]HAPS IMAG9+ ?AT TOO MU* FAMILI>ITY MI<T GIVE ! GELD+ A WRONG IDEA  
( HIS IMPORTANCE1 PU%$ ! GELD+'S HEAD AWAY FROM HIMSELF )\T ANY  
W>N+ &1 SW++ ! BRIDLE1 /RUCK HIM PA9FULLY ) ! BUCKLE ON HIS  
LEAN LEG1 & !N )\T SAY+ A WORD W5T UP ! HILLOCK TO A TREE-/UMP  
BESIDE :I* HE G5]ALLY SEAT$ HIMSELF4 

,?\< ?IS ACTION GRIEV$ ! PIEBALD GELD+ HE GAVE NO 9DICATION ( IT1  
BUT LEISURELY SWIT*+ HIS SCANTY TAIL SNIFF$ AT SOME?+ &1 BIT+ (F  
SOME WISPS ( GRASS M]ELY TO DIV]T HIS M9D1 WALK$ TO ! RIV]4 ,HE TOOK NO  
NOTICE :ATEV] ( ! ANTICS ( ! Y\NG M>ES1 COLTS1 & FOALS >\ND HIM1  
:O W]E FILL$ ) ! JOY ( ! MORN+2 & KN[+ ?AT1 ESPECIALLY AT HIS  
AGE1 IT IS HEAL?I] TO HAVE A GOOD DR9K ON AN EMPTY /OMA* & TO EAT  
AFT]W>DS1 HE *OSE A SPOT :]E ! BANK WAS WIDE/ & LEA/ /EEP1 &  
WETT+ HIS HO(S & FETLOCKS1 DIPP$ HIS MUZZLE 9 ! WAT] & BEGAN TO SUCK  
IT UP ?R\< HIS TORN LIPS1 TO EXP& HIS FILL+ SIDES1 & FROM PLEASURE TO  
SWIT* HIS SCANTY TAIL ) ITS HALF BALD /UMP4 

,AN AGGRESSIVE *E/NUT FILLY1 :O ALWAYS TEAS$ ! OLD FELL[ & DID ALL  
K9DS ( UNPLEASANT ?+S TO HIM1 N[ CAME UP TO HIM 9 ! WAT] AS IF  
ATT5D+ TO SOME BUS9ESS ( H] [N BUT 9 REALITY M]ELY TO F\L ! WAT]  
BE=E HIS NOSE4 ,BUT ! PIEBALD GELD+1 :O HAD ALREADY HAD HIS FILL1 AS  
?\< NOT NOTIC+ ! FILLY'S 9T5TION QUIETLY DREW ONE FOOT AFT] ! O!R  
\T ( ! MUD 9 :I* !Y HAD SUNK1 J]K$ HIS HEAD1 & /EPP+ ASIDE FROM  
! Y\?FUL CR[D />T$ GRAZ+4 ,SPRAWL+ HIS FEET AP>T 9 DIFF]5T WAYS  
& NOT TRAMPL+ ! GRASS NE$LESSLY1 HE W5T ON EAT+ )\T UNB5D+  
HIMSELF = EXACTLY ?REE H\RS4 ,HAV+ EAT5 TILL HIS BELLY HUNG D[N FROM HIS  
/EEP SK9NY RIBS LIKE A SACK1 HE BALANC$ HIMSELF EQUALLY ON HIS F\R SORE LEGS  
SO AS TO HAVE AS LITTLE PA9 AS POSSIBLE1 ESPECIALLY 9 HIS (F =ELEG :I*  
WAS ! WEAKE/1 & FELL ASLEEP4 

     
    ,OLD AGE IS SOMETIMES MAJE/IC1 SOMETIMES UGLY1 & SOMETIMES  
    PA!TIC4 

,BUT OLD AGE CAN BE BO? UGLY & MAJE/IC1 & ! GELD+'S OLD  
    AGE WAS JU/ ( ?AT K9D4 
   

,HE WAS TALL1 RA!R OV] FIFTE5 H&S HI<4 ,HIS SPOTS W]E BLACK1 OR RA!R  
!Y HAD BE5 BLACK1 BUT HAD N[ TURN$ A DIRTY BR[N4 ,HE HAD ?REE SPOTS1 ONE  
ON HIS HEAD1 />T+ FROM A CROOK$ BALD PAT* ON ! SIDE ( HIS NOSE &  
REA*+ HALF-WAY D[N HIS NECK4 ,HIS LONG MANE1 FILL$ ) BURRS1 WAS :ITE 9  
SOME PLACES & BR[NI% 9 O!RS4 ,ANO!R SPOT EXT5D$ D[N HIS (F SIDE TO  
! MIDDLE ( HIS BELLY2 ! ?IRD1 ON HIS CR\P1 T\*$ P>T ( HIS TAIL &  
W5T HALF-WAY D[N HIS QU>T]S4 ,! RE/ ( ! TAIL WAS :ITI% & SPECKL$4  
,! BIG BONY HEAD1 ) DEEP HOLL[S OV] ! EYES & A BLACK HANG+ LIP ?AT  
HAD BE5 TORN AT SOME TIME1 HUNG L[ & HEAVILY ON HIS NECK1 :I* WAS SO LEAN  
?AT IT LOOK$ AS ?\< IT W]E C>V$ ( WOOD4 ,! P5DANT LIP REVEAL$ A  
BLACKI% BITT5 TONGUE & ! YELL[ /UMPS ( ! WORN L[] TEE?4 ,! E>S1  
ONE ( :I* WAS SLIP1 HUNG L[ ON EI!R SIDE1 & ONLY OCCASIONALLY MOV$  
LAZILY TO DRIVE AWAY ! PE/]+ FLIES4 ,( ! =ELOCK1 ONE TUFT :I* WAS  
/ILL LONG HUNG BACK BEH9D AN E>2 ! UNCOV]$ =EHEAD WAS D5T$ & R\<1  
& ! SK9 HUNG D[N LIKE BAGS ON HIS BROAD JAW-BONES4 ,! VE9S ( HIS NECK  
HAD GR[N KNOTTY & TWIT*$ & %UDD]$ AT EV]Y T\* ( A FLY4 ,!  
EXPRESSION ( HIS FACE WAS ONE ( /]N PATI5CE1 ?\<TFULNESS1 & SUFF]+4 

,HIS =ELEGS W]E CROOK$ TO A B[ AT ! KNEES1 !RE W]E SWELL+S OV]  
BO? HO(S1 & ON ONE LEG1 ON :I* ! PIEBALD SPOT REA*$ HALF-WAY D[N1  
!RE WAS A SWELL+ AT ! KNEE AS BIG AS A FI/4 ,! H9D LEGS W]E 9 BETT]  
CONDITION1 BUT APP>5TLY LONG AGO HIS HAUN*ES HAD BE5 SO RUBB$ ?AT 9  
PLACES ! HAIR W\LD NOT GR[ AGA94 ,! LEANNESS ( HIS BODY MADE ALL F\R  
LEGS LOOK DISPROPORTIONATELY LONG4 ,! RIBS1 ?\< /RAI<T1 W]E SO EXPOS$  
& ! SK9 SO TI<TLY DRAWN OV] !M1 ?AT IT SEEM$ TO HAVE DRI$ FA/ TO  
! SPACES BETWE54 ,HIS BACK & WI!RS W]E COV]$ ) M>KS ( OLD  
LA%+S1 & !RE WAS A FRE% SORE BEH9D1 /ILL SWOLL5 & FE/]+2 !  
BLACK DOCK ( HIS TAIL1 :I* %[$ ! V]TEBRAE1 HUNG D[N LONG & ALMO/  
B>E4 ,ON HIS D>K-BR[N CR\P - NE> ! TAIL - WAS A SC>1 AS ?\< ( A BITE1  
! SIZE ( A MAN'S H& & COV]$ ) :ITE HAIR4 ,ANO!R SC>R$ SORE WAS  
VISIBLE ON ONE ( HIS %\LD]S4 ,HIS TAIL & HOCKS W]E DIRTY BECAUSE (  
*RONIC B[EL TR\BLES4 ,! HAIR ON ! :OLE BODY1 ?\< %ORT1 /OOD \T  
/RAI<T4 ,YET 9 SPITE ( ! HIDE\S OLD AGE ( ?IS HORSE ONE 9VOLUNT>ILY  
PAUS$ TO REFLECT :5 ONE SAW HIM1 & AN EXP]T W\LD HAVE SAID AT ONCE ?AT  
HE HAD BE5 A REM>KABLY F9E HORSE 9 HIS DAY4 ,! EXP]T W\LD EV5 HAVE SAID  
?AT !RE WAS ONLY ONE BRE$ 9 ,RUSSIA ?AT C\LD FURNI% SU* BREAD? ( BONE1  
SU* IMM5SE KNEES1 SU* HO(S1 SU* SL5D] CANNONS1 SU* A WELL-%AP$ NECK1  
& ABOVE ALL SU* A SKULL1 SU* EYES - L>GE1 BLACK1 & CLE> - & SU* A  
?OR\<BR$ NETWORK ( VE9S ON HEAD & NECK1 & SU* DELICATE SK9 & HAIR4 

,!RE WAS REALLY SOME?+ MAJE/IC 9 ?AT HORSE'S FIGURE & 9 !  
T]RIBLE UNION 9 HIM ( REPULSIVE 9DICATIONS ( DECREPITUDE1 EMPHASIZ$ BY !  
MOTLEY COLOR ( HIS HAIR1 & HIS MANN] :I* EXPRESS$ ! SELF-CONFID5CE  
& CALM ASSURANCE ?AT GO ) BEAUTY & /R5G?4 ,LIKE A LIV+ RU9 HE /OOD  
ALONE 9 ! MID/ ( ! DEWY MEAD[1 :ILE NOT F> FROM HIM C\LD BE HE>D !  
TRAMP+1 SNORT+ & Y\?FUL NEI<+ & :9NY+ ( ! SCATT]$ H]D4 

,! SUN HAD RIS5 ABOVE ! =E/ & N[ %ONE BRI<TLY ON ! GRASS &  
! W9D+ RIV]4 ,! DEW WAS DRY+ UP & COND5S+ 9TO DROPS1 ! LA/ (  
! MORN+ MI/ WAS DISP]S+ LIKE T9Y SMOKE- CL\DS4 ,! CL\DLETS W]E  
BECOM+ CURLY BUT !RE WAS AS YET NO W9D4 ,BEYOND ! RIV] ! V]DANT RYE  
/OOD BRI/L+1 ITS E>S CURL+ 9TO LITTLE HORNS1 & !RE WAS AN ODOR (  
FRE% V]DURE & BLOSSOM4 ,A CUCKOO CALL$ RA!R HO>SELY FROM ! =E/1 &  
,NE/]1 LY+ ON HIS BACK 9 ! GRASS1 WAS C\NT+ ! CALLS TO ASC]TA9 H[  
MANY YE>S HE /ILL HAD TO LIVE4 ,! L>KS W]E RIS+ OV] ! RYE & !  
MEAD[4 ,A BELAT$ H>E1 F9D+ HIMSELF AMONG ! HORSES1 LEAP$ 9TO ! OP51  
SAT D[N BY A BU%1 & PRICK$ HIS E>S TO LI/54 ,VASKA FELL ASLEEP ) HIS  
HEAD 9 ! GRASS2 ! FILLIES1 MAK+ A /ILL WID] CIRCLE AB\T HIM1 SCATT]$  
OV] ! FIELD BEL[4 ,! OLD M>ES W5T AB\T SNORT+ & MADE A %9Y TRACK  
ACROSS ! DEWY GRASS1 ALWAYS *OOS+ A PLACE :]E NO ONE W\LD DI/URB !M4  
,!Y NO LONG] GRAZ$ BUT ONLY NIBBL$ AT *OICE TUFTS ( GRASS4 ,! :OLE H]D  
WAS MOV+ IMP]CEPTIBLY 9 ONE DIRECTION4 

,& AGA9 IT WAS OLD ,ZHULDYBA :O1 /EPP+ S$ATELY 9 FRONT ( ! O!RS1  
%[$ ! POSSIBILITY ( GO+ F>!R4 ,BLACK ,MU%KA1 A Y\NG M>E :O HAD  
FOAL$ = ! FIR/ TIME1 ) UPLIFT$ TAIL KEPT :9NY+ & SNORT+ AT H]  
BLUI% FOAL2 ! Y\NG FILLY ,SAT91 SLEEK & BRILLIANT1 B5D+ H] HEAD TILL  
H] BLACK SILKY =ELOCK HID H] =EHEAD & EYES1 PLAY$ ) ! GRASS1  
NIPP+ (F A LITTLE & TOSS+ IT & /AMP+ H] LEG ) ITS %AGGY FETLOCK  
ALL WET ) DEW4 ,ONE ( ! OLD] FOALS1 PROBABLY IMAG9+ HE WAS PLAY+ SOME  
K9D ( GAME1 ) HIS CURLY TAIL RAIS$ LIKE A PLUME1 RAN = ! TW5TY-SIX?  
TIME R\ND HIS MO!R1 :O QUIETLY W5T ON GRAZ+1 HAV+ GR[N ACCU/OM$ TO  
H] SON'S WAYS1 & ONLY OCCASIONALLY GLANC$ ASKANCE AT HIM ) ONE ( H]  
L>GE BLACK EYES4 

,ONE ( ! V]Y Y\NGE/ FOALS1 BLACK1 ) A BIG HEAD1 A TUFT /ICK+ UP 9  
A/ONI%M5T BETWE5 HIS E>S1 & A LITTLE TAIL /ILL TWI/$ TO ONE SIDE AS IT  
HAD BE5 9 HIS MO!R'S WOMB1 /OOD MOTIONLESS1 HIS E>S PRICK$ & HIS DULL  
EYES FIX$1 GAZ+ AT ! FRISK+ & PRANC+ FOAL - :E!R ADMIR+ OR  
CONDEMN+ HIM IT IS H>D TO SAY4 ,SOME ( ! FOALS W]E SUCK+ & BUTT+  
) !IR NOSES1 SOME - HEAV5 KN[S :Y - DESPITE !IR MO!R'S CALL W]E  
RUNN+ AT AN AWKW>D LITTLE TROT 9 QUITE ! OPPOSITE DIRECTION AS IF  
SE>*+ = SOME?+ & !N1 = NO APP>5T REASON1 /OPP+ & NEI<+  
) DESP]ATE %RILLNESS4 ,SOME LAY ON !IR SIDES 9 A R[1 SOME W]E LE>N+  
TO EAT GRASS1 SOME AGA9 W]E SCRAT*+ !MSELVES BEH9D !IR E>S ) !IR  
H9D LEGS4 ,TWO M>ES /ILL 9 FOAL W]E WALK+ AP>T FROM ! RE/ & :ILE  
SL[LY MOV+ !IR LEGS CONT9U$ TO GRAZE4 ,! O!RS EVID5TLY RESPECT$  
!IR CONDITION1 & NONE ( ! Y\NG ONES V5TUR$ TO COME NE> TO DI/URB  
!M4 ,IF ANY SAUCY Y\NG/]S ?\<T ( APPROA*+ !M1 ! M]E MOVEM5T (  
AN E> OR TAIL SUFFIC$ TO %[ !M ALL H[ IMPROP] SU* BEHAVIOR WAS4 

,! COLTS & YE>L+ FILLIES1 PRET5D+ TO BE GR[NUP & S$ATE1 R>ELY  
JUMP$ OR JO9$ ! M]RY COMPANY4 ,!Y GRAZ$ 9 A DIGNIFI$ MANN]1 CURV+  
!IR CLOSE-CROPP$ SWAN-LIKE NECKS1 & FL\RI%$ !IR LITTLE BROOM-LIKE  
TAILS AS IF !Y ALSO HAD LONG ONES4 ,JU/ LIKE ! GR[N-UPS !Y LAY D[N1  
ROLL$ OV]1 OR RUBB$ ONE ANO!R4 ,! M]RIE/ GR\P WAS COMPOS$ ( ! TWO-  
& ?REE-YE>-OLD FILLIES & M>ES NOT YET 9 FOAL4 ,!Y ALMO/ ALWAYS WALK$  
AB\T TOGE!R LIKE A SEP>ATE M]RY VIRG9 CR[D4 ,AMONG !M Y\ C\LD HE>  
S\NDS ( TRAMP+1 :9NY+1 NEI<+1 & SNORT+4 ,!Y DREW CLOSE TOGE!R1  
PUT !IR HEADS OV] ONE ANO!R'S NECKS1 SNIFF$ AT ONE ANO!R1 JUMP$1 &  
SOMETIMES AT A SEMI-TROT1 SEMI-AMBLE1 ) TAILS LIFT$ LIKE AN ORIFLAMME1 RAC$  
PR\DLY & COQUETTI%LY PA/ !IR COMPANIONS4 ,! MO/ BEAUTIFUL & SPIRIT$  
( !M WAS ! MIS*IEV\S *E/NUT FILLY4 ,:AT %E DEVIS$ ! O!RS DID2  
:]EV] %E W5T ! :OLE CR[D ( BEAUTIES FOLL[$4 ,?AT MORN+ ! NAU<TY  
ONE WAS 9 A SPECIALLY PLAYFUL MOOD4 ,%E WAS SEIZ$ ) A JOY\S FIT1 JU/ AS  
HUMAN BE+S SOMETIMES >E4 ,ALREADY AT ! RIV]SIDE %E HAD PLAY$ A TRICK ON  
! OLD GELD+1 & AFT] ?AT %E RAN ALONG ?R\< ! WAT] PRET5D+ TO BE  
FRI<T5$ BY SOME?+1 GAVE A HO>SE SQUEAL1 & RAC$ FULL SPE$ 9TO !  
FIELD SO ?AT ,VASKA HAD TO GALLOP AFT] H] & ! O!RS :O FOLL[$ H]4  
,!N AFT] GRAZ+ A LITTLE %E BEGAN ROLL+1 !N TEAS+ ! OLD M>ES BY  
DA%+ 9 FRONT ( !M1 !N %E DROVE AWAY A SMALL FOAL FROM ! DAM &  
*AS$ IT AS IF MEAN+ TO BITE IT4 ,ITS MO!R WAS FRI<T5$ & /OPP$  
GRAZ+1 :ILE ! LITTLE FOAL CRI$ 9 A PITE\S TONE1 BUT ! MIS*IEV\S ONE  
DID NOT T\* HIM AT ALL1 %E ONLY WANT$ TO FRI<T5 HIM & GIVE A P]=MANCE  
= ! B5EFIT ( H] COMPANIONS1 :O WAT*$ H] ESCAPADE APPROV+LY4 ,!N  
%E SET \T TO TURN ! HEAD ( A LITTLE ROAN HORSE ) :I* A PEASANT WAS  
PL[+ 9 A RYE-FIELD F> BEYOND ! RIV]4 ,%E /OPP$1 PR\DLY LIFT$ H]  
HEAD SOME:AT TO ONE SIDE1 %OOK H]SELF1 & NEI<$ 9 A SWEET1 T5D]1  
LONG-DRAWN VOICE4 ,MIS*IEF1 FEEL+1 & A C]TA9 SADNESS W]E EXPRESS$ 9  
?AT CALL4 ,!RE WAS 9 IT ! DESIRE = & ! PROMISE ( LOVE1 & A P9+  
= IT4 

0,!RE 9 ! ?ICK RE$S IS A CORN-CRAKE RUNN+ BACKW>DS & =W>DS &  
CALL+ PASSIONATELY TO HIS MATE2 !RE IS ! CUCKOO1 & ! QUAILS >E  
S++ ( LOVE1 & ! FL[]S >E S5D+ !IR FRAGRANT DU/ TO EA* O!R  
BY ! W9D4 ,& ,I TOO AM Y\NG & BEAUTIFUL & /RONG40 ,! MIS*IEV\S ONE'S  
VOICE SAID1 0BUT IT HAS NOT YET BE5 ALL[$ ME TO KN[ ! SWEETNESS ( ?AT  
FEEL+1 & NOT ONLY TO EXP]I5CE IT1 BUT NO LOV] - NOT A S+LE ONE - HAS  
EV] SE5 ME60 

,& ?IS NEI<+1 SAD & Y\?FUL & FRAU<T ) FEEL+1 WAS BORNE OV]  
! L[L& & ! FIELD TO ! ROAN HORSE F> AWAY4 ,HE PRICK$ UP HIS E>S &  
/OPP$4 ,! PEASANT KICK$ HIM ) HIS BA/ %OE1 BUT ! LITTLE HORSE WAS SO  
5*ANT$ BY ! SILV]Y S\ND ( ! DI/ANT NEI<+ ?AT HE NEI<$ TOO4 ,!  
PEASANT GREW ANGRY1 PULL$ AT ! RE9S1 & KICK$ ! LITTLE ROAN SO PA9FULLY  
9 ! /OMA* ) HIS BA/ %OES ?AT HE C\LD NOT F9I% HIS NEI< & WALK$  
ON4 ,BUT ! LITTLE ROAN FELT A S5SE ( SWEETNESS & SADNESS1 & = A LONG  
TIME ! S\NDS ( UNF9I%$ & PASSIONATE NEI<+1 & ( ! PEASANT'S  
ANGRY VOICE1 W]E C>RI$ FROM ! DI/ANT RYE-FIELD OV] TO ! H]D4 

,IF ! S\ND ( H] VOICE ALONE SO OV]P[]$ ! LITTLE ROAN ?AT HE =GOT  
HIS DUTY1 :AT W\LD HAVE HAPP5$ HAD HE SE5 ! NAU<TY BEAUTY AS %E /OOD  
PRICK+ H] E>S1 BREA?+ 9 ! AIR ) DILAT$ NO/RILS1 READY TO RUN1  
TREMBL+ ) H] :OLE BEAUTIFUL BODY1 & CALL+ TO HIM8 

,BUT ! MIS*IEV\S ONE DID NOT BROOD LONG OV] H] IMPRESSIONS4 ,:5 !  
NEI<+ ( ! ROAN DI$ AWAY %E GAVE ANO!R SCORNFUL NEI<1 L[]$ H]  
HEAD1 & BEGAN PAW+ ! GR\ND1 & !N %E W5T TO WAKE & TO TEASE !  
PIEBALD GELD+4 ,! PIEBALD GELD+ WAS ! CON/ANT M>TYR & BUTT ( ?OSE  
HAPPY Y\NG/]S4 ,HE SUFF]$ MORE FROM !M ?AN AT ! H&S ( M54 ,HE DID NO  
H>M TO EI!R4 ,PEOPLE NE$$ HIM1 BUT :Y %\LD !SE Y\NG HORSES TORM5T  
HIM8 

,HE WAS OLD1 !Y W]E Y\NG2 HE WAS LEAN1 !Y W]E SLEEK2 HE WAS MIS]ABLE1  
!Y W]E GAY2 & SO HE WAS QUITE ALI5 TO !M1 AN \TSID]1 AN UTT]LY  
DIFF]5T CREATURE :OM IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE = !M TO PITY4 ,HORSES ONLY HAVE  
PITY ON !MSELVES & V]Y OCCASIONALLY ON ?OSE 9 :OSE SK9S !Y CAN EASILY  
IMAG9E !MSELVES TO BE4 ,BUT WAS IT ! OLD GELD+'S FAULT ?AT HE WAS OLD1  
POOR1 & UGLY8 

,ONE MI<T ?9K NOT1 BUT 9 EQU9E E?ICS IT WAS1 & ONLY ?OSE W]E RI<T  
:O W]E /RONG1 Y\NG1 & HAPPY - ?OSE :O HAD LIFE /ILL BE=E !M1 :OSE  
EV]Y MUSCLE QUIV]$ ) SUP]FLU\S 5]GY1 & :OSE TAILS /OOD ]ECT4  
,MAYBE ! PIEBALD GELD+ HIMSELF UND]/OOD ?IS & 9 HIS QUIET MOM5TS WAS  
READY TO AGREE ?AT IT WAS HIS FAULT ?AT HE HAD ALREADY LIV$ HIS LIFE1 &  
?AT HE HAD TO PAY = ?AT LIFE1 BUT AFT] ALL HE WAS A HORSE & (T5 C\LD  
NOT SUPPRESS A S5SE ( RES5TM5T1 SADNESS1 & 9DIGNATION :5 HE LOOK$ AT  
?OSE Y\NG/]S :O TORM5T$ HIM = :AT W\LD BEFALL !M ALL AT ! 5D (  
!IR LIVES4 ,ANO!R CAUSE ( ! HORSES' LACK ( PITY WAS !IR >I/OCRATIC  
PRIDE4 ,EV]Y ONE ( !M TRAC$ BACK ITS P$IGREE1 ?R\< FA!R OR MO!R1 TO  
! FAM\S ,CREAMY1 :ILE ! PIEBALD WAS ( UNKN[N P>5TAGE4 ,HE WAS A *ANCE  
COM]1 PUR*AS$ ?REE YE>S BE=E AT A FAIR = EI<TY ASSIGNAT RUBLES4 

,! *E/NUT FILLY1 AS IF TAK+ A /ROLL1 PASS$ CLOSE BY ! PIEBALD  
GELD+'S NOSE & PU%$ HIM4 ,HE KNEW AT ONCE :AT IT WAS1 & )\T OP5+  
HIS EYES LAID BACK HIS E>S & %[$ HIS TEE?4 ,! FILLY :EEL$ R\ND AS IF  
TO KICK HIM4 ,! GELD+ OP5$ HIS EYES & /EPP$ ASIDE4 ,HE DID NOT WANT TO  
SLEEP ANY MORE & BEGAN TO GRAZE4 ,! MIS*IEF-MAK]1 FOLL[$ BY H]  
COMPANIONS1 AGA9 APPROA*$ ! GELD+4 ,A V]Y /UPID TWO-YE>-OLD  
:ITE-SPOTT$ FILLY :O ALWAYS IMITAT$ ! *E/NUT 9 EV]Y?+ W5T UP )  
H] &1 AS IMITATORS ALWAYS DO1 W5T TO GREAT] L5G?S ?AN ! 9/IGATOR4  
,! *E/NUT ALWAYS W5T UP AS IF 9T5T ON BUS9ESS ( H] [N & PASS$ BY  
! GELD+'S NOSE )\T LOOK+ AT HIM1 SO ?AT HE REALLY DID NOT KN[  
:E!R TO BE ANGRY OR NOT1 & ?AT WAS REALLY FUNNY4 

,%E DID ! SAME N[1 BUT ! :ITE-SPOTT$ ONE1 :O FOLL[$ H] & HAD  
GR[N P>TICUL>LY LIVELY1 BUMP$ RI<T AGA9/ ! GELD+ ) H] *E/4 ,HE  
AGA9 %[$ HIS TEE?1 :9NI$1 & ) AN AGILITY ONE C\LD NOT HAVE  
EXPECT$ ( HIM1 RU%$ AFT] H] & BIT H] FLANK4 ,! :ITE-SPOTT$ ONE  
KICK$ \T ) ALL H] /R5G? & DEALT ! OLD HORSE A HEAVY BL[ ON HIS  
?9 B>E RIBS4 ,HE SNORT$ HEAVILY & WAS GO+ TO RU% AT H] AGA9 BUT  
BE?\<T HIMSELF & DRAW+ A DEEP SI< /EPP$ ASIDE4 ,! :OLE CR[D (  
Y\NG ONES MU/ HAVE TAK5 AS A P]SONAL AFFRONT ! IMP]T95CE ! PIEBALD  
GELD+ HAD P]MITT$ HIMSELF TO (F] TO ! :ITE-SPOTT$ ONE & = ! RE/  
( ! DAY DID NOT LET HIM GRAZE 9 PEACE = A MOM5T1 SO ?AT ! KEEP] HAD  
TO QUIET5 !M SEV]AL TIMES & C\LD NOT UND]/& :AT HAD COME OV] !M4 

,! GELD+ FELT SO (F5D$ ?AT HE W5T UP HIMSELF TO ,NE/] :5 ! OLD  
MAN WAS GETT+ READY TO DRIVE ! HORSES HOME & FELT HAPPI] & QUIET] :5  
HE WAS SADDL$ & ! OLD MAN HAD M\NT$ HIM4 

,GOD KN[S :AT ! GELD+ WAS ?9K+ AS HE C>RI$ OLD ,NE/] ON HIS BACK3  
:E!R HE ?\<T BITT]LY ( ! P]T9ACI\S & M]CILESS Y\NG/]S OR  
=GAVE HIS TORM5TORS ) ! CONTEMPTU\S & SIL5T PRIDE SUIT$ OLD AGE4 ,AT  
ALL EV5TS HE DID NOT BETRAY HIS ?\<TS TILL HE REA*$ HOME4 

,?AT EV5+ AS ,NE/] DROVE ! HORSES PA/ ! HUTS ( ! DOME/IC S]FS1  
HE NOTIC$ A PEASANT HORSE & C>T TE!R$ TO HIS POR*3 SOME FRI5DS HAD COME  
TO SEE HIM4 ,:5 DRIV+ ! HORSES 9 HE WAS 9 SU* A HURRY ?AT HE LET !  
GELD+ 9 )\T UNSADDL+ HIM &1 %\T+ TO ,VASKA TO DO IT1 %UT ! GATE  
& W5T TO HIS FRI5DS4 ,:E!R BECAUSE ( ! AFFRONT TO ! :ITE-SPOTT$  
FILLY - ,CREAMY'S GREAT- GR&-DAU<T] - BY ?AT 0MANGY TRA%0 B\<T AT !  
HORSE FAIR1 :O DID NOT KN[ HIS FA!R OR MO!R1 & ! CONSEQU5T \TRAGE TO  
! >I/OCRATIC S5TIM5T ( ! :OLE H]D1 OR BECAUSE ! GELD+ ) HIS  
HI< SADDLE & )\T A RID] PRES5T$ A /RANGELY FANTA/IC SPECTACLE TO !  
HORSES1 AT ANY RATE SOME?+ QUITE UNUSUAL OCCURR$ ?AT NI<T 9 ! PADDOCK4  
,ALL ! HORSES1 Y\NG & OLD1 RAN AFT] ! GELD+1 %[+ !IR TEE? &  
DRIV+ HIM ALL R\ND ! Y>D2 ONE HE>D ! S\ND ( HO(S /RIK+ AGA9/  
HIS B>E RIBS1 & HIS DEEP MOAN+4 ,HE C\LD NO LONG] 5DURE ?IS1 NOR C\LD  
HE AVOID ! BL[S4 ,HE /OPP$ 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! PADDOCK1 HIS FACE EXPRESS+  
FIR/ ! REPULSIVE WEAK MALEVOL5CE ( HELPLESS OLD AGE1 & !N DESPAIR3 HE  
DROPP$ HIS E>S1 & !N SOME?+ HAPP5$ ?AT CAUS$ ALL ! HORSES TO  
QUIET D[N4 ,! OLDE/ ( ! M>ES1 ,VYAZAPURIKHA1 W5T UP TO ! GELD+1  
SNIFF$ AT HIM1 & SI<$4 ,! GELD+ SI<$ TOO4 4 4 4 

,9 ! MIDDLE ( ! MOONLIT PADDOCK /OOD ! TALL GAUNT FIGURE ( !  
GELD+1 /ILL WE>+ ! HI< SADDLE ) ITS PROM95T PEAK AT ! B[4 ,!  
HORSES /OOD MOTIONLESS & 9 DEEP SIL5CE >\ND HIM AS IF !Y W]E LE>N+  
SOME?+ NEW & UNEXPECT$4 

,?IS IS :AT !Y LE>N$ FROM HIM 4 4 4 

,FIR/ ,NI<T 

,YES1 ,I AM ! SON ( ,AFFABLE ,I & ( ,BABA4 ,MY P$IGREE NAME IS ,MUZHIK1  
& ,I WAS NICKNAM$ ,/RID] BY ! CR[D BECAUSE ( MY LONG & SWEEP+  
/RIDES1 ! LIKE ( :I* WAS NO:]E TO BE F\ND 9 ALL ,RUSSIA4 ,!RE IS NO  
MORE ?OR\<BR$ HORSE 9 ! WORLD4 ,I %\LD NEV] HAVE TOLD Y\ ?IS4 ,:AT  
GOOD W\LD IT HAVE DONE8 ,Y\ W\LD NEV] HAVE RECOGNIZ$ ME3 EV5 ,VYAZAPURIKHA1  
:O WAS ) ME 9 ,KHR5OVO1 DID NOT RECOGNIZE ME TILL N[4 ,Y\ W\LD NOT HAVE  
BELIEV$ ME IF ,VYAZAPURIKHA W]E NOT H]E TO BE MY WITNESS1 & ,I %\LD NEV]  
HAVE TOLD Y\ ?IS4 ,I DON'T NE$ EQU9E SYMPA?Y4 ,BUT Y\ WI%$ IT4 ,YES1 ,I AM  
?AT ,/RID] :OM CONNOISSEURS >E LOOK+ = & CANNOT F9D - ?AT ,/RID]  
:OM ! C\NT HIMSELF KNEW & GOT RID ( FROM HIS /UD BECAUSE ,I \TRAN ,SWAN1  
HIS FAVORITE4 

,:5 ,I WAS BORN ,I DID NOT KN[ :AT "9PIEBALD"9 MEANT - ,I ?\<T ,I WAS JU/  
A HORSE4 ,I REMEMB] ?AT ! FIR/ REM>K WE HE>D AB\T MY COLOR /RUCK MY  
MO!R & ME DEEPLY4 

,I SUPPOSE ,I WAS BORN 9 ! NI<T2 BY ! MORN+1 HAV+ BE5 LICK$ OV]  
BY MY MO!R1 ,I ALREADY /OOD ON MY FEET4 ,I REMEMB] ,I KEPT WANT+ SOME?+  
& ?AT EV]Y?+ SEEM$ V]Y SURPRIS+ & YET V]Y SIMPLE4 ,\R /ALLS  
OP5$ 9TO A LONG W> PASSAGE & HAD LATTIC$ DOORS ?R\< :I* EV]Y?+  
C\LD BE SE54 

,MY MO!R (F]$ ME H] TEATS BUT ,I WAS /ILL SO 9NOC5T ?AT ,I POK$ MY  
NOSE N[ BETWE5 H] =ELEGS & N[ UND] H] UDD]4 ,SUDD5LY %E GLANC$ AT  
! LATTIC$ DOOR & LIFT+ H] LEG OV] ME /EPP$ ASIDE4 ,! GROOM ON DUTY  
WAS LOOK+ 9TO \R /ALL ?R\< ! LATTICE4 

0,:Y1 ,BABA HAS FOAL$60 HE SAID1 & BEGAN TO DRAW ! BOLT4 ,HE CAME 9  
OV] ! FRE% B$D+ & PUT HIS >MS R\ND ME4 0,JU/ LOOK1 ,T>AS60 HE  
%\T$1 0:AT A PIEBALD HE IS - A REGUL> MAGPIE60 

,I D>T$ AWAY FROM HIM & FELL ON MY KNEES4 

0,LOOK AT HIM - ! LITTLE DEVIL60 

,MY MO!R BECAME DISQUIET$ BUT DID NOT TAKE MY P>T2 %E ONLY /EPP$ A  
LITTLE TO ONE SIDE ) A V]Y DEEP SI<4 ,O!R GROOMS CAME TO LOOK AT ME1 &  
ONE ( !M RAN TO TELL ! /UD GROOM4 

,EV]YBODY LAU<$ :5 !Y LOOK$ AT MY SPOTS1 & !Y GAVE ME ALL K9DS  
( /RANGE NAMES1 BUT NEI!R ,I NOR MY MO!R UND]/OOD ?OSE WORDS4 ,TILL !N  
!RE HAD BE5 NO PIEBALDS AMONG ALL MY RELATIVES4 ,WE DID NOT ?9K !RE WAS  
ANY?+ BAD 9 IT4 ,EV]YBODY EV5 PRAIS$ MY /R5G? & MY =M4 

0,SEE :AT A FRISKY FELL[60 SAID ! GROOM4 0,!RE'S NO HOLD+ HIM40 

,BE=E LONG ! /UD GROOM CAME & BEGAN TO EXPRESS A/ONI%M5T AT MY  
COLOR2 HE EV5 SEEM$ AGGRIEV$4 

0,& :O DOES ! LITTLE MON/] TAKE AFT]80 HE SAID4 0,! G5]AL WON'T  
KEEP HIM 9 ! /UD4 ,OH1 ,BABA1 Y\ HAVE PLAY$ ME A TRICK60 HE ADDRESS$ MY  
MO!R4 0,Y\ MI<T AT LEA/ HAVE DROPP$ ONE ) JU/ A /> - BUT ?IS ONE IS  
ALL PIEBALD60 

,MY MO!R DID NOT REPLY BUT AS USUAL ON SU* OCCASIONS DREW A SI<4 

0,& :AT DEVIL DOES HE TAKE AFT] - HE'S JU/ LIKE A PEASANT-HORSE60 HE  
CONT9U$4 0,HE CAN'T BE LEFT 9 ! /UD - HE'D %AME US4 ,BUT HE'S WELL BUILT -  
V]Y WELL60 SAID HE1 & SO DID EV]YONE :O SAW ME4 

,A FEW DAYS LAT] ! G5]AL HIMSELF CAME & LOOK$ AT ME1 & AGA9  
EV]YONE SEEM$ HORRIFI$ AT SOME?+1 & ABUS$ ME & MY MO!R = !  
COLOR ( MY HAIR4 0,BUT HE'S A F9E COLT - V]Y F9E60 SAID ALL :O SAW ME4 

,UNTIL SPR+ WE ALL LIV$ SEP>ATELY 9 ! BROOD M>ES' /ABLE1 EA* )  
\R MO!R1 & ONLY OCCASIONALLY :5 ! SN[ ON ! /ABLE RO(S BEGAN TO  
MELT 9 ! SUN W]E WE LET \T ) \R MO!RS 9TO ! L>GE PADDOCK /REWN  
) FRE% /RAW4 ,!RE ,I FIR/ CAME TO KN[ ALL MY NE> & MY DI/ANT  
RELATIONS4 ,H]E ,I SAW ALL ! FAM\S M>ES ( ! DAY COM+ \T FROM DIFF]5T  
DOORS ) !IR LITTLE FOALS4 ,!RE WAS ! OLD M>E ,DUT*1 ,FLY 7,CREAMY'S  
DAU<T]71 ,RUDDY ! RID+-HORSE1 ,WELLWI%] - ALL CELEBRITIES AT ?AT TIME4  
,!Y ALL GA!R$ TOGE!R ) !IR FOALS1 WALK+ AB\T 9 ! SUN%9E1  
ROLL+ ON ! FRE% /RAW & SNIFF+ AT ONE ANO!R LIKE ORD9>Y HORSES4 ,I  
HAVE NEV] =GOTT5 ! SI<T ( ?AT PADDOCK FULL ( ! BEAUTIES ( ?AT DAY4  
,IT SEEMS /RANGE TO Y\ TO ?9K1 & H>D TO BELIEVE1 ?AT ,I WAS EV] Y\NG &  
FRISKY1 BUT IT WAS SO4 ,?IS SAME ,VYAZAPURIKHA WAS !N A YE>L+ FILLY :OSE  
MANE HAD JU/ BE5 CUT2 A DE>1 M]RY1 LIVELY LITTLE ?+1 BUT - & ,I DO NOT  
SAY IT TO (F5D H] - AL?\< AMONG Y\ %E IS N[ CONSID]$ A REM>KABLE  
?OR\<BR$ %E WAS !N AMONG ! POORE/ HORSES 9 ! /UD4 ,%E WILL H]SELF  
CONFIRM ?IS4 

,MY MOTTL$ APPE>ANCE1 :I* M5 SO DISLIK$1 WAS V]Y ATTRACTIVE TO ALL  
! HORSES2 !Y ALL CAME R\ND ME1 ADMIR$ ME1 & FRISK$ AB\T ) ME4 ,I  
BEGAN TO =GET :AT M5 SAID AB\T MY MOTTL$ APPE>ANCE & FELT HAPPY4 ,BUT ,I  
SOON EXP]I5C$ ! FIR/ SORR[ ( MY LIFE & ! CAUSE ( IT WAS MY MO!R4  
,:5 ! ?AW HAD SET 91 ! SP>R[S TWITT]$ UND] ! EAVES1 SPR+ WAS  
FELT MORE /RONGLY 9 ! AIR1 & MY MO!R'S TREATM5T ( ME *ANG$4 

,H] :OLE DISPOSITION *ANG$3 %E W\LD FRISK AB\T )\T ANY REASON  
& RUN R\ND ! Y>D1 :I* DID NOT AT ALL ACCORD ) H] DIGNIFI$ AGE2 !N  
%E W\LD CONSID] & BEG9 TO NEI<1 & W\LD BITE & KICK H] SI/] M>ES1  
& !N BEG9 TO SNIFF AT ME & SNORT DISCONT5T$LY2 !N ON GO+ \T 9TO  
! SUN %E W\LD LAY H] HEAD ACROSS ! %\LD] ( H] C\S91 ,LADY ,M]*ANT1  
DREAMILY RUB H] BACK1 & PU% ME AWAY FROM H] TEATS4 

,ONE DAY ! /UD GROOM CAME & HAD A HALT] PUT ON H] & %E WAS L$  
\T ( ! /ALL4 ,%E NEI<$ & ,I ANSW]$ & RU%$ AFT] H]1 BUT %E DID  
NOT EV5 LOOK BACK AT ME4 ,! /RAPP]1 ,T>AS1 SEIZ$ ME 9 HIS >MS :ILE !Y  
W]E CLOS+ ! DOOR AFT] MY MO!R HAD BE5 L$ \T4 

,I BOLT$ & UPSET ! /RAPP] ON ! /RAW1 BUT ! DOOR WAS %UT & ,I  
C\LD ONLY HE> ! REC$+ S\ND ( MY MO!R'S NEI<+2 & ?AT NEI< DID  
NOT S\ND LIKE A CALL TO ME BUT HAD ANO!R EXPRESSION4 ,H] VOICE WAS ANSW]$  
FROM AF> BY A P[]FUL VOICE - ?AT ( ,DOBRY ,I1 AS ,I LE>N$ LAT]1 :O WAS  
BE+ L$ BY TWO GROOMS1 ONE ON EA* SIDE1 TO MEET MY MO!R4 

,I DON'T REMEMB] H[ ,T>AS GOT \T ( MY /ALL3 ,I FELT TOO SAD1 = ,I KNEW  
?AT ,I HAD LO/ MY MO!R'S LOVE = EV]4 0,& IT'S ALL BECAUSE ,I AM PIEBALD60  
,I ?\<T1 REMEMB]+ :AT PEOPLE SAID AB\T MY COLOR1 & SU* PASSIONATE  
ANG] OV]CAME ME ?AT ,I BEGAN TO BEAT MY HEAD & KNEES AGA9/ ! WALLS (  
! /ALL & CONT9U$ TILL ,I WAS SWEAT+ ALL OV] & QUITE EXHAU/$4 

,AFT] A :ILE MY MO!R CAME BACK TO ME4 ,I HE>D H] RUN UP ! PASSAGE AT  
A TROT & ) AN UNUSUAL GAIT4 ,!Y OP5$ ! DOOR = H] & ,I H>DLY KNEW  
H] - %E HAD GR[N SO MU* Y\NG] & MORE BEAUTIFUL4 ,%E SNIFF$ AT ME1  
SNORT$1 & BEGAN TO :9NY4 ,H] :OLE DEMEANOR %[$ ?AT %E NO LONG]  
LOV$ ME4 

,%E TOLD ME ( ,DOBRY'S BEAUTY & H] LOVE ( HIM4 ,?OSE MEET+S  
CONT9U$ & ! RELATIONS BETWE5 MY MO!R & ME GREW COLD] & COLD]4 

,SOON AFT] ?AT WE W]E LET \T TO PA/URE4 ,I N[ DISCOV]$ NEW JOYS  
:I* MADE UP TO ME = ! LOSS ( MY MO!R'S LOVE4 ,I HAD FRI5DS &  
COMPANIONS4 ,TOGE!R WE LE>N$ TO EAT GRASS1 TO NEI< LIKE ! GR[N-UPS1 & TO  
GALLOP R\ND \R MO!RS ) LIFT$ TAILS4 ,?AT WAS A HAPPY TIME4 ,EV]Y?+  
WAS =GIV5 ME1 EV]YBODY LOV$ ME1 ADMIR$ ME1 & LOOK$ 9DULG5TLY AT  
ANY?+ ,I DID4 ,BUT ?AT DID NOT LA/ LONG4 

,SOON AFT]W>DS SOME?+ DREADFUL HAPP5$ TO ME4 4 4 4 

,! GELD+ HEAV$ A DEEP SI< & WALK$ AWAY FROM ! O!R HORSES4 

,! DAWN HAD BROK5 LONG BE=E4 ,! GATES CREAK$4 ,NE/] CAME 91 & !  
HORSES SEP>AT$4 ,! KEEP] /RAI<T5$ ! SADDLE ON ! GELD+'S BACK &  
DROVE ! HORSES \T4 

,SECOND ,NI<T 

,AS SOON AS ! HORSES HAD BE5 DRIV5 9 !Y AGA9 GA!R$ R\ND !  
PIEBALD1 :O CONT9U$3 

,9 ,AUGU/ !Y SEP>AT$ ME FROM MY MO!R & ,I DID NOT FEEL P>TICUL>LY  
GRIEV$4 ,I SAW ?AT %E WAS AGA9 HEAVY 7) MY BRO!R1 ! FAM\S ,USAN7 &  
?AT ,I C\LD NO LONG] BE TO H] :AT ,I HAD BE54 ,I WAS NOT JEAL\S BUT FELT  
?AT ,I HAD BECOME 9DIFF]5T TO H]4 ,BESIDES1 ,I KNEW ?AT HAV+ LEFT MY MO!R  
,I %\LD BE PUT 9 ! G5]AL DIVISION ( FOALS1 :]E WE W]E KEPT TWO OR  
?REE TOGE!R & W]E EV]Y DAY LET \T 9 A CR[D 9TO ! OP54 ,I WAS 9 !  
SAME /ALL ) ,D>L+4 ,D>L+ WAS A SADDLE-HORSE1 :O WAS SUBSEQU5TLY RIDD5  
BY ! ,EMP]OR & PORTRAY$ 9 PICTURES & SCULPTURE4 ,AT ?AT TIME HE WAS A  
M]E FOAL1 ) A S(T GLOSSY COAT1 A SWANLIKE NECK1 & /RAI<T SL5D] LEGS  
TAUT AS ! /R+S ( AN 9/RUM5T4 ,HE WAS ALWAYS LIVELY1 GOOD-TEMP]$1 &  
AMIABLE1 ALWAYS READY TO GAMBOL1 EX*ANGE LICKS1 & LAY TRICKS ON HORSE OR MAN4  
,LIV+ TOGE!R AS WE DID WE 9VOLUNT>ILY MADE FRI5DS1 & \R FRI5D%IP  
LA/$ ! :OLE ( \R Y\?4 ,HE WAS M]RY & GIDDY4 ,EV5 !N HE BEGAN TO  
MAKE LOVE1 C\RT$ ! FILLIES1 & LAU<$ AT MY GUILELESSNESS4 ,TO MY  
MIS=TUNE VANITY L$ ME TO IMITATE HIM1 & ,I WAS SOON C>RI$ AWAY & FELL 9  
LOVE4 ,& ?IS E>LY T5D5CY ( M9E WAS ! CAUSE ( ! GREATE/ *ANGE 9 MY  
FATE4 ,IT HAPP5$ ?AT ,I WAS C>RI$ AWAY444 ,VYAZAPURIKHA WAS A YE> OLD] ?AN  
,I1 & WE W]E SPECIAL FRI5DS1 BUT T[>DS ! AUTUMN ,I NOTIC$ ?AT %E BEGAN  
TO BE %Y ) ME444 

,BUT ,I WILL NOT SPEAK ( ?AT UN=TUNATE P]IOD ( MY FIR/ LOVE2 %E  
H]SELF REMEMB]S MY MAD PASSION1 :I* 5D$ = ME 9 ! MO/ IMPORTANT  
*ANGE ( MY LIFE4 

,! /RAPP]S RU%$ TO DRIVE H] AWAY & TO BEAT ME4 ,?AT EV5+ ,I WAS  
%UT UP 9 A SPECIAL /ALL :]E ,I NEI<$ ALL NI<T AS IF =ESEE+ :AT WAS  
TO HAPP5 NEXT4 

,9 ! MORN+ ! ,G5]AL1 ! /UD GROOM1 ! /ABLEM5 & !  
/RAPP]S CAME 9TO ! PASSAGE :]E MY /ALL WAS1 & !RE WAS A T]RIBLE  
HUBBUB4 ,! ,G5]AL SAID ?AT HE W\LD HAVE EV]YBODY FLOGG$1 & ?AT IT W\LD  
NOT DO TO KEEP Y\NG /ALLIONS4 ,! /UD GROOM PROMIS$ ?AT HE W\LD HAVE  
EV]Y?+ ATT5D$ TO4 ,!Y GREW QUIET & W5T AWAY4 ,I DID NOT UND]/&  
ANY?+1 BUT C\LD SEE ?AT !Y W]E PLANN+ SOME?+ CONC]N+ ME4 

,! DAY AFT] ?AT ,I CEAS$ NEI<+ = EV]4 ,I BECAME :AT ,I AM N[4 ,!  
:OLE WORLD WAS *ANG$ 9 MY EYES4 ,NO?+ MATT]$ ANY MORE2 ,I BECAME  
SELF-ABSORB$ & BEGAN TO BROOD4 ,AT FIR/ EV]Y?+ SEEM$ REPULSIVE TO ME4 ,I  
EV5 CEAS$ TO EAT1 DR9K1 OR WALK1 & !RE WAS NO IDEA ( PLAY+4 ,N[ &  
!N IT OCCURR$ TO ME TO GIVE A KICK1 TO GALLOP1 OR TO />T NEI<+1 BUT  
IMM$IATELY CAME ! QUE/ION3 ,:Y8 ,:AT =8 & ALL MY 5]GY DI$ AWAY4 

,ONE EV5+ ,I WAS BE+ EX]CIS$ JU/ :5 ! HORSES W]E DRIV5 BACK  
FROM PA/URE4 ,I SAW 9 ! DI/ANCE A CL\D ( DU/ 5VELOP+ ! 9DI/9CT  
BUT FAMILI> \TL9ES ( ALL \R BROOD M>ES4 ,I HE>D !IR *E]FUL SNORT+  
& ! TRAMPL+ ( !IR FEET4 ,I /OPP$1 ?\< ! CORD ( ! HALT] BY  
:I* ! GROOM WAS LEAD+ ME CUT ! NAPE ( MY NECK1 & ,I GAZ$ AT !  
APPROA*+ DROVE AS ONE GAZES AT HAPP9ESS ?AT IS LO/ = EV] & CANNOT  
RETURN4 ,!Y APPROA*$1 & ,I C\LD DI/+UI% ONE AFT] ANO!R ALL !  
FAMILI>1 BEAUTIFUL1 /ATELY1 HEAL?Y1 SLEEK FIGURES4 ,SOME ( !M ALSO TURN$  
TO LOOK AT ME4 ,I WAS UNCONSCI\S ( ! PA9 ! GROOM'S J]K+ AT MY HALT]  
9FLICT$4 ,I =GOT MYSELF & FROM OLD HABIT 9VOLUNT>ILY NEI<$ & BEGAN TO  
TROT1 BUT MY NEI<+ S\ND$ SAD1 RIDICUL\S1 & MEAN+LESS4 ,NO ONE 9 !  
DROVE MADE SPORT ( ME1 BUT ,I NOTIC$ ?AT \T ( DECORUM MANY ( !M TURN$  
AWAY FROM ME4 ,!Y EVID5TLY FELT IT REPUGNANT1 PITIABLE1 9DELICATE1 & ABOVE  
ALL RIDICUL\S1 TO LOOK AT MY ?9 EXPRESSIONLESS NECK1 MY L>GE HEAD 7,I HAD  
GR[N LEAN 9 ! MEANTIME71 MY LONG1 AWKW>D LEGS1 & ! SILLY AWKW>D GAIT  
) :I* BY =CE ( HABIT ,I TROTT$ R\ND ! GROOM4 ,NO ONE ANSW]$ MY  
NEI<+ - !Y ALL LOOK$ AWAY4 ,SUDD5LY ,I UND]/OOD IT ALL1 UND]/OOD H[  
F> ,I WAS = EV] REMOV$ FROM !M1 & ,I DO NOT REMEMB] H[ ,I GOT HOME )  
! GROOM4 

,ALREADY BE=E ?AT ,I HAD %[N A T5D5CY T[>DS GRAVITY &  
?\<TFULNESS1 BUT N[ A DECID$ *ANGE CAME OV] ME4 ,MY BE+ PIEBALD1 :I*  
>\S$ SU* CURI\S CONTEMPT 9 M51 MY T]RIBLE & UNEXPECT$ MIS=TUNE1 &  
ALSO MY PECULI> POSITION 9 ! /UD F>M :I* ,I FELT BUT WAS UNABLE TO  
EXPLA9 MADE ME RETIRE 9TO MYSELF4 ,I POND]$ OV] ! 9JU/ICE ( M51 :O  
BLAM$ ME = BE+ PIEBALD2 ,I POND]$ ON ! 9CON/ANCY ( MO!R-LOVE &  
FEM99E LOVE 9 G5]AL & ON ITS DEP5D5CE ON PHYSICAL CONDITIONS2 & ABOVE  
ALL ,I POND]$ ON ! *>ACT]I/ICS ( ?AT /RANGE RACE ( ANIMALS ) :OM  
WE >E SO CLOSELY CONNECT$1 & :OM WE CALL M5 - ?OSE *>ACT]I/ICS :I*  
W]E ! S\RCE ( MY [N PECULI> POSITION 9 ! /UD F>M1 :I* ,I FELT BUT  
C\LD NOT UND]/&4 

,! MEAN+ ( ?IS PECULI>ITY 9 PEOPLE & ! *>ACT]I/IC ON :I*  
IT IS BAS$ WAS %[N ME BY ! FOLL[+ OCCURR5CE4 

,IT WAS 9 W9T] AT HOLIDAY TIME4 ,I HAD NOT BE5 F$ OR WAT]$ ALL DAY4  
,AS ,I LE>N$ LAT] ?IS HAPP5$ BECAUSE ! LAD :O F$ US WAS DRUNK4 ,?AT DAY  
! /UD GROOM CAME 91 SAW ?AT ,I HAD NO FOOD1 BEGAN TO USE BAD LANGUAGE AB\T  
! MISS+ LAD1 & !N W5T AWAY4 

,NEXT DAY ! LAD CAME 9TO \R /ABLE ) ANO!R GROOM TO GIVE US HAY4 ,I  
NOTIC$ ?AT HE WAS P>TICUL>LY PALE & SAD & ?AT 9 ! EXPRESSION ( HIS  
LONG BACK ESPECIALLY !RE WAS SOME?+ SIGNIFICANT :I* EVOK$ COMPASSION4 

,HE ?REW ! HAY ANGRILY OV] ! GRAT+4 ,I MADE A MOVE TO PUT MY HEAD  
OV] HIS %\LD]1 BUT HE /RUCK ME SU* A PA9FUL BL[ ON ! NOSE ) HIS  
FI/ ?AT ,I />T$ BACK4 ,!N HE KICK$ ME 9 ! BELLY ) HIS BOOT4 

0,IF IT HADN'T BE5 = ?IS SCURVY BEA/10 HE SAID1 0NO?+ W\LD HAVE  
HAPP5$60 

0,H['S ?AT80 9QUIR$ ! O!R GROOM4 

0,Y\ SEE1 HE DOESN'T GO TO LOOK AFT] ! C\NT'S HORSES BUT VISITS HIS  
[N TWICE A DAY40 

0,:AT1 HAVE !Y GIV5 HIM ! PIEBALD80 ASK$ ! O!R4 

0,GIV5 IT1 OR SOLD IT - ! DEVIL ONLY KN[S6 ,! C\NT'S HORSES MI<T ALL  
/>VE - HE W\LDN'T C>E - BUT JU/ D>E TO LEAVE "9HIS"9 COLT )\T FOOD6 ',LIE  
D[N6' HE SAYS1 & !Y BEG9 WALLOP+ ME6 ,NO ,*RI/IANITY 9 IT4 ,HE HAS MORE  
PITY ON A BEA/ ?AN ON A MAN4 ,HE MU/ BE AN 9FIDEL - HE C\NT$ ! /ROKES  
HIMSELF1 ! B>B>IAN6 ,! G5]AL NEV] FLOGG$ LIKE ?AT6 ,MY :OLE BACK IS  
COV]$ ) :EALS4 ,!RE'S NO ,*RI/IAN S\L 9 HIM60 

,:AT !Y SAID AB\T FLOGG+ & ,*RI/IANITY ,I UND]/OOD WELL 5\<1  
BUT ,I WAS QUITE 9 ! D>K AS TO :AT !Y MEANT BY ! WORDS 0HIS COLT10 FROM  
:I* ,I P]CEIV$ ?AT PEOPLE CONSID]$ ?AT !RE WAS SOME CONNECTION BETWE5  
ME & ! HEAD GROOM4 ,:AT ! CONNECTION WAS ,I C\LD NOT AT ALL UND]/&  
!N4 ,ONLY MU* LAT] :5 !Y SEP>AT$ ME FROM ! O!R HORSES DID ,I LE>N  
:AT IT MEANT4 ,AT ?AT TIME ,I C\LD NOT AT ALL UND]/& :AT !Y MEANT BY  
SPEAK+ ( "9ME"9 AS BE+ A MAN'S PROP]TY4 ,! WORDS 0MY HORSE0 APPLI$ TO ME1  
A LIVE HORSE1 SEEM$ TO ME AS /RANGE AS TO SAY 0MY L&10 0MY AIR10 OR 0MY  
WAT]40 

,BUT ?OSE WORDS HAD AN 5ORM\S EFFECT ON ME4 ,I ?\<T ( !M CON/ANTLY  
& ONLY AFT] LONG & V>I$ RELATIONS ) M5 DID ,I AT LA/ UND]/& !  
MEAN+ !Y ATTA* TO !SE /RANGE WORDS1 :I* 9DICATE ?AT M5 >E GUID$  
9 LIFE NOT BY DE$S BUT BY WORDS4 ,!Y LIKE NOT SO MU* TO DO OR AB/A9 FROM  
DO+ ANY?+1 AS TO BE ABLE TO APPLY CONV5TIONAL WORDS TO DIFF]5T OBJECTS4  
,SU* WORDS1 CONSID]$ V]Y IMPORTANT AMONG !M1 >E MY & M9E1 :I* !Y  
APPLY TO V>I\S ?+S1 CREATURES OR OBJECTS3 EV5 TO L&1 PEOPLE1 & HORSES4  
,!Y HAVE AGRE$ ?AT ( ANY GIV5 ?+ ONLY ONE P]SON MAY USE ! WORD  
"9M9E"91 & HE :O 9 ?IS GAME ( !IRS MAY USE ?AT CONV5TIONAL WORD AB\T  
! GREATE/ NUMB] ( ?+S IS CONSID]$ ! HAPPIE/4 ,:Y ?IS IS SO ,I DO  
NOT KN[1 BUT IT IS SO4 ,= A LONG TIME ,I TRI$ TO EXPLA9 IT BY SOME DIRECT  
ADVANTAGE !Y D]IVE FROM IT1 BUT ?IS PROV$ WRONG4 

,= 9/ANCE1 MANY ( ?OSE :O CALL$ ME !IR HORSE DID NOT RIDE ME1  
QUITE O!R PEOPLE RODE ME2 NOR DID !Y FE$ ME - QUITE O!R PEOPLE DID ?AT4  
,AGA9 IT WAS NOT ?OSE :O CALL$ ME "9!IR"9 HORSE :O TREAT$ ME K9DLY1 BUT  
COA*M51 VET]9>IES1 & 9 G5]AL QUITE O!R PEOPLE4 ,LAT] ON1 HAV+  
WID5$ MY FIELD ( OBS]VATION1 ,I BECAME CONV9C$ ?AT NOT ONLY AS APPLI$ TO  
US HORSES1 BUT 9 REG>D TO O!R ?+S1 ! IDEA ( M9E HAS NO O!R BASIS  
?AN A L[1 M]C5>Y 9/9CT 9 M51 :I* !Y CALL ! FEEL+ OR RI<T (  
PROP]TY4 ,A MAN :O NEV] LIVES 9 IT SAYS 0MY H\SE0 BUT ONLY CONC]NS HIMSELF  
) ITS BUILD+ & MA9T5ANCE2 & A TRADESMAN TALKS ( 0MY CLO? BUS9ESS0  
BUT HAS NONE ( HIS CLO!S MADE ( ! BE/ CLO? ?AT IS 9 HIS %OP4 

,!RE >E PEOPLE :O CALL L& !IRS1 ?\< !Y HAVE NEV] SE5 ?AT  
L& & NEV] WALK$ ON IT4 ,!RE >E PEOPLE :O CALL O!R PEOPLE !IRS BUT  
HAVE NEV] SE5 ?OSE O!RS1 & ! :OLE RELATION%IP ( ! [N]S TO !  
[N$ IS ?AT !Y DO !M H>M4 

,!RE >E M5 :O CALL WOM5 !IR WOM5 OR !IR WIVES2 YET !SE WOM5  
LIVE ) O!R M54 ,& M5 /RIVE 9 LIFE NOT TO DO :AT !Y ?9K RI<T BUT  
TO CALL AS MANY ?+S AS POSSIBLE "9!IR [N"94 

,I AM N[ CONV9C$ ?AT 9 ?IS LIES ! ESS5TIAL DIFF]5CE BETWE5 M5  
& US4 ,!RE=E1 NOT TO SPEAK ( O!R ?+S 9 :I* WE >E SUP]IOR TO M51  
ON ?IS GR\ND ALONE WE MAY BOLDLY SAY ?AT 9 ! SCALE ( LIV+ CREATURES WE  
/& HI<] ?AN MAN4 ,! ACTIVITY ( M51 AT ANY RATE ( ?OSE ,I HAVE HAD TO  
DO )1 IS GUID$ BY WORDS1 :ILE \RS IS GUID$ BY DE$S4 

,IT WAS ?IS RI<T TO SPEAK ( ME AS MY HORSE ?AT ! /UD GROOM HAD  
OBTA9$1 & ?AT WAS :Y HE HAD ! /ABLE LAD FLOGG$4 ,?IS DISCOV]Y MU*  
A/ONI%$ ME &1 TOGE!R ) ! ?\<TS & OP9IONS >\S$ 9 M5 BY MY  
PIEBALD COLOR1 & ! ?\<TFULNESS PRODUC$ 9 ME BY MY MO!R'S BETRAYAL1  
CAUS$ ME TO BECOME ! S]I\S & ?\<TFUL GELD+ ?AT ,I AM4 

,I WAS ?RICE UN=TUNATE3 ,I WAS PIEBALD1 ,I WAS A GELD+1 & PEOPLE  
CONSID]$ ?AT ,I DID NOT BELONG TO ,GOD & TO MYSELF1 AS IS NATURAL TO ALL  
LIV+ CREATURES1 BUT ?AT ,I BELONG$ TO ! /UD GROOM4 

,!IR ?9K+ ?IS AB\T ME HAD MANY CONSEQU5CES4 ,! FIR/ WAS ?AT ,I  
WAS KEPT AP>T FROM ! O!R HORSES1 WAS BETT] F$1 (T5] TAK5 \T ON !  
L9E1 & WAS BROK5 9 AT AN E>LI] AGE4 ,I WAS FIR/ H>NESS$ 9 MY ?IRD  
YE>4 ,I REMEMB] H[ ! /UD GROOM1 :O IMAG9$ ,I WAS HIS1 HIMSELF BEGAN TO  
H>NESS ME ) A CR[D ( O!R GROOMS1 EXPECT+ ME TO PROVE UNRULY OR TO  
RESI/4 ,!Y PUT ROPES R\ND ME TO LEAD ME 9TO ! %AFTS1 PUT A CROSS ( BROAD  
/RAPS ON MY BACK & FA/5$ IT TO ! %AFTS SO ?AT ,I C\LD NOT KICK1 :ILE  
,I WAS ONLY AWAIT+ AN OPPORTUNITY TO %[ MY READ9ESS & LOVE ( WORK4 

,!Y W]E SURPRIS$ ?AT ,I />T$ LIKE AN OLD HORSE4 ,!Y BEGAN TO BREAK  
ME & ,I BEGAN TO PRACTICE TROTT+4 ,EV]Y DAY ,I MADE GREAT] & GREAT]  
PROGRESS1 SO ?AT AFT] ?REE MON?S ! G5]AL HIMSELF & MANY O!RS  
APPROV$ ( MY PACE4 ,BUT /RANGE TO SAY1 JU/ BECAUSE !Y CONSID]$ ME NOT AS  
!IR [N1 BUT AS BELONG+ TO ! HEAD GROOM1 !Y REG>D$ MY PACES QUITE  
DIFF]5TLY4 

,! /ALLIONS :O W]E MY BRO!RS W]E RAC$1 !IR RECORDS W]E KEPT1  
PEOPLE W5T TO LOOK AT !M1 DROVE !M 9 GILT SULKIES1 & EXP5SIVE  
HORSE-CLO?S W]E ?R[N OV] !M4 ,I WAS DRIV5 9 A COMMON SULKY TO ,*ESM5KA  
& O!R F>MS ON ! HEAD GROOM'S BUS9ESS4 ,ALL ?IS WAS ! RESULT ( MY  
BE+ PIEBALD1 & ESPECIALLY ( MY BE+ 9 !IR OP9ION1 NOT ! C\NT'S1 BUT  
! HEAD GROOM'S PROP]TY4 

,TOMORR[1 IF WE >E ALIVE1 ,I WILL TELL Y\ ! *IEF CONSEQU5CE = ME (  
?IS RI<T ( PROP]TY ! HEAD GROOM CONSID]$ HIMSELF TO HAVE4 

,ALL ?AT DAY ! HORSES TREAT$ ,/RID] RESPECTFULLY1 BUT ,NE/]'S TREATM5T  
( HIM WAS AS R\< AS EV]4 ,! PEASANT'S LITTLE ROAN HORSE NEI<$ AGA9 ON  
COM+ UP TO ! H]D1 & ! *E/NUT FILLY AGA9 COQUETTI%LY REPLI$ TO HIM4 

,?IRD ,NI<T 

,! NEW MOON HAD RIS5 & ITS N>R[ CRESC5T LIT UP ,/RID]'S FIGURE AS HE  
ONCE AGA9 /OOD 9 ! MIDDLE ( ! /ABLE Y>D4 ,! O!R HORSES CR[D$  
R\ND HIM3 

,! GELD+ CONT9U$3 

,= ME ! MO/ SURPRIS+ CONSEQU5CE ( MY NOT BE+ ! C\NT'S1 NOR  
,GOD'S1 BUT ! HEAD GROOM'S1 WAS ?AT ! V]Y ?+ ?AT CON/ITUTES \R *IEF  
M]IT - A FA/ PACE - WAS ! CAUSE ( MY BANI%M5T4 ,!Y W]E DRIV+ ,SWAN  
R\ND ! TRACK1 & ! HEAD GROOM1 RETURN+ FROM ,*EM5KA1 DROVE ME UP &  
/OPP$ !RE4 ,SWAN W5T PA/4 ,HE W5T WELL1 BUT ALL ! SAME HE WAS %[+ (F  
& HAD NOT ! EXACTITUDE ,I HAD DEVELOP$ 9 MYSELF - SO ?AT DIRECTLY ONE FOOT  
T\*$ ! GR\ND ANO!R 9/ANTANE\SLY LIFT$ & NOT ! SLI<TE/ EF=T  
WAS LO/ BUT EV]Y ATOM ( EX]TION C>RI$ ME =W>D4 ,SWAN W5T BY US4 ,I  
PULL$ T[>DS ! R+ & ! HEAD GROOM DID NOT *ECK ME4 0,H]E1 %ALL ,I TRY  
MY PIEBALD80 HE %\T$1 & :5 NEXT ,SWAN CAME ABREA/ ( US HE LET ME GO4  
,SWAN WAS ALREADY GO+ FA/1 & SO ,I WAS LEFT BEH9D DUR+ ! FIR/ R\ND1  
BUT 9 ! SECOND ,I BEGAN TO GA9 ON HIM1 DREW NE> TO HIS SULKY1 DREW LEVEL -  
& PASS$ HIM4 ,!Y TRI$ US AGA9 - IT WAS ! SAME ?+4 ,I WAS ! FA/]4  
,& ?IS DISMAY$ EV]YBODY4 ,! G5]AL ASK$ ?AT ,I %\LD BE SOLD AT ONCE TO  
SOME DI/ANT PLACE1 SO ?AT NO?+ MORE %\LD BE HE>D ( ME3 0,OR ELSE !  
C\NT WILL GET TO KN[ ( IT & !RE WILL BE TR\BLE60 ,SO !Y SOLD ME TO A  
HORSE-DEAL] AS A %AFT-HORSE4 ,I DID NOT REMA9 ) HIM LONG4 ,AN HUSS> :O  
CAME TO BUY REM\NTS B\<T ME4 ,ALL ?IS WAS SO UNFAIR1 SO CRUEL1 ?AT ,I WAS  
GLAD :5 !Y TOOK ME AWAY FROM ,KHR5OVO & P>T$ ME = EV] FROM ALL ?AT  
HAD BE5 FAMILI> & DE> TO ME4 ,IT WAS TOO PA9FUL = ME AMONG !M4 ,!Y HAD  
LOVE1 HONOR1 FRE$OM1 BE=E !M6 ,I HAD LABOR1 HUMILIATION2 HUMILIATION1  
LABOR1 TO ! 5D ( MY LIFE4 ,& :Y8 ,BECAUSE ,I WAS PIEBALD1 & BECAUSE (  
?AT HAD TO BECOME SOMEBODY'S HORSE4 4 4 4 

,/RID] C\LD NOT CONT9UE ?AT EV5+4 ,AN EV5T OCCURR$ 9 ! 5CLOSURE  
?AT UPSET ALL ! HORSES4 ,KUP*IKHA1 A M>E BIG ) FOAL1 :O HAD /OOD  
LI/5+ TO ! /ORY1 SUDD5LY TURN$ AWAY & WALK$ SL[LY 9TO ! %$1  
& !RE BEGAN TO GROAN SO ?AT IT DREW ! ATT5TION ( ALL ! HORSES4 ,!N  
%E LAY D[N1 !N GOT UP AGA91 & AGA9 LAY D[N4 ,! OLD M>ES UND]/OOD  
:AT WAS HAPP5+ TO H]1 BUT ! Y\NG ONES BECAME EXCIT$ &1 LEAV+ !  
GELD+1 SURR\ND$ ! 9VALID4 ,T[>DS MORN+ !RE WAS A NEW FOAL /&+  
UN/EADILY ON ITS LITTLE LEGS4 ,NE/] %\T$ TO ! GROOM1 & ! M>E &  
FOAL W]E TAK5 9TO A /ALL & ! O!R HORSES DRIV5 TO ! PA/URE )\T  
!M4 

,9 ! EV5+ :5 ! GATE WAS CLOS$ & ALL HAD QUIET$ D[N1 ! PIEBALD  
CONT9U$3 

,I HAVE HAD ! OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MANY OBS]VATIONS BO? ( M5 &  
HORSES DUR+ ! TIME ,I PASS$ FROM H& TO H&4 

,I /AY$ LONGE/ ( ALL ) TWO MA/]S3 A PR9CE 7AN (FIC] (  
HUSS>S71 & LAT] ) AN OLD LADY :O LIV$ NE> ! *UR* ( ,/4 ,NI*OLAS  
! ,WOND] ,WORK]4 

,! HAPPIE/ YE>S ( MY LIFE ,I SP5T ) ! (FIC] ( HUSS>S4 

,?\< HE WAS ! CAUSE ( MY RU91 & ?\< HE NEV] LOV$ ANY?+ OR  
ANYONE1 ,I LOV$ & /ILL LOVE HIM = ?AT V]Y REASON4 

,:AT ,I LIK$ AB\T HIM WAS ?AT HE WAS H&SOME1 HAPPY1 RI*1 &  
!RE=E NEV] LOV$ ANYBODY4 

,Y\ UND]/& ?AT L(TY EQU9E FEEL+ ( \RS4 ,HIS COLDNESS & MY  
DEP5D5CE ON HIM GAVE SPECIAL /R5G? TO MY LOVE = HIM4 0,KILL ME1 DRIVE ME  
TILL MY W9D IS BROK560 ,I US$ TO ?9K 9 \R GOOD DAYS1 0& ,I %ALL BE ALL  
! HAPPI]40 

,HE B\<T ME FROM AN AG5T TO :OM ! HEAD GROOM HAD SOLD ME = EI<T  
HUNDR$ RUBLES1 & HE DID SO JU/ BECAUSE NO ONE ELSE HAD PIEBALD HORSES4 ,?AT  
WAS MY BE/ TIME4 ,HE HAD A MI/RESS4 ,I KNEW ?IS BECAUSE ,I TOOK HIM TO H] EV]Y  
DAY & SOMETIMES TOOK !M BO? \T4 

,HIS MI/RESS WAS A H&SOME WOMAN1 & HE WAS H&SOME1 & HIS COA*MAN  
WAS H&SOME1 & ,I LOV$ !M ALL BECAUSE !Y W]E4 ,LIFE WAS WOR? LIV+  
!N4 ,?IS WAS H[ \R TIME WAS SP5T3 9 ! MORN+ ! GROOM CAME TO RUB ME  
D[N - NOT ! COA*MAN HIMSELF BUT ! GROOM4 ,! GROOM WAS A LAD FROM AMONG  
! PEASANTS4 ,HE W\LD OP5 ! DOOR1 LET \T ! /EAM FROM ! HORSES1 ?R[  
\T ! DROPP+S1 TAKE (F \R RUGS1 & BEG9 TO FIDGET OV] \R BODIES ) A  
BRU%1 & LAY :ITI% /REAKS ( D&RUFF FROM A CURRY-COMB ON ! BO>DS (  
! FLOOR ?AT WAS D5T$ BY \R R\< HORSE%OES4 ,I W\LD PLAYFULLY NIP HIS  
SLEEVE & PAW ! GR\ND4 ,!N WE W]E L$ \T ONE AFT] ANO!R TO ! TR\<  
FILL$ ) COLD WAT]1 & ! LAD W\LD ADMIRE ! SMOO?NESS ( MY SPOTT$  
COAT :I* HE HAD POLI%$1 MY FOOT ) ITS BROAD HO(1 MY LEGS /RAI<T AS AN  
>R[1 MY GLOSSY QU>T]S1 & MY BACK WIDE 5\< TO SLEEP ON4 ,HAY WAS PIL$  
ONTO ! HI< RACKS1 & ! OAK CRIBS W]E FILL$ ) OATS4 ,!N ,FE(AN1 !  
HEAD COA*MAN1 W\LD COME 94 
,MA/] & COA*MAN RESEMBL$ ONE ANO!R4 ,NEI!R (  
    !M WAS AFRAID ( ANY?+ OR C>$ = ANYONE BUT HIMSELF1 & = ?AT  
    REASON EV]YBODY LIK$ !M4 ,FE(AN WORE A R$ %IRT1 BLACK VELVETE5  
    KNICK]BOCK]S1 & A SLEEVELESS COAT4 ,I LIK$ IT ON A HOLIDAY :5 HE W\LD  
    COME 9TO ! /ABLE1 HIS HAIR POMAD$1 & WE>+ HIS SLEEVELESS COAT1 &  
    W\LD %\T1 0,N[ !N1 BEA/IE1 HAVE Y\ =GOTT580 & PU% ME ) !  
    H&LE ( ! /ABLE =K1 NEV] SO AS TO HURT ME BUT JU/ AS A JOKE4 ,I  
    IMM$IATELY KNEW ?AT IT WAS A JOKE & LAID BACK AN E>1 MAK+ MY TEE?  
    CLICK4 
     
     

     
   

,WE HAD A BLACK /ALLION1 :O DROVE 9 A PAIR4  ,AT NI<T !Y US$ TO PUT ME  
9 H>NESS ) HIM4 ,?AT ,POLKAN1 AS HE WAS CALL$1 DID NOT UND]/& A JOKE  
BUT WAS SIMPLY VICI\S AS ! DEVIL4 ,I WAS 9 ! /ALL NEXT TO HIS &  
SOMETIMES WE BIT ONE ANO!R S]I\SLY4  ,FE(AN WAS NOT AFRAID ( HIM4 ,HE W\LD  
COME UP & GIVE A %\T3 IT LOOK$ AS IF ,POLKAN W\LD KILL HIM1 BUT NO1 HE'D  
MISS1 & ,FE(AN W\LD PUT ! H>NESS ON HIM4 

,ONCE HE & ,I BOLT$ D[N ,SMI?S ,BRIDGE ,/REET4 ,NEI!R MY MA/] NOR !  
COA*MAN WAS FRI<T5$2 !Y LAU<$1 %\T$ AT ! PEOPLE1 *ECK$ US1 &  
TURN$ SO ?AT NO ONE WAS RUN OV]4 

,9 !IR S]VICE ,I LO/ MY BE/ QUALITIES & HALF MY LIFE4 ,!Y RU9$ ME  
BY WAT]+ ME WRONGLY1 & !Y F\ND]$ ME4 4 4 4 ,/ILL1 = ALL ?AT1 IT WAS  
! BE/ TIME ( MY LIFE4 ,AT TWELVE O'CLOCK !Y W\LD COME TO H>NESS ME1 BLACK  
MY HO(S1 MOI/5 MY =ELOCK & MANE1 & PUT ME 9 ! %AFTS4 

,! SL$GE WAS ( PLAIT$ CANE UPHOL/]$ ) VELVET2 ! RE9S W]E (  
SILK1 ! H>NESS HAD SILV] BUCKLES1 SOMETIMES !RE WAS A COV] ( SILK5  
FLY-NET1 & ALTOGE!R IT WAS SU* ?AT :5 ALL ! TRACES & /RAPS W]E  
FA/5$ IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SAY :]E ! H>NESS 5D$ & ! HORSE BEGAN4 ,WE  
W]E H>NESS$ AT EASE 9 ! /ABLE4 ,FE(AN W\LD COME1 BROAD] AT HIS HIPS  
?AN AT ! %\LD]S1 HIS R$ BELT UP UND] HIS >MS3 HE W\LD EXAM9E !  
H>NESS1 TAKE HIS SEAT1 WRAP HIS COAT R\ND HIM1 PUT HIS FOOT 9TO ! SL$GE  
/IRRUP1 LET (F SOME JOKE1 & = APPE>ANCE SAKE ALWAYS HANG A :IP OV] HIS  
>M ?\< HE H>DLY EV] HIT ME1 & W\LD SAY1 0,LET GO60 & PLAYFULLY  
/EPP+ FROM FOOT TO FOOT ,I W\LD MOVE \T ( ! GATE1 & ! COOK :O HAD  
COME \T TO EMPTY ! SLOPS W\LD /OP ON ! ?RE%OLD & ! PEASANT :O HAD  
BR\<T WOOD 9TO ! Y>D W\LD OP5 HIS EYES WIDE4 ,WE W\LD COME \T1 GO A  
LITTLE WAY1 & /OP4 ,FOOTM5 W\LD COME \T & O!R COA*M51 & A *ATT]  
W\LD BEG94 ,EV]YBODY W\LD WAIT3 SOMETIMES WE HAD TO /& = ?REE H\RS AT  
! 5TRANCE1 MOV+ A LITTLE WAY1 TURN+ BACK1 & /&+ AGA94 

,AT LA/ !RE W\LD BE A /IR 9 ! HALL3 OLD ,TIKHON ) HIS PAUN*  
W\LD RU% \T 9 HIS DRESS COAT & CRY1 0,DRIVE UP60 7,9 ?OSE DAYS !RE WAS  
NOT ?AT /UPID WAY ( SAY+1 0,=W>D60 AS IF ONE DID NOT KN[ ?AT WE MOV$  
=W>D & NOT BACK47 ,FE(AN W\LD CLUCK1 DRIVE UP1 & ! PR9CE W\LD HURRY  
\T C>ELESSLY1 AS ?\< !RE W]E NO?+ REM>KABLE AB\T ! SL$GE1 OR !  
HORSE1 OR ,FE(AN - :O B5T HIS BACK & /RET*$ \T HIS >MS SO ?AT IT  
SEEM$ IT W\LD BE IMPOSSIBLE = HIM TO KEEP !M LONG 9 ?AT POSITION4 ,!  
PR9CE W\LD HAVE A %AKO ON HIS HEAD & WE> A FUR COAT ) A GRAY BEAV]  
COLL> HID+ HIS ROSY1 BLACK-BR[$1 H&SOME FACE1 ?AT %\LD NEV] HAVE BE5  
CONCEAL$4 ,HE W\LD COME \T CLATT]+ HIS SAB]1 HIS SPURS1 & ! BRASS  
BACKS ( ! HEELS ( HIS OV]%OES1 /EPP+ OV] ! C>PET AS IF 9 A HURRY  
& TAK+ NO NOTICE ( ME OR ,FE(AN :OM EV]YBODY BUT HE LOOK$ AT &  
ADMIR$4 ,FE(AN W\LD CLUCK1 ,I W\LD TUG AT ! RE9S1 & RESPECTABLY1 AT A  
FOOT PACE1 WE W\LD DRAW UP TO ! 5TRANCE & /OP4 ,I W\LD TURN MY EYES ON  
! PR9CE & J]K MY ?OR\<BR$ HEAD ) ITS DELICATE =ELOCK4 4 4 4 ,!  
PR9CE W\LD BE 9 GOOD SPIRITS & W\LD SOMETIMES JE/ ) ,FE(AN4 ,FE(AN  
W\LD REPLY1 HALF TURN+ HIS H&SOME HEAD1 & )\T L[]+ HIS >MS W\LD  
MAKE A SC>CELY P]CEPTIBLE MOVEM5T ) ! RE9S :I* ,I UND]/&3 & !N  
ONE1 TWO1 ?REE 4 4 4 ) EV] WID] & WID] /RIDES1 EV]Y MUSCLE QUIV]+1  
& S5D+ ! MUDDY SN[ AGA9/ ! FRONT ( ! SL$GE1 ,I W\LD GO4 ,9 ?OSE  
DAYS1 TOO1 !RE WAS NONE ( ! PRES5T-DAY /UPID HABIT ( CRY+ 0,OH60 AS IF  
! COA*MAN W]E 9 PA91 9/EAD ( ! S5SIBLE 0,BE (F6 ,TAKE C>E60 ,FE(AN  
W\LD %\T1 0,BE (F6 ,LOOK \T !RE60 & ! PEOPLE W\LD /EP ASIDE & /&  
CRAN+ !IR NECKS TO SEE ! H&SOME GELD+1 ! H&SOME COA*MAN1 & !  
H&SOME G5TLEMAN4 4 4 4 

,I WAS P>TICUL>LY FOND ( PASS+ A TROTT]4 ,:5 ,FE(AN & ,I SAW AT A  
DI/ANCE A TURN-\T WOR?Y ( ! EF=T1 WE W\LD FLY LIKE A :IRLW9D &  
GRADUALLY GA9 ON IT4 ,N[1 ?R[+ ! DIRT RI<T TO ! BACK ( ! SL$GE1 ,I  
W\LD DRAW LEVEL ) ! OCCUPANT ( ! VEHICLE & SNORT ABOVE HIS HEAD3 !N  
,I W\LD REA* ! HORSE'S H>NESS & ! >* ( HIS TROIKA1 & !N W\LD NO  
LONG] SEE IT BUT ONLY HE> ITS S\NDS 9 ! DI/ANCE BEH9D4 ,& ! PR9CE1  
,FE(AN1 & ,I1 W\LD ALL BE SIL5T1 & PRET5D TO BE M]ELY GO+ ON \R [N  
BUS9ESS & NOT EV5 TO NOTICE ?OSE ) SL[ HORSES :OM WE HAPP5$ TO MEET  
ON \R WAY4 ,I LIK$ TO PASS ANO!R HORSE BUT ALSO LIK$ TO MEET A GOOD TROTT]4  
,AN 9/ANT1 A S\ND1 A GLANCE1 & WE HAD PASS$ EA* O!R & W]E FLY+ 9  
OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS4 

,! GATE CREAK$ & ! VOICES ( ,NE/] & ,VASKA W]E HE>D4 

,FIF? ,NI<T 

,! WEA!R BEGAN TO BREAK UP4 ,IT HAD BE5 DULL S9CE MORN+ & !RE WAS  
NO DEW1 BUT IT WAS W>M & ! MOSQUITOES W]E TR\BLESOME4 ,AS SOON AS !  
HORSES W]E DRIV5 9 !Y COLLECT$ R\ND ! PIEBALD1 & HE F9I%$ HIS  
/ORY AS FOLL[S3 

,! HAPPY P]IOD ( MY LIFE WAS SOON OV]4 ,I LIV$ 9 ?AT WAY ONLY TWO  
YE>S4 ,T[>DS ! 5D ( ! SECOND W9T] ! HAPPIE/ EV5T ( MY LIFE  
OCCURR$1 & FOLL[+ IT CAME MY GREATE/ MIS=TUNE4 ,IT WAS DUR+ C>NIVAL  
WEEK4 ,I TOOK ! PR9CE TO ! RACES4 ,GLOSSY & ,BULL W]E RUNN+4 ,I DON'T KN[  
:AT PEOPLE W]E DO+ 9 ! PAVILION1 BUT ,I KN[ ! PR9CE CAME \T &  
ORD]$ ,FE(AN TO DRIVE ONTO ! TRACK4 ,I REMEMB] H[ !Y TOOK ME 9 &  
PLAC$ ME BESIDE ,GLOSSY4 ,HE WAS H>NESS$ TO A RAC+ SULKY & ,I1 JU/ AS ,I  
WAS1 TO A T[N SL$GE4 ,I \T/RIPP$ HIM AT ! TURN4 ,RO>S ( LAU<T] &  
H[LS ( DELI<T GREET$ ME4 

,:5 ,I WAS L$ 91 A CR[D FOLL[$ ME & FIVE OR SIX PEOPLE (F]$ !  
PR9CE ?\S&S = ME4 ,HE ONLY LAU<$1 %[+ HIS :ITE TEE?4 

0,NO10 HE SAID1 0?IS ISN'T A HORSE1 BUT A FRI5D4 ,I W\LDN'T SELL HIM =  
M\NTA9S ( GOLD4 "9,AU REVOIR"91 G5TLEM560 

,HE UNFA/5$ ! SL$GE APRON & GOT 94 

0,TO ,O/OZ5KA ,/REET60 

,?AT WAS :]E HIS MI/RESS LIV$1 & (F WE FLEW4 4 4 4 

,?AT WAS \R LA/ HAPPY DAY4 ,WE REA*$ H] HOME4 ,HE SPOKE ( H] AS HIS1  
BUT %E LOV$ SOMEONE ELSE & HAD RUN AWAY ) HIM4 ,! PR9CE LE>N$ ?IS AT  
H] LODG+S4 ,IT WAS FIVE O'CLOCK1 & )\T UNH>NESS+ ME HE />T$ 9  
PURSUIT ( H]4 ,!Y DID :AT HAD NEV] BE5 DONE TO ME BE=E - /RUCK ME )  
! :IP & MADE ME GALLOP4 ,= ! FIR/ TIME ,I FELL \T ( /EP & FELT  
A%AM$ & WI%$ TO CORRECT IT1 BUT SUDD5LY ,I HE>D ! PR9CE %\T 9 AN  
UNNATURAL VOICE3 0,GET ON60 ,! :IP :I/L$ ?R\< ! AIR & CUT ME1 & ,I  
GALLOP$1 /RIK+ MY FOOT AGA9/ ! IRON FRONT ( ! SL$GE4 ,WE OV]TOOK H]  
AFT] GO+ SIXTE5 MILES4 ,I GOT HIM !RE BUT TREMBL$ ALL NI<T LONG & C\LD  
NOT EAT ANY?+4 ,9 ! MORN+ !Y GAVE ME WAT]4 ,I DRANK IT & AFT] ?AT  
WAS NEV] AGA9 ! HORSE ?AT ,I HAD BE54 ,I WAS ILL1 & !Y TORM5T$ ME &  
MAIM$ ME - DOCTOR+ ME1 AS PEOPLE CALL IT4 ,MY HO(S CAME (F1 ,I HAD SWELL+S  
& MY LEGS GREW B5T2 MY *E/ SANK 9 & ,I BECAME ALTOGE!R LIMP & WEAK4 ,I  
WAS SOLD TO A HORSE-DEAL] :O F$ ME ON C>ROTS & SOME?+ ELSE & MADE  
SOME?+ ( ME QUITE UNLIKE MYSELF1 ?\< GOOD 5\< TO DECEIVE ONE :O DID  
NOT KN[4 ,MY /R5G? & MY PACE W]E GONE4 

,:5 PUR*AS]S CAME ! DEAL] ALSO TORM5T$ ME BY COM+ 9TO MY /ALL  
& BEAT+ ME ) A HEAVY :IP TO FRI<T5 & MADD5 ME4 ,!N HE W\LD RUB  
D[N ! /RIPES ON MY COAT & LEAD ME \T4 

,AN OLD WOMAN B\<T ME ( HIM4 ,%E ALWAYS DROVE TO ! ,*UR* ( ,/4  
,NI*OLAS ! ,WOND] ,WORK]1 & %E US$ TO HAVE H] COA*MAN FLOGG$4 ,HE US$  
TO WEEP 9 MY /ALL & ,I LE>N$ ?AT TE>S HAVE A PLEASANT1 SALTY TA/E4 ,!N  
! OLD WOMAN DI$4 ,H] /EW>D TOOK ME TO ! C\NTRY & SOLD ME TO A HAWK]4  
,!N ,I OV]ATE MYSELF ) :EAT & GREW /ILL WORSE4 ,!Y SOLD ME TO A  
PEASANT4 ,!RE ,I PL[$1 & HAD H>DLY ANY?+ TO EAT1 MY FOOT GOT CUT BY A  
PL[%>E1 & ,I AGA9 BECAME ILL4 ,!N A GYPSY TOOK ME 9 EX*ANGE =  
SOME?+4 ,HE TORM5T$ ME T]RIBLY & F9ALLY SOLD ME TO ! /EW>D H]E4 ,&  
H]E ,I AM4 

,ALL W]E SIL5T4 ,A SPR9KL+ ( RA9 BEGAN TO FALL4 

,! ,EV5+ ,AFT] 

,AS ! H]D RETURN$ HOME ! FOLL[+ EV5+ !Y 5C\NT]$ !IR MA/]  
) A VISITOR4 ,ZHULDYBA :5 NE>+ ! H\SE LOOK$ ASKANCE AT ! TWO MALE  
FIGURES3 ONE WAS ! Y\NG MA/] 9 HIS /RAW HAT1 ! O!R A TALL1 /\T1  
BLOAT$ MILIT>Y MAN4 ,! OLD M>E GAVE ! MAN A SIDE-GLANCE &1 SW]V+1  
W5T NE> HIM2 ! O!RS1 ! Y\NG ONES1 W]E FLU/]$ & HESITAT$1  
ESPECIALLY :5 ! MA/] & HIS VISITOR PURPOSELY /EPP$ AMONG !M1  
PO9T+ SOME?+ \T TO ONE ANO!R & TALK+4 

0,?AT ONE1 ! DAPPLE GRAY1 ,I B\<T ( ,VOEKOV10 SAID ! MA/]4 

0,& :]E DID Y\ GET ?AT Y\NG BLACK M>E ) ! :ITE LEGS8 ,%E'S A  
F9E ONE60 SAID ! VISITOR4 ,!Y LOOK$ OV] MANY ( ! HORSES GO+ =W>D  
& /OPP+ !M4 ,!Y NOTIC$ ! *E/NUT FILLY TOO4 

0,?AT IS ONE ,I KEPT ( ,KHR5OV'S SADDLE-HORSE BRE$10 SAID ! MA/]4 

,!Y C\LD NOT SEE ALL ! HORSES AS !Y WALK$ PA/1 & ! MA/] CALL$  
TO ,NE/]1 & ! OLD MAN1 TAPP+ ! SIDES ( ! PIEBALD ) HIS HEELS1  
TROTT$ =W>D4 ,! PIEBALD LIMP$ ON ONE LEG BUT MOV$ 9 A WAY ?AT %[$  
?AT AS LONG AS HIS /R5G? LA/$ HE W\LD NOT MURMUR ON ANY ACC\NT1 EV5 IF  
!Y WANT$ HIM TO RUN 9 ?AT WAY TO ! 5D ( ! WORLD4 ,HE WAS EV5 READY TO  
GALLOP & TRI$ TO DO SO ) HIS RI<T LEG4 

0,!RE1 ,I CAN SAY = C]TA9 !RE IS O BETT] HORSE 9 ,RUSSIA ?AN ?IS  
ONE10 SAID ! MA/]1 PO9T+ TO ONE ( ! M>ES4 ,! VISITOR ADMIR$ IT4 ,!  
MA/] WALK$ AB\T EXCIT$LY1 RAN =W>D1 & %[$ HIS VISITOR ALL !  
HORSES1 M5TION+ ! ORIG9 & P$IGREE ( EA*4 ,! VISITOR EVID5TLY F\ND  
! MA/]'S TALK DULL BUT DEVIS$ SOME QUE/IONS TO %[ 9T]E/4 

0,YES1 YES10 HE SAID ABS5T-M9D$LY4 

0,JU/ LOOK10 SAID ! MA/]1 NOT ANSW]+ A QUE/ION4 0,LOOK AT H] LEGS4 4  
4 4 ,%E CO/ ME A LOT BUT HAS A ?IRD FOAL ALREADY 9 H>NESS40 

0,& TROTS WELL80 ASK$ ! GUE/4 

,SO !Y W5T PA/ ALL ! HORSES TILL !RE W]E NO MORE TO %[4 ,!N !Y  
W]E SIL5T4 

0,WELL1 %ALL WE GO N[80 

0,YES1 LET'S GO40 

,!Y W5T ?R\< ! GATE4 ,! VISITOR WAS GLAD ! EXHIBITION WAS OV] &  
?AT HE C\LD N[ GO TO ! H\SE :]E !Y C\LD EAT & DR9K & SMOKE1 &  
HE GREW P]CEPTIBLY BRI<T]4 ,AS HE W5T PA/ ,NE/]1 :O SAT ON ! PIEBALD  
WAIT+ = ORD]S1 ! VISITOR SLAPP$ ! PIEBALD'S CRUPP] ) HIS BIG FAT  
H&4 

0,:AT AN ORNAM5T$ ONE60 HE SAID4 0,I ONCE HAD A PIEBALD LIKE HIM2 DO Y\  
REMEMB] MY TELL+ Y\ ( HIM80 

,! MA/]1 F9D+ ?AT IT WAS NOT HIS HORSE ?AT WAS BE+ SPOK5 AB\T1  
PAID NO ATT5TION BUT KEPT LOOK+ R\ND AT HIS [N H]D4 

,SUDD5LY ABOVE HIS E> HE HE>D A DULL1 WEAK1 S5ILE NEI<4 ,IT WAS !  
PIEBALD ?AT HAD BEGUN TO NEI< & HAD BROK5 (F AS IF A%AM$4 

,NEI!R ! VISITOR NOR ! MA/] PAID ANY ATT5TION TO ?IS NEI<+1 BUT  
W5T 9TO ! H\SE4 

,9 ! FLABBY OLD MAN ,/RID] HAD RECOGNIZ$ HIS BELOV$ MA/]1 ! ONCE  
BRILLIANT1 H&SOME1 & WEAL?Y ,S]PUKHOVSKOY4 

,IT KEPT ON DRIZZL+4 ,9 ! /ABLE Y>D IT WAS GLOOMY1 BUT 9 ! MA/]'S  
H\SE IT WAS V]Y DIFF]5T4 ,! TABLE WAS LAID 9 A LUXURI\S DRAW+-ROOM =  
A LUXURI\S EV5+ TEA1 & AT IT SAT ! HO/1 ! HO/ESS1 & !IR GUE/4 

,! HO/ESS1 H] PREGNANCY MADE V]Y NOTICEABLE BY H] FIGURE1 H] /RA9$  
CONVEX POSE1 H] PLUMPNESS1 & ESPECIALLY BY H] L>GE EYES ) !IR MILD  
9W>D LOOK1 SAT BY ! SAMOV>4 

,! HO/ HELD 9 HIS H& A BOX ( SPECIAL1 T5-YE>-OLD CIG>S1 SU* AS HE  
SAID NO ONE ELSE HAD1 & HE WAS PREP>+ TO BOA/ AB\T !M TO HIS GUE/4 ,!  
HO/ WAS A H&SOME MAN ( AB\T TW5TY-FIVE1 FRE%-LOOK+1 WELL C>$ =1 &  
WELL GROOM$4 ,9 ! H\SE HE WAS WE>+ A NEW LOOSE ?ICK SUIT MADE 9 ,LONDON4  
,L>GE EXP5SIVE P5DANTS HUNG FROM HIS WAT*-*A94 ,HIS GOLD-M\NT$ TURQUOISE  
%IRT /UDS W]E ALSO L>GE & MASSIVE4 ,HE HAD A BE>D A LA ,NAPOLEON ,I,I,I1 &  
! TIPS ( HIS MU/A*E /UCK \T 9 A WAY ?AT C\LD ONLY HAVE BE5 LE>N$  
9 ,P>IS4 

,! HO/ESS WORE A DRESS ( SILK GAUZE ) A L>GE FLORAL PATT]N ( MANY  
COLORS1 & L>GE GOLD HAIR-P9S ( A PECULI> PATT]N HELD UP H] ?ICK1  
LI<T-BR[N HAIR - BEAUTIFUL ?\< NOT ALL H] [N4 ,ON H] >MS & H&S %E  
WORE MANY BRACELETS & R+S1 ALL ( !M EXP5SIVE4 

,! TEA-S]VICE WAS ( DELICATE *9A & ! SAMOV> ( SILV]4 ,A FOOTMAN1  
RESPL5D5T 9 DRESS-COAT1 :ITE WAI/COAT & NECKTIE1 /OOD LIKE A /ATUE BY  
! DOOR AWAIT+ ORD]S4 ,! FURNITURE WAS ELEGANTLY C>V$ & UPHOL/]$ 9  
BRI<T COLORS1 ! WALL-PAP] D>K ) A L>GE FL[]$ PATT]N4 ,BESIDE !  
TABLE1 T9KL+ ! SILV] BELLS ON ITS COLL>1 WAS A P>TICUL>LY F9E :IPPET1  
:OSE DIFFICULT ,5GLI% NAME ITS [N]S1 :O NEI!R ( !M KNEW ,5GLI%1  
PRON\NC$4 

,9 ! CORN]1 SURR\ND$ BY PLANTS1 /OOD AN 9LAID PIANO4 ,EV]Y?+ GAVE  
AN IMPRESSION ( NEWNESS1 LUXURY1 & R>ITY4 ,EV]Y?+ WAS GOOD1 BUT IT ALL  
BORE AN IMPR9T ( SUP]FLUITY1 WEAL?1 & ! ABS5CE ( 9TELLECTUAL  
9T]E/S4 

,! HO/1 A LOV] ( TROTT+ RACES1 WAS /URDY & FULL-BLOOD$ - ONE (  
?AT NEV]-DY+ RACE :I* DRIVES AB\T 9 SABLE COATS1 ?R[S EXP5SIVE  
B\QUETS TO ACTRESSES1 DR9KS ! MO/ EXP5SIVE W9ES ) ! MO/ FA%IONABLE  
LABELS AT ! MO/ EXP5SIVE RE/AURANTS1 (F]S PRIZES 5GRAV$ ) !  
DONOR'S NAME1 & KEEPS ! MO/ EXP5SIVE MI/RESSES4 

,NIKITA ,S]PUKHOVSKOY1 !IR GUE/1 WAS A MAN ( OV] =TY1 TALL1 /\T1  
BALD-HEAD$1 ) HEAVY MU/A*ES & :ISK]S4 ,HE MU/ ONCE HAVE BE5 V]Y  
H&SOME BUT HAD N[ EVID5TLY SUNK PHYSICALLY1 MORALLY1 & F9ANCIALLY4 

,HE HAD SU* DEBTS ?AT HE HAD BE5 OBLIG$ TO 5T] ! GOV]NM5T S]VICE TO  
AVOID IMPRISONM5T = DEBT & WAS N[ ON HIS WAY TO A PROV9CIAL T[N TO  
BECOME ! HEAD ( A /UD F>M1 A PO/ SOME IMPORTANT RELATIVES HAD OBTA9$ =  
HIM4 

,HE WORE A MILIT>Y COAT & BLUE TR\S]S ( A K9D ONLY A RI* MAN W\LD  
HAVE HAD MADE = HIMSELF4 ,HIS %IRT WAS ( SIMIL> QUALITY & SO WAS HIS  
,5GLI% WAT*4 ,HIS BOOTS HAD WOND]FUL SOLES AS ?ICK AS A MAN'S F+]4 

,NIKITA ,S]PUKHOVSKOY HAD DUR+ HIS LIFE RUN ?R\< A =TUNE ( TWO MILLION  
RUBLES1 & WAS N[ A HUNDR$ & TW5TY ?\S& 9 DEBT4 ,9 CASES ( ?AT K9D  
!RE ALWAYS REMA9S A C]TA9 MOM5TUM ( LIFE 5ABL+ A MAN TO OBTA9 CR$IT  
& CONT9UE LIV+ ALMO/ LUXURI\SLY = ANO!R T5 YE>S4 

,!SE T5 YE>S W]E H[EV] COM+ TO AN 5D1 ! MOM5TUM WAS EXHAU/$1  
& LIFE WAS GR[+ H>D = ,NIKITA4 ,HE WAS ALREADY BEG9N+ TO DR9K - ?AT  
IS1 TO GET FUDDL$ ) W9E1 A ?+ ?AT US$ NOT TO HAPP51 ?\< /RICTLY  
SPEAK+ HE HAD NEV] BEGUN OR LEFT (F DR9K+4 ,HIS DECL9E WAS MO/  
NOTICEABLE 9 ! RE/LESSNESS ( HIS GLANCE 7HIS EYES HAD GR[N %IFTY7 & 9  
! UNC]TA9TY ( HIS VOICE & MOVEM5TS4 ,?IS RE/LESSNESS /RUCK ONE !  
MORE AS IT HAD EVID5TLY GOT HOLD ( HIM ONLY REC5TLY1 = ONE C\LD SEE ?AT  
HE HAD ALL HIS LIFE BE5 ACCU/OM$ NOT TO BE AFRAID ( ANY?+ OR ANYBODY &  
HAD ONLY REC5TLY1 ?R\< HEAVY SUFF]+1 REA*$ ?IS /ATE ( FE> SO  
UNNATURAL TO HIM4 

,HIS HO/ & HO/ESS NOTIC$ ?IS & EX*ANG$ GLANCES :I* %[$ ?AT  
!Y UND]/OOD ONE ANO!R & W]E ONLY PO/PON+ TILL B$TIME A DETAIL$  
DISCUSSION ( ! SUBJECT1 PUTT+ UP MEAN:ILE ) POOR ,NIKITA & EV5  
%[+ HIM ATT5TIONS4 

,! SI<T ( HIS Y\NG HO/'S GOOD =TUNE HUMILIAT$ ,S]PUKHOVSKOY1  
AWAK5+ A PA9FUL 5VY 9 HIM AS HE RECALL$ HIS [N IRRECOV]ABLE PA/4 

0,DO Y\ M9D MY SMOK+ A CIG>1 ,M>IE80 HE ASK$1 ADDRESS+ ! LADY 9 !  
PECULI> TONE ACQUIR$ ONLY BY EXP]I5CE - ! TONE1 POLITE & FRI5DLY BUT  
NOT QUITE RESPECTFUL1 9 :I* M5 :O KN[ ! WORLD SPEAK TO KEPT WOM5 9  
CONTRADI/9CTION TO WIVES4 ,NOT ?AT HE WI%$ TO (F5D H]3 ON ! CONTR>Y HE  
N[ WI%$ RA!R TO CURRY FAVOR ) H] & ) H] KEEP]1 ?\<T HE W\LD  
ON NO ACC\NT HAVE ACKN[L$G$ ! FACT TO HIMSELF4 ,BUT HE WAS ACCU/OM$ TO  
SPEAK 9 ?AT WAY TO SU* WOM54 ,HE KNEW %E W\LD H]SELF BE SURPRIS$ & EV5  
(F5D$ W]E HE TO TREAT H] AS A LADY4 ,BESIDES HE HAD TO RETA9 A C]TA9  
%ADE ( A RESPECTFUL TONE = HIS FRI5D'S REAL WIFE4 ,HE ALWAYS TREAT$ HIS  
FRI5D'S MI/RESSES ) RESPECT1 NOT BECAUSE HE %>$ ! SO-CALL$  
CONVICTIONS PROMULGAT$ 9 P]IODICALS 7HE NEV] READ TRA% ( ?AT K9D7 AB\T  
! RESPECT DUE TO ! P]SONALITY ( EV]Y MAN1 AB\T ! MEAN+LESSNESS (  
M>RIAGE1 & SO =?1 BUT BECAUSE ALL DEC5T M5 DO SO & HE WAS A DEC5T1  
?\< FALL51 MAN4 

,HE TOOK A CIG>4 ,BUT HIS HO/ AWKW>DLY PICK$ UP A :OLE H&FUL & (F]$  
!M TO HIM4 

0,JU/ SEE H[ GOOD !SE >E4 ,TAKE !M60 

,S]PUKHOVSKOY PU%$ ASIDE ! H& ) ! CIG>S1 & A GLEAM ( (F5SE  
& %AME %[$ ITSELF 9 HIS EYES4 

0,?ANK Y\60 ,HE TOOK \T HIS CIG>-CASE4 0,TRY M9E60 

,! HO/ESS WAS S5SITIVE4 ,%E NOTIC$ HIS EMB>RASSM5T & HA/5$ TO TALK  
TO HIM4 

0,I AM V]Y FOND ( CIG>S4 ,I %\LD SMOKE MYSELF IF EV]YONE AB\T ME DID NOT  
SMOKE40 

,& %E SMIL$ H] PRETTY1 K9DLY SMILE4 ,HE SMIL$ 9 RETURN1 BUT  
IRRESOLUTELY4 ,TWO ( HIS TEE? W]E MISS+4 

0,NO1 TAKE ?IS60 ! TACTLESS HO/ CONT9U$4 0,! O!RS >E WEAK]4 ,FRITZ1  
"9BR+5 ,SIE NO* E95 ,KA/5"910 HE SAID2 0"9DORT ZWEI"940 .<0,BR+ ANO!R BOX4  
,!RE >E TWO !RE40.> 

,! ,G]MAN FOOTMAN BR\<T ANO!R BOX4 

0,DO Y\ PREF] BIG ONES8 ,/RONG ONES8 ,!SE >E V]Y GOOD4 ,TAKE !M ALL60 HE  
CONT9U$1 =C+ !M ON HIS GUE/4 

,HE WAS EVID5TLY GLAD TO HAVE SOMEONE TO BOA/ TO ( ! R>E ?+S HE  
POSSESS$1 & HE NOTIC$ NO?+ AMISS4 ,S]PUKHOVSKOY LIT HIS CIG> &  
HA/5$ TO RESUME ! CONV]SATION !Y HAD BEGUN4 

0,SO1 H[ MU* DID Y\ PAY = ,ATLASNY80 HE ASK$4 

0,HE CO/ ME A GREAT DEAL1 NOT LESS ?AN FIVE ?\S&1 BUT AT ANY RATE ,I AM  
ALREADY SAFE ON HIM4 ,:AT COLTS HE GETS1 ,I TELL Y\60 

0,DO !Y TROT80 ASK$ ,S]PUKHOVSKOY4 

0,!Y TROT WELL6 ,HIS COLT TOOK ?REE PRIZES ?IS YE>3 9 ,TULA1 9 ,MOSC[1  
& 9 ,PET]SBURG2 HE RAC$ ,VOEKOV'S ,RAV54 ,?AT RASCAL1 ! DRIV]1 LET HIM  
MAKE F\R FALSE /EPS OR HE'D HAVE LEFT ! O!R BEH9D ! FLAG40 

0,HE'S A BIT GRE54 ,TOO MU* ,DUT* BLOOD 9 HIM1 ?AT'S :AT ,I SAY10 REM>K$  
,S]PUKHOVSKOY4 

0,WELL1 BUT :AT AB\T ! M>ES8 ,I'LL %[ ,GOODY TO Y\ TOMORR[4 ,I GAVE  
?REE ?\S& = H]4 ,= ,AMIABLE ,I GAVE TWO ?\S&40 

,& ! HO/ AGA9 BEGAN TO 5UM]ATE HIS POSSESSIONS4 ,! HO/ESS SAW ?AT  
?IS HURT ,S]PUKHOVSKOY & ?AT HE WAS ONLY PRET5D+ TO LI/54 

0,WILL Y\ HAVE SOME MORE TEA80 %E ASK$4 

0,I WON'T10 REPLI$ ! HO/ & W5T ON TALK+4 ,%E ROSE1 ! HO/ /OPP$  
H]1 EMBRAC$ H]1 & KISS$ H]4 

,AS HE LOOK$ AT !M ,S]PUKHOVSKOY = !IR SAKES TRI$ TO =CE A SMILE1  
BUT AFT] ! HO/ HAD GOT UP1 EMBRAC$ H]1 & L$ H] TO ! PORTI]E1  
,S]PUKHOVSKOY'S FACE SUDD5LY *ANG$4 ,HE SI<$ HEAVILY1 & A LOOK ( DESPAIR  
%[$ ITSELF ON HIS FLABBY FACE4 ,EV5 MALEVOL5CE APPE>$ ON IT4 

,! HO/ RETURN$ & SMIL+LY SAT D[N OPPOSITE HIM4 ,!Y W]E SIL5T  
A:ILE4 

0,YES1 Y\ W]E SAY+ Y\ B\<T HIM ( ,VOEKOV10 REM>K$ ,S]PUKHOVSKOY )  
ASSUM$ C>ELESSNESS4 

0,OH YES1 ?AT WAS ( ,ATLASNY1 Y\ KN[4 ,I ALWAYS MEANT TO BUY SOME M>ES (  
,DUBOVITZKI1 BUT HE HAD NO?+ BUT RUBBI% LEFT40 

0,HE HAS FAIL$ 4 4 4 0 SAID ,S]PUKHOVSKOY1 & SUDD5LY /OPP$ & GLANC$  
R\ND4 ,HE REMEMB]$ ?AT HE [$ ?AT BANKRUPT TW5TY ?\S& RUBLES1 & IF  
IT CAME TO TALK+ ( BE+ BANKRUPT IT WAS C]TA9LY SAID ?AT HE WAS ONE4 ,HE  
LAU<$4 

,BO? AGA9 SAT SIL5T = A LONG TIME4 ,! HO/ CONSID]$ :AT HE C\LD BRAG  
AB\T TO HIS GUE/4 ,S]PUKHOVSKOY WAS ?9K+ :AT HE C\LD SAY TO %[ ?AT HE  
DID NOT CONSID] HIMSELF BANKRUPT4 ,BUT ! M9DS ( BO? WORK$ ) DIFFICULTY1  
9 SPITE ( EF=TS TO BRACE !MSELVES UP ) CIG>S4 0,:5 >E WE GO+ TO  
HAVE A DR9K80 ?\<T ,S]PUKHOVSKOY4 ,I MU/ C]TA9LY HAVE A DR9K OR ,I %ALL  
DIE ( 5NUI ) ?IS FELL[10 ?\<T ! HO/4 

0,WILL Y\ BE REMA9+ H]E LONG80 ,S]PUKHOVSKOY ASK$4 

0,ANO!R MON?4 ,WELL1 %ALL WE HAVE SUPP]1 EH8 ,FRITZ1 IS IT READY80 

,!Y W5T 9TO ! D9+-ROOM4 ,!RE UND] A HANG+ LAMP /OOD A TABLE ON  
:I* W]E C&LES & ALL SORTS ( EXTRAORD9>Y ?+S3 SIPHONS1 & LITTLE  
DOLLS FA/5$ TO CORKS1 R>E W9E 9 DECANT]S1 UNUSUAL HORS-D'OEUVRES1 &  
VODKA4 ,!Y HAD A DR9K1 ATE A LITTLE1 DRANK AGA91 ATE AGA91 & !IR  
CONV]SATION GOT 9TO SW+4 ,S]PUKHOVSKOY WAS FLU%$ & BEGAN TO SPEAK  
)\T TIMIDITY4 

,!Y SPOKE ( WOM5 & ( :O KEPT ?IS ONE OR ?AT1 A GYPSY1 A BALLET-GIRL1  
OR A ,FR5*WOMAN4 

0,& HAVE Y\ GIV5 UP ,MA?IEU80 ASK$ ! HO/4 7,?AT WAS ! WOMAN :O HAD  
RU9$ ,S]PUKHOVSKOY47 

0,NO1 %E LEFT ME4 ,AH1 MY DE> FELL[1 :5 ,I RECALL :AT ,I HAVE GOT ?R\<  
9 MY LIFE6 ,N[ ,I AM REALLY GLAD :5 ,I HAVE A ?\S& RUBLES1 & AM GLAD TO  
GET AWAY FROM EV]YBODY4 ,I CAN'T /& IT 9 ,MOSC[4 ,BUT :AT'S ! GOOD (  
TALK+60 

,! HO/ F\ND IT TIRESOME TO LI/5 TO ,S]PUKHOVSKOY4 ,HE WANT$ TO SPEAK  
AB\T HIMSELF - TO BRAG4 ,BUT ,S]PUKHOVSKOY ALSO WI%$ TO TALK AB\T HIMSELF1  
AB\T HIS BRILLIANT PA/4 ,HIS HO/ FILL$ HIS GLASS = HIM & WAIT$ = HIM  
TO /OP1 SO ?AT HE MI<T TELL HIM AB\T HIMSELF & H[ HIS /UD WAS N[  
>RANG$ AS NO ONE HAD EV] HAD A /UD >RANG$ BE=E4 ,& ?AT HIS ,M>IE LOV$  
HIM ) H] HE>T & NOT M]ELY = HIS WEAL?4 

0,I WANT$ TO TELL Y\ ?AT 9 MY /UD 4 4 4 0 HE BEGAN1 BUT ,S]PUKHOVSKOY  
9T]RUPT$ HIM4 

0,I MAY SAY ?AT !RE WAS A TIME10 ,S]PUKHOVSKOY BEGAN1 0:5 ,I LIK$ TO LIVE  
WELL & KNEW H[ TO DO IT4 ,N[ Y\ TALK AB\T TROTT+ - TELL ME :I* IS Y\R  
FA/E/ HORSE40 

,! HO/1 GLAD ( AN OPPORTUNITY TO TELL MORE AB\T HIS /UD1 WAS BEG9N+1  
:5 ,S]PUKHOVSKOY AGA9 9T]RUPT$ HIM4 

0,YES1 YES10 HE SAID1 0BUT Y\ BRE$]S DO IT JU/ \T ( VANITY & NOT =  
PLEASURE1 NOT = ! JOY ( LIFE4 ,IT WAS DIFF]5T ) ME4 ,Y\ KN[ ,I TOLD Y\  
,I HAD A DRIV+-HORSE1 A PIEBALD ) JU/ ! SAME K9D ( SPOTS AS ! ONE  
Y\R KEEP] WAS RID+4 ,OH1 :AT A HORSE ?AT WAS6 ,Y\ CAN'T POSSIBLY KN[3 IT  
WAS 9 #a#h#d#b1 :5 ,I HAD JU/ COME TO ,MOSC[2 ,I W5T TO A HORSE-DEAL] & !RE  
,I SAW A WELL-BR$ PIEBALD GELD+4 ,I LIK$ HIM4 ,! PRICE8 ,ONE ?\S& RUBLES4  
,I LIK$ HIM1 SO ,I TOOK HIM & BEGAN TO DRIVE ) HIM4 ,I NEV] HAD1 & Y\  
HAVE NOT & NEV] WILL HAVE1 SU* A HORSE4 ,I NEV] KNEW ONE LIKE HIM = SPE$  
& = /R5G?4 ,Y\ W]E A BOY !N & C\LDN'T HAVE KN[N1 BUT Y\ MAY HAVE  
HE>D ( HIM4 ,ALL ,MOSC[ WAS TALK+ AB\T HIM40 

0,YES1 ,I HE>D ( HIM10 ! HO/ UNWILL+LY REPLI$4 0,BUT :AT ,I WI%$ TO  
SAY AB\T M9E 4 4 4 0 

0,AH1 !N Y\ DID HE>6 ,I B\<T HIM JU/ AS HE WAS1 )\T P$IGREE &  
)\T A C]TIFICATE2 IT WAS ONLY AFT]W>DS ?AT ,I GOT TO KN[ ,VOEKOV &  
F\ND \T4 ,HE WAS A COLT BY ,AFFABLE ,I4 ,/RID] - BECAUSE ( HIS LONG /RIDES4 ,ON  
ACC\NT ( HIS PIEBALD SPOTS HE WAS REMOV$ FROM ! ,KHR5OV /UD & GIV5 TO  
! HEAD KEEP]1 :O HAD HIM CA/RAT$ & SOLD HIM TO A HORSE-DEAL]4 ,!RE >E  
NO SU* HORSES N[1 MY DE> *AP4 ,AH1 ?OSE W]E ! DAYS6 ,AH1 VANI%$ Y\?60  
- & HE SANG ! WORDS ( ! GYPSY SONG4 ,HE WAS GETT+ TIPSY4 0,AH1 ?OSE W]E  
GOOD TIMES4 ,I WAS TW5TY-FIVE & HAD EI<TY ?\S& RUBLES A YE>1 NOT A  
S+LE GRAY HAIR1 & ALL MY TEE? LIKE PE>LS4 4 4 4 ,:ATEV] ,I T\*$  
SUCCE$$1 & N[ IT IS ALL 5D$4 4 4 4 0 

0,BUT !RE WAS NOT ! SAME METTLESOM5ESS !N10 SAID ! HO/1 AVAIL+  
HIMSELF ( ! PAUSE4 0,LET ME TELL Y\ ?AT MY FIR/ HORSES BEGAN TO TROT  
)\T4 4 4 0 

0,Y\R HORSES6 ,BUT !Y US$ TO BE MORE METTLESOME 4 4 4 0 

0,H[ - MORE METTLESOME80 

0,YES1 MORE METTLESOME6 ,I REMEMB] AS IF IT W]E TODAY H[ ,I DROVE HIM ONCE TO  
! TROTT+ RACES 9 ,MOSC[4 ,NO HORSE ( M9E WAS RUNN+4 ,I DID NOT C>E =  
TROTT]S1 M9E W]E ?OR\<BR$S3 ,G5]AL ,*AULET1 ,MAHOMET4 ,I DROVE UP ) MY  
PIEBALD4 ,MY DRIV] WAS A F9E FELL[1 ,I WAS FOND ( HIM1 BUT HE ALSO TOOK TO  
DR9K4 4 4 4 ,WELL1 SO ,I GOT !RE4 

0',S]PUKHOVSKOY1' ,I WAS ASK$1 ',:5 >E Y\ GO+ TO KEEP TROTT]S8' ',!  
DEVIL TAKE Y\R LUBB]S6' ,I REPLI$4 ',I HAVE A PIEBALD HACK ?AT CAN \TPACE ALL  
Y\R TROTT]S6' ',OH NO1 HE WON'T6' ',I'LL BET A ?\S& RUBLES6' ,AGRE$1 &  
!Y />T$4 ,HE CAME 9 FIVE SECONDS AHEAD & ,I WON ! ?\S& RUBLES4 ,BUT  
:AT ( IT8 ,I DID A HUNDR$ V]/S .<A LITTLE OV] SIXTY-SIX MILES.> 9 ?REE  
H\RS ) A TROIKA ( ?OR\<BR$S4 ,ALL ,MOSC[ KN[S IT40 

,& ,S]PUKHOVSKOY BEGAN TO BRAG SO GLIBLY & CONT9U\SLY ?AT HIS HO/  
C\LD NOT GET A S+LE WORD 9 & SAT OPPOSITE HIM ) A DEJECT$ C\NT5ANCE1  
FILL+ UP HIS [N & HIS GUE/'S GLASS EV]Y N[ & !N BY WAY (  
DI/RACTION4 

,! DAWN WAS BREAK+ & /ILL !Y SAT !RE4 ,IT BECAME 9TOL]ABLY DULL  
= ! HO/4 ,HE GOT UP4 

0,IF WE >E TO GO TO B$1 LET'S GO60 SAID ,S]PUKHOVSKOY RIS+1 & REEL+  
& PUFF+ HE W5T TO ! ROOM PREP>$ = HIM4 

,! HO/ WAS LY+ BESIDE HIS MI/RESS4 

0,NO1 HE IS UN5DURABLE10 HE SAID4 0,HE GETS DRUNK & SWAGG]S 9CESSANTLY40 

0,& MAKES UP TO ME40 

0,I'M AFRAID HE'LL BE ASK+ = MONEY40 

,S]PUKHOVSKOY WAS LY+ ON ! B$ 9 HIS CLO!S1 BREA?+ HEAVILY4 

0,I MU/ HAVE BE5 LY+ A LOT10 HE ?\<T4 0,WELL1 NO MATT]6 ,! W9E WAS  
GOOD1 BUT HE IS AN AWFUL SW9E4 ,!RE'S SOME?+ *EAP AB\T HIM4 ,& ,I'M AN  
AWFUL SW9E10 HE SAID TO HIMSELF & LAU<$ AL\D4 0,FIR/ ,I US$ TO KEEP WOM51  
& N[ ,I'M KEPT4 ,YES1 ! ,W9KL] GIRL WILL SUPPORT ME4 ,I TAKE MONEY  FROM H]4  
,S]VES HIM RI<T4 ,/ILL1 ,I MU/ UNDRESS4 ,CAN'T GET MY BOOTS (F4 ,HULLO6 ,HULLO60  
HE CALL$ \T1 BUT ! MAN :O HAD BE5 TOLD (F TO WAIT ON HIM HAD LONG S9CE  
GONE TO B$4 

,HE SAT D[N1 TOOK (F HIS COAT & WAI/COAT & SOMEH[ MANAG$ TO KICK (F  
HIS TR\S]S1 BUT = A LONG TIME C\LD NOT GET HIS BOOTS (F - HIS S(T /OMA*  
BE+ 9 ! WAY4 ,HE GOT ONE (F AT LA/1 & /RUGGL$ = A LONG TIME ) !  
O!R1 PANT+ & BECOM+ EXHAU/$4 ,& SO ) HIS FOOT 9 ! BOOT-TOP HE  
ROLL$ OV] & BEGAN TO SNORE1 FILL+ ! ROOM ) A SMELL ( TOBACCO1 W9E1  
& DISAGREEABLE OLD AGE4 

,IF ,/RID] RECALL$ ANY?+ ?AT NI<T1 HE WAS DI/RACT$ BY ,VASKA1 :O  
?REW A RUG OV] HIM1 GALLOP$ (F ON HIM1 & KEPT HIM /&+ TILL MORN+ AT  
! DOOR ( A TAV]N1 NE> A PEASANT HORSE4 ,!Y LICK$ ONE ANO!R4 ,9 !  
MORN+ :5 ,/RID] RETURN$ TO ! H]D HE KEPT RUBB+ HIMSELF4 

,FIVE DAYS PASS$4 ,!Y CALL$ 9 A VET]9>Y1 :O SAID *E]FULLY3 0,IT'S !  
IT*2 LET ME SELL HIM TO ! GYPSIES40 

0,:AT'S ! USE8 ,CUT HIS ?ROAT1 & GET IT DONE TODAY40 

,! MORN+ WAS CALM & CLE>4 ,! H]D W5T TO PA/URE1 BUT ,/RID] WAS  
LEFT BEH9D4 ,A /RANGE MAN CAME - ?91 D>K1 & DIRTY1 9 A COAT SPLA%$ )  
SOME?+ BLACK4 ,IT WAS ! KNACK]4 ,)\T LOOK+ AT ,/RID] HE TOOK HIM BY  
! HALT] !Y HAD PUT ON HIM & L$ HIM AWAY4 ,/RID] W5T QUIETLY )\T  
LOOK+ R\ND1 DRAGG+ ALONG AS USUAL & CAT*+ HIS H9D FEET 9 ! /RAW4 

,:5 !Y W]E \T ( ! GATE HE /RA9$ T[>DS ! WELL1 BUT ! KNACK]  
J]K$ HIS HALT]1 SAY+3 0,NOT WOR? :ILE40 

,! KNACK] & ,VASKA1 :O FOLL[$ BEH9D1 W5T TO A HOLL[ BEH9D ! BRICK  
B>N & /OPP$ AS IF !RE W]E SOME?+ PECULI> AB\T ?IS V]Y ORD9>Y  
PLACE4 ,! KNACK]1 H&+ ! HALT] TO ,VASKA1 TOOK (F HIS COAT1 ROLL$ UP  
HIS SLEEVES1 & PRODUC$ A KNIFE & A :ET/ONE FROM HIS BOOT-LEG4 ,! GELD+  
/RET*$ T[>DS ! HALT] MEAN+ TO *EW IT A LITTLE FROM DULLNESS1 BUT HE  
C\LD NOT REA* IT4 ,HE SI<$ & CLOS$ HIS EYES4 ,HIS NE!R LIP HUNG D[N1  
DISCLOS+ HIS WORN YELL[ TEE?1 & HE BEGAN TO DR[SE TO ! S\ND ( !  
%>P5+ ( ! KNIFE4 ,ONLY HIS SWOLL51 A*+1 \T/RET*$ LEG KEPT  
J]K+4 ,SUDD5LY HE FELT HIMSELF BE+ TAK5 BY ! L[] JAW & HIS HEAD  
LIFT$4 ,HE OP5$ HIS EYES4 ,!RE W]E TWO DOGS 9 FRONT ( HIM2 ONE WAS  
SNIFF+ AT ! KNACK]1 ! O!R WAS SITT+ & WAT*+ ! GELD+ AS IF  
EXPECT+ SOME?+ FROM HIM4 ,! GELD+ LOOK$ AT !M & BEGAN TO RUB HIS  
JAW AGA9/ ! >M ?AT WAS HOLD+ HIM4 

0,WANT TO DOCTOR ME PROBABLY - WELL1 LET !M60 HE ?\<T4 

,& 9 FACT HE FELT ?AT SOME?+ HAD BE5 DONE TO HIS ?ROAT4 ,IT HURT1 &  
HE %UDD]$ & GAVE A KICK ) ONE FOOT1 BUT RE/RA9$ HIMSELF & WAIT$  
= :AT W\LD FOLL[4 4 4 4 ,!N HE FELT SOME?+ LIQUID /REAM+ D[N HIS  
NECK & *E/4 ,HE HEAV$ A PR(\ND SI< & FELT MU* BETT]4 

,! :OLE BURD5 ( HIS LIFE WAS EAS$4 

,HE CLOS$ HIS EYES & BEGAN TO DROOP HIS HEAD4 ,NO ONE WAS HOLD+ IT4 ,!N  
HIS LEGS QUIV]$ & HIS :OLE BODY SWAY$4 ,HE WAS NOT SO MU* FRI<T5$ AS  
SURPRIS$4 

,EV]Y?+ WAS SO NEW TO HIM4 ,HE WAS SURPRIS$ & />T$ =W>D &  
UPW>D1 BUT 9/EAD ( ?IS1 9 MOV+ FROM ! SPOT HIS LEGS GOT 5TANGL$1 HE  
BEGAN TO FALL SIDEWAYS1 & TRY+ TO TAKE A /EP FELL =W>D & D[N ON HIS  
LEFT SIDE4 

,! KNACK] WAIT$ TILL ! CONVULSIONS HAD CEAS$1 DROVE AWAY ! DOGS ?AT  
HAD CREPT NE>]1 TOOK ! GELD+ BY ! LEGS1 TURN$ HIM ON HIS BACK1 TOLD  
,VASKA TO HOLD A LEG1 & BEGAN TO SK9 ! HORSE4 

0,IT WAS A HORSE1 TOO10 REM>K$ ,VASKA4 

0,IF HE HAD BE5 BETT] F$ ! SK9 W\LD HAVE BE5 F9E10 SAID ! KNACK]4 

,! H]D RETURN$ D[N HILL 9 ! EV5+1 & ?OSE ON ! LEFT SAW D[N  
BEL[ SOME?+ R$1 R\ND :I* DOGS W]E BUSY & ABOVE :I* HAWKS & CR[S  
W]E FLY+4 ,ONE ( ! DOGS1 PRESS+ ITS PAWS AGA9/ ! C>CASS & SW++  
HIS HEAD1 ) A CRACKL+ S\ND TORE (F :AT IT HAD SEIZ$ HOLD (4 ,!  
*E/NUT FILLY /OPP$1 /RET*$ \T H] HEAD & NECK1 & SNIFF$ ! AIR =  
A LONG TIME4 ,!Y C\LD H>DLY DRIVE H] AWAY4 

,AT DAWN1 9 A RAV9E ( ! OLD =E/1 D[N 9 AN OV]GR[N GLADE1  
BIG-HEAD$ WOLF CUBS W]E H[L+ JOYFULLY4 ,!RE W]E FIVE ( !M3 F\R ALMO/  
ALIKE & ONE ) A HEAD BIGG] ?AN HIS BODY4 ,A LEAN OLD WOLF :O WAS %$D+  
H] COAT1 DRAGG+ H] FULL BELLY ) ITS HANG+ DUGS ALONG ! GR\ND1 CAME  
\T ( ! BU%ES & SAT D[N 9 FRONT ( ! CUBS4 ,! CUBS CAME & /OOD  
R\ND H] 9 A SEMI-CIRCLE4 ,%E W5T UP TO ! SMALLE/1 & B5D+ H] KNEE  
& HOLD+ H] MUZZLE D[N1 MADE SOME CONVULSIVE MOVEM5TS1 & OP5+ H]  
L>GE %>P-TOO!D JAWS DISGORG$ A L>GE PIECE ( HORSEFLE%4 ,! BIGG] CUBS  
RU%$ T[>DS H]1 BUT %E MOV$ ?REAT5+LY AT !M & LET ! LITTLE ONE  
HAVE IT ALL4 ,! LITTLE ONE1 GR[L+ AS IF 9 ANG]1 PULL$ ! HORSEFLE%  
UND] HIM & BEGAN TO GORGE4 ,9 ! SAME WAY ! MO!R WOLF C\<$ UP A PIECE  
= ! SECOND1 ! ?IRD1 & ALL FIVE ( !M1 & !N LAY D[N 9 FRONT (  
!M TO RE/4 

,A WEEK LAT] ONLY A L>GE SKULL & TWO %\LD]-BLADES LAY BEH9D ! B>N2  
! RE/ HAD ALL BE5 TAK5 AWAY4 ,9 SUMM] A PEASANT1 COLLECT+ BONES1 C>RI$  
AWAY !SE %\LD]-BLADES & SKULL & PUT !M TO USE4 

,! DEAD BODY ( ,S]PUKHOVSKOY1 :I* HAD WALK$ AB\T ! E>? EAT+ &  
DR9K+1 WAS PUT UND] GR\ND MU* LAT]4 ,NEI!R HIS SK91 NOR HIS FLE%1 NOR  
HIS BONES1 W]E ( ANY USE4 

,JU/ AS = ! LA/ TW5TY YE>S HIS BODY ?AT HAD WALK$ ! E>? HAD BE5  
A GREAT BURD5 TO EV]YBODY1 SO ! PUTT+ AWAY ( ?AT BODY WAS AGA9 AN  
ADDITIONAL TR\BLE TO PEOPLE4 ,HE HAD NOT BE5 WANT$ BY ANYBODY = A LONG TIME  
& HAD ONLY BE5 A BURD51 YET ! DEAD :O BURY !IR DEAD F\ND IT NECESS>Y  
TO CLO! ?AT SWOLL5 BODY1 :I* AT ONCE BEGAN TO DECOMPOSE1 9 A GOOD UNI=M  
& GOOD BOOTS & PUT IT 9TO A NEW & EXP5SIVE C(F9 ) NEW TASSELS AT  
ITS F\R CORN]S1 & !N TO PLACE ?AT C(F9 9 ANO!R C(F9 ( LEAD1 TO  
TAKE IT TO ,MOSC[ & !RE DIG UP SOME LONG BURI$ HUMAN BONES1 & TO HIDE 9  
?AT P>TICUL> SPOT ?IS DECOMPOS+ MAGGOTTY BODY 9 ITS NEW UNI=M &  
POLI%$ BOOTS1 & COV] IT ALL UP ) E>?4 

,FROM 3 ,U,P5N4$U4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #ahfb 3 ,KHOL/OM] -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,AUGU/ #g1 #bba 3 ,KHOL/OM] -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #i1 #bbb 3 ,KHOL/OM] -- ,UPDAT$4 

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