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reverently to cross himself and to bow down and kiss the little grave。
And now he dreamt that he was walking with his father past the
tavern on the way to the graveyard； he was holding his father's hand
and looking with dread at the tavern。 A peculiar circumstance
attracted his attention： there seemed to be some kind of festivity
going on； there were crowds of gaily dressed townspeople； peasant
women； their husbands； and riff…raff of all sorts； all singing and all
more or less drunk。 Near the entrance of the tavern stood a cart；
but a strange cart。 It was one of those big carts usually drawn by
heavy cart…horses and laden with casks of wine or other heavy goods。
He always liked looking at those great cart…horses； with their long
manes； thick legs； and slow even pace； drawing along a perfect
mountain with no appearance of effort； as though it were easier
going with a load than without it。 But now； strange to say； in the
shafts of such a cart he saw a thin little sorrel beast； one of
those peasants' nags which he had often seen straining their utmost
under a heavy load of wood or hay； especially when the wheels were
stuck in the mud or in a rut。 And the peasants would be at them so
cruelly； sometimes even about the nose and eyes and he felt so
sorry； so sorry for them that he almost cried； and his mother always
used to take him away from the window。 All of a sudden there was a
great uproar of shouting； singing and the balalaika； and from the
tavern a number of big and very drunken peasants came out； wearing red
and blue shirts and coats thrown over their shoulders。
〃Get in； get in！〃 shouted one of them； a young thick…necked
peasant with a fleshy face red as a carrot。 〃I'll take you all； get
in！〃
But at once there was an outbreak of laughter and exclamations in
the crowd。
〃Take us all with a beast like that！〃
〃Why； Mikolka； are you crazy to put a nag like that in such a cart？〃
〃And this mare is twenty if she is a day； mates！〃
〃Get in； I'll take you all；〃 Mikolka shouted again； leaping first
into the cart； seizing the reins and standing straight up in front。
〃The bay has gone with Marvey；〃 he shouted from the cart… 〃and this
brute； mates； is just breaking my heart； I feel as if I could kill
her。 She's just eating her head off。 Get in； I tell you！ I'll make her
gallop！ She'll gallop！〃 and he picked up the whip； preparing himself
with relish to flog the little mare。
〃Get in！ Come along！〃 The crowd laughed。 〃D'you hear； she'll
gallop！〃
〃Gallop indeed！ She has not had a gallop in her for the last ten
years！〃
〃She'll jog along！〃
〃Don't you mind her； mates； bring a whip each of you； get ready！〃
〃All right！ Give it to her！〃
They all clambered into Mikolka's cart； laughing and making jokes。
Six men got in and there was still room for more。 They hauled in a
fat； rosy…cheeked woman。 She was dressed in red cotton； in a
pointed； beaded headdress and thick leather shoes； she was cracking
nuts and laughing。 The crowd round them was laughing too and indeed；
how could they help laughing？ That wretched nag was to drag all the
cartload of them at a gallop！ Two young fellows in the cart were
just getting whips ready to help Mikolka。 With the cry of 〃now；〃 the
mare tugged with all her might； but far from galloping； could scarcely
move forward； she struggled with her legs； gasping and shrinking
from the blows of the three whips which were showered upon her like
hail。 The laughter in the cart and in the crowd was redoubled； but
Mikolka flew into a rage and furiously thrashed the mare； as though he
supposed she really could gallop。
〃Let me get in； too； mates；〃 shouted a young man in the crowd
whose appetite was aroused。
〃Get in； all get in；〃 cried Mikolka； 〃she will draw you all。 I'll
beat her to death！〃 And he thrashed and thrashed at the mare； beside
himself with fury。
〃Father； father；〃 he cried； 〃father； what are they doing？ Father；
they are beating the poor horse！〃
〃Come along； come along！〃 said his father。 〃They are drunken and
foolish； they are in fun； come away； don't look！〃 and he tried to draw
him away； but he tore himself away from his hand； and； beside
himself with horror； ran to the horse。 The poor beast was in a bad
way。 She was gasping； standing still； then tugging again and almost
falling。
〃Beat her to death；〃 cried Mikolka； 〃it's come to that。 I'll do
for her！〃
〃What are you about； are you a Christian； you devil？〃 shouted an old
man in the crowd。
〃Did any one ever see the like？ A wretched nag like that pulling
such a cartload；〃 said another。
〃You'll kill her；〃 shouted the third。
〃Don't meddle！ It's my property。 I'll do what I choose。 Get in； more
of you！ Get in； all of you！ I will have her go at a gallop！。。。〃
All at once laughter broke into a roar and covered everything： the
mare； roused by the shower of blows； began feebly kicking。 Even the
old man could not help smiling。 To think of a wretched little beast
like that trying to kick！
Two lads in the crowd snatched up whips and ran to the mare to
beat her about the ribs。 One ran each side。
〃Hit her in the face； in the eyes； in the eyes；〃 cried Mikolka。
〃Give us a song； mates；〃 shouted some one in the cart and every
one in the cart joined in a riotous song； jingling a tambourine and
whistling。 The woman went on cracking nuts and laughing。
。。。He ran beside the mare； ran in front of her； saw her being
whipped across