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At that moment Schurka made a rush between his legs the baker stumbled, the tray was upset, the rolls fell to the ground, and, while the man angrily pursued Schurka, Waska managed to drag the rolls out of sight behind a bush. And when a moment later Schurka joined her, they set off at full tilt to the stone tower where Martin was a prisoner, taking the rolls with them.
When Martin got home, his mother met him with the question: 'Well, what have you bought? 'Schurka, the dog, replied Martin, pointing to his new possession. Whereupon his mother became very angry, and abused him roundly. He ought to be ashamed of himself, when there was scarcely a handful of meal in the house, to have spent the money on a useless brute like that.
And in another moment she had climbed down and brought him back a roll, and then another, and another, till she had brought him the whole tray-load. Upon which she said: 'Dear master, Schurka and I are going off to a distant kingdom at the utmost ends of the earth to fetch you back your magic ring. You must be careful that the rolls last till our return.
And Schurka growled, and was of opinion that he would like to tear everyone in pieces; but Waska purred meditatively, and scratched the back of her ear with a velvet paw, and remained lost in thought.
At these words Martin's joy knew no bounds, and he stroked her fondly, and she rubbed up against him and purred happily, while below Schurka bounded in the air, and barked joyfully. Then Martin took the ring, and threw it from one hand into the other, and instantly the twelve youths appeared and asked what they were to do.
'Leave off beating him, said Martin, 'and sell him to me instead. 'If you choose to buy him, answered the butchers derisively; 'but for such a treasure we won't take a penny less than a hundred florins. 'A hundred! exclaimed Martin. 'Well, so be it, if you will not take less; and, taking the money out of his pocket, he handed it over in exchange for the dog, whose name was Schurka.
And Waska took leave of her beloved master, and set off with Schurka on their journey.
'Be of good heart, dear master, replied Waska; 'from this day forth you will know nothing but happiness and prosperity. If this were a moment to trouble you with riddles, I would make you guess what Schurka and I have brought you back. Only think, we have got you your ring!
Waska, being very agile, climbed up by the outside to the grated window, and called in an anxious voice: 'Are you alive, master? 'Scarcely alive almost starved to death, answered Martin in a weak voice. 'I little thought it would come to this, that I should die of hunger. 'Never fear, dear master. Schurka and I will look after you, said Waska.
'Leave the house at once, and go and beg your bread among strangers; and as Martin did not dare to contradict her, he called Schurka and Waska and started off with them to the nearest village in search of work. On the way he met a rich peasant, who asked him where he was going. 'I want to get work as a day labourer, he answered. 'Come along with me, then.
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