United States or Democratic Republic of the Congo ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
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.
'Don't drown him, sell him to me instead, begged Martin. 'Not for a hundred florins, was the answer. 'Surely for a hundred florins you'll sell it? said Martin. 'See! here is the money; and, so saying, he handed him the hundred florins, which the peasant pocketed, and Martin took possession of the cat, which was called Waska.
Thereupon Waska and Schurka started off, and travelled night and day till they reached the stone tower where Martin was imprisoned; and the cat climbed up the window, and called out to him: 'Martin, dear master, are you still alive? 'Ah! Waska, my faithful little cat, is that you? replied a weak voice. 'I am dying of hunger. For three days I have not tasted food.
When he reached his home his mother greeted him with the question: 'Well, what have you brought back? 'I have brought this cat, Waska, answered Martin. 'And what besides? 'I had no money over to buy anything else with, replied Martin. 'You useless ne'er-do-weel! exclaimed his mother in a great passion.
The agreement was made, although Waska both scratched his head and shook it, as he reflected upon the probable result. The Prince, after his work of destruction, again appeared upon the steps, and with hoarse voice and flashing eyes, began to announce that every soul in the castle should receive a hundred lashes, when a noise was heard in the court, and amid cries of "Here he is!"
Waska, Ivan, Daniel, and a number of others, sprang to the brink of the rocks and looked over. The wall was not quite perpendicular, some large fragments having fallen from above and lodged along the base. It would therefore require a bold leap to clear the rocks and strike the smooth ice. They hesitated, and no wonder. Prince Alexis howled with rage and disappointment.
"Yes, your Highness, it was I," Waska replied, in a scarcely audible tone, dropping his head and mechanically drawing his shoulders together, as if shrinking from the coming blow. It was full three minutes before the Prince again spoke. He still held the whip in his hand, his eyes fixed and the muscles of his face rigid.
Some of the more active and shrewd of the household pitched upon the leader of the band, a simple-minded, good-natured serf, named Waska. They entreated him to take upon himself the crime of having sung, offering to have his punishment mitigated in every possible way. He was proof against their tears, but not against the money which they finally offered, in order to avert the storm.
'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.
Out of the house he ran to where he again found Hagen, whom he dealt a furious blow with his powerful hand. Hagen thought him: "Thou art doomed. Unless be that the foul fiend protect thee, thou canst not escape alive." Yet Iring wounded Hagen through his crest. This the hero wrought with Waska, a passing goodly sword. When Sir Hagen felt the wound, wildly he brandished his weapon in his hand.
Word Of The Day