Krilof and His Fables/The Peasant and the Labourer
 | An image should appear at this position in the text. If you are able to provide it, see Wikisource:Image guidelines and Help:Adding images for guidance. |
The Peasant and the Labourer.
An old Peasant and a Labourer were going home through the forest to the village one evening, in the time of the hay-harvest, when they suddenly found themselves face to face with a bear. Scarcely had the Peasant time to utter a cry when the bear was upon him; it threw him down, rolled him over, made I is bones crack again, and began looking about for a soft spot at which to commence its meal. Death draws near to the old man.
"Stefan, my kinsman, my dear friend, do not desert me!" he cries, from under the bear, to the Labourer.
Then Stefan, putting forth all his strength like a new Hercules, splits the bear's head in two with his axe, and drives his pitchfork into its bowels. The bear howls, and falls dying. Our bear expires.
The danger having vanished, the Peasant gets up, and soundly scolds the Labourer. Our poor Stefan is astounded.
"Pardon me, what have I done?"
"What have you done, you blockhead? I'd like to know what you are so absurdly pleased about; why, you've gone and struck the bear in such a manner that you've utterly ruined his fur!"