ever stolen.

"Good day to you, my girl," the young man said to Dobrunka.

"Good day, sir," Dobrunka answered. "What is it, sir, you want?"

"Will you please get me a little water. I'm very thirsty."

"Certainly," Dobrunka said. "Won't you sit down while I'm getting it?"

She ran off, got the pitcher, rinsed it out, and drew some fresh water
from the well.

"I wish I could give you something better, sir."

"Nothing could taste better than this," he said, handing her back the
empty pitcher. "See, I have taken it all."

Dobrunka put the pitcher away and the young man, while her back was
turned, slipped a leather bag, full of money, into the bed.

"I thank you for the drink," he said, as he rose to go. "I'll come
again tomorrow if you'll let me."

"Come if you want to," Dobrunka said, modestly.

He took her hand, held it a moment, then leaped upon his horse and
galloped off.

Dobrunka sat down again to her wheel and tried to work, but her mind
wandered. The image of the young man kept rising before her eyes and I
have to confess that, for an expert spinner, she broke her thread
pretty often.

Her mother came home in the evening full of praises of Zloboha, who,
she said, was growing prettier day by day. Everybody in town admired
her and she was fast learning city ways and city manners. It was
Zloboha this and Zloboha that for hours.

Finally the old woman remarked: "They say there was a great hunting
party out today. Did you hear anything of it?"

"Oh, yes," Dobrunka said. "I forgot to tell you that a young huntsman
stopped here to ask for a drink. He was handsomely dressed in leather.
You know once when I was in town with you we saw a whole company of
men in leather coats with white feathers in their caps. No doubt this
young man belonged to the hunting party. When he had his drink, he
jumped on his horse and rode off."

Dobrunka forgot to mention that he had taken her hand in parting and
promised to come back next day.

When Dobrunka was preparing the bed for the night, the bag of money
fell out. In great surprise she picked it up and handed it to her
mother.

The old woman looked at her sharply.

"Dobrunka, who gave you all this money?"

"Nobody gave it to me, mother. Perhaps the huntsman slipped it into
the bed. I don't know where else it could have come from."

The old woman emptied the bag on the table. They were all gold pieces.

"Good heavens, so much!" she murmured in amazement. "He must