they could consume. But what astonished them most was, that the host and his wife, at their own table, cut off the heads of the deer destined for themselves, and presented them to the old man, and then ate up the whole of the enormous quantity remaining.

This mighty repast being finished, both the family and the guests retired to rest. Each hunter found a comfortable couch prepared for him, composed of yagas of precious fur of black fox, of blue reindeer skins, with sables and gray squirrels (siwodushki), and these valuable yagas were afterwards presented to them as a gift.*

Next morning, the hunters, quite refreshed by sleep, and enchanted at the reception they had received, were preparing for departure, when the aged father, stepping forward, addressed his son in these words:

Behold, my son! thy guests are about to leave thee.

Wilt thou let them depart from

thy house without gifts ?"

The Ostiaks, who could not find words enough to express their thanks for the hospit

* Yaga is a large, warm garment, or cloak of fur.

able welcome and the costly present they had already received, observed in a deprecating tone that, after such generous treatment, combined with so splendid a present, they could not desire, or becomingly accept, anything more. But the son, making light of their excuses, and in obedience to his father's wish, took a long leathern leash which was hanging on the wall, and with which he was accustomed to catch his reindeer, and requested his guests to go with him outside the tchoum. The leash was so exceedingly long, that on being coiled. round his arm, as is usual on such occasions, it appeared like a large pillow.

"Look !" said he. "I will cast this leash all its length for each of you in turn, and whatever be the number of reindeer I catch in it at one cast, they shall be given to each of you respectively as a gift."

So saying, he whistled to the reindeer, and they pressed in crowds around him. He then threw his leash amidst them, and with such force that about thirty were entwined in it by their antlers, necks and legs, all of which he gave to the Ostiak for whom he had cast the leash. He then cast the leash for the others in suc

cession, and strange to say in each case with the same result, so that every Ostiak had an equal number.

Thus laden with gifts and having their sledges stored with game, the Ostiaks left the residence of their generous host, and turned towards home, passing, on on the road, the countless herds of reindeer which they had seen in coming. As they proceeded, they could of course speak of nothing but their host. They enlarged upon the immense wealth they had seen in his house, and what they saw before them, and they began to covet it.

All the munificent gifts which he had bestowed on them, appeared but a mere trifle when compared with the riches which he possessed. Every one thought so, though he durst not at first communicate his thoughts to the others. But the viper of covetousness gnawed at their hearts, and at length they sunk into sullen silence, all inwardly intent upon the same scheme.

"What enormous wealth!" cried one at last. "How happy the owner of these immense riches, though probably he does not himself know how much he possesses!"

"I quite agree with you, and I was just thinking the same," replied another.

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"Where does he keep all his riches?" added a third. From the presents of costly furs which he has given us with such liberality, I should infer that he has as great a store of them as of reindeer."

"Hang his furs!" said a fourth; "but if any one took some of the reindeer which are here on the pasture-ground, he certainly would not find it out."

That is the very idea that this moment occurred to me," rejoined a fifth.

Why should we hesitate then to add some of these reindeer to those he has given us?" asked another. "His herds being innumerable, he will not even perceive that any of them are missing."

While six of the Ostiaks were thus speaking together, one of their party did not join in the conversation; but, observing that they were seriously meditating the execution of their knavish design, he interposed.

"What is this you are plotting ?" he cried. "Certainly you cannot be in earnest! Is this a

fit return for the benefits we have received? Through his kindness it was that we were enabled to kill so much game, and he besides received us hospitably at his house, bestowing on us munificent gifts; so that for six months at least our homes are provided with plenty, and our wives and children are saved from starvation. Is it possible that, instead of being thankful, you are intent on doing him such injury ?"

"You are a fool!" retorted one of them. "What harm can he suffer from so trifling a loss, possessing so much as he does ?"

"Never mind listening to what he says,' observed the first speaker, "but let us do what we have decided on.”

"We had better not lose time in vain discussion," replied a third. Let us do at

once what we meant to do, and hasten home with our booty."

"For my part, I will on no account share in such a dark deed," said the Ostiak who disapproved of this scheme.

"We shall not want you," replied the originator of the plot.