Pagina 264 de 2288

The cowhouse for the more valuable cows was just behind the

house. Walking across the yard, passing a snowdrift by the lilac

tree, he went into the cowhouse. There was the warm, steamy smell

of dung when the frozen door was opened, and the cows, astonished

at the unfamiliar light of the lantern, stirred on the fresh

straw. He caught a glimpse of the broad, smooth, black and

piebald back of Hollandka. Berkoot, the bull, was lying down with

his ring in his lip, and seemed about to get up, but thought

better of it, and only gave two snorts as they passed by him.

Pava, a perfect beauty, huge as a hippopotamus, with her back

turned to them, prevented their seeing the calf, as she sniffed

her all over.