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"Don't meddle! It's my property, I'll do what I choose. Get in,

more of you! Get in, all of you! I will have her go at a

gallop!..."

All at once laughter broke into a roar and covered everything:

the mare, roused by the shower of blows, began feebly kicking.

Even the old man could not help smiling. To think of a wretched

little beast like that trying to kick!

Two lads in the crowd snatched up whips and ran to the mare to

beat her about the ribs. One ran each side.

"Hit her in the face, in the eyes, in the eyes," cried Mikolka.

"Give us a song, mates," shouted someone in the cart and everyone

in the cart joined in a riotous song, jingling a tambourine and

whistling. The woman went on cracking nuts and laughing.