I have just emptied the last grains of meal out of the chest , and baked a bannock ; but it wo n't last over to-morrow . ' Just as Martin was entering the town he met a rough-looking peasant who was dragging a cat after him by a string which was fastened round the poor beast 's neck . ` Stop , ' cried Martin ; ` where are you dragging that poor cat ? ' ' I mean to drown him , ' was the answer . ` What harm has the poor beast done ? ' said Martin . ` It has just killed a goose , ' replied the peasant . ` Do n't drown him , sell him to me instead , ' begged Martin . ` Not for a hundred florins , ' was the answer . ` Surely for a hundred florins you 'll sell it ? ' said Martin . ` See ! here is the money ; ' and , so saying , he handed him the hundred florins , which the peasant pocketed , and Martin took possession of the cat , which was called Waska . When he reached his home his mother greeted him with the question : ` Well , what have you brought back ? ' ' I have brought this cat , Waska , ' answered Martin . ` And what besides ? ' ' I had no money over to buy anything else with , ' replied Martin . ` You useless ne'er - do-weel ! ' exclaimed his mother in a great passion . ` Leave the house at once , and go and beg your bread among strangers ; ' and as Martin did not dare to contradict her , he called Schurka and Waska and started off with them to the nearest village in search of work .
On the way he XXXXX a rich peasant , who asked him where he was going . '
Stop begged brought buy called entering fastened met pocketed took