’No，’hethought，’thoughitwillmakemylandlop-sided，Imusthurrybackinastraightlinenow。Imightgotoofar，andasitisI
　　haveagreatdealofland。’
　　SoPahó；mhurriedlydugahole，andturnedstraighttowardsthehillock。
　　IX
　　Pahó；mwentstraighttowardsthehillock，buthenowwalkedwithdifficulty。Hewasdoneupwiththeheat，hisbarefeetwerecutandbruised，andhislegsbegantofail。Helongedtorest，butitwasimpossibleifhemeanttogetbackbeforesunset。Thesunwaitsfornoman，anditwassinkinglowerandlower。
　　’Ohdear，’hethought，’ifonlyIhavenotblunderedtryingfortoomuch！WhatifIamtoolate？’
　　Helookedtowardsthehillockandatthesun。Hewasstillfarfromhisgoal，andthesunwasalreadyneartherimPahó；mwalkedonandon；itwasveryhardwalking，buthewentquickerandquicker。Hepressedon，butwasstillfarfromtheplace。Hebeganrunning，threwawayhiscoat，hisboots，hisflask，andhiscap，andkeptonlythespadewhichheusedasasupport。
　　’WhatshallIdo，’hethoughtagain，’Ihavegraspedtoomuch，andruinedthewholeaffair。Ican’tgettherebeforethesunsets。’
　　Andthisfearmadehimstillmorebreathless。Pahó；mwentonrunning，hissoakingshirtandtrousersstucktohim，andhismouthwasparched。Hisbreastwasworkinglikeablacksmith’sbellows，hisheartwasbeatinglikeahammer，andhislegsweregivingwayasiftheydidnotbelongtohim。Pahó；mwasseizedwithterrorlestheshoulddieofthestrain。
　　Thoughafraidofdeath，hecouldnotstop。’AfterhavingrunallthatwaytheywillcallmeafoolifIstopnow，’thoughthe。Andheranonandon，anddrewnearandheardtheBashkí；rsyellingandshoutingtohim，andtheircriesinflamedhisheartstillmore。Hegatheredhislaststrengthandranon。
　　Thesunwasclosetotherim，andcloakedinmistlookedlarge，andredasblood。Now，yesnow，itwasabouttoset！Thesunwasquitelow，buthewasalsoquitenearhisaim。Pahó；mcouldalreadyseethepeopleonthehillockwavingtheirarmstohurryhimup。
　　Hecouldseethefox-furcapontheground，andthemoneyonit，andtheChiefsittingonthegroundholdinghissides。AndPahó；mrememberedhisdream。
　　’Thereisplentyofland，’thoughthe，’butwillGodletmeliveonit？Ihavelostmylife，Ihavelostmylife！Ishallneverreachthatspot！’
　　Pahó；mlookedatthesun，whichhadreachedtheearth:onesideofithadalreadydisappeared。Withallhisremainingstrengthherushedon，bendinghisbodyforwardsothathislegscouldhardlyfollowfastenoughtokeephimfromfalling。Justashereachedthehillockitsuddenlygrewdark。Helookedup——thesunhadalreadyset！Hegaveacry:’Allmylabourhasbeeninvain，’thoughthe，andwasabouttostop，butheheardtheBashkí；rsstillshouting，andrememberedthatthoughtohim，frombelow，thesunseemedtohaveset，theyonthehillockcouldstillseeit。Hetookalongbreathandranupthehillock。Itwasstilllightthere。Hereachedthetopandsawthecap。BeforeitsattheChieflaughingandholdinghissides。AgainPahó；mrememberedhisdream，andheutteredacry:hislegsgavewaybeneathhim，hefellforwardandreachedthecapwithhishands。
　　’Ah，that’safinefellow！’exclaimedtheChief’Hehasgainedmuchland！’
　　Pahó；m’sservantcamerunningupandtriedtoraisehim，buthesawthatbloodwasfloggingfromhismouth。Pahó；mwasdead！
　　TheBashkí；rsclickedtheirtonguestoshowtheirpity。
　　HisservantpickedupthespadeanddugagravelongenoughforPahó；mtohein，andburiedhiminit。Sixfeetfromhisheadtohisheelswasallheneeded。
　　agrainasbigasahen’seggAGRAINASBIGASAHEN’SEGG
　　ONEdaysomechildrenfound，inaravine，athingshapedlikeagrainofcorn，withagroovedownthemiddle，butaslargeasahen’segg。Atravellerpassingbysawthething，boughtitfromthechildrenforapenny，andtakingittotownsoldittotheKingasacuriosity。
　　TheKingcalledtogetherhiswisemen，andtoldthemtofindoutwhatthethingwas。Thewisemenponderedandponderedandcouldnotmakeheadortailofit，tilloneday，whenthethingwaslyingonawindow-sill，ahenflewinandpeckedatittillshemadeaholeinit，andtheneveryonesawthatitwasagrainofcorn。ThewisemenwenttotheKingandsaid:
　　’Itisagrainofcorn。’
　　AtthistheKingwasmuchsurprised；andheorderedthelearnedmentofindoutwhenandwheresuchcornhadgrown。Thelearnedmenponderedagain，andsearchedintheirbooks，butcouldfindnothingaboutit。SotheyreturnedtotheKingandsaid:
　　’Wecangiveyounoanswer。Thereisnothingaboutitinourbooks。
　　Youwillhavetoaskthepeasants；perhapssomeofthemmayhaveheardfromtheirfatherswhenandwheregraingrewtosuchasize。’
　　SotheKinggaveordersthatsomeveryoldpeasantshouldbebroughtbeforehim；andhisservantsfoundsuchamanandbroughthimtotheKing。Oldandbent，ashypaleandtoothless，hejustmanagedwiththehelpoftwocrutchestototterintotheKing’spresence。
　　TheKingshowedhimthegrain，buttheoldmancouldhardlyseeit；
　　hetookit，however，andfeltitwithhishands。TheKingquestionedhim，saying:
　　’Canyoutellus，oldman，wheresuchgrainasthisgrew？Haveyoueverboughtsuchcorn，orsownsuchinyourfields？’
　　TheoldmanwassodeafthathecouldhardlyhearwhattheKingsaid，andonlyunderstoodwithgreatdifficulty。
　　’No！’heansweredatlast，’Ineversowednorreapedanylikeitinmyfields，nordidIeverbuyanysuch。Whenweboughtcorn，thegrainswerealwaysassmallastheyarenow。Butyoumightaskmyfather。Hemayhaveheardwheresuchgraingrew。’
　　SotheKingsentfortheoldman’sfather，andhewasfoundandbroughtbeforetheKing。Hecamewalkingwithonecrutch。TheKingshowedhimthegrain，andtheoldpeasant，whowasstillabletosee，tookagoodlookatit。AndtheKingaskedhim:
　　’Canyounottellus，oldman，wherecornlikethisusedtogrow？Haveyoueverboughtanylikeit，orsownanyinyourfields？’
　　Thoughtheoldmanwasratherhardofhearing，hestillheardbetterthanhissonhaddone。
　　’No，’hesaid，’Ineversowednorreapedanygrainlikethisinmyfield。
　　Astobuying，Ineverboughtany，forinmytimemoneywasnotyetinuse。Everyonegrewhisowncorn，andwhentherewasanyneedwesharedwithoneanother。Idonotknowwherecornlikethisgrew。Ourswaslargerandyieldedmoreflourthanpresent-daygrain，butIneversawanylikethis。Ihave，however，heardmyfathersaythatinhistimethegraingrewlargerandyieldedmoreflourthanours。Youhadbetteraskhim。’
　　SotheKingsentforthisoldman’sfather，andtheyfoundhimtoo，andbroughthimbeforetheKing。Heenteredwalkingeasilyandwithoutcrutches:hiseyewasclear，hishearinggood，andhespokedistinctly。TheKingshowedhimthegrain，andtheoldgrandfatherlookedatit，andturneditaboutinhishand。
　　’ItislongsinceIsawsuchafinegrain，’saidhe，andhebitapieceoffandtastedit。
　　’It’stheverysamekind，’headded。
　　’Tellme，grandfather，’saidtheKing，’whenandwherewassuchcorngrown？Haveyoueverboughtanylikeit，orsownanyinyourfields？’
　　Andtheoldmanreplied:
　　’Cornlikethisusedtogroweverywhereinmytime。Ilivedoncornlikethisinmyyoungdays，andfedothersonit。Itwasgrainlikethisthatweusedtosowandreapandthrash。’
　　AndtheKingasked:
　　’Tellme，grandfather，didyoubuyitanywhere，ordidyougrowitallyourself？’
　　Theoldmansmiled。
　　’Inmytime，’heanswered，’nooneeverthoughtofsuchasinasbuyingorsellingbread；andweknewnothingofmoney。Eachmanhadcornenoughofhisown。’
　　’Thentellme，grandfather，’askedtheKing，’wherewasyourfield，wheredidyougrowcornlikethis？’
　　Andthegrandfatheranswered:
　　’MyfieldwasGod’searth。WhereverIploughed，therewasmyfield。
　　Landwasfree。Itwasathingnomancalledhisown。
　　Labourwastheonlythingmencalledtheirown。’
　　’Answermetwomorequestions，’saidtheKing。’Thefirstis，Whydidtheearthbearsuchgrainthenandhasceasedtodosonow？Andthesecondis，Whyyourgrandsonwalkswithtwocrutches，yoursonwithone，andyouyourselfwithnone？Youreyesarebright，yourteethsound，andyourspeechclearandpleasanttotheear。Howhavethesethingscomeabout？’
　　Andtheoldmananswered:
　　’Thesethingsareso，becausemenhaveceasedtolivebytheirownlabour，andhavetakentodependingonthelabourofothers。Intheoldtime，menlivedaccordingtoGod’slaw。Theyhadwhatwastheirown，andcovetednotwhatothershadproduced。