title: Great Horse Stories
author: James Daley
description: <DIV>James Daley is the editor of several Dover anthologies, including <I>The World's Greatest Short Stories, Favorite Christmas Poems, Great Speeches by African Americans, </I>and<I> Great Writers on the Art of Fiction.</I></DIV>
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  # The Horse Stealers and Other Stories
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### Anton Chekhov
  
  
  ##### Translated by Constance Garrett
  
  (1921)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ### THE HORSE-STEALERS
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  A HOSPITAL assistant, called Yergunov, an empty-headed fellow, known
  throughout the district as a great braggart and drunkard, was returning one
  evening in Christmas week from the hamlet of Ryepino, where he had been to
  make some purchases for the hospital. That he might get home in good time and
  not be late, the doctor had lent him his very best horse.
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  At first it had been a still day, but at eight o'clock a violent snow-storm
  came on, and when he was only about four miles from home Yergunov completely
  lost his way.
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  He did not know how to drive, he did not know the road, and he drove on at
  random, hoping that the horse would find the way of itself. Two hours passed;
  the horse was exhausted, he himself was chilled, and already began to fancy
  