More snow fell on its face, and the load it was carrying felt ever heavier. The old donkey felt the cold was hurting even his hooves:
"Neigh neigh neigh, when is this snowstorm going to end?"
A smart old hound heard the donkey's complaint and yawned as it was lying down behind some tree roots:
"Woof woof woof, snowstorm won't end! Why run in a rush! Careful you'll fall !"
The snow made it hard for the donkey to see and it had no strength to keep walking, so it hid behind the tree roots with the hound to shelter from the snow.
But why would a hound appear in this snow-filled wilderness? The old donkey was intrigued.
"Neigh neigh, thank you ol' fella! But why are you lying in snow?"
Hearing this, the old hound only shook its head.
"Woof woof, you're welcome. Snow won't stop, prey are naught. Master was not nice, I was to pay the price! No way I could agree, so I had to flee!"
The old donkey sighed when he heard this. There was nowhere to go in the snowstorm. How could they stay alive? But he immediately thought of a good idea:
"Neigh neigh neigh, listen to me! There's a city called Belobog, and the weather there is very mild! I can play a tune, you can beat a drum, and we'll make the stage our home!"
The old hound thought it was a great idea. He lolled his tongue in delight, and even the hot vapor of his breath froze into ice flakes.
"Woof woof woof, then I'll come with you!"