Búlka (Tolstoy)
Division into chapters is editorial.
Búlkas appearance and character
The narrator owned a small bulldog who became his devoted companion.
The dog was called Búlka and possessed distinctive physical characteristics that set him apart from other bulldogs.
Búlka was entirely black except for the white tips of his front feet. Like all bulldogs, his lower jaw extended beyond the upper, but Búlka's protruded so dramatically that his master could fit a finger between the two rows of teeth. His face was remarkably broad, his eyes large, black, and sparkling, while his teeth and incisors stood out prominently. Despite his fearsome appearance, Búlka possessed a gentle nature and never bit anyone. However, he was incredibly strong and stubborn, displaying remarkable tenacity when he seized something.
If he took hold of a thing, he clenched his teeth and clung to it like a rag, and it was not possible to tear him off, any more than as though he were a lobster.
This tenacious grip would prove both remarkable and dangerous.
The bear incident
Búlka's incredible determination and grip strength became legendary through a dramatic encounter with a bear. On one occasion, Búlka was deliberately set loose on a bear, demonstrating his fearless nature and unwavering tenacity. The small bulldog immediately seized the bear's ear and held on with such determination that he became like a leech attached to his massive opponent.
The bear struck him with his paws and squeezed him, and shook him from side to side, but could not tear himself loose from him, and so he fell down on his head, in order to crush Búlka
Despite the bear's desperate attempts to dislodge the small dog through violent shaking, striking, and even trying to crush him by falling on his head, Búlka maintained his grip with extraordinary persistence. The struggle continued until observers were forced to intervene by pouring cold water over the dog, which finally caused him to release his hold on the bear. This incident perfectly illustrated Búlka's remarkable courage and his legendary unwillingness to let go once he had seized something.
Following his master to the Caucasus
The narrator had raised Búlka from puppyhood, developing a deep bond with the animal. When the time came for him to travel to the Caucasus, he made the difficult decision not to take his beloved companion along. Hoping to avoid an emotional farewell, the narrator departed quietly, instructing that Búlka be shut up to prevent him from following.
At the first station I was about to change the relay, when suddenly I saw something black and shining coming down the road. It was Búlka in his brass collar.
The narrator was astonished to see his faithful dog racing toward the station at full speed. Búlka rushed directly to his master, licked his hand affectionately, and then stretched himself out in the shade beneath the cart. The exhausting journey had taken its toll on the small bulldog - his tongue hung out a full hand's length as he struggled to catch his breath. He alternately drew his tongue in to swallow and then extended it again, trying desperately to breathe properly while his sides shook from the exertion. The devoted animal turned from side to side and struck his tail against the ground, clearly exhausted but overjoyed to have found his master.
Later investigation revealed the extraordinary lengths to which Búlka had gone to rejoin his beloved master. After the narrator's departure, the determined bulldog had broken a windowpane to escape from his confinement, jumped out through the window, and then followed his master's track along the road.
After I had left he had broken a pane, jumped out of the window, and followed my track along the road, and thus raced twenty versts through the greatest heat.
This remarkable feat demonstrated not only Búlka's intelligence and determination but also the depth of his devotion to his master. The small bulldog had covered twenty versts in the intense heat, driven by his unwavering loyalty and refusal to be separated from the person he loved most. This extraordinary journey perfectly captured the essence of Búlka's character - his stubbornness, strength, and above all, his profound attachment to his human companion.