Paduretz travels the world as a gypsy alongside his bear, Burlac, yet he returns to the same village every year. He visits to see Stanutza, a kind and beautiful young woman who loves his stories of the wide world and frequently appears in his dreams. Although Stanutza is married now, Paduretz nonetheless returns and requests to stay with her. She visits him in the barn where he is to sleep, and he tells her tales of his travels. Throughout the conversation, they grow closer and closer, her excitement tangible. When Stanutza's husband returns home, he immediately recognizes the intimacy of the moment and becomes quietly furious, insisting Stanutza return inside. Later that night, while everyone sleeps, her husband cuts up one of his goats and feeds it to the bear, hoping to enrage it enough that it will kill Paduretz. The next morning, screams awake the couple. The bear does indeed have Paduretz in his paws, but when the husband arrives, the bear drops the gypsy in favor of his preferred prey - the man who still smells of a butchered animal. The husband nearly dies from the bear's attack, and the villagers mob and kill it to save him. Paduretz is overcome by grief, and the villagers threaten to get him next, for caring about his bear more than the man it hurt. Stanutza's husband requests Paduretz speak with him. He confesses what he has done and repents, wishing Paduretz would forgive him. He offers Paduretz enough money to purchase a new bear, but the gypsy is overcome with grief as he tries to explain Burlac was his companion for half of his life and cannot be replaced. At last, recognizing that Stanutza wants Paduretz to forgive her husband, he accepts the money and leaves, knowing he will never return to the town again. Stantuza no longer speaks with the other gypsies who visit; instead, she hides from them.