d the dragons from room to room of the
castle, and slaughtered them all.

When he had thrown the last of them over the wall, he took possession of
the castle. He found nine spacious chambers and a tenth one the door of
which was closed.

Vitazko opened the door and in the room he found a dragon. This dragon
was a prisoner. Three iron hoops were fastened about his body and these
were chained to the wall.

"Oho!" Vitazko cried. "Another dragon! What are you doing here?"

"Me?" the dragon said. "I'm not doing anything but just sitting here. My
brothers imprisoned me. Unchain me, Vitazko! If you do, I will reward
you richly."

"I will not!" Vitazko said. "A fine scamp you must be if your own
brothers had to chain you up! No! You stay where you are!"

With that Vitazko slammed the door in the dragon's face and left him.

Then he went for his mother and brought her to the castle.

"Here, my mother," he said, "is the dwelling I have won for you."

He took her through the nine spacious chambers and showed her
everything. At the tenth door he said:

"This door is not to be opened. All the castle belongs to you except
this room only. See to it that this door is never opened. If it is
opened, an evil fate will overtake you."

Then Vitazko took his beechen club and went out hunting.

He was hardly gone before his mother sat down before the tenth door and
said to herself over and over:

"I wonder what can be in that room that Vitazko doesn't want me to open
the door."

At last when she could restrain her curiosity no longer, she opened the
door.

"Mercy on us!" she said when she saw the dragon. "Who are you? And what
are you doing here?"

"Me?" the dragon said. "I'm only a poor harmless dragon. They call
me Sharkan. My brothers chained me here. They would have freed me
long ago but Vitazko killed them. Unchain me, dear lady, and I will
reward you richly."

He begged her and cajoled her until she was half minded to do as he
asked.

"You are very beautiful," Sharkan said. "If only I were free I would
make you my wife."

"Ah, but what would Vitazko say to that?" the woman asked.

"Vitazko?" repeated Sharkan. "Do you fear your own son? A dutiful
son he is, to give you the castle and then forbid you to enter this
room! If you were to marry me, we should soon get rid of this
Vitazko and then live here together in peace and merriment."

The woman listened to these cajoling words until she was completely won
ove