r.

"But how, dear Sharkan, shall I unchain you?"

He told her to go to the cellar and from a certain cask to draw him
a goblet of wine. Instantly he drank the wine, bang! the first iron
hoop burst asunder. He drank a second goblet, and the second iron
hoop fell from him. He drank a third goblet and, lo! he was free.

Then in dismay at what she had done, the woman cried:

"Ah me, what will Vitazko say when he comes home!"

"I have thought out a plan," Sharkan said. "Listen: when he comes
home pretend you're sick and refuse to eat. When he begs you to eat
something, tell him that nothing can tempt you but a suckling from
the Earth Sow. He will at once go out and hunt the Earth Sow and
when he touches one of her sucklings, the Sow will tear him to
pieces."

Sharkan remained in hiding in the tenth chamber and presently Vitazko
returned from the hunt with a young buck across his shoulders. He found
his mother on the bed, moaning and groaning as if in great pain.

"What is it, dear mother?" he asked. "Are you sick?"

"Aye, my son, I'm sick. Leave me and I'll die alone!"

Vitazko in alarm rubbed her hands and begged her to eat of the venison
he had brought home.

"Nay, my son," she said, "venison tempts me not. Nothing can tempt my
waning appetite but a suckling from the Earth Sow."

"Then, my mother, you shall have a suckling from the Earth Sow!" Vitazko
cried, and instantly he rushed out in quest of the Earth Sow and her
litter.

With his beech-tree in his hand he ranged back and forth through the
forest hunting the Earth Sow. He came at last to a tower in which an
old wise woman lived. Her name was Nedyelka and because she was good
as well as wise people called her St. Nedyelka.

"Where are you going, Vitazko?" she said, when she saw the young hero.

"I'm hunting for the Earth Sow," he told her. "My mother is sick and
nothing will tempt her but a suckling from the Earth Sow's litter."

Nedyelka looked at the young man kindly.

"That, my son, is a difficult task you have set yourself. However, I
will help you provided you do exactly as I say."

Vitazko promised and the old woman gave him a long pointed spit.

[Illustration: _Nedyelka tells Vitazko what to do_]

"Take this," she said. "Now go to my stable. There you will find my
horse, Tatosh. Mount him and he will carry you on the wind to
where the Earth Sow lies half buried in her wallow and surrounded by
her litter. Reach over and prick one of the s