ucklings with this spit
and then sit very still without moving. The suckling will squeal and
instantly the Sow will spring up and in a fury race madly around the
world and back in a moment of time. Sit perfectly still and she
won't see either you or Tatosh. Then she'll tell the litter that if
one of them squeals again and disturbs her, she will tear it to
pieces. With that she'll settle back in the wallow and go to sleep.
Then do you pick up the same little suckling on your spit and carry
it off. This time it will be afraid to squeal. The Sow will not be
disturbed and Tatosh, my horse, will bear you safely away."

Vitazko did exactly as Nedyelka ordered. He mounted Tatosh and the
magic steed carried him swiftly on the wind to where the Earth Sow
lay sleeping in her wallow.

With his spit, Vitazko pricked one of the sucklings until it squealed in
terror. The Earth Sow jumped up and in fury raced madly around the world
and back in a moment of time. Tatosh stood where he was and Vitazko sat
on his back without moving. The Earth Sow saw neither of them.

"If one of you squeals again and disturbs me," the Earth Sow said to
the litter, "I'll wake up and tear you to pieces!"

With that she settled back in the mud and fell asleep.

Vitazko again reached over and now he picked up the same little suckling
on the end of his spit. This time it made no sound. Instantly Tatosh,
the magic steed, rose on the wind and flew straight home to Nedyelka.

"How did things go?" the old woman asked.

"Just as you said they would," Vitazko told her. "See, here is the
suckling."

"Good, my son. Take it home to your mother."

So Vitazko returned the spit and led Tatosh back to his stall. Then he
threw the suckling over his beech-tree, thanked old St. Nedyelka, bade
her good-day, and with a happy heart went home.

At the castle the mother was making merry with the dragon. Suddenly in
the distance they saw Vitazko coming.

"Here he comes!" the mother cried. "Oh dear, what shall I do?"

"Don't be afraid," Sharkan advised. "We'll send him off on another quest
and this time he'll surely not come back. Pretend you're sick again and
tell him you're so weak that even the suckling of the Earth Sow doesn't
tempt your appetite. Tell him nothing will help you but the Water of
Life and the Water of Death and if he really loves you he must get you
some of both. Then he'll go off hunting the Water of Life and the Water
of Death and that will be the