th two pitchers in his hands. The mother fell
into a great fright and wept and tore her hair, but the dragon again
reassured her.

"He's come back this time," he said, "but we'll send him off again and
he'll never return. Refuse the Waters and tell him you're so sick that
nothing will help you now but a sight of the bird, Pelikan. Tell him if
he loves you he will go after the bird, Pelikan, and once he goes we
need never fear him again."

Vitazko when he reached the castle hurried into his mother's chamber and
offered her the Waters.

"Here, dear mother, is a pitcher of the Water of Life and a pitcher of
the Water of Death. Now you will get well!"

But his mother pushed both pitchers away and, moaning and groaning as if
she were in great pain, she said:

"Nay, you are too late with your Water of Life and your Water of Death!
I am so far gone that nothing will cure me now but a sight of the bird,
Pelikan. If you really loved me you would get it for me."

Vitazko, still trusting his mother, cried out:

"Of course I love you! Of course I'll get you the bird, Pelikan, if that
is what will cure you!"

So once more he snatched up his beech-tree and hurried off to St.
Nedyelka.

"What is it now?" the old woman asked him.

"It's my poor mother," Vitazko said. "She's too far gone for the Water
of Life and the Water of Death. Nothing will help her now but a sight of
the bird, Pelikan. Tell me, kind Nedyelka, how can I get the bird,
Pelikan?"

"The bird, Pelikan, my son? Ah, that is a task to capture Pelikan!
However, I will help you. Pelikan is a giant bird with a long, long
neck. When he shakes his wings he raises such a wind that he blows
down the forest trees. Here is a gun. Take it and mount my faithful
Tatosh. He will carry you far away to the vast wilderness where
Pelikan lives. When you get there, note carefully from what
direction the wind blows. Shoot in that direction. Then quickly push
the ramrod into the barrel of the gun and leave it there and come
back to me as fast as you can."

Vitazko took the gun and mounted Tatosh. The magic steed rose on the
wind and carried him far off to the distant wilderness which was the
home of the bird, Pelikan. There Tatosh sank to earth and Vitazko
dismounted. Immediately he felt a strong wind against his right cheek.
He took aim in that direction and pulled the trigger. The hammer fell
and instantly Vitazko pushed the ramrod into the gun barrel. He threw
the gun over