ed. "I'll help you. What shall I
do?"

"Cool me when I'm hot," Vitazko said, "when the dragon breathes on me
his fiery breath."

They grappled again and the dragon plunged Vitazko into the ground up to
his ankles. Twisting the ring on his right hand and thinking of St.
Nedyelka, Vitazko gripped the dragon around the waist and plunged him
into the earth up to his knees.

Then they paused for breath and the raven which had dipped its wings in
a fountain sat on Vitazko's head and shook down drops of cool water on
his heated face.

Then Vitazko twisted the ring on his left hand, thought of the beautiful
princess, and closed with the dragon again. This time with a mighty
effort he gripped the dragon as if he were a stake of wood and drove him
into the ground up to his very shoulders. Then quickly drawing
Nedyelka's sword, he cut off the dragon's head.

At once the lovely princess came running and herself plucked two of the
Golden Apples and gave them to Vitazko. She thanked him prettily for
rescuing her and she said to him:

"You have saved me, Vitazko, from this fierce monster and now I am yours
if you want me."

"I do want you, dear princess," Vitazko said, "and, if I could, I'd go
with you at once to your father to ask you in marriage. But I cannot. I
must hurry home to my sick mother. If you love me, wait for me a year
and a day and I'll surely return."

The princess made him this promise and they parted.

Remembering the raven, Vitazko rode over to the meadow and slaughtered
the dragon's horses. Then rising on Tatosh he flew home on the wind to
St. Nedyelka.

"Well, son, how did things go?" the old woman asked.

"Gloriously!" Vitazko answered, showing her the Golden Apples. "But if
the princess hadn't given me a second ring I might have been
vanquished."

"Take home the Golden Apples to your mother," Nedyelka said, "and this
time ride Tatosh to the castle."

So Vitazko mounted Tatosh again and flew to the castle.

Sharkan and his mother were making merry together when they saw him
coming.

"Here he comes again!" the mother cried. "What shall I do? What shall I
do?"

But Sharkan could think of nothing further to suggest. So without a word
he hurried to the tenth chamber where he hid himself and the woman had
to meet Vitazko as best she could.

She laid herself on the bed feigning still to be sick and when Vitazko
appeared she greeted him most affectionately.

"My dear son, back again? And safe a