for mercy.

"Never fear," Vitazko said. "I won't harm you. Let God judge between
us."

He took his mother by the hand and led her down into the courtyard. Then
he lifted the sword and said:

"Now, mother, I shall throw this sword in the air and may God judge
between us which of us has been faithless to the other."

The sword flashed in the air and fell, striking straight to the heart of
the guilty mother and killing her.

Vitazko buried her in the courtyard and then returned to St. Nedyelka.
He thanked the old woman for all she had done for him and then, picking
up his beech-tree club, he started out to find his beautiful princess.

She had long since returned to her father and many princes and heroes
had come seeking her in marriage. She had put them all off, saying she
would wed no one for a year and a day.

Then before the year was up Vitazko appeared and she led him at once to
her father and said:

"This man will I marry, this and none other, for he it was that rescued
me from the dragon."

A great wedding feast was spread and all the country rejoiced that their
lovely princess was getting for a husband Vitazko, the Victorious.

FIVE NURSERY TALES

I. KURATKO THE TERRIBLE
II. SMOLICHECK
III. BUDULINEK
IV. THE DEAR LITTLE HEN
V. THE DISOBEDIENT ROOSTER

[Illustration]

KURATKO THE TERRIBLE

THE STORY OF AN UNGRATEFUL CHICK

[Illustration]

KURATKO THE TERRIBLE

There was once an old couple who had no children.

"If only we had a chick or a child of our own!" Grandmother used to say.
"Think how we could pet it and take care of it!"

But Grandfather always answered:

"Not at all! We are very well off as we are."

At last the old black hen in the barnyard hatched out a chick.
Grandmother was delighted.

"See, Grandpa," she said, "now we have a chick of our own!"

But Grandfather shook his head doubtfully.

"I don't like the looks of that chick. There's something strange about
it."

But Grandmother wouldn't listen. To her the chick seemed everything it
should be. She called it Kuratko and petted it and pampered it as though
it were an only child.

Kuratko grew apace and soon he developed an awful appetite.

"Cockadoodledoo!" he shouted at all hours of the day. "I'm hungry! Give
me something to eat!"

"You mustn't feed that chick so much!" Grandfather grumbled. "He's
eating us out of house and home."

But Grandmother wouldn't listen.