Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 9, 1898.djvu/253

Rh Twelve piastres we want of him.'

I'll give you them if you will let him be.'

"He gave the money; they let the dead man be. He arose and departed. As the lad goes, the dead man followed him. 'Where go you?' the dead man asked.

I am going for a walk.'

I'll come too; we'll go together; we will be partners.'

So be it.'

Come, I will bring you to a certain place.'

"He took and brought him to a village. There was a girl, takes a husband, goes to bed; by dawn next day the husbands are dead.

I will hide you somewhere; I will get you a girl, but we shall always be partners.'

"He got the girl—a dragon came out of her mouth.

And this night when you go to bed, I too will lie there.'

"He took his sword, he went near them. The lad said, 'That will never do. If you want her, do you take the girl.'

Are we not partners? You, do you sleep with her; I also, I will sleep here.'

"At midnight he sees the girl open her mouth; the dragon came forth. He drew his sword; he cut off its three heads; he put the heads in his bosom; he lay down; he fell asleep. Next morning the girl arose, and sees the man, her husband, living by her side.

"They told the girl's father: 'To-day your daughter has seen the dawn with her husband.'

That will be the son-in-law,' said the father.

"The lad took the girl; he is going to his father.

Come,' said the dead man, 'let's divide the money.'

"They took and divided it.

We have divided the money; let us also divide your wife.'

"The lad said, 'How divide her? If you want her, take her.'

I take her not; we will divide.'

How divide? ' said the lad.

"The dead man said: 'I, I will divide.'

"The dead man seized her; he bound her knees. 'Do you catch hold of one foot, I'll take the other.'

"He raised his sword to strike the girl. In her fright the girl opened her mouth and cried, and out of her mouth fell a dragon. The dead man said to the lad: 'I am not for a wife, I am not for