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156 "I don't want it; but the Water Demon must have a cut with it behind his ear."

"Heaven preserve you from such a deed! I have promised the Water Demon his freedom."

"You have promised him that!" cried Yanechek. "You silly mother! you have promised him his freedom that he may catch me again, and you too, perhaps. No! no! this fiend shall never go back to his cold hall; you may carry him there without his head."

Having thus spoken, Yanechek ran along the bank of the pool towards his mother's hut. The shepherdess could with difficulty keep up with him. She followed him, panting for breath, and unable as she felt herself to be to prevent her son from carrying out his purpose, fresh anxiety filled her heart for his own safety. Yanechek was still her dearest treasure, for him she would have done anything. As soon as they reached the hut, Yanechek seized the sharp-edged axe, too sharp and too heavy for his wasted body, and ran with it into the room where the Water Demon was still fastened to the oven.

"Now, you evil thing," cried Yanechek, as thirsting for revenge he raised the axe in the air; "have you got some flowers for me that I may make you a funeral garland?"

"Bow! bow!" barked the Water Demon, changing