Page:Tales and Legends from the Land of the Tzar.djvu/22

6 with me and work, and if you do everything properly, as I mentioned before, I shall give you a skull; on the other hand, if you do not do what I tell you, your head will be put on that wall with the rest, for there happens to be a vacancy."

Vaselesa did not at all like the prospect of possessing one of the things she had so greatly dreaded, nor did she care very much about the invitation, or the look of things in general; however, she wisely said nothing, but followed the witch into the hut.

"Bring me all that there is in the stove," said the witch, "and put it down on the table before me, for I am as hungry as a wolf"

"Then I hope you will not eat me up!"

"I will, if you don't make haste."

Vaselesa laughed, and, running to the stove, brought out everything there. This was chiefly human flesh! She brought out some honey and wine, which the witch at once consumed, giving Vaselesa now and then something which she herself did not care for. After telling Vaselesa to be up early next morning, she went to bed.

Early next morning Vaselesa woke, and, peeping out of the window, saw the light in the skulls slowly darken. As she stood there looking out, the same white horseman rode past, and immediately everything became quite light. Madam Witch rose, telling Vaselesa to clean the yard, sweep the hut, cook the dinner, and peel a hundred pounds of potatoes; but if this were not done, she told her that she would eat her up, and have no mercy on her. After that she went into the yard, said something that Vaselesa did