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38 horse, had arrived. To the question of Khovugu who he was he replied that he was the subject living in the south-west of the country of Balai Khan, and that his name was Khaduin-Dziugê. Khovugu seized him, bound him, and placed him on the bank of Isun sur. He ordered his sister to go to guard him, and again went off to hunt. His sister did not submit. She went indeed to guard him; but when she saw the hero she unbound him, took him to the tent, and feasted him. When Khovugu returned home his sister hid Khaduin-dziugê, and herself feigned to be ill, and said that the heart of Abruik the snake could cure her. To get it, it would be necessary to ride for seventy years. Khovugu goes forth, and on the road he comes across a tent, in which three maidens live. "Go not forth," they advise him, "or thou wilt perish." But Khovugu did not delay, he did not even drink tea, he rode further. Ten years passed he in one day. Reaching Abruik the snake he slew him. For three years he cut up his flesh, until he arrived at the heart. On his return he passed by the maidens and they stole from him the heart of the snake, and in its place laid the heart of an ox. The sister of Khovugu ate it, and said she had recovered. Khovugu again went out hunting; when he returned his sister again feigned illness, and said it was necessary to procure her the heart of the twenty-five headed Khara Manguis.

Khovugu again rode past the white tent, but did not stay there even to drink tea. He slew Khara Manguis, and on his return rides to the white tent. The maidens take out the heart of Khara Manguis, and place in his sack the heart of a male camel. When Khovugu arrived home he felt weary, and therefore laid down to sleep. Then the man who was hidden in the box of Khovugu leapt forth and began to strike him. Khovugu also got up; but in strength they were well matched. Then the sister strewed under the feet of her brother frozen camel-dung, and flour under the feet of Khaduin Dziugê. Khovugu fell, but Khaduin-Dziugê was not able to pierce him. He asks the sister for something wherewith he may pierce her brother, and she gave him the knife of Khovugu himself. Having cut up Khovugu they buried his body. They took all his cattle, his property, and his tent, and started for the land of Balai Khan, but they could not force the grey mare Solongo, the dogs Aisuir and