Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/47

Rh Bassuir, or the birds Aigan and Taigan, to go with them; for as soon as Khaduin-Dziuge turned from them they all returned back.

When Khaduin-Dziugê was at a distance the grey mare Solongo told her companions to wait at the tomb while she went to the white tent to beg some healing-charm. The three maidens all together sat on the grey mare Solongo, and rode to the tomb of Khovugu. Solongo struck the tomb with her hoof, and from the blow the stones thereof were scattered in every direction. Again she struck with her hoof, and the bones revealed themselves. The three maidens first pronounced a charm, the bones of Khovugu clothed themselves with flesh. They pronounced a second charm, he stood up. "How soundly I have slept," said he. " Thou didst not sleep, but Khaduin-Dziugê slew thee," said the maidens. Then Khovugu changed himself into a tiny man, and changed his steed into a scabby foal. Water ran from Khovugu's nose. In this wise he rode to the south-west country, whither Khaduin-Dziugê had withdrawn himself. He stands at the tent, round him is much cattle and a numerous nation — these were formerly his cattle and his nation. The old man who lived in the tent feasted him and slew a sheep for him. Khovugu asked the old man, "Where is the mother of Khovugu?" He replied, "A little further to the south." Khovugu rode along the indicated road, and found a poor tent and in it an old woman. Of all the things in the tent one only was his former property, the cup which it took five men to lift. The old woman gave him tea in this cup, and he drank it up. "Where is Khaduin-Dziugê?" asked Khovugu of the old woman. "A little further to the south," replied the old woman. Khovugu rode to the place indicated. Khaduin-Dziuge was living in his great tent. Khovugu entered it and asked his sister, "Where is Khaduin-Dziugê?" His sister replied that he had gone to amuse himself at shooting from a bow with Apban Batuir. When Khaduin-Dziugê returned home and saw Khovugu, not knowing him, he asked, "What man is this ?" Khovugu replied, "I am a beggar." "Can you shoot?" "Badly." Khaduin-Dziugê invited him to show his skill. Khovugu made a bow from a reed and an arrow from Deres. He shot, but the arrow falls close to the bow, and does not fly far. "If I had a good bow I could shoot better," said Khovugu.