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 With the two pitchers safe in his hands, Vitazko mounted Tatosh and the magic steed rising on the wind carried him home to St. Nedyelka.

“And how did things go?” the old woman asked.

“Very well,” Vitazko said. “See, here are the Waters.”

St. Nedyelka took the two pitchers and when Vitazko wasn’t looking changed them for two pitchers of ordinary water which she told him to carry at once to his mother.

At the castle the mother and Sharkan were again making merry when from afar they saw Vitazko with two pitchers in his hands. The mother fell into a great fright and wept and tore her hair, but the dragon again reassured her.

“He’s come back this time,” he said, “but we’ll send him off again and he’ll never return. Refuse the Waters and tell him you’re so sick that nothing will help you now but a sight of the bird, Pelikan. Tell him if he loves you he will go after the bird, Pelikan, and once he goes we need never fear him again.”

Vitazko when he reached the castle hurried into his mother’s chamber and offered her the Waters.

“Here, dear mother, is a pitcher of the Water of