Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/92

 Life and a pitcher of the Water of Death. Now you will get well!”

But his mother pushed both pitchers away and, moaning and groaning as if she were in great pain, she said:

“Nay, you are too late with your Water of Life and your Water of Death! I am so far gone that nothing will cure me now but a sight of the bird, Pelikan. If you really loved me you would get it for me.”

Vitazko, still trusting his mother, cried out:

“Of course I love you! Of course I’ll get you the bird, Pelikan, if that is what will cure you!”

So once more he snatched up his beech-tree and hurried off to St. Nedyelka.

“What is it now?” the old woman asked him.

“It’s my poor mother,” Vitazko said. “She’s too far gone for the Water of Life and the Water of Death. Nothing will help her now but a sight of the bird, Pelikan. Tell me, kind Nedyelka, how can I get the bird, Pelikan?”

“The bird, Pelikan, my son? Ah, that is a task to capture Pelikan! However, I will help you. Pelikan is a giant bird with a long, long neck. When he shakes his wings he raises such a wind that he blows down