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 will give you all the dragon’s horses that are grazing over yonder in the meadow.”

“Very well, Vitazko,” the raven croaked. “I’ll help you. What shall I do?”

“Cool me when I’m hot,” Vitazko said, “when the dragon breathes on me his fiery breath.”

They grappled again and the dragon plunged Vitazko into the ground up to his ankles. Twisting the ring on his right hand and thinking of St. Nedyelka, Vitazko gripped the dragon around the waist and plunged him into the earth up to his knees.

Then they paused for breath and the raven which had dipped its wings in a fountain sat on Vitazko’s head and shook down drops of cool water on his heated face.

Then Vitazko twisted the ring on his left hand, thought of the beautiful princess, and closed with the dragon again. This time with a mighty effort he gripped the dragon as if he were a stake of wood and drove him into the ground up to his very shoulders. Then quickly drawing Nedyelka’s sword, he cut off the dragon’s head.

At once the lovely princess came running and herself plucked two of the Golden Apples and gave