Page:The shoemaker's apron (1920).djvu/99

 them to Vitazko. She thanked him prettily for rescuing her and she said to him:

“You have saved me, Vitazko, from this fierce monster and now I am yours if you want me.”

“I do want you, dear princess,” Vitazko said, “and, if I could, I’d go with you at once to your father to ask you in marriage. But I cannot. I must hurry home to my sick mother. If you love me, wait for me a year and a day and I’ll surely return.”

The princess made him this promise and they parted.

Remembering the raven, Vitazko rode over to the meadow and slaughtered the dragon’s horses. Then rising on Tatosh he flew home on the wind to St. Nedyelka.

“Well, son, how did things go?” the old woman asked.

“Gloriously!” Vitazko answered, showing her the Golden Apples. “But if the princess hadn’t given me a second ring I might have been vanquished.”

“Take home the Golden Apples to your mother,” Nedyelka said, “and this time ride Tatosh to the castle.”

So Vitazko mounted Tatosh again and flew to the castle.