Atondido Stories
Sharkan remained in hiding in the tenth chamber and pres-
ently Vitazko returned from the hunt with a young buck across
his shoulders. He found his mother on the bed, moaning and
groaning as if in great pain.
"What is it, dear mother?" he asked. "Are you sick?"
"Aye, my son, I'm sick. Leave me and I'll die alone!"
Vitazko in alarm rubbed her hands and begged her to eat of
the venison he had brought home.
"Nay, my son," she said, "venison tempts me not. Nothing
can tempt my waning appetite but a suckling from the Earth
Sow."
"Then, my mother, you shall have a suckling from the Earth
Sow!" Vitazko cried, and instantly he rushed out in quest of the
Earth Sow and her litter.
With his beech-tree in his hand he ranged back and forth
through the forest hunting the Earth Sow. He came at last to a
tower in which an old wise woman lived. Her name was
Nedyelka and because she was good as well as wise people
called her St. Nedyelka.
"Where are you going, Vitazko?" she said, when she saw the
young hero.
"I'm hunting for the Earth Sow," he told her. "My mother is
sick and nothing will tempt her but a suckling from the Earth
Sow's litter."
Nedyelka looked at the young man kindly.
"That, my son, is a difficult task you have set yourself. How-
ever, I will help you provided you do exactly as I say."
Vitazko promised and the old woman gave him a long point-
ed spit.
"Take this," she said. "Now go to my stable. There you will
find my horse, Tatosh. Mount him and he will carry you on the
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