Atondido Stories
wind to where the Earth Sow lies half buried in her wallow and
surrounded by her litter. Reach over and prick one of the suck-
lings with this spit and then sit very still without moving. The
suckling will squeal and instantly the Sow will spring up and in
a fury race madly around the world and back in a moment of
time. Sit perfectly still and she won't see either you or Tatosh.
Then she'll tell the litter that if one of them squeals again and
disturbs her, she will tear it to pieces. With that she'll settle back
in the wallow and go to sleep. Then do you pick up the same
little suckling on your spit and carry it off. This time it will be
afraid to squeal. The Sow will not be disturbed and Tatosh, my
horse, will bear you safely away."
Vitazko did exactly as Nedyelka ordered. He mounted
Tatosh and the magic steed carried him swiftly on the wind to
where the Earth Sow lay sleeping in her wallow.
With his spit, Vitazko pricked one of the sucklings until it
squealed in terror. The Earth Sow jumped up and in fury raced
madly around the world and back in a moment of time. Tatosh
stood where he was and Vitazko sat on his back without mov-
ing. The Earth Sow saw neither of them.
"If one of you squeals again and disturbs me," the Earth Sow
said to the litter, "I'll wake up and tear you to pieces!"
With that she settled back in the mud and fell asleep.
Vitazko again reached over and now he picked up the same
little suckling on the end of his spit. This time it made no sound.
Instantly Tatosh, the magic steed, rose on the wind and flew
straight home to Nedyelka.
"How did things go?" the old woman asked.
"Just as you said they would," Vitazko told her. "See, here is
the suckling."
336