Atondido Stories
"The Waters of Life and of Death are difficult to get,"
Nedyelka said. "However, dear boy, I will help you. Take these
two pitchers and again mount the faithful Tatosh. He will carry
you to the two shores under which flow the springs of the Water
of Life and the Water of Death. The right shore opens for a mo-
ment on the instant of noon and under it the Water of Life bub-
bles up. The left shore opens for a moment at midnight and un-
der it lies the still pool of the Water of Death. Wait at each shore
until the moment it opens. Then reach in and scoop up a pitcher
of water. Be swift or the shores will close upon you and kill you."
Vitazko took the two pitchers and mounted Tatosh. The horse
rose on the wind and carried Vitazko far, far away beyond the
Red Sea to the two shores of which old Nedyelka had told him.
At the moment of noon the right shore opened for an instant and
Vitazko scooped up a pitcher of the Water of Life. He had scarce-
ly time to draw back before the opening closed with a crash.
He waited at the left shore until midnight. At the moment of
midnight the left shore opened for an instant. Vitazko scooped
up a pitcher of water from the still pool of the Water of Death
and pulled swiftly back as the opening closed.
With the two pitchers safe in his hands, Vitazko mounted
Tatosh and the magic steed rising on the wind carried him home
to St. Nedyelka.
"And how did things go?" the old woman asked.
"Very well," Vitazko said. "See, here are the Waters."
St. Nedyelka took the two pitchers and when Vitazko wasn't
looking changed them for two pitchers of ordinary water which
she told him to carry at once to his mother.
At the castle the mother and Sharkan were again making
merry when from afar they saw Vitazko with two pitchers in his
hands. The mother fell into a great fright and wept and tore
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