Son of the widow

In a certain kingdom, a great misfortune befell: a nine-headed serpent named Chudo-Yudo appeared out of nowhere and stole the sun and the moon from the sky.

The people wept and mourned, for it was dark without the sun and cold without its warmth.

In those parts lived a poor widow. She had a little son, about five years old. Life was hard for the widow, with hunger and cold all around. Her only comfort was that her son was growing up clever and brave.

Nearby lived a wealthy merchant. He had a son of the same age as the widow's boy.

The merchant's son befriended the widow's son. As soon as he woke up, he would run to play with him. They would amuse themselves in the hut by the light of a splinter, and then go outside. As children do, they needed to play games and run to the river.

Everything would have been fine, but the trouble was that their games were joyless without the sun.

One day, the widow's son said to the merchant's son:

"Ah, if only I ate what you eat, I would become a hero, defeat Chudo-Yudo, take back the sun and the moon, and hang them back in the sky!"

The merchant's son went home and told his father what the widow's son had said.

"That can't be!" exclaimed the merchant. "Go and call him outside—I want to hear it myself."

The merchant's son went to his friend and invited him to come out for a walk.

"I'm hungry," said the widow's son. "We don't even have a piece of bread..."

"Come outside, I'll bring you some bread." The merchant's son went home, took a crust of bread, and brought it to his friend.

The widow's son ate the bread and cheered up.

"Do you remember what you told me yesterday about Chudo-Yudo?" asked the merchant's son.

"I do."

And he repeated word for word what he had said about Chudo-Yudo. The merchant, standing around the corner, heard it all with his own ears.

"Hmm," he thought to himself, "this boy is no ordinary lad. I must take him in. Let's see what comes of it."

The merchant took the widow's son into his home and began feeding him the same food he ate himself. He saw that indeed, the widow's son grew as if on yeast. Within a year or two, he became so strong that he could even overpower the merchant himself. The merchant then wrote to the king: "Your Majesty, there is a widow's son living with me. He claims that when he grows up, he will defeat Chudo-Yudo and return the sun and the moon to the sky..."

The king read the letter and wrote back: "Bring the widow's son to the palace at once."

The merchant harnessed a pair of horses, seated the widow's son in the wagon, and took him to the king.

"What should we feed you, widow's son, so that you grow into a hero?" asked the king.

"Feed me ox liver for three years," replied the widow's son.

The king didn't need to buy oxen—he gave the order, and they began slaughtering oxen and feeding the widow's son their livers.

The widow's son now grew even better than on the merchant's food. He played in the royal chambers with the king's son, who was the same age.

Three years passed. The widow's son said to the king:

"Now I will go to seek Chudo-Yudo. But I want your son and the merchant's son to accompany me. It will be more fun on the journey."

"Very well," agreed the king. "Let them go with you. Just make sure you defeat Chudo-Yudo."

He sent a letter to the merchant, ordering his son to appear at the palace. The merchant didn't want to send his son on such a long journey, but one doesn't argue with the king.

The merchant's son arrived at the royal palace. Then the widow's son said to the prince:

"Tell your father to forge me a mace weighing about six poods. At least I'll have something to fend off dogs, because I'm afraid of them."

"And me," said the merchant's son, "at least three poods..."

"And what, am I worse than you? I need a mace too, at least two poods," said the king's son.

He went to his father. The king ordered the blacksmiths to forge maces for the boys: six poods for the widow's son, three for the merchant's son, and two for his own.

The widow's son took his mace, went out into the open field, and threw it into the sky. The mace stayed in the sky for three hours and then came flying back. The widow's son held out his right palm. The mace struck his palm and broke in two.

Angered, the widow's son said to the king's son:

"Tell your father not to deceive me! With such a mace, I'll perish, and so will you. Let him order the blacksmiths to forge me a strong and large mace—about sixteen poods."

"And me, six poods," said the merchant's son.

"And me, three!" said the king's son. He went to his father. The king summoned the blacksmiths:

"What are you thinking, you scoundrels! Why did you forge such a weak mace for the widow's son?"

And he ordered them to forge three new maces, bigger and stronger.

The blacksmiths hammered and clanged—they forged three new maces.

The widow's son took his mace, went out into the open field, and tossed it into the sky. The mace stayed in the sky from morning till evening and then came flying back. The widow's son held out his knee—the mace struck it and broke in two.

The widow's son went to the king with his friends:

"If you want me to defeat Chudo-Yudo and take back the sun and the moon, then order the coppersmiths to cast me a copper mace weighing twenty-five poods, and make sure it doesn't break."

The merchant's son said:
"And me, nine poods!"

The king's son said:
"And six will be enough for me."

The king called the coppersmiths and ordered them to cast three maces without any deceit: one weighing twenty-five poods, the second nine, and the third six.

The widow's son took the copper mace in his hands and cheered up—he liked it. Then he went out into the open field, threw the mace into the sky. The mace flew above the highest clouds. The widow's son spent the whole day and night walking through the fields and meadows, waiting for the mace. Finally, early in the morning, he heard the mace flying back from the clouds. He held out his shoulder—the mace struck and rolled to the ground.

"Now that's a real mace!" he said. "With such a mace, I can go anywhere and fight the accursed Chudo-Yudo."

The merchant's son and the king's son were also pleased—the coppersmiths had made them good maces!

Then the widow's son said to his friends:

"Go and say goodbye to your fathers. It's time for us to hit the road."

The king's son went, but the merchant's son refused:

"Why waste time? I already said goodbye to my father when I came here."

The boys gathered and set off on their journey.

They passed through one kingdom, then a second, and a third—until they reached a bridge made of viburnum wood. Nearby, they saw a small, old hut.
- "Let's stay here," says the widow's son. "We'll spend the night, rest for a day or two. Who knows what kind of road lies ahead of us."

They entered the hut. Inside, an old woman was spinning yarn. The lads greeted her and asked to stay the night:

- "Granny, we've come from a long journey, we're terribly tired..."

- "Stay the night, by all means," said the old woman. "Those who travel the roads don't carry their homes with them."

The widow's son struck up a conversation with the old woman and learned that they had entered the realm of the vile serpent Chudo-Yudo—exactly where they needed to be!

Night fell. The widow's son thought to himself: "We should post a guard at the Kalinov Bridge, so no one catches us by surprise."

He sent the tsar's son to stand watch.

The tsar's son climbed onto the Kalinov Bridge, paced for a while, and thought:

"Why should I stand here in plain sight? If anyone comes, they'll see me. I'll go and lie down under the bridge—it'll be quieter there."

And so he did.

Meanwhile, the widow's son couldn't sleep: "I should check," he thought, "to see if the tsar's son is standing guard."

At midnight, he went out to the Kalinov Bridge, but the guard was nowhere to be found!

While he was searching for the tsar's son, suddenly—there came the three-headed serpent, the younger brother of Chudo-Yudo, out for a hunt. On his middle head sat a keen-eyed falcon, and by his side ran a swift greyhound. As soon as the horse stepped onto the bridge, it neighed, the greyhound barked, and the falcon cried out.

The younger Chudo-Yudo struck the horse between the ears:

- "Why are you neighing, you bag of hay? And you, dog meat, why are you barking? And you, hawk feather, why are you screeching? If you sense my enemy, he's nowhere near here. I have only one enemy, but he lives far beyond the thrice-nine lands, in the thrice-tenth kingdom. That's the widow's son. But not even a raven would carry his bones here!"

Hearing these words, the widow's son said:

- "A brave lad isn't brought by ravens—he comes on his own!"

The serpent was frightened:

- "So you're here, widow's son?"

- "Here, you unclean force!"

- "Well, what shall we do—fight or make peace?"

- "I didn't come all this way to make peace with you, vile creatures, but to fight!"

- "Then prepare the field!" shouted the serpent. The widow's son replied:

- "You need it—you prepare it! You have three breaths, so you blow, and I have one. I'm not used to noble luxuries—I can fight on bare ground."

Chudo-Yudo dismounted, blew three breaths, and the field became smooth for three miles.

They began to fight.

They fought for three hours. The widow's son defeated the younger Chudo-Yudo, cutting off all three of his heads. He released the horse into the green meadow, the greyhound and falcon into the open field. Then he returned to the hut and went to sleep.

In the morning, the tsar's son returned from his watch.

- "So, how was your watch?" asked the widow's son. "Did anyone come by?"

- "No," said the tsar's son. "Not even a bird flew close all night..."

"You're an unreliable companion," thought the widow's son. "I guess I'll have to rely more on myself."

The next night, he sent the merchant's son to the Kalinov Bridge. The merchant's son paced the bridge and thought to himself: "Why should I risk my neck here? I'll go under the bridge and sleep."

And so he did.

At midnight, the widow's son went out to the bridge to check if his companion was standing guard. He looked around—no one was there! Suddenly, he saw Chudo-Yudo with six heads riding onto the Kalinov Bridge. The horse reared up, neighing loudly, the greyhound barked, and the falcon cried out. Chudo-Yudo struck the horse between the ears:

- "Why are you neighing, you bag of hay? And you, dog meat, why are you barking? And you, hawk feather, why are you screeching? There's no enemy here who's my equal. True, there is one, but he's far beyond the thrice-nine lands, in the thrice-tenth kingdom—the widow's son. But not even a raven would carry his bones here!"

The widow's son replied:

- "A brave lad isn't brought by ravens—he comes on his own!"

- "Ah, so you're here, widow's son?"

- "Here, you unclean force!"

- "Well then, shall we fight or make peace?"

- "I didn't come all this way to make peace with you, vile creatures, but to fight!"

- "I'd advise you, widow's son, to make peace, or else I'll kill you."

- "Kill me first, then we'll talk."

- "Then prepare the field!" roared Chudo-Yudo.

- "You need it—you prepare it. You have six breaths, and I have one. I don't need a fancy field—I'm a peasant's son, not used to luxury. I can fight on bare ground."

Chudo-Yudo dismounted, blew six breaths, and the field became smooth for six miles. They began to fight.

They fought for six hours. The widow's son cut off all six of Chudo-Yudo's heads. He released the horse into the green meadow, the greyhound and falcon into the open field. Then he returned to the hut and went to sleep.

In the morning, the guard came and woke the widow's son:

- "It's not proper to sleep long in a strange land. I didn't sleep a wink all night..."

The widow's son thought: "There's little hope in this companion either. I'll have to rely only on myself."

The third night came. The widow's son sent the old woman to sleep in the barn, stuck a knife into the wall, placed a cup beneath it, and told his friends:

- "If blood drips from the knife into this cup, run to help me."

And to keep his friends from falling asleep, he gave them cards and told them to play.

But as soon as he stepped outside, they threw the cards aside and went to sleep.

The widow's son went to the Kalinov Bridge and stood guard. At midnight, he saw the eldest Chudo-Yudo with nine heads riding onto the bridge. A moon shone on his chest, and a sun sparkled on his middle head. The horse beneath him fell to its knees, neighing loudly, the greyhound barked, and the falcon cried out.

Chudo-Yudo struck the horse between the ears:
- What's the matter, you herbal sack, did you rust? And you, dog meat, why are you barking? And you, hawk feather, why are you shouting? The horse says:

- Oh, master, this is the last time you're riding me to hunt...

- What are you, wolf meat, lying about! There's no opponent of mine here. There's only the widow's son beyond the thrice-nine lands, in the thrice-tenth kingdom, and no crow will bring his bones here.

The widow's son stepped forward and replied:

- A good lad's bones aren't brought by crows—he comes himself!

- Ah, so you're here, widow's son?

- Here!

- Well, what do you want: to fight or to make peace? I'd advise you to make peace: you're too young to measure strength with me.

- Young or not, I didn't come this far to make peace with you, you filthy thief, but to fight.

- Well, if you've decided to fight me, then prepare the threshing floor. I'll see what kind of strength you have.

- I don't need a threshing floor: I can fight on raw earth! You prepare one for yourself if you're used to walking on clean ground.

The Miracle-Yudo dismounted from his horse, breathed out—and a smooth threshing floor appeared for nine miles.

They began to fight.

They fought and fought—the widow's son knocked off three of Miracle-Yudo's heads, but couldn't defeat him. "Where are my comrades?" he thought. "Are they asleep?"

The widow's son asked Miracle-Yudo for a break:

- Kings and emperors wage war, and even they take breaks: let's do the same!

- Alright, said Miracle-Yudo.

The widow's son stepped aside, took off the glove from his left hand, and threw it at the hut where his comrades were—it tore off the entire roof. But his friends just turned over and kept sleeping.

The widow's son saw there was no help.

They began to fight again. They fought and fought—the widow's son knocked off three more of Miracle-Yudo's heads, standing knee-deep in blood, but couldn't deal with the last heads.

Again, he asked for a break.

- What's this, smirked Miracle-Yudo, always asking for breaks?

- Do we not have enough time?

- Fine, let's rest.

The widow's son seized a moment when the enemy turned away and threw his second glove at the hut. It tore the hut down to the windows, but his friends kept sleeping.

They rested a bit and began to fight again. The widow's son was now almost waist-deep in blood but couldn't defeat the last heads: he was running out of strength.

Meanwhile, dawn began to break. "My friends must have slept enough," thought the widow's son. "I need to remind them of me once more."

He said to Miracle-Yudo again:

- Kings and emperors wage war, and even they take breaks. Let's rest one more time. Then we'll fight to the end.

Miracle-Yudo was also weakening.

- Alright, he said, let's rest.

The widow's son took off the boot from his left foot and threw it at the hut.

The boot reached the hut and tore it down to the foundation. His friends jumped out of bed and saw a cup full of blood; it had dripped from the knife...

- Well, they said, it seems our comrade is in bad shape if it's like this.

They grabbed their clubs and rushed to the viburnum bridge. When Miracle-Yudo saw them, he trembled:

- Ah, widow's son, now I know why you asked for breaks and threw your boot! You outsmarted me...

And as the three friends began to beat Miracle-Yudo from all sides, he didn't know whom to attack.

They knocked off the last three heads. And that was the end of Miracle-Yudo.

Then the widow's son took the sun and the moon and hung them in the sky. And instantly, the whole earth became bright and light. People ran out into the streets, rejoicing, admiring, and basking in the sun.

The friends returned to the old woman, built her a new hut, better than the old one, and decided to rest a bit before their journey.

The tsar's son and the merchant's son slept and strolled, but the widow's son kept thinking: "There are no more Miracle-Yudos in the world, but their wives—the witches—are still alive. What if they cause some trouble?"

He left his friends, disguised himself, and went to the chambers where the three Miracle-Yudos had lived.

- Do you need a worker? he asked the witches.

- Yes, we do, replied the eldest witch. We're orphans now: there's no one to work. The widow's son killed all three of our husbands. But don't worry, we'll get rid of him!

- How will you get rid of him? asked the worker. He seems very strong.

- He has strength, but we have magic, said the wife of the youngest Miracle-Yudo. When he rides back to his kingdom with his helpers, I'll turn into a spring along the way: they'll drink the water, and that will be the end of them.

- And if that doesn't work, said the wife of the middle Miracle-Yudo, I'll turn into a sweet apple tree. They'll eat an apple, and they won't want anything more...

- Without water and apples, said the wife of the eldest Miracle-Yudo, they might manage. But I have a better idea: I'll spread out as a flowering meadow for a hundred miles. And I'll place a shady willow nearby. They'll ride by, want to graze their horses on the meadow, and rest under the willow. And once they lie down, they'll never get up again. And if a horse takes three bites of grass from that meadow, it won't live either...

And that was exactly what the widow's son needed. He waited until night when the witches fell asleep, left the palace, and ran back to his friends.

The next day, at dawn, they went to the green meadow, each caught a horse. The widow's son mounted the nine-headed Miracle-Yudo's horse, the merchant's son mounted the six-headed one, and the tsar's son mounted the three-headed Miracle-Yudo's horse. And they rode off to their kingdom.

They rode through fields and forests, approaching a spring. And then the tsar's son and the merchant's son became so thirsty they couldn't bear it.

The widow's son said:

- You're not common folk. Wait, I'll bring you water myself.

He dismounted, approached the spring, and began hitting it with his club. He smashed it so only mud and blood remained. His friends nearly cried:

- Why did you do that? We're dying of thirst...

- That's no spring, said the widow's son, it's just a trick.

He mounted his horse, and they rode on.

They approached an apple tree. And the apples on it were so red and rosy, they seemed to beg to be eaten.

The friends rushed to the apple tree, but the widow's son stopped them...

- Wait! You are still people of noble birth—I’ll pick the apples for you myself.

He approached the apple tree, struck it with his mace, and it immediately fell and withered.

- Why did you do that? We could have at least eaten an apple or two.

- These are not apples; they are our death, said the widow’s son.

They moved on. They approached a blooming meadow. They saw a shady willow, and suddenly they all felt so sleepy—they could hardly resist. And the horses kept stomping their hooves, drawn to the lush grass.

The widow’s son held back his horse:

- I’ll go and see if we can graze the horses on this meadow.

He approached the willow and began to strike it with his mace. In an instant, the meadow dried up, and only bones remained of the willow.

- You see now, what kind of willow and meadow this is, he said to his companions.

They rode across the dry meadow and stopped to spend the night in a green oak grove. They let the horses graze, had dinner, and went to sleep. They slept for three days and three nights. When they woke up, the widow’s son said to his friends:

- Our kingdom is not far from here. Go home by yourselves. Your fathers have been waiting for you for a long time. I have no father. I’ll wander the world a bit longer and see what’s out there.

The widow’s son bid farewell to his friends and rode off to wander the world.

Whether he traveled for a long time or not, he eventually arrived at the kingdom of King Constant. This king was one-sided, one-eyed, with one leg, one arm, half a head on his shoulders, and half a beard on his face. He loved horses dearly.

When he saw the widow’s son’s horse, he said:

- Let’s race around the palace. If I overtake you, I’ll take your horse. If you overtake me, I’ll give you my kingdom.

The widow’s son thought, “There’s no way this one-legged, one-sided king can outrun me.” And he agreed.

They started running. The widow’s son hadn’t even taken three steps when the one-legged king had already run around the palace three times. King Constant took the widow’s son’s horse and placed it in his stable.

The widow’s son nearly cried—he was so sorry for his horse.

He began to beg the king:

- I’ll serve you in any way you want, just give me back my horse!

King Constant thought for a moment and said:

- In the thirtieth kingdom, beyond the thirtieth land, lives Baba Kargota. She has twelve daughters, all alike: hair for hair, voice for voice, and all with the same face. Her house is surrounded by a high fence, and on each post is a human head—those who came to woo her daughters. Only one post is empty. So, if you can arrange a marriage for me with Baba Kargota’s youngest daughter, I’ll return your horse.

The widow’s son thought: if he didn’t agree, he’d never see his horse again. But if he agreed, he might lose his head—or maybe keep both his head and his horse.

- Alright, he said to the king. I’ll go as the matchmaker.

He walked and walked, and suddenly he saw a man running across the sea as if it were a bridge. The widow’s son couldn’t take his eyes off the runner.

- Good day to you, Sea Runner! he greeted him.

- Good health to you, widow’s son! Where are you going, what path are you on?

- I’m going to Baba Kargota to arrange a marriage between her youngest daughter and King Constant.

- Take me with you. I’ll be of use to you in trouble.

- Let’s go.

They walked together. Soon they saw a man holding a millstone with twenty grinders with one mustache, and propping up a cloud with the other.

- Good day to you, Mustache Man!

- Good health to you, widow’s son! Where are you going, what path are you on?

- I’m going to Baba Kargota to arrange a marriage between her youngest daughter and King Constant.

- Take me with you.

- Let’s go.

The three of them walked on. They walked and walked, and soon they saw a man drinking water from a lake. He drank the whole lake but still cried, “I’m thirsty!”

- Good day, Water Drinker!

- Good day, widow’s son! Where are you going, what path are you on?

- I’m going to Baba Kargota to arrange a marriage between her youngest daughter and King Constant.

- Take me with you.

- Alright, come with us.

They walked a little further and saw a man chewing on an aspen log, still crying, “I’m hungry!”

- Good day, Glutton!

- Good day, widow’s son! Where are you going, what path are you on?

- I’m going to Baba Kargota to arrange a marriage between her youngest daughter and King Constant.

- Take me with you.

- Come with us.

They approached a forest. There they met a man in a sheepskin coat that reached his ankles. He stood by the road, clapping his mittens—clap, clap! And every time he clapped, the trees were instantly covered in frost.

- Good day, Frost!

- Good health to you, widow’s son! Where are you going, what path are you on?

- I’m going to Baba Kargota to arrange a marriage between her youngest daughter and King Constant.

- You won’t be able to negotiate with Baba Kargota without me.

- Then come with us too.

The six of them walked on. They walked and walked until they reached Baba Kargota’s estate. They saw heads on all the fence posts, except for one. The widow’s son said:

- That’s where my head will be!

- It might have been, his companions chuckled, if not for us...

They began to look for the gate. But there was none. Then the Sea Runner ran around the estate three times and found the gate.

They entered the courtyard. There stood Baba Kargota on the porch, marveling at how these travelers had managed to find her gates.

The widow's son approached Baba Kargota:

- Greetings, mistress!

- Greetings, widow's son! Why have you come to me?

- I have come to propose your youngest daughter to King Postoyanets.

- Well then, propose, if you're not joking. But before you propose to my daughter, drink some beer from my cellar. If you drink it all, I will give my daughter to King Postoyanets. If you don't, I'll take your head.

- I'll gladly drink it, replied the widow's son. I've come a long way, and I'm very thirsty. And my companions are parched as well.

Baba ordered her servants to take the widow's son and his companions to the beer cellar. The servants led them there and locked the door.

The widow's son and his friends drank by the mug, while Vodopoy (Water Drinker) gulped down whole barrels. He drank a barrel, struck it with his fist, and it shattered into staves. He drank all the barrels and shouted at the top of his lungs:

- Baba Kargota, bring more beer! Baba Kargota opened the cellar and saw that all the barrels were broken, and all the beer had been drunk!

- I have no more beer, she said. But I have pies. If you eat all the pies, you can propose to my daughter.

The suitors were delighted:

- Bring out your pies, granny! We're hungry from the journey and really want to eat.

Baba ordered her servants to open another cellar—this one filled with pies. She let the suitors in. And there were mountains of pies in the cellar.

While the others ate one pie each, Obzhora (Glutton) cleaned out the entire cellar, ate through the wall, and shouted at the top of his lungs:

- Baba Kargota, bring more pies! Baba was furious: she had spent three years baking pies with her daughters, and the suitors had eaten them all in an hour. She then ordered her servants to heat up an iron bathhouse. The servants heated it so much that the walls turned red. Baba said to the suitors:

- Wash in my bathhouse, spend the night, and then we'll talk business.

- Alright, granny, we've traveled far and gotten dusty; a bath won't hurt us.

Baba herself led the suitors to the bathhouse. Just as the widow's son approached the threshold, Moroz (Frost) grabbed him by the shoulder and stood him behind. He entered first, put on his mittens, waved them once or twice, and instantly a cold wind blew. The other suitors followed Moroz inside, and Baba closed the door and locked it...

Then Moroz began pacing the bathhouse, waving his mittens:

- Well, is it too cold? Will you be able to sleep without blankets?

- The bathhouse is just right, the companions praised. Not too hot, not too cold, just perfect. They washed and went to sleep.

In the morning, Baba Kargota sent her servants to the bathhouse:

- Go and throw the roasted suitors to the dogs!

The servants opened the bathhouse, and out came six sturdy young men, strong as oaks.

Baba was stunned: she couldn't do anything to the suitors! So she said to the widow's son:

- If you can recognize my youngest daughter, you can propose her to King Postoyanets. If you don't, I'll impale your head on an empty fence post.

The widow's son was dismayed: "How can I recognize her, the youngest daughter?"

- I'll recognize her, whispered Morskoy Begun (Sea Runner). I've seen them many times when they came to the sea to bathe.

- Alright, the widow's son said to Baba, bring out your daughters.

Soon Baba Kargota brought out twelve daughters—all looking exactly alike, hair for hair, voice for voice, shoulder for shoulder—all as one! She stepped forward, and the daughters stood behind her.

The widow's son walked around Baba's daughters three times, but couldn't tell which was the youngest: they were all the same!

Then Morskoy Begun winked and pointed his eyes at the youngest daughter. The widow's son took her by the hand and led her forward to Baba Kargota.

- Here is your youngest daughter!

Baba shook with anger, but there was nothing she could do: her trick hadn't worked!

The widow's son took Baba's daughter by the hand and led her out the gate. But as soon as they stepped out, Baba's daughter leaped into the sky, sat on a cloud, and laughed.

Then Usach (Mustache) raised his right mustache, hooked her, and pulled her down from the cloud.

Seeing that these suitors were no joke, Baba's daughter calmed down.

The suitors set off for home.

Along the way, each one, as soon as they reached the place where they had first met the widow's son, stayed there. Morskoy Begun went back to his work, Usach to his, Vodopoy to his... And the widow's son and Baba's daughter went to King Postoyanets.

The king had by then filled a pit with tar and was heating it from below: the tar was boiling. On top, he placed a thin reed.

The widow's son approached him.

- Here, he said, is Baba Kargota's youngest daughter: I barely managed to propose her! Now give me back my horse.

The king pointed to the reed and said, smirking with his one-sided beard:

- Cross this bridge, and I'll give you the horse. The widow's son looked at the thin reed and was afraid. But Baba's daughter nudged him: "Don't be afraid!"

And no one noticed as she slipped a strong steel rod under the reed.

- Go, she said to the widow's son. He stepped onto the reed and crossed. Then he said to King Postoyanets:

- Now, king, I've served you twice. So serve me at least once—cross this bridge you've laid.

- Well, Baba's daughter urged the king, cross it, or you won't be my husband.

Seeing that the widow's son had crossed, the king thought he had nothing to fear.

But as soon as he stepped onto the reed, Baba's daughter—yank!—pulled out the steel rod from under it... The reed snapped, and the king fell into the boiling tar, where he remained.

- Well, said the widow's son, don't dig a pit for others, or you'll fall into it yourself.

He married Baba Kargota's youngest daughter and stayed to live in that kingdom.

And now he lives happily, acquiring wealth.

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Son of the widow

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