But Víťazko was not to be turned back, and he hastened on into the garden. So the princess pulled off a priceless ring and handed it to Víťazko, saying: “Take this ring, and when you think of me and turn this ring round on your finger, you will have the strength of a hundred men, otherwise you could not gain the victory over the Griffin.”
Víťazko took the ring and put it on his finger. He thanked her and went off to the centre of the garden. In the middle of the garden stood an apple-tree full of golden apples, and underneath it a horrible Griffin was lying.
“What do you want here, murderer of my brothers?” shouted the Griffin.
“I have come to get some apples from this tree,” answered Víťazko undauntedly.
“You shall not have any of the apples unless you wrestle with me,” exclaimed the Griffin angrily.
“I will if you like. Come on!” said Víťazko, and he turned the ring on his right hand and thought of Holy Sunday. He set his legs wide apart and they began to wrestle. In the first round the Griffin moved Víťazko a little, but Víťazko drove him into the ground above his ankles. Just at this moment they heard a swirl of wings above them, and a black raven shouted to them:
“Which am I to help, the Griffin or Víťazko?”
“Help me,” said the Griffin.
“And what will you give me?”
“I will give you gold and silver as much as you like.”