So next morning the heroes didn’t go out hunting.
“Now then, Uncle Footless!” says the blind man, “you get under the bench, and lie there ever so still, and I’ll go into the yard and stand under the window. And as for you, sister, when the Baba Yaga comes, sit down just here, close by the window; and as you dress her hair, quietly separate the locks and throw them outside through the window. Just let me lay hold of her by those grey hairs of hers!”
What was said was done. The blind man laid hold of the Baba Yaga by her grey hair, and cried—
“Ho there, Uncle Katoma! Come out from under the bench, and lay hold of this viper of a woman, while I go into the hut!”
The Baba Yaga hears the bad news and tries to jump up to get her head free. (Where are you off to? That’s no go, sure enough![322]) She tugs and tugs, but cannot do herself any good!
Just then from under the bench crawled Uncle Katoma, fell upon her like a mountain of stone, took to strangling her until the heaven seemed to her to disappear.[323] Then into the cottage bounded the blind man, crying to the cripple—
“Now we must heap up a great pile of wood, and consume this accursed one with fire, and fling her ashes to the wind!”
The Baba Yaga began imploring them:
“My fathers! my darlings! forgive me. I will do all that is right.”
“Very good, old witch! Then show us the fountain of healing and life-giving water!” said the heroes.