“Only don’t kill me, and I’ll show it you directly!”
Well, Katoma sat on the blind man’s back. The blind man took the Baba Yaga by her back hair, and she led them into the depths of the forest, brought them to a well,[324] and said—
“That is the water that cures and gives life.”
“Look out, Uncle Katoma!” cried the blind man; “don’t make a blunder. If she tricks us now we shan’t get right all our lives!”
Katoma cut a green branch off a tree, and flung it into the well. The bough hadn’t so much as reached the water before it all burst into a flame!
“Ha! so you’re still up to your tricks,” said the heroes, and began to strangle the Baba Yaga, with the intention of flinging her, the accursed one, into the fiery fount. More than ever did the Baba Yaga implore for mercy, swearing a great oath that she would not deceive them this time.
“On my troth I will bring you to good water,” says she.
The heroes consented to give her one more trial, and she took them to another fount.
Uncle Katoma cut a dry spray from a tree, and flung it into the fount. The spray had not yet reached the water when it already turned green, budded, and put forth blossoms.
“Come now, that’s good water!” said Katoma.