When she had told him, he gave her
a large sheet of white paper, as a token of pity, and she laid it
smoothly over the mouth of the well.
Nightfall came; the old woman shut and barred her door, put her
granddaughter snugly on the wall-side of the bed, and then lay down
beside her, to await the foe.
At midnight the Boar came, and threw himself against the door to break
it in. The needles wounded him sorely, so that when he had gained
an entrance he was heated and thirsty, and went to the water-jar to
drink. When he thrust in his snout the crabs attacked him, clung to
his bristles and pinched his ears, till he rolled over and over to
disencumber himself. Then in a rage he approached the front of the
bed, but the snapping-turtle nipped his tail, and made him retreat
under the feet of the horse, who kicked him over to the ox, who tossed
him back to the horse; and thus beset he was glad to escape to the
back yard to take a rest, and to consider the situation. Seeing a
clean paper spread on the ground, he went to lie upon it, and fell
into the well. The old woman heard the fall, rushed out, rolled the
mill-stone down on him, and crushed him.
* * * * *
RUSSIAN STORIES
* * * * *
KING KOJATA
King Kojata ruled over a mighty kingdom, and was beloved by his
subjects; but because he had no heir to his crown, both he and the
Queen lamented.
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