Note 2 — Verlioka.

He went on and on till he came to a little pond, and in the pond was swimming a bob-tailed drake. He saw the grandfather and cried: “Tak, tak, tak!2 Live for a hundred years, old grandad! I have been waiting here for thee a long time!”—“Hail to thee also, drake! Why hast thou been awaiting me?”—“Well I know that thou art in quest of thy grandchildren, and art going to Verlioka to settle accounts with him!”—“And how dost thou come to know of this monster?”—“Tak, tak, tak!” screeched the drake, “I have good cause to know him, ’twas he who docked my tail!”—“Then canst thou show me his dwelling?”—“Tak, tak, tak!” screeched the drake; “here am I but a little tiny bird, but I’ll have my tail’s worth out of him, I know!”—“Wilt thou go on before and show me the way? I see thou hast a good noddle of thy own, though thou art bob-tailed!” Then the drake came out of the water and climbed up on the bank, waddling from side to side.