Page:Slavonic Fairy Tales.djvu/148

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

Right and Wrong.
131

"God give you nothing but evil! Why do you always bring in the name of God? Wrong is better than Right."

Then the good brother answered,—

"Come, I will lay you a wager that Wrong is not better than Right."

And they made a bet together for one hundred gold pieces, and agreed, that the first man they met should decide the wager. Going farther on they met the demon on horseback, who had changed himself into a monk. They asked him to tell them which was better—Right or Wrong. The demon answered, "Wrong!" and so the good brother lost his one hundred gold pieces. Then they bet again for the second and third hundred pieces, and according to the decision of the demon, who assumed different shapes each time he appeared to them, the just brother lost all the three hundred gold pieces, and his horse as well. Then said he,—

"Heaven be praised! I have not a single gold piece left; but I have my eyes still, and will wager with you for them, once more."

And he wagered his eyes that Right was better than Wrong.

Then his brother, without seeking further for a judge, drew forth his knife, and cut the other's eyes out, and cried,—