Once there was a family that owned a very special cow, it was black and white with horns of purest shell. One day, the family was distressed to find that the cow had disappeared, and search as they would, they could not find her. Now in the family there were three daughters, and since they were all of responsible disposition they each went to look for the cow alone, thinking they would certainly please their parents by finding the lost beast.The eldest daughter made her way to a nearby river, and meeting with an old hag, asked her, "Have you seen our lost cow?" The old hag, whithered and worn with age, replied, " And what does she look like?" The girl described the cow to the old woman, but she answered that she had not seen the cow. The girl thanked the old woman, and was about to walk off in the direction of the forest, thinking that the cow might have gone in the direction of the trees, when the old hag spoke again.
"Come across the river to my house," she invited, "Your cow may have strayed across the water. The eldest daughter went with the old woman, and when they reached her house was pleased to join the woman in a meal which was offered in a smooth, silver-lined bowl. The girl ate heartily, not knowing that the old woman was feeding her pieces of human flesh.
Soon afterwards, the second daughter found her way to the river's edge, and she too met with the old hag. Asking her the same question about the lost cow, the old woman again replied that she had not seen it, but invited the girl to cross the river to her house. On reaching the house, the old hag invited the girl to eat, placing in front of her a bowl of human flesh, which the girl ate with relish, not knowing what the dish contained.
Then, the youngest daughter, having searched high and low for the cow, made her way to the river. The old hag appeared, and the young girl asked, "Have you seen a black and white cow with horns of the purest shell?" Once again, the old hag replied that she had not seen the animal, but invited the girl to cross the river with her.
The young girl went with the old hag to her small house. She noticed that it was shabby, and lacked the familiar things that made the difference between a house and a home. There was no large gleaming teapot steaming on the brazier, no little shrine in the living quarters. "But then," the girl thought, "the old hag may have a shrine in the ajoining room." But even as she looked toward the door that led to the adjoining room, the girl realized that this was probably not so, for the door was barred and bolted.
The old hag offered the girl food, which she spooned into the same smooth silver-lined bowl that the young girls sisters had eaten from. The young girl began to eat, but was offended by the smell of the food, for it had an unfamiliar order. Just then, the old women went into the yard to fetch wood for the fire. As she did so, the young girl noticed a small dog crouched in the corner of the room. The dog approached the girl, and in soft tones, spoke to her, saying if she would give him the remainder of her food he would tell her where her missing cow was.
The girl gave him the food which he ate greedily, and when he had licked the bowl clean, he spoke again, "Your two sisters are locked in that room," he said, indicating the barred door. "So is your black and white cow with the horns of purest shell." The girl was incredulous, so unbelievable was the statement, but then the dog's voice became urgent.
"Kill the old hag," he said, "She is a witch who means to do you harm." The seriousness of the dog's voice convinced the girl; she siezed a long knife and waited behind the door for the old hag to enter. When the woman returned to the house, the girl let fly with the knife and chopped off her head. Then, unbarring the door, the girl tried to open it and set her sisters free, but it was firmly locked, and try as she might, it would not budge. The little dog came to her rescue again - he sniffed in the old hag's apron pocket and emerged with the key to the door in his mouth.
The young girl unlocked the door and set her sisters and the cow free. Then the girls searched the house and found much gold and precious jewels which they took home with them, together with the black and white cow with the horns of purest shell, and the little dog who had saved them from the cruel witch.
