A poor boy named Yanechek, orphaned and alone, seeks work and finds an old blind man living by the woods. The old man, who warns Yanechek about the wicked Yezinkas—witches who disguise themselves as beautiful maidens and gouge out the eyes of their victims—hires him as a goatherd. Initially obedient, Yanechek eventually succumbs to temptation and takes the goats to a hill where the Yezinkas reside. On the hill, Yanechek encounters three stunning maidens, each attempting to lure him with gifts: an apple, a rose, and a comb. Recognizing their true nature, he refuses their offerings. When the youngest Yezinka approaches to comb his hair, he strikes her hands with a blackberry switch, immobilizing her. He binds her and captures her sisters in the same manner. Yanechek confronts the Yezinkas, demanding the location of the old man's eyes, which they had previously gouged out. The first two sisters attempt to deceive him by presenting false eyes, leading to their demise when Yanechek throws them into the river. The third sister, after initially pretending ignorance, ultimately retrieves the correct eyes from their cave, restoring the old man's sight. With the old man’s vision restored, Yanechek and the old man live happily, tending to the goats and making cheese, while the third Yezinka never returns to the hill. The story emphasizes themes of courage, cleverness, and the triumph of good over evil.
By Parker Fillmore · First published 1930 · Genre: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Adventure