ght him another basin of
food, and while he was eating it she talked to him, and this is what she
said: 'Far away, on the other side of the great river, is the home of
the Bad One. In his house is much gold, and what is more precious even
than the gold, a little bridge, which lengthens out when the Bad One
waves his hand, so that there is no river or sea that he cannot cross.
Now I want that bridge and some of the gold for myself, and that is the
reason that I have stolen so many boys by means of my ball. I have tried
to teach them how to gain the gifts of the good spirits, but none of
them would fast long enough, and at last I had to send them away
to perform simple, easy little tasks. But you have been strong and
faithful, and you can do this thing if you listen to what I tell you!
When you reach the river tie this ball to your foot, and it will take
you across--you cannot manage it in any other way. But do not be afraid;
trust to the ball, and you will be quite safe!'

The boy took the ball and put it in a bag. Then he made himself a club
and a bow, and some arrows which would fly further than anyone else's
arrows, because of the strength the good spirits had given him. They had
also bestowed on him the power of changing his shape, and had increased
the quickness of his eyes and ears so that nothing escaped him. And in
some way or other they made him understand that if he needed more help
they would give it to him.

When all these things were ready the boy bade farewell to the witch and
set out. He walked through the forest for several days without seeing
anyone but his friends the squirrels and the bears and the birds, but
though he stopped and spoke to them all, he was careful not to let them
know where he was going.

At last, after many days, he came to the river, and beyond it he noticed
a small hut standing on a hill which he guessed to be the home of the
Bad One. But the stream flowed so quickly that he could not see how he
was ever to cross it, and in order to test how swift the current really
was, he broke a branch from a tree and threw it in. It seemed hardly
to touch the water before it was carried away, and even his magic sight
could not follow it. He could not help feeling frightened, but he hated
giving up anything that he had once undertaken, and, fastening the ball
on his right foot, he ventured on the river. To his surprise he was
able to stand up; then a panic seized him, and he scrambled up the ba