The

The ball was very close to him, and of course he was not willing to let it go, so he chased after it. But the ball always seems to be within reach, only to never be touched. The ball ran faster and faster, and the boy got more and more excited. Once, he even caught it, but it rolled away!

Maybe if I jump, I can jump in front of it and cut it off! So the boy jumped hard and did not want to slip and fall. He got up quickly and found himself in the witch's house!

"Welcome, welcome, my child! "Sit down and rest. You have come a long way, and I think you must be tired." So the boy sat down and ate the food from the bowl she gave him. It was different from anything he had ever tasted before, and he thought it was delicious. When he had eaten everything, the witch asked him if he had ever fasted.The"Welcome, welcome, my child! "Sit down and rest. You have come a long way, and I think you must be tired." So the boy sat down and ate the food from the bowl she gave him. It was different from anythin

"Welcome, welcome, my child! "Sit down and rest. You have come a long way, and I think you must be tired." So the boy sat down and ate the food from the bowl she gave him. It was different from anythin

"No." "Sometimes grown-ups tell me to fast, but I don't care if I can find something to eat."

"If you want the gods to make you stronger and wiser, you must fast, and the sooner you start, the better."

"All right," said the boy, "what am I going to do now?"

"Lying on those buffalo skins outside the door." 'she replied.

So the boy went out and lay down. The squirrel, the bear, and the bird all came to see him and talk to him.

On the tenth night, the witch came to see him and brought him a bowl of food from his last meal.

"Arise, my child, you have fasted long enough. Have all the good spirits come to see you and give you the strength and wisdom you desire?"

"Some spirits have come and given me a part of my strength and wisdom. But some spirits only look at me from a distance."

"Then you will fast for another ten days." 'she said.

So the boy lay down on the buffalo skin and fasted for another ten days. After ten days he turned over, turned his face to the wall, and fasted for another twenty days.

At last the witch called to him, and said, "Come and eat something, my child." Hearing her voice, the boy stood up and ate some of the food she had brought him. When she had finished, she asked him as she had done on other occasions, "Tell me, child, did all the good spirits come to see you on the days when you fasted?"

"No, grandmother," he answered, "and some of the spirits stood at a distance, saying I had not fasted long enough."

"Then you must continue your fast," said the witch, "until you have received all the gifts of the good gods, not one of them missing."

The boy said nothing, but lay down on the buffalo skin for the third time and fasted for twenty more days. At last the witch thought he was dead, for he lay there, pale and stiff. But after giving him a bowl of food, he came to himself again and was soon able to sit up.

"You've been fasting a long time," she said, "longer than anyone has ever fasted before. Are the good spirits satisfied now?"

"Yes, Grandma." "They all came and gave me presents."