When she came home the Sunball asked her again: 'Eh, Letiko, why do you
come home so late?'

'My red hood is too wide, and falls over my eyes, therefore I could not
go fast.'

Then he made the hood narrower.

At last, however, the Sunball became aware how sad Letiko was. He sent
her a second time to bring straw, and, slipping in after her, he heard
how she lamented for her mother. Then he went home, called two foxes to
him, and said: 'Will you take Letiko home?'

'Yes, why not?'

'But what will you eat and drink if you should become hungry and thirsty
by the way?'

'We will eat her flesh and drink her blood.'

When the Sunball heard that, he said: 'You are not suited for this
affair.'

Then he sent them away, and called two hares to him, and said: 'Will you
take Letiko home to her mother?'

'Yes, why not?'

'What will you eat and drink if you should become hungry and thirsty by
the way?'

'We will eat grass and drink from streamlets.'

'Then take her, and bring her home.'

Then the hares set out, taking Letiko with them, and because it was a
long way to her home they became hungry by the way. Then they said to
the little girl: 'Climb this tree, dear Letiko, and remain there till we
have finished eating.'

So Letiko climbed the tree, and the hares went grazing.

It was not very long, however, before a lamia came under the tree and
called out: 'Letiko, Letiko, come down and see what beautiful shoes I
have on.'

'Oh! my shoes are much finer than yours.'

'Come down. I am in a hurry, for my house is not yet swept.'

'Go home and sweep it then, and come back when you are ready.'

Then the lamia went away and swept her house, and when she was ready she
came back and called out: 'Letiko, Letiko, come down and see what a
beautiful apron I have.'

[Illustration: LETIKO, LETIKO, COME DOWN AND SEE WHAT A BEAUTIFUL APRON
I HAVE]

'Oh! my apron is much finer than yours.'

'If you will not come down I will cut down the tree and eat you.'

'Do so, and then eat me.'

Then the lamia hewed with all her strength at the tree, but could not
cut it down. And when she saw that, she called out: 'Letiko, Letiko,
come down, for I must feed my children.'

'Go home then and feed them, and come back when you are ready.'

When the lamia was gone away, Letiko called out: 'Little hares! little
hares!'

Then said one hare to the other: 'Listen, Letiko is calling;' and they
both ran back to her as fast as they c