an's side.

After a while they came to a hedge so thick and wide and so set with
thorns that Blanche did not see how they could pass it without being
torn to pieces, but the old hag waved her staff, and the branches
parted before them and left the path clear. Then, as they passed, the
hedge closed together behind them.

Blanche wondered but said nothing.

A little further on they saw two axes fighting together with no hand
to hold them. That seemed a curious thing, but still Blanche said
nothing.

Further on were two arms that strove against each other without a
sound. Still Blanche was silent.

Further on again two heads fought, butting each other like goats.
Blanche looked and stared but said no word. Then the heads called to
her. "You are a good girl, Blanche. Heaven will reward you."

After that she and her companion came to the hut where the old woman
lived. They went in, and the hag bade Blanche gather some sticks of
wood and build a fire. Meanwhile she sat down beside the hearth and
took off her head. She put it in her lap and began to comb her hair
and twist it up.

Blanche was frightened, but she held her peace and built the fire as
the old woman had directed. When it was burning the old woman put back
her head in place, and told Blanche to look on the shelf behind the
door. "There you will find a bone; put it on to boil for our dinners,"
said she.

[Illustration: She sat down beside the hearth and took off her head.]

Blanche found the bone and put it on to boil, though it seemed a poor
dinner.

The old woman gave her a grain of rice and bade her grind it in the
mortar. Blanche put the rice in the mortar and ground it with the
pestle, and before she had been grinding two minutes the mortar was
full of rice, enough for both of them and to spare.

When it was time for dinner she looked in the pot and it was full of
good, fresh meat. She and the old woman had all they could eat.

After dinner was over the old woman lay down on the bed. "Oh, my back!
Oh, my poor back! How it does ache," groaned she. "Come hither and rub
it."

Blanche came over and uncovered the old crone's back, and she was
surprised when she saw it; it was as hard and ridgy as a turtle's.
Still she said nothing but began to rub it. She rubbed and rubbed till
the skin was all worn off her hand.

"That is good," said the old woman. "Now I feel better." She sat up
and drew her clothes about her. Then she blew upon Blanche's hand,