poke as before: 'Tell me, my grandson, have not the good
spirits visited you all these many days that you have fasted?'

'Not all, grandmother,' answered he; 'there are still some who keep
away from me and say that I have not fasted long enough.'

'Then you must fast again,' replied the old woman, 'and go on fasting
till you receive the gifts of _all_ the good spirits. Not one must be
missing.'

The boy said nothing, but lay down for the third time on the buffalo
skins, and fasted for twenty days more. And at the end of that time
the witch thought he was dead, his face was so white and his body so
still. But when she had fed him out of the bowl he grew stronger, and
soon was able to sit up.

'You have fasted a long time,' said she, 'longer than anyone ever
fasted before. Surely the good spirits must be satisfied _now_?'

'Yes, grandmother,' answered the boy, 'they have all come, and have
given me their gifts.'

This pleased the old woman so much that she brought 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 b