When she was ready she said to the ball : ` Go back the way you came , and lead me to my grandson . ' And the ball started with the old woman following . It was a long journey , even for a witch , but , like other things , it ended at last ; and the old woman stood before the platform of stakes , where the body of Ball-Carrier lay . ` Wake up , my grandson , it is time to go home , ' the witch said . And Ball-Carrier stepped down oft the platform , and brought his club and bow and arrows out of the hut , and set out , for the other side of the world , behind the old woman . When they reached the hut where Ball-Carrier had fasted so many years ago , the old woman spoke for the first time since they had started on their way . ` My grandson , did you ever manage to get that gold from the Bad One ? ' ` Yes , grandmother , I got it . ' ` Where is it ? ' she asked . ` Here , in my left arm-pit , ' answered he . So she picked up a knife and scraped away all the gold which had stuck to his skin , and which had been sticking there ever since he first stole it . After she had finished she asked again : ` My grandson , did you manage to get that bridge from the Bad One ? ' ` Yes , grandmother , I got that too , ' answered he . ` Where is it ? ' she asked , and Ball-Carrier lifted his right arm , and pointed to his arm-pit . ` Here is the bridge , grandmother , ' said he . Then the witch did something that nobody in the world could have guessed that she would do . First , she took the gold and said to Ball-carrier : ` My grandson , this gold must be hidden in the earth , for if people think they can get it when they choose , they will become lazy and stupid . But if we take it and bury it in different parts of the world they will have to work for it if they want it , and then will only find a little at a time . '
And as she spoke , she pulled up one of the poles of the hut , and XXXXX saw that underneath was a deep , deep hole , which seemed to have no bottom .
Ball-Carrier First arm-pit ball bridge earth gold people right years