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 can not 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 can not 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 boy bade farewell to the witch and set out . He walked through the forest for several days without seeing anyone but his friends the squirrels and the bears and the birds , but though he stopped and spoke to them all , he was careful not to let them know where he was going .
At last , after many XXXXX , he came to the river , and beyond it he noticed a small hut standing on a hill which he guessed to be the home of the Bad One .
Bad ball bridge days help house sea squirrels tasks third