` Well , then , I think , if I had that -- redbreast , nicely roasted , I could eat a little bit of his wing ! ' The wife started back in horror at such a request ; but the man turned his face to the wall , and took no notice , as he thought it was better to leave her to herself for a little . Weeping and wringing her hands , the girl went down to her mother . The brothers were very angry when they heard the story , and declared that , if any one were to die , it certainly should not be the robin . But all that night the man seemed getting weaker and weaker , and at last , quite early , the wife crept out , and stealing to the hut , killed the bird , and brought him home to her husband . Just as she was going to cook it her two brothers came in . They cried out in horror at the sight , and , rushing out of the hut , declared they would never see her any more . And the poor girl , with a heavy heart , took the body of the redbreast up to her husband . But directly she entered the room the man told her that he felt a great deal better , and that he would rather have a piece of bear 's flesh , well boiled , than any bird , however tender . His wife felt very miserable to think that their beloved redbreast had been sacrificed for nothing , and begged him to try a little bit . ` You felt so sure that it would do you good before , ' said she , ` that I ca n't help thinking it would quite cure you now . ' But the man only flew into a rage , and flung the bird out of the window . Then he got up and went out . Now all this while the ball had been rolling , rolling , rolling to the old grandmother 's hut on the other side of the world , and directly it rolled into her hut she knew that her grandson must be dead . Without wasting any time she took a fox skin and tied it round her forehead , and fastened another round her waist , as witches always do when they leave their own homes . 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 XXXXX had fasted so many years ago , the old woman spoke for the first time since they had started on their way .
Ball-Carrier arrows girl home night redbreast sight stealing wall woman