The ball seemed always within his grasp , yet he could never catch it ; it went quicker and quicker , and the boy grew more and more excited . That time he almost touched it -- no , he missed it by a hair 's breadth ! Now , surely , if he gave a spring he could get in front of it ! He sprang forward , tripped and fell , and found himself in the witch 's house ! ` Welcome ! welcome ! grandson ! ' said she ; ` get up and rest yourself , for you have had a long walk , and I am sure you must be tired ! ' So the boy sat down , and ate some food which she gave him in a bowl . It was quite different from anything he had tasted before , and he thought it was delicious . When he had eaten up every bit , the witch asked him if he had ever fasted . ` No , ' replied the boy , ` at least I have been obliged to sometimes , but never if there was any food to be had . ' ` You will have to fast if you want the spirits to make you strong and wise , and the sooner you begin the better . ' ` Very well , ' said the boy , ` what do I do first ? ' ` Lie down on those buffalo skins by the door of the hut , ' answered she ; and the boy lay down , and the squirrels and little bears and the birds came and talked to him . At the end of ten days the old woman came to him with a bowl of the same food that he had eaten before . ` Get up , my grandson , you have fasted long enough . Have the good spirits visited you , and granted you the strength and wisdom that you desire ? ' ` Some of them have come , and have given me a portion of both , ' answered the boy , ` but many have stayed away from me . ' ` Then , ' said she , ` you must fast ten days more . '
So the boy lay down again on the buffalo skins , and fasted for ten XXXXX , and at the end of that time he turned his face to the wall , and fasted for twenty days longer .
Lie birds breadth days first hair house squirrels strength woman