` Oh , certainly , ' said Ball-Carrier ; ' and I do n't think we shall find a flatter course than the prairie itself -- no one knows how many miles it stretches . We will run to the end and back again . ' This being settled they both made ready for the race , and Ball-Carrier silently begged the good spirits to help him , and not to let him fall into the hands of this wicked witch . ` When the sun touches the trunk of that tree we will start , ' said she , as they both stood side by side . But with the first step Ball-Carrier changed himself into a wolf and for a long way kept ahead . Then gradually he heard her creeping up behind him , and soon she was in front . So Ball-Carrier took the shape of a pigeon and flew rapidly past her , but in a little while she was in front again and the end of the prairie was in sight . ' A crow can fly faster than a pigeon , ' thought he , and as a crow he managed to pass her and held his ground so long that he fancied she was quite beaten . The witch began to be afraid of it too , and putting out all her strength slipped past him . Next he put on the shape of a hawk , and in this form he reached the bounds of the prairie , he and the witch turning homewards at the moment . Bird after bird he tried , but every time the witch gained on him and took the lead . At length the goal was in sight , and Ball-Carrier knew that unless he could get ahead now he would be killed before his own door , under the eyes of his wife . His eyes had grown dim from fatigue , his wings flapped wearily and hardly bore him along , while the witch seemed as fresh as ever . What bird was there whose flight was swifter than his ? Would not the good spirits tell him ? Ah , of course he knew ; why had he not thought of it at first and spared himself all that fatigue ? And the next instant a humming bird , dressed in green and blue , flashed past the woman and entered the house . The witch came panting up , furious at having lost the race which she felt certain of winning ; and Ball-Carrier , who had by this time changed back into his own shape , struck her on the head and killed her . For a long while Ball-Carrier was content to stay quietly at home with his wife and children , for he was tired of adventures , and only did enough hunting to supply the house with food . But one day he happened to eat some poisonous berries that he had found in the forest , and grew so ill that he felt he was going to die .
` When I am dead do not bury me XXXXX the earth , ' he said , ` but put me over there , among that clump of trees . '
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