At the sound of her voice the boy got up and ate the food she gave him . When he had finished every scrap she spoke as before : ` Tell me , my grandson , have not the good spirits visited you all these many days that you have fasted ? ' ` Not all , grandmother , ' answered he ; ` there are still some who keep away from me and say that I have not fasted long enough . ' ` Then you must fast again , ' replied the old woman , ` and go on fasting till you receive the gifts of all the good spirits . 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 XXXXX his eyes and ears so that nothing escaped him .
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