see any footsteps leading to the river, and began to move all the
furniture in the room, without discovering Ball Carrier.

'But he must be here somewhere,' she said to herself, examining
for the second time the pile of buffalo skins; and Ball-Carrier,
knowing that he could not possibly escape now, hastily wished
that the Bad One should be unable to eat any more food at
present.

'Ah, there is a slit in this one,' cried the servant, shaking the
skin; 'and here he is.' And she pulled out Ball-Carrier, looking
so lean and small that he would hardly have made a mouthful for a
sparrow.

'Was it you who took my gold and bridge?' asked the Bad One.

'Yes,' answered Ball-Carrier, 'it was I who took them.'

The Bad One made a sign to the woman, who inquired where he had
hidden them. He lifted his left arm where the gold was, and she
picked up a knife and scraped his skin so that no gold should be
left sticking to it.

'What have you done with the bridge?' said she. And he lifted
his right arm, from which she took the bridge, while the Bad One
looked on, well pleased. 'Be sure that he does not run away,'
chuckled he. 'Boil some water, and get him ready for cooking,
while I go and invite my friends the water-demons to the feast.'

The woman seized Ball-Carrier between her finger and thumb, and