'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.