'Pip, pip! here I am', said Buttercup under the kneading-trough, and
out he came.

'I'm so old, and stiff in the back', said the hag, 'you must creep
into the bag and fetch it out for yourself.'

But when Buttercup was well into the bag, the hag threw it over her
back and strode off, and when they had gone a good bit of the way,
the old hag got tired, and asked:

'How far is it off to Snoring?'

'Half a mile', answered Buttercup.

So the hag put down the sack on the road, and went aside by herself
into the wood, and lay down to sleep. Meantime Buttercup set to work
and cut a hole in the sack with his knife; then he crept out and put
a great root of a fir-tree into the sack, and ran home to his mother.

When the hag got home and saw what there was in the sack, you may
fancy she was in a fine rage.

Next day the old wife sat and baked again, and her dog began to bark
just as he did the day before.

'Run out, Buttercup, my boy', said she, 'and see what Goldtooth is
barking at.'

'Well, I never!' cried Buttercup, as soon as he got out; 'if there