THE BLUE BELT

Once on a time there was an old beggar-woman, who had gone out to
beg. She had a little lad with her, and when she had got her bag
full, she struck across the hills towards her own home. So when they
had gone a bit up the hill-side, they came upon a little blue belt,
which lay where two paths met, and the lad asked his mother's leave
to pick it up.

'No', said she, 'maybe there's witchcraft in it'; and so with threats
she forced him to follow her. But when they had gone a bit further,
the lad said he must turn aside a moment out of the road, and
meanwhile his mother sat down on a tree-stump. But the lad was a long
time gone, for as soon as he got so far into the wood, that the old
dame could not see him, he ran off to where the belt lay, took it up,
tied it round his waist, and lo! he felt as strong as if he could
lift the whole hill. When he got back, the old dame was in a great
rage, and wanted to know what he had been doing all that while. You
don't care how much time you waste, and yet you know the night is
drawing on, and we must cross the hill before it is dark!' So on they
tramped; but when they had got about half-way, the old dame grew
weary, and said she must rest under a bush.

'Dear mother', said the lad, 'mayn't I just go up to the top of this
high crag while you rest, and try if I can't see some sign of folk
hereabouts?'