it and took out the ball of cord which she thought to be her magic catgut. "First I will bind you with this," said she, "and if you succeed in freeing yourself, you can do the same to me; if not" (and here she laughed scornfully), "you shall be bound to me, soul and body, to be my slave forever." Then she flew at Massang and tied his legs and arms securely with the cord; but as it was only ordinary cord, and Massang's strength was great, he very soon broke loose from it. The old woman howled with rage, but he quickly seized her and tied her fast with her own magic catgut, and though she struggled long and hard, she could not work herself free.
"Enough!" cried she at length, panting and weary. "Loose me! You have won in this test, but it is only the first and the least; there are two more, and in these you will find yourself easily overcome." Massang unwound the catgut from her, and she sprang up, trembling and gnashing her teeth in anger, while Massang was
