So when it came morning, the little old man took off little dog Turpie’s tail to cure him of barking.
The second night along came the Hobyahs, creep, creep through the woods, skipping along on the tips of their toes, and they cried:
“Tear down the hemp stalks. Eat the little old man, and carry away the little old woman.”
Then the little dog Turpie ran out again, barking so loudly that he frightened the Hobyahs, and they ran away home again.
But the little old man tossed in his sleep, and he said:
“Little dog Turpie barks so loudly that I can neither slumber nor sleep. In the morning I will take off his legs.”
So when it came morning, the little old man took off Turpie’s legs to cure him of barking.
The third night the Hobyahs came again, skipping along on the tips of their toes, and they called out:
“Tear down the hemp stalks. Eat up the little old man, and carry away the little old woman.”
Then little dog Turpie barked very loudly, and he frightened the Hobyahs so that they ran away home again.