Vexed that he had been outwitted by following a pair of moccasins instead of their owner, he complained bitterly, resolving not to give up his revenge and to be more wary in the future.
He then called to mind the skeleton he had met with on his way, and concluded that it must be the object of his search.
So the brother retraced his steps toward the skeleton, but to his surprise it had disappeared, and the tracks of the Wearer of the Ball were in another direction. He now became faint with hunger, and lost heart; but when he remembered the blood of his sisters, and that he should not be allowed to enjoy a meal, or so much as a mouthful, until he had put an end to Onwee Bahmondang, he plucked up his spirits and determined again to pursue.
Onwee, finding that he was closely followed and that the hungry brother was approaching very fast, changed himself into a very old man, with two daughters. They lived in a large lodge in the center of a beautiful garden, which was filled with everything that could delight the eye or was pleasant to the taste. He made himself appear so very old as to be unable to leave his lodge and to require his daughters to bring him food and wait on him, as though he had been a mere child. The garden also had the appearance of old age, with its ancient bushes and hanging branches and decrepit vines loitering lazily about in the sun.
Meanwhile the brother kept on until he was nearly starved and ready to sink to the earth. He exclaimed, with a long-drawn and most mournful sigh:
"Oh! I will forget the blood of my sisters, for I am starving. Oh! oh!"
But again he thought of the blood of his sisters, and what a fine appetite he would have if he should ever be allowed to eat anything again, and once more he resolved to pursue and to be content with nothing short of the amplest revenge.
He pushed on till he came to the beautiful garden. He advanced toward the lodge.
As soon as the fairy daughters perceived him, they ran and told their father that a stranger approached.
Their father replied, "Invite him in, my children, invite him in."