In a few years the child grew to be a fine lad, under the care of his grandmother, and was her companion wherever she went.
One day they were digging flag roots on the margin of the river and putting them in a heap on the bank. When they had been at work a little while, the boy perceived that the roots came up with greater ease than was customary and he asked the old woman the cause of this,
but she did not know; and, as they continued their work, still the reeds came up with less effort, at which their wonder increased, until the grandmother said,
"Surely, some strange thing is about to transpire."
Then the boy went to the heap where they had been placing the roots, and found that some one had taken them away, and he ran back, exclaiming,
"Grandmother, did you take the roots away?"
And she answered,
"No, my child; perhaps some ghost has taken them off; let us dig no more; come away."