The Old Woman could run very fast and she soon disappeared around the bend in the road. They heard her clapping and shouting. When the travelers reached the bend in the road a strange sight met their eyes.
As far as they could see before them and to either side was a great bog.
Gran’pa went up to it and pushed his cane into the edge. It was very soft.
“We shall have to walk around it,” Gran’pa said, “for we should sink out of sight if we attempted to cross it!”
When Gran’pa wiped his cane off in the grass, he felt that it was very sticky, and touching his finger to the bog he tasted it. “Molasses candy mud!” he cried.
“This is very unfortunate!” said the Princess as she looked about. “We shall lose a lot of time walking around the molasses candy bog!”
“I told you that you would be sorry!” cried a voice behind them, and looking around they saw the Old Woman standing on a little hill shaking her fist at them. “I made it with my magic!” she called, “and you will never get across it!”
“The unreasonable wicked creature!” Gran’ma cried as she started after the Old Woman. “I will tweek your nose for you if I catch you!”
The Old Woman did not tarry long, but struck out over the hill with Gran’ma close behind her. Gran’ma ran after the Old Woman and the others followed. The Old Woman made for a little house not far away and as she jumped through the door, she, the house and all disappeared.
“Well!” Gran’pa cried as he came up to Gran’ma. “We are rid of her at any rate!”