“It would be better to kill him when he comes back,” said the first of the Hags with the Long Teeth.
“And if he doesn’t come back, tell the Giant Crom Duv,” said the second.
Gilly of the Goatskin crept from under the cradle, put his bow resting on the bottom that was now turned uppermost, took up some of the rods that were on the floor and then shouted at the Hags. “Oh, if that’s a hazel rod he has at his bow he will kill us all,” they screamed out together.
He drew back the string, fired the willow rod and struck the middle Hag full on the breast. The three Hags fell down on the ground. The pot that was always hanging over the fire turned itself upside down and the house was filled with smoke. Gilly of the Goatskin, the bow in his hand, sprang across the cradle, over the threshold of the door, and out into the width and the height, the length and the breadth, the gloom and the gleam of the world.
VII
He was out, as I have said, in the width and the height, the length and the breadth, the gloom and the gleam of the world. He fired arrows into the air. He leaped over ditches, he rolled down hillsides, he raced over level places until he came to what surprised him more than all the things in the world—a river. He had never seen such water before and he wondered to see it moving with swiftness. “Where is it going?” said Gilly of the Goatskin. “Does it go on like that in the night as well as in the day?” He ran by its side and shouted to the river. He saw a wide-winged bird flying across it. It was the bird that we call the crane or the heron. And as Gilly watched the great winged thing he saw that it held a little animal in its claws. Gilly fired an arrow and the crane dropped towards the ground. The little animal that was in its claws fell down. The crane rose up again and flew back across the river.
The little animal that had been in the claws of the crane came to Gilly of the Goatskin. It was smaller than the one-eyed cat that used to sit on the hearth of the Hag of the House. It kept its head up and was very bold-looking. “Good morning, Lad in the Goatskin,” it said to Gilly, “you saved my life and I’m very thankful to you.” “What are you?” said Gilly of the Goat-skin. “I’m the Weasel. I’m the boldest and bravest creature in this country. I’m the lion of these parts, I am. And,” said the Weasel, “I never served anyone before, but I’ll be your servant for a quarter of a year. Tell me what way you’re going and I’ll go with you.” “I’m going the way he’s going,” said Gilly, nodding towards the river, “and I’ll keep beside him till he wants to turn back.” “Oh, then you’ll have to go a long way,” said the Weasel, “but I’ll go with you no matter bow far you go.” The Weasel walked by Gilly’s side very bravely and very independently.
“Oh, look,” said Gilly to the Weasel, “what is that that’s in the water?”
The Weasel looked and saw a crystal egg in the shallows.
“It’s an egg,” said the Weasel, “I often eat one myself. I’ll bring it up from the bottom to you. I’m good at carrying eggs.”