The third day everything went just as it had gone twice before; Goldtooth began to bark, and Buttercup's mother said to him,
"Do run out and see what our dog is barking at."
So out he went, but he soon came back crying out,
"Heaven save us! Here comes the old hag again with her head under her arm and a sack at her back."
"Jump under the kneading-trough and hide," said his mother.
"Good day!" said the hag, as she came in at the door; "is your Buttercup at home to-day?"
"You're very kind to ask after him," said his mother; "but he's out in the wood with his father, shooting grouse."
"What a bore, now," said the old hag; "here have I got such a beautiful little silver fork for him."
"Pip, pip! here I am," said Buttercup, as he came out from under the kneading-trough.
"I'm so stiff in the back," said the hag, "you must creep into the sack and fetch it out for yourself."