They looked out and saw her, and she seemed mightily big, having something on her back. And she came quickly nearer.
Then they heard a great noise, and that was the woman throwing down her burden. She came in hot and tired, and sat down, and said:
“Thanks, kind little boys. I had to leave him alone in the house, as usual, and now you have stayed with him while I was fearing for him on my way.”
Then she turned to her son, and said:
“Have they not eaten yet?”
“No,” said the boy. And when he had said that, she went out, and came in with dried flesh of fox and reindeer, and a big piece of suet. And very glad they were to eat that food. At first they did not eat any of the dried fox meat, but when they tasted it, they found it was wonderfully good to eat.
Now when they had eaten their fill, they sat there feeling glad. And then the little boy whispered something in his mother’s ear.
“He has a great desire for one of your sets of arrows, if you would not refuse to give it.” And they gave him that.
In the evening, when they thought it was time to rest, a bed was made for them under the window, and when this was done the woman said:
“Now sleep, and do not fear any evil thing.”