The two orphans looked inside the hut and saw the witch resting there, her head near the threshold, one foot in one corner, the other foot in another corner, and her knees quite close to the ridge pole.
The old woman, although her behavior was so kind, was a wicked witch, who lay in wait for children, and had built the little house on purpose to entice them.
There came a very bad year, and the famine was so great that these poor people resolved to rid themselves of their children.
The uncle could not help thinking that he wished the little boy and girl would die, for then he should have all their money for himself.
Másha went in the morning to fetch water, and saw at the door something wrapped in rags. When she touched the rags, there came from it the sound of ‘Ooah, ooah, ooah!’