FAIRY TALES 223

hide, you may work for me a day and at the end of the day I will give it to you.”

“Do let me work for you,” said the boy, very happy at the thought of owning a magical belt.

The very next day the boy worked for the stranger, and he did more work in that one day than an ordinary man could do in a week. At the end of the day, the stranger gave him the strip of raw-hide from the back of the bull, and soon the magical belt was made, just as the voice had directed.

Then in a dream the voice came to the boy again:

“Cut a few hairs from the raw-hide belt; then go out and cut a small lock from the backs of seven large bulls. Cut these hairs into small pieces and place them together, and they will be all the medicine you will require. The belt will give you whatever you desire. But this power will continue for seven years only. At the end of that time, your skill in medicine will leave you and the belt will lose its power.”

The boy now started out on a tour of cattle- doctoring. He visited a city where there was a valuable bull very sick. He examined it, and then went to the owner.

“I am a cattle doctor,” he said, “and I know that I can make your animal well, if you will let me take care of it.”