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'Keep walking straight ahead,' said the woodcutters. 'Turn neither left nor right, and soon you will be at Hiysi's hut. But listen carefully. Hiysi loves meat. He will offer you silver and gold and precious stones in gratitude. Don't accept any of those. Ask instead for his millstone. If he tries to offer you something else, refuse. Ask only for his millstone.'
The poor man thanked the woodcutters, and walked on. Very soon he saw a hut. He went inside, and there sat Hiysi, the Wood-Goblin himself.
'Why have you come here?' asked Hiysi.
'I have brought you a gift,' said the poor man. 'A cow's hoof.' And he held out the piece of meat to Hiysi.
'Meat!' cried Hiysi in delight. 'Quick, give it to me! I haven't eaten meat for thirty years!' Hiysi grabbed the hoof and ate it.
'Now I shall give you a gift in return,' said the Wood-Goblin. 'Here, take some silver,' he said, pulling out a handful of silver coins.
'No, I don't want any silver,' said the poor man.
'Gold, then?' offered Hiysi, pulling out two handfuls of gold coins.
'No. I don't want gold either,' said the poor man.
'How about some precious stones?' asked Hiysi. 'Diamonds, rubies, sapphires?'
'No, thank you, I don't want any of those either,' said the poor man.
Why the Sea is Salt cont'd...
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