A long time ago, three girls went out to collect wood.

It was a hot day so they went down to the river to swim. They played and splashed and swam in the water.

Suddenly they realised that it was late. They hurried back to the village.

When they were nearly home, Nozibele put her hand to her neck. She had forgotten her necklace! "Please come back with me!" she begged her friends. But her friends said it was too late.

So Anna went back to the river alone. She found her necklace and hurried home. But she got lost in the dark.

In the distance she saw light coming from a hut. She hurried towards it and knocked at the door.

To her surprise, a dog opened the door and said, "What do you want?" "I'm lost and I need a place to sleep," said Anna. "Come in, or I'll bite you!" said the dog. So Anna went in.

Then the dog said, "Cook for me!" "But I've never cooked for a dog before," she answered. "Cook, or I'll bite you!" said the dog. So Anna cooked some food for the dog.

Then the dog said, "Make the bed for me!" Anna answered, "I've never made a bed for a dog." "Make the bed, or I'll bite you!" the dog said. So Anna made the bed.

Every day she had to cook and sweep and wash for the dog. Then one day the dog said, "Anna, today I have to visit some friends. Sweep the house, cook the food and wash my things before I come back."

As soon as the dog had gone, Anna took three hairs from her head. She put one hair under the bed, one behind the door, and one in the fenced area in the village. Then she ran home as fast as she could.

When the dog came back, he looked for Anna. "Anna, where are you?" he shouted. "I'm here, under the bed," said the first hair. "I'm here, behind the door," said the second hair. "I'm here, in the fenced area," said the third hair.

Then the dog knew that Anna had tricked him. So he ran and ran all the way to the village. But Anna's brothers were waiting there with big sticks. The dog turned and ran away and has never been seen since.