He had gone some distance into the trees , after a naughty black cow which gave him more trouble than all the rest , when he heard the noise of horse 's feet , and peeping through the leaves he beheld the giant Rogear seated on his mare , with the colt trotting behind . Round the giant 's neck hung the golden bowl suspended from a chain , and in his hand he grasped the diamond lance , which gleamed like fire . But as soon as he was out of sight the idiot sought in vain for traces of the path he had taken . This happened not only once but many times , till Peronnik grew so used to him that he never troubled to hide . But on each occasion he saw him the desire to possess the bowl and the lance became stronger . One evening the boy was sitting alone on the edge of the forest , when a man with a white beard stopped beside him . ` Do you want to know the way to Kerglas ? ' asked the idiot , and the man answered ' I know it well . ' ` You have been there without being killed by the magician ? ' cried Peronnik . ` Oh ! he had nothing to fear from me , ' replied the white-bearded man , ' I am Rogear 's elder brother , the wizard Bryak . When I wish to visit him I always pass this way , and as even I can not go through the enchanted wood without losing myself , I call the colt to guide me . ' Stooping down as he spoke he traced three circles on the ground and murmured some words very low , which Peronnik could not hear . Then he added aloud : Colt , free to run and free to eat . Colt , gallop fast until we meet , and instantly the colt appeared , frisking and jumping to the wizard , who threw a halter over his neck and leapt on his back . Peronnik kept silence at the farm about this adventure , but he understood very well that if he was ever to get to Kerglas he must first catch the colt which knew the way . Unhappily he had not heard the magic words uttered by the wizard , and he could not manage to draw the three circles , so if he was to summon the colt at all he must invent some other means of doing it . All day long , while he was herding the cows , he thought and thought how he was to call the colt , for he felt sure that once on its back he could overcome the other dangers . Meantime he must be ready in case a chance should come , and he made his preparations at night , when everyone was asleep .
Remembering what he had seen the wizard do , he patched up an old halter that was hanging in a corner XXXXX the stable , twisted a rope of hemp to catch the colt 's feet , and a net such as is used for snaring birds .
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