Remembering what he had seen the wizard do , he patched up an old halter that was hanging in a corner of the stable , twisted a rope of hemp to catch the colt 's feet , and a net such as is used for snaring birds . Next he sewed roughly together some bits of cloth to serve as a pocket , and this he filled with glue and lark 's feathers , a string of beads , a whistle of elder wood , and a slice of bread rubbed over with bacon fat . Then he went out to the path down which Rogear , his mare , and the colt always rode , and crumbled the bread on one side of it . Punctual to their hour all three appeared , eagerly watched by Peronnik , who lay hid in the bushes close by . Suppose it was useless ; suppose the mare , and not the colt , ate the crumbs ? Suppose -- but no ! the mare and her rider went safely by , vanishing round a corner , while the colt , trotting along with its head on the ground , smelt the bread , and began greedily to lick up the pieces . Oh , how good it was ! Why had no one ever given it that before , and so absorbed was the little beast , sniffing about after a few more crumbs , that it never heard Peronnik creep up till it felt the halter on its neck and the rope round its feet , and -- in another moment -- some one on its back . Going as fast as the hobbles would allow , the colt turned into one of the wildest parts of the forest , while its rider sat trembling at the strange sights he saw . Sometimes the earth seemed to open in front of them and he was looking into a bottomless pit ; sometimes the trees burst into flames and he found himself in the midst of a fire ; often in the act of crossing a stream the water rose and threatened to sweep him away ; and again , at the foot of a mountain , great rocks would roll towards him , as if they would crush him and his colt beneath their weight . To his dying day Peronnik never knew whether these things were real or if he only imagined them , but he pulled down his knitted cap so as to cover his eyes , and trusted the colt to carry him down the right road . At last the forest was left behind , and they came out on a wide plain where the air blew fresh and strong . The idiot ventured to peep out , and found to his relief that the enchantments seemed to have ended , though a thrill of horror shot through him as he noticed the skeletons of men scattered over the plain , beside the skeletons of their horses . And what were those grey forms trotting away in the distance ? Were they -- could they be -- wolves ? But vast through the plain seemed , it did not take long to cross , and very soon the colt entered a sort of shady park in which was standing a single apple-tree , its branches bowed down to the ground with the weight of its fruit . In front was the korigan -- the little fairy man -- holding in his hand the fiery sword , which reduced to ashes everything it touched . At the sight of Peronnik he uttered a piercing scream , and raised his sword , but without appearing surprised the youth only lifted his cap , though he took care to remain at a little distance . ` Do not be alarmed , my prince , ' said Peronnik , ' I am just on my way to Kerglas , as the noble Rogear has begged me to come to him on business . '
` Begged you XXXXX come ! '
down if in into of on though to whether without