There was certainly plenty of room for a dozen beggars , for the only occupants of the stable were an old donkey and a thin ox ; and as the night was bitter , the wizard lay down between them for warmth , with a sack of reeds for a pillow . He had walked far that day , and even wizards get tired sometimes , so in spite of the hard floor he was just dropping off to sleep , when midnight struck from the church tower of Plouhinec . At this sound the donkey raised her head and shook her ears , and turned towards the ox . ` Well , my dear cousin , ' said she , ` and how have you fared since last Christmas Eve , when we had a conversation together ? ' Instead of answering at once , the ox eyed the beggar with a long look of disgust . ` What is the use of talking , ' he replied roughly , ` when a good-for-nothing creature like that can hear all we say ? ' ` Oh , you must n't lose time in grumbling , ' rejoined the donkey gaily , ` and do n't you see that the wizard is asleep ? ' ` His wicked pranks do not make him rich , certainly , ' said the ox , ` and he is n't even clever enough to have found out what a piece of luck might befall him a week hence . ' ` What piece of luck ? ' asked the donkey . ` Why , do n't you know , ' inquired the ox , ` that once very hundred years the stones on Plouhinec heath go down to drink at the river , and that while they are away the treasures underneath them are uncovered ? ' ` Ah , I remember now , ' replied the donkey , ` but the stones return so quickly to their places , that you certainly would be crushed to death unless you have in your hands a bunch of crowsfoot and of five-leaved trefoil . ' ` Yes , but that is not enough , ' said the ox ; ` even supposing you get safely by , the treasure you have brought with you will crumble into dust if you do not give in exchange a baptised soul . It is needful that a Christian should die before you can enjoy the wealth of Plouhinec . ' The donkey was about to ask some further questions , when she suddenly found herself unable to speak : the time allowed them for conversation was over . ` Ah , my dear creatures , ' thought the beggar , who had of course heard everything , ` you are going to make me richer than the richest men of Vannes or Lorient . But I have no time to lose ; to-morrow I must begin to hunt for the precious plants . ' He did not dare to seek too near Plouhinec , lest somebody who knew the story might guess what he was doing , so he went away further towards the south , where the air was softer and the plants are always green . From the instant it was light , till the last rays had faded out of the sky , he searched every inch of ground where the magic plants might grow ; he scarcely gave himself a minute to eat and drink , but at length he found the crowsfoot in a little hollow ! Well , that was certainly a great deal , but after all , the crowsfoot was of no use without the trefoil , and there was so little time left .
He had almost give up hope , when on the very last day before it was necessary XXXXX he should start of Plouhinec , he came upon a little clump of trefoil , half hidden under a rock .
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