As for the club , Kai , it would have been a burden for four of our warriors . He waited for me to speak , and I asked him what power he held over the beasts that thronged so close about him . ' `` I will show thee , little man , '' he answered , and with his club he struck a stag on the head till he brayed loudly . And at his braying the animals came running , numerous as the stars in the sky , so that scarce was I able to stand among them . Serpents were there also , and dragons , and beasts of strange shapes , with horns in places where never saw I horns before . And the black man only looked at them and bade them go and feed . And they bowed themselves before him , as vassals before their lord . ' `` Now , little man , I have answered thy question and showed thee my power , '' said he . `` Is there anything else thou wouldest know ? '' Then I inquired of him my way , but he grew angry , and , as I perceived , would fain have hindered me ; but at the last , after I had told him who I was , his anger passed from him . ' `` Take that path , '' said he , `` that leads to the head of this grassy glade , and go up the wood till thou reachest the top . There thou wilt find an open space , and in the midst of it a tall tree . Under the tree is a fountain , and by the fountain a marble slab , and on the slab a bowl of silver , with a silver chain . Dip the bowl in the fountain , and throw the water on the slab , and thou wilt hear a might peal of thunder , till heaven and earth seem trembling with the noise . After the thunder will come hail , so fierce that scarcely canst thou endure it and live , for the hailstones are both large and thick . Then the sun will shine again , but every leaf of the tree will by lying on the ground . Next a flight of birds will come and alight on the tree , and never didst thou hear a strain so sweet as that which they will sing . And at the moment in which their song sounds sweetest thou wilt hear a murmuring and complaining coming towards thee along the valley , and thou wilt see a knight in black velvet bestriding a black horse , bearing a lance with a black pennon , and he will spur his steed so as to fight thee . If thou turnest to flee , he will overtake thee . And if thou abidest were thou art , he will unhorse thee .
And if thou dost not find trouble XXXXX that adventure , thou needest not to seek it during the rest of thy life . ''
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