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 to come ! ' repeated the dwarf , ` and who , then , are you ? ' ' I am the new servant he has engaged , as you know very well , ' answered Peronnik . ' I do not know at all , ' rejoined the korigan sulkily , ` and you may be a robber for all I can tell . ' ' I am so sorry , ' replied Peronnik , ` but I may be wrong in calling myself a servant , for I am only a bird-catcher . But do not delay me , I pray , for his highness the magician expects me , and , as you see , has lent me his colt so that I may reach the castle all the quicker . '
At these words the korigan cast his eyes XXXXX the first time on the colt , which he knew to be the one belonging to the magician , and began to think that the young man was speaking the truth .
To at by for if into that through while with