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 for 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 . After examining the horse , he studied the rider , who had such an innocent , and indeed vacant , air that he appeared incapable of inventing a story . Still , the dwarf did not feel quite sure that all was right , and asked what the magician wanted with a bird-catcher . ` From what he says , he wants one very badly , ' replied Peronnik , ` as he declares that all his grain and all the fruit in his garden at Kerglas are eaten up by the birds . ' ` And how are you going to stop that , my fine fellow ? ' inquired the korigan ; and Peronnik showed him the snare he had prepared , and remarked that no bird could possible escape from it . ` That is just what I should like to be sure of , ' answered the korigan . ` My apples are completely eaten up by blackbirds and thrushes . Lay your snare , and if you can manage to catch them , I will let you pass . ' ` That is a fair bargain , ' and as he spoke Peronnik jumped down and fastened his colt to a tree ; then , stopping , he fixed one end of the net to the trunk of the apple tree , and called to the korigan to hold the other while he took out the pegs . The dwarf did as he was bid , when suddenly Peronnik threw the noose over his neck and drew it close , and the korigan was held as fast as any of the birds he wished to snare . Shrieking with rage , he tried to undo the cord , but he only pulled the knot tighter . He had put down the sword on the grass , and Peronnik had been careful to fix the net on the other side of the tree , so that it was now easy for him to pluck an apple and to mount his horse , without being hindered by the dwarf , whom he left to his fate . When they had left the plain behind them , Peronnik and his steed found themselves in a narrow valley in which was a grove of trees , full of all sorts of sweet-smelling things -- roses of every colour , yellow broom , pink honeysuckle -- while above them all towered a wonderful scarlet pansy whose face bore a strange expression . This was the flower that laughs , and no one who looked at it could help laughing too . Peronnik 's heart beat high at the thought that he had reached safely the second trial , and he gazed quite calmly at the lion with the mane of vipers twisting and twirling , who walked up and down in front of the grove . The young man pulled up and removed his cap , for , idiot though he was , he knew that when you have to do with people greater than yourself , a cap is more useful in the hand than on the head .
Then , after wishing all kinds XXXXX good fortune to the lion and his family , he inquired if he was on the right road to Kerglas .
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