wherefore so terrified?" And then first he saw that he had before
him a little old man so wrapped up in a rough garment of fur, that
scarcely one of his features was visible, and wearing in his cap a
strange-looking long feather.

"But whence come YOU and whither go YOU?" returned the angry Sintram.
"For of you such questions should be asked. What have you to do in
our domains, you hideous little being?"

"Well, well," sneered the other one, "I am thinking that I am quite
big enough as I am--one cannot always be a giant. And as to the
rest, why should you find fault that I go here hunting for snails?
Surely snails do not belong to the game which your high mightinesses
consider that you alone have a right to follow! Now, on the other
hand, I know how to prepare from them an excellent high-flavoured
drink; and I have taken enough for to-day: marvellous fat little
beasts, with wise faces like a man's, and long twisted horns on their
heads. Would you like to see them? Look here!"

And then he began to unfasten and fumble about his fur garment; but
Sintram, filled with disgust and horror, said, "Psha! I detest such
animals! Be quiet, and tell me at once who and what you yourself
are."

"Are you so bent upon knowing my name?" replied the little man.
"Let it content you that I am master of all secret knowledge, and
well versed in the most intricate depths of ancient history. Ah! my
young sir, if you would only hear them! But you are afraid of me."

"Afraid of you!" cried Sintram, with a wild laugh.