litely than ever, and asked if she did not wish to
cross the river.

'I was waiting for you to help me do so,' answered she. 'Come near, that
I may get up behind you.'

Peronnik did as she bade him, and by the help of his arm she jumped
nimbly on to the back of the colt.

'Do you know how to kill the magician?' asked the lady, as they were
crossing the ford.

'I thought that, being a magician, he was immortal, and that no one
could kill him,' replied Peronnik.

'Persuade him to taste that apple, and he will die, and if that is not
enough I will touch him with my finger, for I am the plague,' answered
she.

'But if I kill him, how am I to get the golden bowl and the diamond
lance that are hidden in the cellar without a key?' rejoined Peronnik.

[Illustration: PERONNIK IN THE VALE OF PLEASURE]

[Illustration: The Lady in black slays Rogear the Magician]

'The flower that laughs opens all doors and lightens all darkness,' said
the lady; and as she spoke, they reached the further bank, and
advanced towards the castle.

In front of the entrance was a sort of tent supported on poles, and
under it the giant was sitting, basking in the sun. As soon as he
noticed the colt bearing Peronnik and the lady, he lifted his head, and
cried in a voice of thunder:

'Why, it is surely the idiot, riding my colt thirteen months old!'

'Greatest of magicians, you are right,' answered Peronnik.

'And how did you manage to catch him?' asked the giant.

'By repeating what I learnt from your brother Bryak on the edge of the
forest,' replied the idiot. 'I just said--

Colt, free to run and free to eat,
Colt, gallop fast until we meet,

and it came directly.'

'You know my brother, then?' inquired the giant. 'Tell me why he sent
you here.'

'To bring you two gifts which he has just received from the country of
the Moors,' answered Peronnik: 'the apple of delight and the woman of
submission. If you eat the apple you will not desire anything else, and
if you take the woman as your servant you will never wish for another.'

'Well, give me the apple, and bid the woman get down,' answered Rogear.

The idiot obeyed, but at the first taste of the apple the giant
staggered, and as the long yellow finger of the woman touched him he
fell dead.

Leaving the magician where he lay, Peronnik entered the palace, bearing
with him the flower that laughs. Fifty doors flew open before him, and
at length he reached a long flight of