, but
even as I did so I found at my side a strange little man. He was
uglier than any one I had ever seen. His nose was wellnigh as large as
all the rest of his body, and his mouth was so big that it stretched
from one ear to the other.

'This ugly creature, as soon as he saw that I had noticed him, grinned
at me, until his mouth looked even larger than before. He scraped his
feet along the ground and bowed mockingly to me a thousand times.

'My horse was trembling at the sight of the strange figure, so I
resolved to ride on in search of further adventure, or if I found
none, to ride back to the city which I had left in the morning.

'But the ugly little man did not mean to let me escape. Quick as
lightning he sprang round and stood again in front of my horse.

'"Get out of the way," I now cried in anger, "lest my steed tramples
you under its feet."

'This did not seem to frighten the strange creature. He laughed in my
face, and then said in a gruff voice, "You must give me gold, for it
was I who turned your horse aside from yonder dark abyss."

'"Nay, what you say is not true," I answered him, "for it was the
silver brook that saved me and my horse from being dashed to pieces.
Nevertheless, take thy gold and begone."

'As I spoke I flung a coin into the strange-shaped cap which he was
holding before me, then putting spurs to my horse I rode quickly
forward.

'I heard the ugly little man give a loud scream, then to my surprise
there he was, running by my side, grinning and making horrible
grimaces.

'My horse was galloping, and I thought I would soon get away from the
little man. But it seemed impossible to go faster than he, for he took
a spring, a jump, and there he was still by my side. He held up the
piece of gold I had thrown to him, and in a hollow voice he cried, "It
is a false coin, a false coin!"

'At length I could bear his horrible shrieks no longer. I pulled up my
steed, and holding out two coins I called to him, "Take the gold, but
follow me no farther!"

'Then the little ugly man began to scrape his feet and bow his head,
but it was plain that he was not yet satisfied.

'"I do not wish your gold," he grumbled. "I have gold enough and to
spare, as you shall soon see."

'As he spoke a strange thing happened. The beautiful green ground
seemed to change into clear green glass. I looked through the glass
and saw in a great cavern a group of little goblins.

'They were playing at ball, these