hUmnmimimmnm 
 
 1 
 
 I 
 
 
 Ml 
 
 
 
 aFT'.- 
 
 i^T 
 
 ftsam 
 
 HHHi 
 
 Bnm 
 
 miltt}; 
 
t::>C 
 
 •Zg- r«- ; 
 
 Class _____ 
 
 r^ 
 
 Copyright N^_. 
 
 
 COFiTOGHT DEPOSm 
 
^erronife, tfje *3nncicent/ 
 
 or, 
 tl)t (^ntsit of tiie ^olben lilasiin anb Bmmonb Hance 
 
 (!^ne of tfje Sources; of Atones; about tfte J|o(j» (irail, 
 
 S preton ^.egenb, after ^outiesitre, 
 
 ilennetf) feplban (guttirie. 
 
 Comparatiiie I^iterature ^resig 
 
 182 Jflonroe g>tteet, proofelpn, il.|?. 
 

 All Rights, including that of Translation Reserved. 
 Copyright, 1915, by Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie. 
 
 46. 
 
 iTT 
 
 JUL -8 1915 
 
 CIA401695 
 
I 
 
 INTRODUCTION: LOCATION OF KERGLAS. 
 
 The definite location of the Castle of Kerglas was 
 difficult to discover. For several years I asked every 
 French and Breton authority in vain. Even Paul Sebillot 
 inclined to the belief that the whole rriatter was an 
 invention of Souvwestre's. Then I visited Charles Le 
 Goffic at Rim Rouz en Tregastel; and he thought there 
 were many Kerglas localities, the name meaning merely 
 *'house of mourning." He, however, advised me to 
 write to the deputy for Vannes, the Marquis d'Estour- 
 billon, at his Chateau de Porhoet, at Avessac; and from 
 the latter I finally received a letter, forwarded to me 
 in America, that there was such a manoir at two miles 
 from Vannes, on the Elven road, belonging to M. 
 Lepan de Ligny, Avenue Mozart 109, xvi, Paris. Next 
 summer (1914), I made several sketches of it, but 
 v/hile doing so, it became perfectly plain to me that 
 this could not have been the location of the castle, for 
 it was neither on the summit of a hill, nor anywhere 
 near a river. I therefore returned to the highway, and 
 in the quarries on the top of the hill, I found indeed 
 ruined emplacements of walls. Later in the day, in 
 search of photographic reproductions theieof, I visited 
 the interesting shop of M. Alphonse David, 4 rue Emile, 
 "Au Gagne Petit," where this gifted artist in cards, 
 aided by his able wife, received me kindly. To my 
 explanations he listened with incredulity; for, said he, 
 ''I own part of those quarries myself, and I never 
 heard of any ruins therein!" I could only insist that 
 the ruins had been still there that very morning; and he 
 told me that the location was ideal for the story, as the 
 Liziec River turns around that hill, and that beyond 
 the Liziec was a wood, and beyond that a pond, and 
 further still a rock, and a forest, and a farmhouse or 
 manoir of good friends of his. After I had partially con- 
 vinced him, he smiled quizzically. 'To think that you 
 would have to come from America to tell me of ruins 
 on my own property, which are the location of a legend 
 you yourself found in a book that I have sold over my 
 counter for twenty years!" 
 
i 
 
^erronife, tfje Innocent 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 PERRONIK, THE "INNOCENT," USES HIS 
 MOTHER-WIT. 
 
 Most people grow old, but there have always been 
 some in the history of the world who, though their 
 body grew up, ever remained young in heart. Many 
 are the causes of this; some are physically unable to 
 take part in labor or war; others are debarred by their 
 sex; some, on the contrary, merely manage to preserve 
 their youth by love of nature, the fields and forests, 
 the sea and sky. Then again others, like David of old, 
 remain young in heart because of the fire of religious 
 devotion in their soul; and some remain young not 
 only because they love nature and religion, but because 
 of the influence of holy people, like Samuel, who asso- 
 ciated with the reverend Eli; and the Percival of the 
 Holy Grail legends, the companion of his sainted 
 sister. These simple-minded people, however, are by 
 no means fools. They have a great deal of mother- 
 wit, as was shown by David in his fight with Goliath; 
 when the simple-minded youth succeeded where all 
 others failed. Then again, many of them, in times 
 past, acted as singers, bards, or entertainers. We 
 remember that David played before Saul, and by 
 
 5 
 
6 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 
 
 youthful cheeriness kept away the melancholy moods 
 that darkened that life. 
 
 So in Brittany, the extreme north-western corner 
 of France, that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean, there 
 has been, since time immemorial, a class of simple- 
 minded people called ''idiots," or ''innocents," who 
 were known by the white wands they carried, and the 
 large horn-buttons on their cloaks. They wandered 
 around the country, in the evenings stopping off at the 
 nearest farm-house, sure of being entertained for the 
 night. At supper, they would tell stories, or retail the 
 news of the country-side. In the morning they would 
 not be driven out to work, but be allowed to help the 
 women, or do light helpful offices that required more 
 grace and judgment than muscular effort. When they 
 died, they were sincerely mourned, perhaps not so 
 much for themselves, as for their being considered 
 messengers and helpers from heaven. 
 
 It was such an "innocent," by name Perronik, who 
 on a fine spring day knocked at the door of a farm- 
 house a few miles north-west of the dreamy town of 
 Vannes. The farmer's wife responded to his request for 
 food with a bowl of fresh milk. Perronik thanked her, 
 and sat down to enjoy it. "Madam," said he, "this 
 milk is the sweetest, most delicately flavored beverage 
 I ever tasted. I can almost see the thyme-pasture 
 where the cow who gave it must have fed. And you 
 must be a splendid housewife to have kept it so pure!" 
 "I do not deserve much credit," smilingly answered 
 the dame; "but the milk really is good, if I do say it 
 myself. As I see that you are a judge of such things, 
 I will bring you some of my cheese, and I would be 
 glad to have you tell me whether, you think it is good." 
 So she brought out some of her new cheese, cut a 
 g-enerous slice, and gave it to Perronik. The latter 
 tasted it slowly. Then, after the manner of persons 
 who are delivering a weighty judgment, he shut one 
 eye, cocked his head, and clacked his tongue. "I 
 
f'ERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 7 
 
 would not have believed it possible," answered he, 
 "to find any cheese that combines so much smooth- 
 ness, bouquet and tang. It is a masterpiece, that the 
 country-side will long remember!" and- then, to con- 
 vince himself still more, he accepted another hunk of 
 it, laid it on the brown rye bread, and chewed it 
 meditatively, still expatiating on its merits. ''Wait a 
 moment," said the radiant housewife. "Wait till I 
 bring you some of my new sausages! They will taste 
 all the better after the cheese!" Soon she came out 
 of the house with a most luscious specimen of the 
 sausage-maker's art, and Perronik had just given it 
 one good bite when .... Here is where our story 
 begins. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 PERRONIK BECOMES A SHEPHERD. 
 
 Around the bend of the road trotted a large heavy 
 charger, bearing a knight in full armor, with plume 
 and helmet, shield and lance. Resplendent in gay 
 colors, and merrily humming a tune, he stopped in 
 front of the farm-house door, and condescendingly 
 shouted at the respectful peasant woman, ''Ho there, 
 woman! Which is the way to the castle of Kerglas? " 
 *'Don't go there, my lord, it is dangerous!" tremb- 
 lingly answered the buxom woman. ''Dangerous it 
 may be!" retorted the shimmering knight, "but where 
 else can I get the Golden Basin, and the Diamond 
 Lance?" "You are right," answered the woman, 
 "nowhere else can you get those; but what good will 
 they do you, if you do not return?" "That is where 
 you are mistaken," boasted he. "I expect to return, 
 because I have just been at confession to the holy 
 hermit of Blauvelt; and with his parting benediction, 
 he told me the dangers I should meet; and 'fore- 
 warned is forearmed,' you know!" "Well, if you 
 must go," said the kindly dame regretfully, "the road 
 leads over yonder meadow, and through that dark 
 forest!" "Thank you," said the knight; and he was 
 just preparing to leave, when Perronik, who, behind 
 the safe shelter of a wall, had been listening to all 
 that had been going on, and who, on seeing the knight 
 prepare to leave, concluded he had nothing to fear, felt 
 his curiosity get the better of him. "My lord," cried 
 he deferentially, "pray tarry a moment!" "What for? " 
 cried the knight disdainfully. "Would you be willing 
 to tell us what were the dangers of which the reverend 
 
 8 
 
PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 9 
 
 hermit of Blauvelt warned you? It would be very 
 interesting!" pleaded Perronik, who, with a story- 
 teller's genuine interest scented some interesting de- 
 tails. *'Do you feel at liberty to tell 'them to us?" 
 ''Of course!" growled the noble knight. "Why should 
 I be afraid to tell them? First, I have to find my way 
 through the Deceptive Forest. Then I must pick the 
 Golden Apple that grows on a tree guarded by a lion — 
 what chance will the lion have with my shield and 
 lance? Then I must get the Nodding Flower which 
 grows on the rock guarded by the three-headed dragon, 
 with the iron ball, with which he attacks his enemies. 
 Then I will come to the Lake of the Scaly Monsters; 
 but what can they do against my armor? Then I 
 must ride through the Forest of the Sirens; and last, 
 I come to the River of Death. Crossing this, I shall be 
 at the foot of the mountain on the summit of which 
 is the castle of Kerglas." 
 
 'Thank you, my lord!" bowed the delighted Per- 
 ronik, and the scornful knight trotted out of sight, 
 shouting his war-cry, and singing about the beautiful 
 eyes of the lady to whom he was to bring back the 
 Golden Basin and the Diamond Lance. 
 
 Perronik sat down, and was resuming his interrupted 
 gormandizing of the sausage when a distant halloo 
 apprized the mistress of the farm-house that her own 
 lord and master, the farmer, was approaching. She 
 hastened to give him her dutiful greeting, and Perronik 
 modestly stood up expectantly, to meet the man whose 
 hospitality he sought. He had not long to wait before 
 the appearance of the old man, with wrinkled nut- 
 brown skin, blue cloth garments, and large beribboned 
 black felt hat. The latter greeted the "innocent" pat- 
 ronizingly, and invited him to sit down, which Per- 
 ronik did without further ceremony. The farmer then 
 asked him whether he would be willing to undertake 
 guarding the sheep in the meadow, in exchange for 
 board and lodging. Perronik bowed low, and expressed 
 
10 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 
 
 himself as delighted with the prospect of employment. 
 So the farmer led the way along the same path the 
 knight had taken to the sweet-grass meadow, where 
 browsed a flock of gentle sheep. The farmer whistled 
 for his dog to guard them, while he himself led Per- 
 ronik to the edge of the forest, where he cut down a 
 sapling and peeled off its bark, thus transforming it 
 into the white wand characteristic of the ''innocents," 
 but which, at the same time, was to serve as shepherd's 
 crook. 
 
 So the wandering bard became a shepherd, and like 
 all shepherds, ever since the time of Abel, he cut little 
 reeds, and made flutes of them, and whiled away the 
 time by imitating the song of the many birds that made 
 the forest vocal from early dawn, when they sang their 
 matin chorus, until dusk, when once more they gath- 
 ered on some high bushes, and after a furious orison, 
 retired to their secret nests, twittering away into sleep. 
 But it was the middle of the day that Perronik especial- 
 ly enjoyed. Then the sheep, exhausted by the heat, 
 would lie down in cool patches of shade. Their bells 
 would be at rest, except for an occasional tinkle when 
 a lamb would start in his dreams, imagining some wasp 
 that had dashed itself at him. The winds had died 
 down, and the birds were resting in their nests, except 
 for an occasional chirp. Then, released from any 
 anxiety, and even from his attempt to call the birds 
 to himself by imitating their song, he would go over 
 in his mind all the wonderful stories he lately had had 
 no opportunity to tell. But chief of all, his mind was 
 ever haunted by the gay knight on the quest of the 
 Golden Basin and the Diamond Lance, in the castle of 
 Kerglas. Perronik wondered whether the gay knight 
 had succeeded or failed. Softly he laughed at the 
 knight's self-confidence; for who better than a bard 
 knew that pride goes before a fall ? And if the opposite 
 were true, perhaps even he, the simple-minded ''inno- 
 cent," might yet in the same quest succeed. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 HOW PERRONIK STARTED ON THE QUEST. 
 
 So the peaceful days followed each other. The May 
 flowers came out, and the forest was filled with many 
 perfumes, as the winds blew from favorite nooks of 
 the various flowers. One day Perronik was more than 
 usually longing to have a chance to try those hazards 
 that the knight had told of, when he rubbed his eyes. 
 Was he awake? Was he in a trance? He pinched 
 himself — yea, he was awake, even though around him 
 played all the colors of the rainbow, right in and under 
 the shadows of the trees. Then he heard loud rustling, 
 and in view rode a giant, on an immense charger, and 
 over his shoulder hung the Golden Basin and lay the 
 Diamond Lance, coruscating with all the colors of the 
 rainbow, violet, red, blue, yellow, green, and orange. 
 Poor little Perronik, of course, was very much fright- 
 ened; and he hid behind the bush, trembling, until the 
 fearsome apparition had passed by. He was just about 
 to return to his favorite couch in the grass, when he 
 heard another irregular rustling. After his last ex- 
 perience he quickly ran back to his hiding place, but 
 nothing very terrible came up the forest-path, only a 
 foal, coal-black like the giant's horse, indeed, but still 
 no more than a festive baby, nibbling here at the suc- 
 culent clover, then running along, kicking his heels up 
 in the air, and behaving generally in the irresponsible 
 manner characteristic of puppies and kittens. Perronik 
 almost came out, but he saw among the arches of the 
 trees an old man, with white hair flowing over his back, 
 
 11 
 
12 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 
 
 while a long white beard waved gracefully down to 
 his waist. The old man came forward, and tried to 
 catch the foal; but the rascal would let the old man 
 approach till almost within reach, and then would slip 
 away, and seem to laugh at the patriarch. The latter, 
 however, was not long at a loss. He picked up a stick, 
 and started to draw a magic circle around the foal. 
 The latter was carelessly nibbling at a green shoot, 
 and looked around only when it was too late to escape. 
 Anxiously he hopped around, but the old man relent- 
 lessly coiled the magic line around him until the foal 
 no longer could move; when the old man jumped on 
 his back, rubbed out the line in the leaves, and the 
 now frightened foal shot like a bolt through the green 
 under-brush, and disappeared so fast that almost im- 
 mediately perfect silence once more reigned around 
 him. 
 
 This was certainly an extraordinary proceeding, and 
 Perronik long sat still thinking it over. But the after- 
 noon breezes woke up the sheep, and they shifted 
 towards the forbidden river, and Perronik had to run 
 after them. Yet he did not cease to question himself 
 about the whole course of events; and when, during 
 his first leisure, which did not occur before next noon, 
 he again lay on his couch of spear-grass in the shade 
 of the bush, he thought out various solutions. But 
 hardly had he begun to do so, when once more he 
 noticed, playing about him, strange scintillations, such 
 as the light-birds of a mirror in the hands of an inat- 
 tentive boy at school. Barely had he time to retreat to 
 his hiding place, before he was again almost blinded 
 by the rainbow colors streaming from the Golden Basin 
 and the Diamond Lance on the back of the giant on 
 horse-back. And no sooner had he passed, than Per- 
 ronik again heard the playful colt disporting himself 
 in the forest path. Even at a distance Perronik had 
 already noticed the grey robe of the white-haired pa- 
 triarch, when suddenly his curiosity spurred him to 
 
PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 13 
 
 action. He picked up a stick, himself started to draw 
 the magic circle around the colt, closer and closer, untli 
 the colt was in his power; and then Perronik quickly 
 turned to bar the passage of the onward rushing old 
 man. ''Stop!" shouted Perronik, raising his stick as 
 if to defend the circle he had drawn. The old man 
 halted, but pled with Perronik to let him have his colt. 
 ''No indeed," exulted Perronik, "you shall not have 
 your colt, old man, until you have told me the mean- 
 ing of this strange occurrence, the passing of the giant, 
 and your riding away on the colt!" The old man 
 looked much relieved, and said, "The meaning is sim- 
 ple enough. The giant who just passed along is my 
 younger brother Rogear, who took the Golden Basin 
 and Diamond Lance from me one day while I was 
 asleep; and with their possession I lost the rule of the 
 castle of Kerglas. Therefore when he goes abroad to 
 visit his domain and see to the safety of the Golden 
 Apple and the Nodding Flower, I follow after him, in 
 the hope I may wrest my property back from him in 
 some moment of carelessness of his." "But why do 
 you catch and ride the foal?" insisted the inquisitive 
 Perronik. "Because I myself can no longer return to 
 the castle on foot. My brother stole the black horse 
 away from me, and only the foal knows the short way 
 back to the castle, or can take me safe through the 
 Lake of the Scaly Monsters, or the River of Death, 
 even though 1 be the magician Bryak! Now that I 
 have answered your impertinent questions, youth, be 
 faithful to your promise, and give me back my foal!" 
 "Very well," assented Perronik, "you may take him, 
 now you have told me your story." For Perronik 
 was a story-teller, and he considered a good story 
 worth even a magic foal. So the old man rushed upon 
 the foal, jumped on him, effaced the magic circle in 
 one place so as to release the frightened colt, and shot 
 off into the forest even quicker than the day before. 
 
14 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 
 
 Perronik, too, was very happy, and retired to his 
 grassy nook, and reviewed again and again the charm- 
 ing story. It was so full of wonder and human interest, 
 that his mind flew back to the brave knight he had 
 seen confidently ride off on this quest, which must 
 have been uunsuccessful. Then rose up within Per- 
 ronik, from some mysterious recess in his soul, a 
 thought that made him catch his breath. ''What if I 
 should now try my hand at this quest, now that the 
 proud knight has failed, and is out of it? True, I am 
 only an "innocent"; but God loves the innocent; and 
 with His help, perhaps, I might accomplish what was 
 impossible to the knight who trusted alone in his shield 
 and spear! After all, I can do no more than fail; and 
 should I succeed, the glory would be so great, it would 
 be well worth the risk. Yea, I shall try it. But I will 
 need help. Earthly aid there is none, for I have no 
 armor; and after all, the earthly armor of the brave 
 knight seems to have done him but little good. No! 
 I will seek help divine; there lies my only hope!" 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 PERRONIK CONQUERS THE LION. 
 
 So Perronik prayed all afternoon, and towards even- 
 ing he drove his sheep into their cote long before sun- 
 set, in spite of the plaintive objections of the mother- 
 sheep. Then he sallied forth and made a few prepara- 
 tions; put everything in a ''bissac," or bag he could 
 easily sling over his shoulder, hid it in the forest under 
 his favorite bush, and lay down on his couch at the 
 farm with a prayer for divine help. During the night 
 he received assurances of success in a dream; for he 
 saw a Hand beckoning him on to the Golden Basin 
 and Diamond Lance. Then he rose up early, before 
 dawn; went out to the edge of the forest where he 
 could watch the sunrise, and prayed again, till tears 
 dimmed his sight, and he swore to the rising sun that 
 he would start out on the great and holy quest that 
 very day. Then he went about his daily duties, and as 
 soon as he had driven his sheep to the field, he lay 
 down under the trees, and listened to every bird and 
 insect, hoping to receive some helpful suggestion from 
 them. The birds came very near him, for he lay quite 
 still, and their song seemed to be telling him they would 
 help him in his hour of need. Then weariness came 
 over him, and he dozed off into a troubled sleep, from 
 which he suddenly started, when he felt once more 
 playing over him the scintillations he had seen the two 
 days before. Hastily he jumped behind the bush, only 
 just in time to avoid attracting the attention of the 
 scowling giant, who, on that morning, seemed to be, 
 if possible, more ferocious than ever. Then Perronik 
 anxiously peered down the forest-lane for the foal. 
 
 15 
 
16 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 
 
 This morning the foal had strayed from the forest- 
 path; and suddenly returned to it almost where Per- 
 ronik stood. The latter indeed barely had time to seize 
 a stick and start his magic circle around the nibbling 
 equine baby; but he succeeded, and drew the circle 
 closer and closer till the foal could no longer move, 
 though he struggled bravely. Perronik had had to work 
 fast, for already he heard the frantic shouts of the 
 magician Bryak, commanding him to desist. But Per- 
 ronik jumped on to the back of the foal, effaced a little 
 part of the circle, and just as Bryak had caught up with 
 him, Perronik dug his heels into the panting side of 
 the quivering beast, and sped off into the forest so fast 
 that all the trees seemed to fuse into one long lane; 
 and he had hardly managed to readjust himself, after 
 having been dragged through low-hanging branches, 
 when, to his surprise, he saw that the first stage of 
 his journey was over, for, in front of him, hung, on a 
 graceful tree, the Golden Apple of which he had been 
 told. 
 
 So glad was Perronik that he never thought of any- 
 thing else; but he was recalled to stern reality by the 
 fearsome roaring of a giant lion, who bounded into 
 his path, opened his ravenous maw, and crouched for 
 a spring. Now, as all little boys and girls know, *'being 
 good is a lonely and hungry job." The bigger the lion, 
 the bigger his appetite; and yet this faithful guardian 
 of the Golden Apple could not hunt. He had to wait 
 till Providence sent him some food, in the shape of 
 people who followed the quest of the Golden Basin 
 and Diamond Lance; and they were few and far be- 
 tween. So you can imagine the poor animal's hunger, 
 and we can excuse his awful excitement, when he saw 
 some prey riding right straight into his jaws, as it were. 
 
 Perronik, at first, was struck motionless with terror. 
 But just then he heard one of his favorite bird-friends 
 singing in the branches above him; so he recovered 
 himself, and did some lightning-like thinking. Off he 
 
PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 17 
 
 jumped from the horse; he fell on his knees, extended 
 his hands, in supplication, and cried out most humbly. 
 'Tlease, Mr. Lion, compose yourself for a minute. 
 Listen to me, for I cannot escape you anyway. Now 
 if you eat me up first, the edge of your appetite will 
 be blunted, and you will not be able properly to relish 
 the delicious larks I have brought you here in my bag. 
 If, on the contrary, you first partake of them, as candy, 
 you will enjoy their delicious flavor to the full. Then, 
 after having done them full justice, you can appease 
 the body of your appetite on me, who cannot escape 
 you any more, even if I tried. Will you not allow me 
 to offer them to you, kind Mr. Lion?" 
 
 Even lions, you know, cannot resist courtesy and 
 thoughtfulness; and with an austere nod the huge beast 
 sat down on its haunches, andf^began licking its chops 
 in anticipation of the feast. jSo Perronik stood up, 
 carefully opened the mouth of his bag, and held it up 
 before the lion, who thrust his greedy head into it. 
 Hardly had he done so, however, when Perronik drew 
 the bag all the way over it; and imagine the reason- 
 able dismay of the lion when, instead of larks, he 
 found nothing but a mixture of glue and feathers! Of 
 course, he pulled back his head, but with the head came 
 the bag! Then he pawed at it; he lashed his poor in- 
 offensive flanks with his tufted tail; he roared as loud 
 as he could under the distressing circumstances, he 
 danced on his hind legs; he rolled over; he bent him- 
 self double, and straightened himself out like a spring 
 when released; he rolled himself into a ball; he dug 
 himself into the ground; but all in vain; and the poor 
 beast would still be struggling even till the present time, 
 had not Perronik, after climbing up the tree and drop- 
 ping straight down to the ground in his hurry, drawn 
 off his bag, jumped on the foal, and sped away, while 
 the poor misguided lion was still trying to get the 
 sticky feathers out of his eyes, so he could see enough 
 to settle accounts with Perronik; but he was too late. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 PERRONIK OUTWITS THE UNSLEEPING 
 DRAGON. 
 
 So Perronik sped through the forest till he came up 
 flat against a rock. His late experience made him 
 a little more thoughtful; and he remembered that the 
 Nodding Flower, 'that grew here, was guarded by a 
 hellish dragon, with four eyes and an iron ball, with 
 which he crushed his opponents. Every six hours one 
 of the four eyes would close in slumber, relieving the 
 others, so the dragon was awake day and night, and 
 there was no hope of overcoming him while off his 
 guard. This, indeed, was a puzzling proposition, and 
 Perronik gingerly picked his way without making a 
 noise to the opposite side of the rock. Even this very 
 light noise had wakened the other three eyes of the 
 hellish dragon; and Perronik was in as great trouble 
 as possible. So he tied the foal where it could browse 
 in sweet clover, and Perronik threw himself down on 
 the grass, and started to think. So Perronik thought, 
 and thought, and thought; but no solution came to 
 him. In despair he gave it up, and fell to enjoying 
 the forest scenery, and relapsed into his favorite occu- 
 pation, that of listening to the birds. Now if you were 
 listening to birds, could any boy or girl keep from 
 imitating them? So Perronik grew tired. Then, hop- 
 ing to get some suggestion, he peeped over the rock 
 at the hellish dragon, who lay coiled in his lair beside 
 the coveted flower. Of course, Perronik expected to 
 see the hellish dragon's first eye asleep, as it should 
 
 18 
 
PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 19 
 
 have been. But imagine Perronik's surprise on seeing 
 the second eye also about to close; the eyelid fluttered, 
 and finally came to a rest in complete repose. At first 
 Perronik could not account for this; but he remem- 
 bered how the eyes of the sheep in his pasture at home 
 behaved exactly like that when he had been whistling 
 particularly well. At first he dismissed the thought 
 as absurd; but, on reflection, he decided that he could 
 prove the point by making an experiment on the third 
 eve. So he lay back and whistled the best he knew. 
 Never had he made such runs, such trills, such ca- 
 dences, such rhythms, such melodies. First you might 
 have thought he were a lark, then a whippoorwill, then 
 a canary, and finally a nightingale. He would listen 
 to the birds above him, and improve on their bursts 
 and pleadings. Then he looked over the rock again, 
 and indeed, the third eyelid of the hellish dragon was 
 fluttering down, just like that of a sleepy pussy. A 
 few more calls like that of the finch to his mate, and 
 the eye was closed, watching the phantasmagoria of 
 its dreams. 
 
 Perronik was beside himself with joy. "This is 
 easy!" almost shouted he to himself! So he settled 
 himself down once more, and started to whistle better 
 than ever. Indeed, he whistled so marvelously, that 
 he surpassed even the birds whom previously he had 
 merely imitated. The birds, who before had listened 
 to his efforts with friendly condescension, now became 
 envious. They fluttered angrily about him, and tried 
 to drown his efforts, by a chorus louder even than that 
 they sang at dusk and dawn. But Perronik only prof- 
 ited by their efforts, because in improving on the sug- 
 gestions they thus offered, he sang so much better 
 than they that finally their hearts wilted within their 
 little ruffled breasts, and they grew still, hungrily 
 drinking in the magic melodies they heard. Then for 
 the first time Perronik reached his supreme skill in 
 whistling. Even the insects paused on the golden 
 
20 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 
 
 flowers; the bees stopped humming, and poised them- 
 selves gracefully on the buttercups. 
 
 But Perronik never forgot he was whistling for a 
 purpose; and once more he peeped over the rock, and 
 to his great delight he saw the hellish monster's fourth 
 eye-lid fluttering just as the former eye-lids had done. 
 So Perronik whistled more gently and drowsily, like 
 the twittering of birds when disturbed by dreams, in 
 their sleep; and then the fourth eye closed with a snap, 
 and for the first time in his long life the hellish monster 
 was entirely asleep. You may well believe that it did 
 not take Perronik very long, noiselessly, to leap over 
 the rock, and pick the Nodding Flower. He fastened 
 it in his cap; picked up his bag, swung it over his 
 shoulder, vaulted onto his impatient foal, and off they 
 sped, showing a clean pair of heels to the wakened 
 monster who stirred uneasily, as if feeling something 
 was wrong, hissing hellishly, out of mere natural spite. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PERRONIK ESCAPES THE SCALY MONSTERS. 
 
 But Perronik, by this time, was far and away; and 
 nothing stopped him till he came to the Lake of the 
 Scaly Monsters, Now, as often happens with dangerous 
 or forbidden things, this dangerous lake was exceed- 
 ingly beautiful. The blue sky was reflected in its still 
 waters, and the willows by the side seemed to bend 
 down lovingly to toiich their perfect reflection in the 
 slimy depths of the treacherous pool. Perronik, how- 
 ever, had not mu(ph time to contemplate all these 
 beauties, for by this time, the foal was not only tired 
 but hungry; and when Perronik sought to guide the 
 foal around the lake, the foal impatiently jumped right 
 in and swam, so as to get home the sooner. At first 
 all went well; and Perronik was enjoying the unusual 
 view when his horrified gaze fixed on a circle of still 
 water, around which was a fringe of boiling waves. 
 Then, out of the tranquil pool he saw rising horny 
 scales, and then what he recognized as an opening 
 maw. Imagine the maw of a crocodile, but as big as a 
 whale; then you will forgive brave Perronik for going 
 all white, and trembling. The ferocious row of teeth 
 rose in air; the water began to flow into the enormous 
 black hole. A current set in, and in spite of all the 
 efforts of the plucky foal, Perronik felt himself surely, 
 if slowly, drawn in to the monster's maw. In his 
 extremity he prayed. A bird darted over him, and 
 uttered a piercing shriek, that reminded him of when 
 he had had to protect the lambs when a hawk sailed 
 
 21 
 
22 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 
 
 overhead. Then he remembered something he had in 
 his bag. He reached in, and pulled out a black bean 
 which, for safety's sake, he had had the good parish 
 priest bless for him, the evening before his departure. 
 This Perronik threw right into the yawning abyss. 
 Now this scaly monster was not a holy scaly monster; 
 and therefore, v^hen he felt the blessed bean tickling 
 his soft palate he felt like vomiting, and in mighty 
 eructations that looked like waterspouts, he tried to 
 eject the bean, which had stuck in the hairs on his 
 inner throat. Unfortunately, however, just as hap- 
 pens to a boy or girl who in eating fish swallows a 
 bone that sticks in the throat, all the branches and 
 sticks which had easily gone down along with the 
 swirl of water, now were turned side-wise; they stuck 
 in his gills, and the more the beast regugitated, the 
 more he choked. Finally he grew green in the face, 
 flapped his monstrous fins, turned a somersault in the 
 air, uttered a plaintive yowl, and careening over on 
 his back, he gave up his wicked ghost. This, however, 
 caused a whirlpool in the water, and Perronik who 
 was circling around in the maelstrom, was, by the 
 last tidal wave, driven onto the opposite shore. The 
 brave little foal, feeling under his little hoofs firm 
 ground, snorted and shook the slimy water out of his 
 eyes and mane. Then he braced himself, galloped up 
 the slope, and dashed for the shelter of the forest. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 PERRONIK ESCAPES SIRENS. 
 
 No doubt he would have been going still, had he 
 not, with a sudden jolt that almost made Perronik 
 come a cropper, stood still. Especially because his 
 hairs were wet, did they look strange as they began 
 to stand straight in horror, as the foal gazed on in 
 stupefaction. There lay a heap of skeletons of brave 
 knights, whose armor was strewn around in confusion. 
 Evidently this was the most dangerous of all the haz- 
 ards of the quest; knights who had escaped all former 
 dangers, still had here fallen before the fatal charms 
 of the enchanted sirens that infested these sylvan re- 
 treats. Indeed, through the aisles of the forest Per- 
 ronik described, approaching forms of beautiful women, 
 golden-haired and starry-eyed, waving their arms in 
 greeting, and chanting weird threnodies. What was 
 the unfortunate Perronik to do? Lions, hellish, drag- 
 ons, and even scaly monsters could be resisted; but 
 what proper-minded youth can resist the fair charms 
 of a lovely woman? Alas, I fear my story will have 
 to end here; there seems no earthly rescue for our 
 simple-minded "innocent." 
 
 Perronik himself realized this; and so he betook 
 himself to prayer. Then suddenly an idea popped into 
 his mind. Just as the swish of the sirens' silken gar- 
 ments began to becloud his reason, just as their per- 
 fume made his head whirl, and buzz, as chloroform 
 would have done, an inspiration came into his mind. 
 He reached up, and, in spite of velvet hands that clung 
 
 23 
 
24 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 
 
 like ivy-vines, he pulled the cap on his head down just 
 far enough to reach over his eyes. Perronik being 
 thus blinded, the sirens were powerless over him; and 
 digging his heels into the sore ribs of the only too will- 
 ing foal, Perronik, without ever stopping, was carried 
 through the shady groves of the sirens; and not till 
 his foal stopped still with a jerk, and his nose apprised 
 him of the presence of a large body of water, his ears 
 being filled with the omnious rushing of a river, did 
 Perronik dare to push up his cap far enough to see 
 that he had left the sirens' grove far behind, and was 
 standing, by the side of a bush, on the very bank of 
 the rapidly rolling River of Death, on the further side 
 of which loomed up before him, not so very far, the 
 noble mountain bearing the castellated outline of Ker- 
 glas itself! 
 
 He must cross; that was sure, but how? Of course, 
 Rivers of Death have no bridges or even fords; or of 
 what use would they be? What indeed was our hero 
 to do? So puzzled was he, that he would be standing 
 there till the present moment, but for a most unusual 
 occurrence. From behind the bush sprang a beautiful 
 lady, dressed in black silk, but with a complexion as 
 yellow as sulphur. Perronik would indeed have re- 
 treated before her, but she, like a wise woman, did 
 not give him the time. She jumped up on the foal 
 before him, and reached for the reins. Here is where 
 Perronik's presence of mind reasserted itself. He 
 clutched them tight, and only when she saw that she 
 had no more to gain by boldness that, like many an- 
 other haughty dame, the lady became as meek as 
 butter, and as persuasive as honey. She told him 
 that she knew that he was on the quest of the Golden 
 Basin and the Diamond Lance; that he could not get 
 it alone; but that if he had the Golden Apple and the 
 Nodding Flower, and would ferry her over the River 
 of Death which she, unaided, could never cross, she 
 would help him in his quest. While Perronik had his 
 
PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 25 
 
 doubts about the lady, nevertheless, because he had 
 always been trained to be polite to ladies, he agreed 
 to take her over. She, on her part, did not lose any 
 time, but urged the willing foal. He jumped into the 
 icy water, and, in spite of shivering, the brave little 
 beast swam valiantly on, never stopping until he had 
 safely reached the opposite bank. Fearful that the 
 foal might take cold by standing still on leaving the 
 freezing water, Perronik urged him on, and the equine 
 trotted up the hill as fast as he could, neighing in an- 
 ticipation of the oats he knew were awaiting him in 
 the stables, beside his mother, the giant's black charger 
 who, on her part, must be anxious, by this time, for 
 her offspring's safety. So the horse climbed rapidly 
 to the gate of the frowning castle, where both Per- 
 ronik and the lady dismounted, and the foal trotted off 
 by himself, neighing and capering, to the stable. 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 PERRONIK ACHIEVES HIS QUEST. 
 
 Our two travelers entered into the castle's gate, 
 which, strange to say, they found open. They entered 
 into the courtyard, but neither there did they discover 
 anybody, knight or servant. So the Yellow Lady led 
 Perronik to the main entrance, and up the steps, still 
 deserted, into the vast dining hall of the castle. Here, 
 seated at the festive board, sat only two individuals, 
 the giant, Rogear, and by his side his hoary-haired 
 brother, the magician Bryak, at a lower table. 
 
 Now, of course, golden apples and fair ladies have 
 ever, since the beginning of time, been the prey of 
 giants, and who can blame giants for having the good 
 taste to consider them designed for their special bene- 
 fit? Therefore Rogear the giant, with a vertiginous 
 leap, pounced upon Perronik. Rogear reached out for 
 the Golden Apple; but as he bit into it, he sank into 
 a seat, because it was poisoned; and as he lay hold on 
 the willowy lady, he fell down stark dead; for, be it 
 known, she was nothing less than the 'Tlague"! 
 
 You can easily imagine that Perronik did not dally 
 near her. Swiftly pulling the Nodding Flower out of 
 his cap, he observed in which direction the flower nod- 
 ded. So he followed it through a large door, down a 
 hall, to a stairway; down this to the lower floor; then 
 by a winding passage into the vaults. Past an iron 
 door he went into a cave. Following a stream, in 
 which he waded, he came into a vast amphitheatre, 
 glistening with salt-formations, in the light of sun- 
 
 26 
 
PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 27 
 
 rays that filtered through some cracks. Then he fol- 
 lowed the flower's directions into a passage so narrow 
 he had to crawl on hands and knees; but, at last, he 
 arrived into a chapel; and on the high altar, between 
 ever-burning candles, lay the Golden Basin and the 
 Diamond Lance! 
 
 Perronik pounced upon them; but he was in such 
 a hurry that the Diamond Lance knocked on the 
 Golden Basin, emitting a peal as clear as that of a 
 sacring-bell. When, however, Perronik came to him- 
 self, he found himself back in the meadow, among the 
 sheep he had so long neglected, with the Golden Basin 
 hanging on his back, and the Diamond I ance in his 
 hand. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 PERRONIK BECOMES KING OF JERUSALEM. 
 
 Now it is evident that no one who possessed the 
 Golden Basin and the Diamond Lance would ever be 
 willing to remain a shepherd. Therefore, after giving 
 the mother-sheep a parting pat, and kissing his favorite 
 lambs farewell, Perronik turned off on to the highway, 
 and betook himself to the picturesque town of Vannes. 
 
 Now it chanced, as happens in all well-regulated 
 fairy-tales, that the king of Vannes had a beautiful 
 daughter. At the same time, however, he was being 
 pressed very hard by his enemies who, so far, had 
 driven back all his armies, and defeated all his generals. 
 In desperation, the king had made a proclamation that 
 any one who would overcome his enemies should have 
 the beautiful daughter to wife, and become king in his 
 stead. On entering into Vannes, Perronik read the 
 proclamation, and asked to be led to the king's palace. 
 Having arrived there, he asked for an audience with 
 the king. Only with great difficulty, however, did he 
 succeed in obtaining it. Then the king laughed at Per- 
 ronik, who offered to accomplish this feat; for Perronik 
 was still garbed as an ''innocent," with white staff and 
 horn buttons. Perronik, however, offered to give a 
 demonstration of his powers. He touched the king 
 of Vanne's best knight, who immediately fell down in 
 his tracks, stone dead. Then, Perronik poured some 
 of the water of the golden basin into the dead knight's 
 mouth, whereupon he revived, as full of life and spirits 
 as ever, finishing the word he had had on his lips 
 
 28 
 
PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 29 
 
 when he fell dead. The king of Vannes was convinced, 
 and entrusted all his armies to Perronik. The latter, 
 of course, in the might of the Golden Basin and the 
 Diamond Lance, was victorious over the embattled 
 hosts of the enemy, and reduced them to abject sub- 
 mission. Leading their chieftains in chains to the 
 palace of the king of Vannes, the latter gave him his 
 blushing daughter to wife, and set Perronik upon his 
 throne, himself retiring to meditation in a monastery. 
 
 Although Perronik was, for a short time, happy as 
 husband of his marvellously beautiful wife, and as 
 king of the good town of Vannes; who could expect the 
 owner of the Golden Basin and the Diamond Lance 
 to be satisfied with being king of even Vannes, that 
 beautiful, and famous city? So Perronik demanded 
 the crown of France. Leading his ever-victorious 
 armies, Perronik succeeded even in this, and finally 
 was crowned king of France, and reigned in Paris. 
 
 But, although for a brief space of time, Perronik 
 was happy as king of France, the owner of the Golden 
 Basin and the Diamond Lance could not be expected 
 to be satisfied with even that dignity. He must become 
 emperor of Rome. And indeed, leading his ever- 
 victorious armies, Perronik achieved this supreme 
 dignity also. 
 
 Still, though, for a short space of time Perronik was 
 content with the dominion of the empire of Rome, it 
 would be unreasonable to suppose that the owner of 
 the Golden Basin and the Diamond Lance could ever 
 grow satisfied, or cease to sigh for more worlds to con- 
 quer. So Perronik started out to conquer Palestine, 
 liberate it from the hated rule of the Saracen. At the 
 head of his ever-victorious armies, indeed, Perronik 
 accomplished this task also, and was crowned king of 
 Jerusalem. 
 
30 PERRONIK, THE INNOCENT. 
 
 But, strange to say, Perronik was never heard of 
 again. His fate ever remained a mystery; but the 
 best-informed say that one day, while he was asleep, 
 the old magician Bryak deprived him of the Golden 
 Basin and the Diamond Lance, and hid them again in 
 the mountain beneath the castle of Kerglas, where 
 they remain hidden, until they shall once more be 
 found by some younger Perronik who shall restore to 
 Brittany her rightful sovereignty over the world. 
 
J-'BRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 015 898 460 a 
 
 1 
 
 U liH (II